"Anika...." they again asked her to stop but she didn't listen.

Suddenly the wind started blowing and the clouds
gathered and there was little thunder which was gradually increasing. She looked up and turned. Celestina too looked up.

Anika closed her eyes as she was going to receive her birthday gift, New Powers. Seeing her stop Shivaay smiled a little.

"You are not going right?" Shivaay asked hopefully. Anika shook her head in no.

Everyone smiled and Shivaay was about to run and hug her but Celestina held his hand. Everyone looked at her being confused.

"Don't go there"

"Why?"

"Please don't go there"

Before Shivaay could say anything they heard a loud and painful scream. They snapped their heads a huge lightning was falling on Anika. Shock would be understatement for everyone except Celestina.

"ANIKA!!!!!" Aarav and Shivaay screamed and were about to run to her but Celestina held both their hands.

"I said don't go there" she pushed them behind.

Anika was screaming her gut out. Rudra Priyanka Soumya Gauri and Mallika were numb seeing the scenario. Daksh also tired to help her sister but Celestina stopped him too. Everyone's eyes pooled seeing her in so much pain.

Celestina clutched her dress. She witness this every year on her birthday. She is the only one who is bestowed with new powers on her birthday every year. Shivaay again tired to go bit Celestina didn't let him go.

"I said don't go there. Can't you understand that?"

"Please please let me go" he pleaded her.

"I understand Shivaay but please you can't go. She have to bear it"

Aarav: what do you mean she have to?

Celestina: you'll get to know just wait a little.

"Stop..... please.... wait a min...." Anika pleaded as it was going unbearable for she. The light went back as requested. Anika fell on her knees.

"Anika!!!" Everyone moved little forward but Anika showed her hand.

"Don't...... just don't...... stay there" she hung her head down being tired.

Shivaay didn't listen to her and came near her. "Shivaay I asked not to come"

"Are you....."

Celestina held his hand and dragged him back. Anika growled and banged her hand on the ground gaining some courage. She stood up again and the light fell again. She screamed her heart out.

"Yeh kya ho raha hai? (What is happening?)" Daadi asked.

"It's her birthday gift" Celestina reply.

"What?" But she preferred to stay quiet.

After a while the light went back again and Anika fell on ground. Everyone ran to her. She was half unconscious. Shivaay took her head on his lap.

Daadu: isn't it a miracle. She is still alive. I mean no one can withstand the lightning. Either they burn themselves or die.

"I am strong Daadu" she said weakly showing her biceps. Everyone chuckled. Aarav kissed her forehead.

Celestina: are you okay my love.

"Yeah" she smiled faintly.

"Now get up"

She tired to get up but Shivaay stopped her.

"I will pick you. And Om call the doctor"

"No!!! There's no need to call any doctor. I am fine"

Gauri: are you mad? Bijli giri hai tum pe.

"Haan but main theek hun. (Ya but I am okay)"

Aarav: come on Anika. Doctor will come.

"Why me mom?" She whispered before her eyes dropped and she faint. Celestina closed her eyes. She ask the same question every time she faints. Shivaay heard that too but he wasn't in state to understand why she asked that.

Everyone got worried again. Shivaay patted her cheeks. "Anika.... Anika... wake up Anika"

Daadi: Billu take her in and someone call the doctor.

"No!!! Not inside. You placed her on the couch here." Celestina said.

Aarav: what are you saying Tina? She......

Before he could continue more Celestina held Anika's hand and started dragging her towards the couch. Everyone again got shocked.

Gauri: what are you doing? Have you gone mad?

But she didn't listen and placed on the couch.

"What are you doing Tina?" Aarav asked angrily.

That's the matter mom?

She looked at Daksh.

I am a merman too.

What?

Yes. But tell me what's happening?

I'll tell you later but please do one thing. Bring a cage. A strong one.

Why?

Woh sab batane ka waqt nahi hai. Please go (we don't have time to discuss these things. Please go)

Okay.

Daksh sneaked out.

Aarav held her arms tightly and shook her.

"What were you doing?"

"I can't lift her so I had to drag her."

"That's what I am saying. Why the hell are you dragging her? She is not well and you....."

"I know how to handle my daughter Aarav."

"Mom" they turned towards her. She was behaving like a small baby. She sat on the couch hugging her knees. Celestina ran and sat beside her.

"What happened baby? Are you okay?"

"Yechh mom. But who are these people?" she asked in a baby voice and hiding her face into her mom. Everyone's eyes widen with the sudden change in her.

"They are you friends baby. Say hi to them"

"Really are they my friends?" She again asked with a cute smile. Celestina nodded. Anika smiled huge and turned towards Shivaay who was sitting on the ground before her.

"Hii I am Anika. You are?"

Shivaay's heart broke into zillion pieces seeing her condition. Anika waited for his response but he didn't reply. Anika tugged Celestina's sleeve and asked, "Mom why isn't he answering?"

"Um... I.... I.... I am Shi.... Shi.... Shivaay"

"Hi Shi.... Shi... Shivaay."

Anika turned towards Om. "Hi!!" She waved at him. Om sat on his knees before her.

"Hi!! I am Omkara"

"Omkara... nice name but it's too big. I will call you Omkie. Okay?"

"Okay"

"Hii I am Rudra. Everyone call me Rudy"

"I can also call you Rudy?"

"Of course"

"Hii beautiful what is your name?" She asked Gauri.

"I am Gauri"

"But I'll will call you beautiful. You are so pretty"

"Am I? Thank you"

"Mom I made so many friends yay!!!" She clapped her hand in a kiddish manner. She jumped of the couch and started jumping. The situation was going over everyone's head. Celestina squeezed Shivaay's shoulder who was baffled.

"Don't worry she'll be fine soon" but that didn't work.

Anika went near Priyanka.

"What is your name?"

Priyanka cannot handle and started crying. Anika got worried. "Prinku? Prinku why are you crying?" Everyone snapped their head as she was behaving normal.

"You.... you...."

"Why are you clying (crying)? Did I do something wlong? Please don't cly. Mom..... why is she clying?"

Celestina patted Priyanka's shoulder and ask her not to cry.

"Mom why is she clying?" Her eyes pooled out too. Celestina wiped her tears and kissed her forehead.

"I am not crying. Something went in my eyes. I am not crying" She wiped her tears and said.

"Ohh is it okay now?" She nodded. Anika smiled huge like a kid and hugged her.

"Mom....."

"Yes baby?"

"I am hungry" she made a cute pout.

She went to Shivaay and poked his shoulder.

"Shi..... Shi.... Shivaay will give me some food? I am hungry"

Celestina asked him through eyes and he nodded. He took a piece of cake.

"Aah" she opened her mouth. Shivaay scooped a piece and fed her. "Wow!!! It's so yummy" tears rolled down his cheeks.

Aarav was numb seeing her behaving like a kid. He took shaky steps near her and caressed her head.

"Hii" she waved with a brilliant smile. Aarav hugged her and started sobbing. Anika warpped her hand around him. "Don't cry dad. I am fine"

Aarav immediately pulled off the hug. But she faint again. "Anika.... Anika....." he shook her a little.

Daksh came with a cage as asked by her mom. Celestina ran to Anika and held her.

"Daksh help me" he nodded and held her from other side. Others were not in a state to react anything. But Shivaay roared as he saw them locking her in a cage and also tying her hands.

"What are you doing??"

"Save you all and her"

"What?"

Daadu: first of all can anyone explain what is happening? Why Anika is behaving like this? Why are you caging her? What the hell is happening?

Celestina: I will explain you everything. First of all please calm yourself down.

Aarav: I don't want to listen anything first unlock her and then say whatever you wanna say.

He went to the cage and tired to open it but he wasn't successful as she and Daksh have used their powers to lock it.

Celestina: Aarav stop it. You won't be able to open it.

Aarav banged him legs on the cage in frustration.

Aarav: I said open it.

Celestina: I can't and I won't. I can't handle her if she woke up now. Untill now she was harmless but she could be dangerous for you all if she woke now.

Rudra: why will my Bhabhi harm me?

Mallika: exactly. Why will she do so?

Khanna: aunty please explain your words I am not able to understand.

Celestina: okay I will but please sit.

Everyone sat on the couch except Aarav and Shivaay who were trying to open the cage.

Celestina: Aarav Shivaay. Please don't try you cannot open it. And stay away from her, she will hurt you.

"You are saying my daughter will hurt me?" Aarav asked angrily coming near her.

Celestina: she is not your daughter.

"What?" He whispered

"She not your daughter not your wife" she said pointing Shivaay "neither your sister in law" pointing Rudra Om Khanna Priyanka. "Nor your grand daughter in law" pointing Daadu and Daadi. "Your friend" pointing Mallika. "Or your sister" pointing Daksh Gauri and Soumya.

Mallika: what are you saying aunty?

"Truth utter truth...." She continued after pause.

"Every year..... my child bear this every year." She wiped the tear flowed out.

Daadu: every year?

"Yeah. This is her birthday gift. Every year on her birthday she is bestowed with new powers. But she end up being like this. Sometimes she'll be like a kid or somtimes......"

Anika snarled in the cage. Everyone turned towards her. She was shaking the cage, already she had broke the chain which was tied on her hand.

Her eyes were blood red. All stood up.

"Oh god how can I forget she is Anika"

She broke the cage and stepped out. She was snarling angrily. Celestina used her powers to stop her by tying her with a magical rope. But she wasn't powerful enough to tie her she freed herself.

"Tina...." Aarav whispered. They were shocked. They saw something which is just seen in movies. But more shocking thing for them was Daksh did the same.

Anika broke that too. She attacked both her mother and brother in anger. She was not in her own control. She doesn't know what she is doing.

Celestina and Daksh fell on ground. Anika stepped near others.

"Everyone go inside. Please." But none moved from their place.

Shivaay took a deep breath and stepped forward towards her. Anika was glaring him. As he stood before her. She took a knife place on the table like a magnet had attracted it.

She pulled her hand back to sab him. Everyone gasped but he held her hand before she do anything and pulled her. Now her back is touching his chest. They were in a back hugging position. He held her tightly and she wiggled to free herself but all in vain.

No power of hers would work on him. No attacks of her will effect him. She can just lift him or erase his memory if needed.

Shivaay held her head by one hand and other hand was on her waist which was holding hers. He pressed his lips on her head. She stopped wiggling, her breathing got slow. Her eyes got back its colour. The knife dropped from her hand. She closed her eyes.

She slowly became calm. She rested her head on his shoulder. That's the only place she find peace. No matter how angry she become his hug, his embrace  his warmth have the potential to calm her.

Her lips curved up into a smile and she nudged into him more. Celestina smiled seeing that. She got up and caressed her head. She patted Shivaay head too. Shivaay exhales and smiled closing his eyes.

"Shivaay please take her in. Now she will not wake up soon" Celestina said and he picked her up. She encircled her arms around her neck.

He took her to their bedroom and everyone followed them. He gently placed her on bed and sat beside her. Celestina sat on the other side. Aarav was sitting near her legs.

"Aunty what were you saying? New powers birthday gift?" Mallika popped the question rolling in her head out.

Celestina smiled a bit.

"Even I have a question. I cannot digest the fact that she beared a lightning attack. I mean how is this possible for a normal human to withstand that?" Om expressed his confusion.

"First of all she is definitely not a 'Human'"

"What? She not a human then what? Is she an alien?"

"A Mermaid" Celestina immediately replied to Shivaay.

"Oh come on Tina it's not the time to joke." Aarav rolled his eyes.

"But I am not joking"

"Come on Mermaid and all are just imaginary stuff. They are not re......" Rudra's jaw dropped seeing her shifted her legs to tail.

Everyone took a step back. Aarav stood up from the bed.

"Do you still wanna say Mermaids are not real?"

Everyone were tongue tied. No words came out of their throat. What can we expect from them? They just saw a real Mermaid.

"You..... you..... you...." Gauri wasn't able to say anything further.

"Not only her me too, Pumpkin" Daksh turned legs into tail.

Are these three gonna let them live or kill them by giving continuous shocks.

Celestina stood up and walked near Gauri who was taking steps back in fear.

Celestina: don't worry I won't do anything.

"Yeh sab kya ho raha hai mere ghar mein? (What's happening in my house?)" Daadu held his head.

"Is she also...." Shivaay which just got a nod in reply.

"Haaye meri dono bahuye jalpari nikli!!! (OMG both my daughter in law are a mermaid!!)" Daadi exclaimed.

"Dono? (Both?)" Celestina asked in confusion.

Daadu: of course. Aarav is my son and Shivaay is my grandson. Their wives are my daughter in law and grand daughter in law. And both are a mermaid. Wow!!!

Everyone chuckled.

"You all have powers?" The baby Rudy was back. He asked with curiosity and his notorious kiddish nature. Celestina nodded her head in positive.

"Can you please show us?" Om joined too.

Celestina smiled and lift a vase kept on the table by her powers. Everyone smiled seeing the real magic happening in front of them.

"Wow!!!!" OmRuYanka squealed. Celestina placed the vase back.

"Ohh ab sab samaj aaya. Her jumping from the cliff, that fish." Shivaay spoke.

"Fish?"

"Once she ate a fish, alive"

"What??? This brat will never understand. We cannot harm them and she.... anyways I think you all might be clear. Why I left, why she was leaving."

"Because she cannot live on the land more" Priyanka said

Celestina: no!!! We can live any where. Okay let me explain again.

She took Anika's hand. "Can you see this?" She pointed a tattoo on her wrist.

(Note that this tattoo is on her wrist)

Shivaay: where did that came from? She didn't had any tattoo.

Celestina: exactly she didn't had any tattoo but today when she was getting her new powers. It was imprinted describing that she us the Queen of the Sea now. I left to save my family and subjects from danger. Then all pressurized me to be the Queen. That is why I wasn't able to come back. Now she is rhe Queen so along with the crown this tattoo is also given to her, which was in my hand before.

She showed then the tattoo on her wrist. It wasn't clear but little marks were still left.

Celestina: Aarav our daughter is a blessing she the one and only most powerful Mermaid amongst us.

Her voice held a pride and a huge smile.

Celestina: I was even refusing her to come here. Because I don't want her to live the same life I lived. All alone. I was helpless but not her. She won't go anywhere. She has the ability to handle everything from anywhere. So be happy everyone our daughter, your wife is not going anywhere leaving us.

Everyone smile.

Daadu: come on now let her rest. It's late.

Everyone agreed and went out but Celestina came back.

"Be careful Shivaay she can be harmful yet. But I know you will handle her"

"Okay aunty"

"It's mom for you" she said while leaving. He smiled and lied beside her cuddling her, she smiled in her sleep and nudged into him.

*************

Bonjour!!!

So here's the end of Sea Maid's Love.

Hope you enjoyed the story, I did.

As requested no separation track. Now they'll live happily ever after.

(Ps ignore the mistakes if any)

Stay safe be happy take care of yourself and your loved ones.

So signing off.

Love Love ❤❤

M. S.