Aviram :

I COLLAPSED, on the carpeted hallway, outside the room.
Before the very same pillar that had once shattered her ancestral ghungroos.
I was down on my knees.
Now I sat with the weight of her shattered dreams, yet again.

The world closed in and on me.
I felt numb.

Never had I felt this helpless.
"Raja ji.. please calm yourself down.", I heard Santosh.
And yet, I could hear nothing.

Nothing except her.
Her whisper.

I.. love you.. Ram..

She loved me.
A beast, a heartless man who didn't even dream of love anymore.

She loved me, and the same love had costed her so much.

Nayantara ran down to me.
"How is Maa?", She asked, clearly panicking.
"She is being treated.", Santosh replied on my behalf.
She looked at me, teary eyed.
"Papa.. will you do nothing about this?", She asked softly.
"Do what?", I asked, almost involuntarily.
"Take revenge! They hurt Maa! More appropriately your Amma! She hurt Maa!", Nayantara said.

I narrowed his eyes, through a blur of tears.
"Amma?", I asked in a dazed whisper.
"Yes! I saw her! She had thrown those glass pieces!", Nayantara said immediately.

I wasn't in control anyways, but at this, I completely let go of control.
Without another word I stood up.
I noticed Santosh get alerted.
I looked at him.

"Get Nayantara ready for tomorrow's flight to her school.", I said simply.
"But Papa—"
"You must rejoin school and study. I will keep you informed about the ongoings here.", I said simply before striding out.

•

Vinay sat on the prison floor, back against the cold wall.

The police officers had not left a single opportunity to humiliate him.
Illegitimate, undeserving, a pathetic leech who was simply ungrateful.
He knew he was all of it.
He had heard it ever since he was born.
All his life, he had fought for the respect of at least a human being.
Yet he was always called the dirty blooded dog of the palace of Gods.

His father had loved him, but only away from the public eye.
His mother had loved him, but only when no one was watching.
And Anamika had loved him, but he had only intended to use her to punish his step brother.

Deep down, he knew the step brother wasn't the cause of his misery, yet he hated the man.
He was too ideal, too perfect, too loved.

The prison gate opened in the dark.

Vinay sat up, a chill ran down his spine.
The police officers had always found a way to his prison to went out their frustration.

He narrowed his eyes.

It wasn't the policemen.

"Aviram?", He whispered gradually standing up.
I inhaled the stale scent of the cell. In the dimly lit jail, I could see his covering figure. He looked pale, injuries lined his body.

He had been tormented, for sure.
As he deserved to be.

A police officer stood outside the cell.
"Call Mrinalini Devi.", I whispered, the tone was ice cold.

"Why Maa? What has happened?", Vinay asked, the tremble in his voice was audible.
"Your Maa will explain.", I replied.

"Listen.. I-I have done nothing.. I am sorry about your business..", Vinay stammered, almost freaking out.
Within a few minutes Mrinalini Devi stood in front of the prison gate.

"Aviram? What are you doing here?!", She said, her voice laced with fear.
Of course, she was guilty.
"Did you hurt Devika?", I asked, my voice had toned down to a dangerous whisper.

There was silence for moments.
I drew in a deep breath.

Forgive me Father. Today, I break my promise.

I lurged towards Vinay and punched him hard across the face.
He fell onto the floor and hit his head, groaning in pain.
I heard Mrinalini Devi gasp.

"No! No! What are you doing?!", She stammered.
Suddenly the vision of Leela resurfaced before my eyes, the tears that had run down her eyes, the pain that she had when she clutched onto me.

She was hurt because of me, because of these people who I had called my family.
I deserved punishment, but before that, these two deserved it.

I pulled up Vinay with one arm and pushed him against the wall. I clutched his throat, feeling an unfamiliar rage.
"I-I did nothing-", He gasped for breath.

"Mrinalini Devi, confess!", I shouted.
"Yes! Yes I did it! I tried to hurt her! Leave me son! I did it!", She said immediately, sobbing already. I stepped away from Vijay who immediately collapsed on the floor.

"That woman was eating up your head. You were breaking rules of the palace! I was just trying to protect—"

I looked at her sharply.

"Or you were simply taking revenge.", I said coldly.
She fell silent, realising she was caught.

I stepped out of the prison.

"That woman is my wife, Amma.", I whispered looking her in the eye, "For every drop of her tear I might burn the whole city down.. you have made her blood flow, you have hurt her in ways that will sting the most.."

My clips curved into a thin smile.
The Beast smile.

"You will regret it. You will beg for forgiveness and yet you will not get any.", I added.

She paled three tones.
"This-this is not you.. Aviram could never.. he could never hurt his brother.. talk to his Amma this way.. don't you see? That woman is changing you! You have become a fool in love!", She said immediately.

I smiled, amused.

"Indeed. The brother who intentionally snatched my wife, the mother who intentionally snatched my throne.. I have always treated you both well because I was a fool who followed Satya Yug rules in Kal Yug. But now..", I glanced back at Vinay who sat, looking at me loathfully,
"Things have changed."

I raised my finger and looked Mrinalini Devi in the eye.

"The good will get good and the bad.. well, the bad will be punished. Have a great time.. in the prison.", I said sharply before striding out.

•

Devika :

I finally opened my eyes.
My head felt heavy and I couldn't feel my feet.

"Ram..", I whispered almost involuntarily.
Just then I felt his hand, clutch onto mine.
I glanced at him.

He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"Are you okay?", I asked looking at the mess that his hair was, the tear smitten eyes.

He edged closer with a subtle smile.
A smile of relief.

"You are injured.. and you are asking me?", He asked.
His tone, it was so soft and tender. As if the affection of worlds laced it.
"You look like you haven't slept.", I whispered.
He slowly started adjusting my pillow.
"Maybe I haven't.", He said, smiling softly.

I noticed his knuckles. They were bleeding.
I immediately sat up.

"Leela—"
"What has happened?! You.. are bleeding! Ram for one day I fainted and look what you have done!", I said frantically, holding his hand closer to my face.

"Leela, you need to lie back.", He said lovingly.
"Not when my husband comes back injured!", I said sharply.
He sighed, with a smile.
"Your husband is absolutely fine, Leela.", He said pulling his hand out of my grip, and softly caressing my hair back.

I looked at him, almost dazed.

He looked so serene.
His eyes, today they sparkled differently, and it was not just from the tears. His lips were curved into a smile of comfort.
It was almost like, he was home.

And then I abruptly remembered.

"I.. I said something before I fainted.. didn't I?", I asked softly.

He looked at me, the smile intact.
"Oh yes.. you did.", He said.

I gulped nervously.

"And? What is your answer?", I stammered, feeling a strange fear grip me.
What if it was one sided?
And now he'd say I'm just a friend and I'd be a fool in love?

He turned and sat with his back resting on the bed.
He pulled me from behind, as I reluctantly placed my head on his chest. He held my hand with the very same injured one. And the other hand wrapped around my waist.

I had never felt so wrapped by warmth, in a lifetime.
I knew he inhaled my scent. He shut his eyes as he rested his forehead on my shoulder.

"My answer.. it is a little long. Say essay type.", He whispered.
"I have you a one line statement and you'll give me an essay? It's so like you, Raja ji.", I said, breaking into a smile.

"Then maybe I should start.."

•••

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