Daksh crossed his arms, explaining to the younger Kauravas about survival. Yet, his keen eyes didn't miss the sweet look in Ishani's eyes when that man hugged her.

So this was the end, was it ? She'd find her true purpose, fight all the villains in her life and marry Karna, who would always be by her side.

A loyal couple who loved each other, till the very end. The classic love story of a powerful woman realising her true worth and saving the man she loved from sinking into the deepest pits of hell.

What a touching picture fate created and showed them. But he knew they were far from this. Their fates were entangled in one of the worst ways ever. Daksh could sense the dark obsession Dev's eyes held for his friend.

Karna had a darker personality and man, he could be terrifying.

Devajit. Such a lovely name if it weren't for the fact that he was born in hell. To say terrifying would be an understatement.

Monsters would cry when he smiled, for it was a sign that their hearts would be carved out of their chests, if they ever had one.

A damned soul who knew nothing but murder and possession. However, he hadn't done anything to the Gods, and even enjoyed his life quietly. Not once had he participated in the battle between the Devas and the Asuras, and even the Trimurtis hadn't said anything about him.

When Narad had questioned Lord Brahma, the latter only smiled. Said that some people were always beyond understanding.

It was puzzling indeed. Even his Gurudev had suspected that it was a clever ploy, laying low for a while to attack them mercilessly.

And then he shocked the entire celestial world by fusing into Karna. A man whose life was doomed to end in tragedy. Karna surely would have lost his mind at the sheer amount of cruelty and evil this bastard possesed.

If only Daksh knew that Dev was laughing at his stupidity right now.

Devajit was more powerful than anyone knew. He had a separate consciousness, allowing him to block his thoughts and actions from Karna. He hid his deranged obsession and smiled sweetly, letting out only parts of his behaviour to his sweetheart.

Karna loved Ishani for her weird quirks and strange personality, but Dev had never told him how and when he had fallen for her. He assumed it was due to the same reasons, but had never thought it wasn't the same.

Dev had known her long before. He knew it would only cause suspicion in Karna's head so he stayed mum.

To Dev, Ishani was an angel. An innocent woman she was, according to him. He knew she wasn't soft-hearted and delicate, but sometimes such people were the most innocent. Unaware that no matter how strong were the walls she built, messed up psychopaths like him always found their ways to tear them apart and ensure only he was its sole owner.

Only a monster could protect her from the other monsters. Only he knew that Ishani was his redemption, a Goddess he wanted for himself.

She strengthened herself so that no one could exploit her. She vowed to stand up for the right. 

But Dev was an entirely different matter. Right or wrong, he didn't care. If he felt it was needed, he got it. Who the hell said Gods were always right and demons were always wrong?

Gods were weird, especially those three. But he never cared since he didn't want to break his head over the question of how he was born and why being kind to all living beings would ensure he went back to same place he supposedly came from.

When those three had created her, Dev was curious as to how she would turn out to be. 

Was she going to be sheltered and moulded into those Goddesses whom all worshipped? He thought it would definitely be the case, only for a heartbroken wife to curse the innocent child. With so much pain and agony that no human could ever withstand.

And slowly, the man who never knew he had a heart felt it beating loudly against his cold chest.

He saw her previous self. She wasn't ugly as they claimed. She was really cute, like a soft round ball. So innocent and pure that bastards like Arjun Mehta ruined her.

He watched. Watched as that bastard tormented her in ways no normal person should have. And Dev never liked the feeling when he saw her passed out and exhausted, blood all over herself.

His claws wanted to be free. To kill him in a crazy fashion for hurting her. Before he could do anything, that God who rested in the milky ocean, yes, his name was Lord Vishnu, wasn't it ?

He bought him back, somehow restricting his ablility to travel worlds. Dev, for the first time, felt like gnashing his teeth and roaring his lungs out. His heart felt itchy.

Was this anger or irritation ? 

"Why did you poke your nose in my business ?" He frowned at His smile. This father-in-law, I mean God was smiling calmly when his precious daughter was reaping the faults of another ?

Vishnu closed his eyes, leaning against that scary snake, which always hissed and showed its red eyes whenever he saw him. Dev really wanted to tell him that he too felt the same, whenever he saw him.

What did he do, honestly? Looking and admiring his person wasn't a crime. Nobody else had the right.

"There are laws you cannot go against. Travelling between different time periods only messes with their lives. Her life is taking a turn for the worse, only because a certain being wants to satisfy his curiosity." Dev flinched, feeling his heart heavy. His shoulders subconsciously sagged as he felt a voice mocking him.

This was definitely guilt.

"What should I do ?" Vishnu opened his eyes, and Dev was startled. He had never such a pair of eyes. They held the most compassion and love, yet those very eyes were the cause of massive destruction. Those eyes showed his the deepest parts of himself, parts he had never known.

Dev took a deep breath. This God was scary. Scarier than Mahadev whose fury was well known.

"You shall change the destiny of Suryaputra Karna. Merge into him, yet different. Ishani shall soon return to the era she belongs. I shall be there, guiding her. Make him realise his worth and you too, shall learn some unforgettable lessons. "

"Okay." Dev nodded, wondering if Karna was destined for her. What a wonderful chance would it be, if that were to ever come true.

As expected, Krishna was there for them, slowly shaping them into their true self. But honestly, Dev liked Krishna more than Vishnu.

Because he bought him and Ishani closer, his cheeky jokes and teasing such a refreshing side. He was surprised that Krishna hadn't directly talked to him, though he knew all about his evil and merciless ways. Still, he played the matchmaker role for him and Ishani.

That damned father-in-law knew, yet he never said a word about it. The scary snake's hisses were enough proof of his disapproval, and Dev felt like a sourpuss.

"Karna?" Dev came back the world, looking at Ishani. He slowly smiled, kneeling down to make her surroundings neat enough for her to rest.

"I need to talk to Daksh.. I am sure it is something important. Since he had earlier taken me to Pataal ?" She pursued her lips, a hint of hesitation about his reaction. 

'Pataal ? Ah, after such a long time my home has become so interesting.' Dev laughed at the audacity of those geezers laying eyes on her.

"Ishani, he is your friend. You need not ask my permission to talk to him. Dev sure is possessive, but there's nothing he would do if you melt him into saying a yes." Karna grinned as he heard Dev growling.

If only this innocent idiot knew what that man was upto. He had the guts to take his woman away and sweet talk in her ears.

She nodded, gesturing Daksh to come along.  Dev took over, watching how that bastard held her hand and walked deeper into the forest. 

Ishani looked at their surroundings, observing how Daksh had created a barrier to prevent the conversation from being heard.

"Just because I was being chirpy that doesn't mean you are forgiven for what you did." She spoke sternly, and he sighed.

He anticipated this, but it was difficult for him too. He lived his whole life knowing that he didn't belong there, and had to pretend he was clueless when it came to her sufferings.

It was hard. Harder than acting in an opera house and winning oscars.

"I know, Ishani. Gurudev has asked me to inform you that he wanted to take you in, as his apprentice. Are you willing ?" 

"What will I learn from him ?" Daksh stared at her in surprise.

"You are willing ? Do you not think it is a plot to.." She silenced him with her hand.

"If it is a plot, I am sure Krishna will cut their heads off. So answer my question."

"Illusory magic and trickery. The use of DaiviAstras. Politics. The rest, it is presumed that Bhargava Parasurama and Maharshi Vishwamitra will be teaching."

"Okay. When he summons, I will be there. Convey my regards. Is that all you wanted to say ?" She looked at him softly, realising how brutally life had torn them apart.  

Six months ago, they were dancing to pop songs in elite clubs and making deals with famous businessmen. Now, they had different roles, navigating in a society they found too suffocating.

Atleast the people were somewhat better, but the society's innate qualities didn't change.

"I miss you. I miss us. Those boring, socialite parties suddenly seem so much better than living in a palace full of death traps. We were powerful and enjoyed those advantages we got. But in this era, we are nobody. There is no Advay or Kriti to cheer us up, no phone to call if we are away from each other. " Daksh whispered, wrapping his arm around her slender waist.

He missed those days she was by his side, all the time. What a fool he was, for neglecting her. If only..

"I know." She replied, but for him it was enough. Her eyes held moist sadness.

No matter how cruel that world was, somewhere she had slowly accepted it as her life. And then suddenly she was whisked into an unfamiliar world. As beautiful as it was, it held so much cruelty and restrictions that she felt trapped. Like a bird in a golden cage.

They stayed like that for a while, conveying all their platonic emotions. Ishani stepped back, smiling at him.

Her eyes didn't conceal her vulnerabilities, and it made him feel proud. Only he knew her that well. 

Love was really a beautiful thing, but the little details were often ignored. People would paint facades to ensure their hidden secrets weren't out.

But between friends, there was nothing like that. Daksh, Ishani, Advay and Kriti were open and honest with each other. They were entitled to say the harshest of words and still remain the best of friends, such was their bond.

"We need to go, Daksh. It's getting late. Karna and the others will be wondering.." His face suddenly twisted into a furious expression, and Ishani saw it.

"Ishani, Karna is a good man, and I'll give you that. But his persona, Devajit is someone I'd be wary of. "

"He's a result of his warrior bloodlust, and I understand." He chuckled darkly, knowing why Dev was so obsessed with her. How she didn't judge him for his cruel ways.

But she needed to know. Before she made a decision that she'd regret.

"Devajit is one of the most feared demon souls in Pataal. But he never interfered with the gods and dealt only with the underworld creatures. He is famous for his twisted ways of killings and tortures. His speciality was to carve their hearts out and show them before they died. I donot know how he merged with Karna, but he is clearly just not besotted with you."

Goosebumps erupted on her skin. Chills went down her spine. This guy who came straight out of a wattpad fiction was truly more dangerous than she thought.

Would be cage her ? Behave like a obsessed monster if she retaliated ?

She didn't know. And she didn't want to.

"Let's just leave it at that. I don't want to discuss this anymore." Her tired eyes suddenly hardened.

"And we'll pretend that we never had this conversation. I don't know Devajit's true identity."

"Okay." Daksh nodded, a glint in his eyes. His work was over. 

Ishani walked past him, looking for Karna. Her heart was a mess, but she kept her calm, showing a small smile.

To her utter shock, Karna's eyes were tinted red as she neared him, who was busy piling up soft grass fot them to sleep.

She was not at all ready to face Dev.

He looked up, an intense gaze that literally took her breath away. This man could talk with his eyes.

"Ishani, I know what that bas..Daksh has told you about me." He spoke plainly, not a trace of fury or malice.

She decided to be open. Actually, she should have expected it. If a guy was this powerful, a measly barrier wouldn't be an obstacle for him.

"Yeah. I mean, I didn't know about it.." She spoke casually, trying not to show her surprise when he interrupted her.

"Even Karna didn't know until now." She was stunned with this news, but didn't show it on her face.

"That's okay. We all have our secrets." He smiled mirthlessly.

"Even if they can destroy someone's lives ?" Ishani nodded slowly, gulping as his face neared hers.

If the others knew that she kept secrets that could destroy them, would they even respect her like they do now ?

"So dark, so deep, that secrets that we all keep.. " He whispered, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead as he resumed his work. He was glad she knew his true self.

It'd only make things easier, right ?

Ishani subconsciously left the breath she had been holding. She remembered Shakespeare's famous quote:

"Hell is empty; all the devils are here."

Indeed, one was right before her, one with a pretty face.

What a shame his pretty face was only a facade to hide his dangerous reality.

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