The rice ceremony of Manyata had in store the most beautiful sight. Devasena couldn't hold back her tears, and when she stole a glance at Amarendra to find if he was watching, she found something that dug her heart for a moment.

Amarendra's Katappa mama sat with his child in his arms, feeding her the first gulp of rice, fulfilling Devasena's wish from another life.
" Katappa, my child will play in your arms..... "

The ever barraged stream of losing everything at one sword stab, now flowed down Amarendra's eyes, his better half being it's only witness....

'Manyata', both her parents loved the name Avanthika suggested for the two days old flower that night. And Avanthika had rubbed off saline down her cheeks. Katappa had placed his soft hands on her shoulders.
" What's these tears for Avanthika? God has given you another chance to redeem yourself, just as he did to Adway....  And you both did, like god's blessed children. What more can we ask from the almighty??
Amarendra and Devasena have only suffered, throughout their lives. God has gifted them finally, each other's hands, and a sign of their love, they both can cherish...... "

Sreebhoomi had lit up tonight for the rice ceremony party of Manyata. The little baby had been dressed up in a huge baby pink frock. And with her 'boo's 'baa's and giggles, she was lighting up every lap that took her, be it her papa's colleagues, or her maam's MFA batch mates. And after making lap rounds, she would definitely stretch her hands out to her 'daddaa',who would come running, adjusting his spectacles. 'My darling', Katappa would take her up, and she would smile, as if home.

Avanthika stood at one corner, dressed in a beautiful wine red gown, and beside her stood Adway holding a glass.
" It's high time we forgive each other Avanthika" , he suddenly coughed. "We haven't talked properly for the last five months. It's a beautiful day, and maybe a beautiful way to forget everything and move on. We both misunderstood, and didn't clear it out either. Maybe that was meant to be. Can we just forget everything? "

Avanthika stared at him for sometime, and smiled. Adway sighed and smiled back.

***

Amarendra slowly got in the room. His wife was seated at the dressing table, unable to tie the string of her blouse.
Amarendra smiled, and walked upto her, clutching her from the back.

" Oh thank god you here.... Help me tie this please... " , Devasena made puppy eyes.

" Later." , Amarendra hugged her even tighter from the back, biting her right ear lobe.

" Aahh! You have such a terrible time sense Amara, we have guests waiting outside. "
Devasena blushed yet tried to be stern.

" It's good how you still blush even after having me as your husband for two lives. "
Amarendra grinned, and was immediately hit by Devasena.
" Shut up and tie the string. "

Amarendra did. " Tying the string..... " , he murmured.
" Do you remember the day our string got tied tight for the first time, and never fell apart? "

Devasena stared at him, her eyes slowly watering....
" How do you even imagine that I don't? "

******

Two years ago

Devasena knew she was losing consciousness. Not because the air was low, not because there was utter darkness, but because she was alone. And she knew she couldn't get back on her own, and neither could anyone help her in this maze. She knew she was dying, and that was all.

But then, she was a warrior, she couldn't give up that way. If she let go, and fell, no one could ever find her even if they could. She needed to constantly be the source of the sound that could lead to her.

With choking lungs and failing voices, she shouted,
" Amarendra!!!!!!!! "

The guide kept checking on the crowd.
" Please don't panic and please don't run here and there. Please stay here. I'm trying to reach other guides, they can definitely help us find her. "

Amarendra hadn't ever felt so weak.
" I cannot wait for a single moment. I need to go find my wife. And the only way I can do that is by getting lost. I'll definitely reach her that way. "

And before the guide could say anything, Amarendra was gone from everyone's sight.

Amarendra slowly walked down a corridor, with burning torches on either sides.
" Devasena!
Deva!
Are you there? Please answer me darling! Can you hear me? "

Amarendra slowly reached the other end of the corridor, and as he had expected, it opened up to six different doorways and he could definitely not choose one in particular, because he had planned to get lost only.

Suddenly a bitterness hit Amarendra, and that came out as streams down his eyes.

"  What's wrong with you god??? Why can't you let me have my Devasena? Why do you always plan to separate us by one way or the other?? But I promise you, I won't let you win in this life even. No, I can't live with the memories of the Devasena that used to be! I want my Devasena, in this life, do you get that god??? I want my Devasena, to keep her forever!!! "

Amarendra ran down a gateway to another corridor, shouting, " Devasena!!!!! "

No one answered back. Only his echo hit his ears.

After almost thirty minutes of running helplessly down corridors, Amarendra was almost ruined. He had started to believe that neither would he found out Devasena in this maze, nor could himself get out anymore..

He shouted immensely.

" Why are you doing this to me Devasena?? Why????? I know, I know, you believe that I don't love you, I only love a past form of yours, don't you believe that? I know, I know, you are testing me, aren't you?? Oh Jesus!!! I love you Devasena!!!! I love every form of yours, in every life!!!! Remember Devasena, even if I am born a king and you a beggar, I would love only you!! Why don't you get that Devasena!!! I need you, I want you! "

Amarendra fell on the ground, holding his head.

Just then, a faint voice hit his ears,

"Amarendra!!! "

Amarendra instantaneously got up,
" Devasena!!!! "

It took him five minutes to realise that the sound came from behind the wall just in front of him. He put his ears, " Deva, do you here me? "

Devasena couldn't hold back her tears, " I knew, I knew you would find me Amara, I can hear you!!! "

But even after walking down the entire length of the wall, they couldn't find a way to reach each other.

Suddenly Amarendra grew firm.
" Devasena, move away from the wall. "

" What? "

" Do, as said. "

She did.

And within moments a huge hole was created in the wall, with one blow of Amarendra Baahubali's fist.

Devasena couldn't help but cry out loud at his sight on the other side of the hole.
Amarendra passed himself through the hole, and hugged her like never before.

" I love you Deva!!! I really really do!! "