'You guys have a lot of names, it's confusing.' Aspen frowned. We were in Pentatox, celebrating our victory.

'Can't do anything Aspen. Reincarnation and Soul Merge. Heavy words.' Veer spoke as he sipped on his Doiye. The production had started and was better than ever. This was our last meeting in Pentatox, and we would only meet after a year.

'Indeed. Indeed.' I nodded as I sipped from Veer's beverage. 'Also, I can feel the change. Then and Now.'

'Don't worry guys, chill. You're technically in the bodies of fifteen-year-old, maybe sixteen. Plus, you're in the 21st Century now. Happens.' Varya gave Mat a high-five. 'Change has to be evident.'

'I know right. They're both in normal clothes after such a long time.' Cecila exclaimed.

We laughed. It was the truth. I had slipped into a crop top and ripped jeans after what felt like centuries. My hair was finally in a dutch braid and I had no magical makeup on. Being the Queen and strict and all was pretty rewarding, but I also missed being the reckless Karishma I used to be. I also missed that Ryan before Veer. Truth is, it's not two of us, it's four of us. And we kind of coexist even though the numbers aren't literal.

Guys, let's come to the point.' Mat reminded.

'Babe chill!' Varya reacted. Mat gave her a pat on her head, they were so much like us.

'He's right, we shall focus on the actual agenda of this meeting now.' Cordelia smiled. The only one who was not infected with millennials genes was her, and it was pretty cute. She was still my best friend.

'Okay, so Varya, you'll be the Princess of the Ocean, the one who revived the Ocean Goddess will rule right beside her.' I took the notepad out, where I had written it all down. Finally, my wish had been executed.

'I'm not mermaid, remember?' She seemed to be over it. The tone of her voice indicated.

'But you do have powers child, and your role has been influential yet evident. You have proved that blood doesn't define character. You shall be the Princess of the sea, where you belong.' Cordelia spoke.

'Mat and Dad would be the Cheif Warriors of the Enchanted Islands, one each. Aspen would look after the production, agriculture, environment, and the imports and exports of goods.' I continued.

'Lot's of work.' Aspen exclaimed.

'I miss Roy.' Mrs. Roy broke down into tears. 'I miss Matilda, I miss Savannah, I miss Fayna.'

'Mom, come on, I'm Ryan and I'm here for you.' Veer said. The merging of the two souls was a new and confusing concept for all, but then, it had always been a tradition. Magic knows no bound or extent in Etis.

'Mrs. Roy, you would continue being the Director of the School of Etis. Your expertise is appreciated. Mr. Roy would be proud of you.' I smiled. 'And your child, he'll be prouder. His dad is a fighter.' The losses, they hurt, but we had to move on. That's why they lost their lives so that our futures could be secure enough.

'Veer would rule the Enchanted Islands, and Cecila would be the President at Pentatox. Veer would continue to rule from his mansion on the other side of the Islands. Deisy would be the advisor of Etis.' I smiled. Everyone had an important and responsible role to play. 'Betta has officially been declared Head Shalec, and she would be regulating the relations between the Earth and Etis.' I finished.

'And Karishma would be ruling the Air Realm, the season sisters will go back to their work, trying to be more diligent than ever.' Veer spoke. 'And for everyone's knowledge, I'm saying this probably for the first time or the hundredth time, I don't really know, but India has successfully cracked the Covid19 vaccine, of course with a little touch of Deisy's serum prepared with a hint of Nathaira and Zachariah's soul. Earth will soon stop seeing deaths and overcrowded hospitals.'

'That's great. Although the truth is, this will take time. It's not easy to recover from a pandemic suddenly, even with the strongest of Magic.' Deisy smiled. 'But, its danger free now.'

'Important rules, We meet once in a year. I and Veer have decided to spend time on Earth equally, so everyone doesn't need to be present here all the time, just see that your responsibilities are being fulfilled in the best possible way.'

'That's all, hope we can uproot evil at its roots, and yeah, Hail Etis.' Veer raised his Doiye glass.

'Hail Etis.' Everyone cheered.

I and Veer left for Earth, to check on Earth and its recovery.

'In a way, Covid19 has been a reformation on Earth. It has swept Earth's very constitution off, making room for a fresh new page and endless opportunities.' Veer spoke as he looked up at the sky. Here, we had only a large moon that was lonely in the sky but complemented by stars and the clouds. He was the ruler of the night sky. The Moon.

'Just like I did.' I smiled.

'Yeah right.' He smiled back. We were sitting on our signature beach, feet stretched, and entwining. I turned over to him and we kissed. His eyes, I could see my Ryan and my Veer. The hair, it smelt like home. This was undoubtedly the best fusion, the best merge the Universe could ever have done. He tucked my hair behind my earlobe, just as he did every time we kissed. This time we lay flat on the sand, me on top of him, our bodies wrapped with each other, laced in the most delicate possible way.

That's when I got a text.

Dad: Bring Veer home. Its a dinner. Aspen, Mat, Cordelia, and Varya would be joining us. Mom agreed to make traditional Indian food. Prateek is excited to meet your new 'Literary Club' friends.

We were manipulating our poor family members. I gave a quick snicker and asked Ryan to come with me. (He was RyanVeer now and I was KarishmaMarvella, mine is weirder.)

'Where were you two?' Mom questioned as we came in. Dinner was almost ready and the aroma filled our living room. We were going to sit and eat in our balcony, which was the only place where all of us fitted together on the same plane surface.

'Uh, we have a Literary Fest at school coming up next month, we're Presidents, so we especially went shopping for that.' I replied. Queen or no Queen, Indian mothers could never accept a guy and her daughter being too close.

'But dad told you picked Ryan up because his dad wasn't home?' She raised an eyebrow. Dad chocked on his tea. Prateek narrowed his eyes at me and the others grinned and enjoyed the view.

'Ya, he is speaking the truth.' Ryan blurted and then went back to silent, statue mode.

'Then Riya? Raphael?'

'I mean yes, I picked him up and then we went shopping.' I stammered.

'A--

'Come on yaar Mom, we have guests over, chill!' Prateek stood up. He was learning the art of being a good big brother.

'Yes, yes.' She smiled and turned over her attention to food. She rarely cooked, but whenever she did, her happiness knew no bounds. 'So this is Jeera Rice and this is Chicken Butter Masala. These are mutton seek kebabs and that's kheer.'

'Ma'am, can you explain what are they? In detail?' Aspen smiled. My mom was the happiest person that day.

'So jeera rice is simply made with cumin and butter. Chicken Butter Masala contains a range of ground spices, curd, and of course butter. Mutton seekh kebabs are boneless mutton meat mashes with spices, chili, and lots of flavors and deep-fried in oil. Kheer is made of rice and milk heated on the stove.'

'They sound interesting.' Aspen thanked Mom. 'Actually, I and my brother are new to this place, we belong to Nigeria.'

'Food here is fattening and oily.' I frowned. My mother glared at me. 'But I love them.'

'Aunty, can I take the seekh kebab and the jeera rice to the kitchen for twenty minutes?' Ryan inquired. I knew where this was going.

'Why beta?' My grandma enquired. Everyone waited curiously, eating the Kheer and for Veer to come back. The aroma, oh god. After twenty minutes, he came back with a pot full of food.

'My special mutton biryani, prepared by Aparajita aunty's excellent kebabs and rice.' He smiled and served.

'He makes the best of the best Biryani in the whole wide world!' I jumped around, with my plate full.

'How do you know?' My mom smiled. 'I love this Biryani. Where did you learn it from Ryan?'

'Mom!' I stretched.

'My dad taught me. He was a fan of Biryani.' Veer's eyes dropped. I squeezed his hand underneath the table. We continued eating in silence, partially because Mr. Roy was being missed and partially because we were too selfish to share the biryani's exquisite flavors with each other.

About three years later~

'Dude how many times do I tell you? Do not forget your stuff back in Etis!' Ryan shouted. He was terribly annoyed. I had left my handbag in Etis now. "You're the Queen for heaven's sake!'

'I go there frequently, and I can't even leave stuff back here, it's awkward for my mom and brother. It happens na, sorry baba.' My study table was heaped with sticky notes, notepads, and highlighters. I was going to be attending my dream school, Cornell University for my undergraduate studies. The college had been my dream, it always was.

'Tell me, all books in?'

'Yes, English literature. Check. Creative Writing. Check. Classics. Check. Film Studies. Check. Notebooks. Check. Highlighters and stationary. Checking.'

'You better finish packing until I come back from Etis.' He warned me.

'Fine.' I pouted.

Ryan was quick as lightning, and after an hour of arguments and scolding and haste, we finally reached the airport and I finally got on the plane.

'Dude, I'm flying.' The guy near me screamed excitedly. He was a typical geeky one. 'Can we exchange seats? I want the feel of flying.' He told me.

'Sure.' I smirked. I was tempted to show him my wings and tell that I didn't need to sit in a flying plane to fly, but magic is beyond human brains. His would probably melt.

Life at Cornell was pretty fast and exciting. I got myself a dorm and I had two excellent roommates, one from Texas and one from Belgium. We got along really well. I enjoyed each of my classes, and the projects and assignments given were cooler than ever. I had a Bartending job at night and I wrote as a freelancer. Aspen always texted me and chattered about the fact that I could manage so much in both the roles I played. A college student as well as the Queen of an Air Realm. Ryan wasn't less either. He lived in Mumbai, and he was studying law and administration. And then he was the King of the Enchanted Islands, and the balance between both his roles was commendable. We were the first people of Etis who were equally active in both the worlds except for the Shalecs, whose profile was completely distinctive again.

And then came my summer break, I could not believe a year had passed already in my college, and everything seemed fine. The Earth was back to normal, a newer normal although, Etis had been reconstructed and ran even more effectively than before, and mom left no chance to pounce at me with her 'just Indian mom questions'.

'Riya, better tell me if you have a foreigner boyfriend, and better tell me where he is from. Did you have sex? Have you attended parties? Did you join a frat? And I'll be there to pick you up tomorrow.'

'Chill babe. Chill. No foreigner boyfriend mom, no. And seriously, sex? Mom I'm hardly twenty! Sex will hurt! And yes, official hardcore party girl now mom, I work in a bar for god's sake! And no, I don't like Fraternities. Please will you stop throwing so many questions? And by the way, I'll be home on my own along with Ryan, his sister works at the airport and he's gonna be there with her, he visits her often. Don't worry.'

'This Ryan guy, you sure na?'

'Mom! Yes, he might be a better someone, will you please lay off? He's a really cool guy, and please, dad is calling you, he just texted me. Go talk to your hubby!'

I was confused about whether I should laugh or cry at her antics. I had a flight in an hour, and here my mom was, throwing questions (money) at me as if I were some temple donation box. I boarded my flight and looked out, as I came closer to my India. Him. Home. Ryan.

'Kashi!' He waved as soon as I came out of my terminal. A flight from New York was long, unarguably. I revised an entire chapter on my way, watched around three movies, and ate posh gourmet meals. Seeing Ryan after a year made my heart leap out of its place (not literally). We moved towards each other.

He slid his hand down my waist and smooched me gently. No wonder people eyed us awkwardly, but our eyes lightly glowed, as we kissed soulfully, amidst an airport crowd of Indian gossip mongers, disgraces to our kind.

Who cares.