Avanthika shook Adway vigorously.
" I had told you. I had told you not to....
I had trusted you Adway Mathur!!! But you did just that! What are you?? "

Adway said nothing, just moved her away from himself, disturbed and irritated.

Avanthika stared at him with a disgusted expression, and then walked over to Amarendra who sat on the sofa, pressing his temple.

" And you? I had thought at least you are sensible? Two days!! Two days and yet she's unconscious!! And you people didn't even care to inform me for the whole of yesterday? What kind of men are you??? "
Avanthika's voice was fluctuating. She couldn't contain her anger at all.

She thumped down on a chair, swaying back and forth.
" Why are you doing these to us? Why don't you just let things be and move on? What's the use of digging up the dead?? 
Not everyone can be sporting enough as you both! After all, our pasts were not beds of roses! Then why Amarendra? Why Adway? "

Silence. Adway stood resting his body against the staircase, and Amarendra didn't stir nor look at Avanthika.

Devasena hadn't regained consciousness since last morning. The voice over of Adway that echoed through the hall must have had some deleterious effect on her psyche.
Amarendra had examined her, tried his best to bring her back, but her psyche was probably in a shock state. And she almost looked like in a deep sleep, leaving Amarendra and Adway confused to death.

Adway had called Amarendra and texted him a very basic plan of using the bizarre backgrounds of the palace to recreate the past somehow, and Amarendra had reluctantly given in, while Adway drove Devasena to Sreebhoomi. Though they had decided to recreate sort of some other things too as possible, she had reacted immediately and lost it all. Leaving them in an uncertainty as to when she'll regain it.

Avanthika had been frantically searching for her since last evening when she hadn't returned home. And only this morning had she decided to raid Sreebhoomi, because she hated this place. And Adway had not returned home since his arrival.

Avanthika leaned on the sofa. She too had stopped accusing them now.
The time had finally arrived, her mind echoed. Now when she'll get back to her senses, she'll be knowing everything. Avanthika heavily believed that. And she sprang up.

" I hate both of you. I regret bringing you back Adway!! You are a backstabber!! "

" Enough Avanthika! Enough of this shit I'm bearing for so long! Better stay within your limits or I'll... "

" You'll do what? " , Avanthika almost ran towards Adway. " Tell me, you'll do what? "

Adway looked away, pissing.
" And what limits are you talking of? Haven't you just crossed your limits? How would I know what you both might have done with a lone unconscious girl? "

" Avanthika!!!!!! "

The room almost burst with Amarendra's baritone. Adway too was having the most giving up expression as he walked away from her.

" You're overdoing with your words. We're sorry that we forgot to inform you anyway, doesn't really mean you can spill anything you wish from your mouth! "

Avanthika looked away, breathing heavily. Adway sat beside Amarendra, patting him.

"I'm sorry. " , Avanthika uttered after sometime.
" Actually, you both won't understand my situation. "

Adway nodded.
" We do Avanthika. But what I believe is, you should be more sporting about everything. Like not to blame for last life, and not take the blame as well. "

" Maybe I will. But if she doesn't? "

" Let that be upto her, why are you forejudging things? " , Adway shrugged.

Amarendra got up.
" We need to eat something. I am expecting a lot of upheavals in the upcoming hours. I'll get something. "
He went to the kitchen.

" What? Don't gimme those looks. Just don't! "
Despite his warning, Avanthika kept staring at Adway, cold as ice.

+++++

" She's breathing softly. I shook her, she didn't budge. I don't know when she's getting up. "
Amarendra said, serving sandwiches. Avanthika refused to have, and said, " We should pour cold water on her. Or play trumpets. "

" Are you really this kid? Or have you gone mad? " , Adway took a bite of his sandwich.

Amarendra took a seat, but didn't take the food.
" Not me. You're a kid. There a turmoil is building and you are having a feast. "

" Shut up Avanthika, don't be a spoil sport seriously! If Devasena really gets up with a complete memory, nothing can be more soothing than that. "

" Is it? " , Amarendra said, staring at the ceiling.

" Exactly. Not at all. But who can even make you people understand that? ", Avanthika hissed.

Adway looked at either of them and placed back the half eaten sandwich on the plate.

" What's that bandage on your hand? " , Avanthika asked.

Adway looked at Amarendra and then began caressing the bandage. Amarendra smiled, " That's the reason your friend is sleeping peacefully up there. "

Avanthika raised her eyebrows.
" Whatever! " , she took up a cup of coffee.

" By the way, Amarendra! This palace is really mysterious, and scary. I don't really see how you stay here alone. If I were in Devasena's place yesterday, I would have fainted long back. "

Amarendra smiled only.
Avanthika looked at Adway, " Clearly, you lost your royalty. "

Adway almost brushed away her comment by his expressions.

Amarendra again pressed his temple.
" A pressure is building within. I had always wanted her to remember everything, but today when she's on the verge of it maybe, I don't know how to get ready to face it. "

Avanthika placed the coffee cup back.
" What are we actually doing? How do we even know she's regaining her memory? I mean if I'm allowed, I'll sleep for a month! "

" What does she talk? " , Adway looked at Amarendra, clearly irritated with Avanthika.
" Do you think everything is so very normal with us? Well it's a fifty fifty situation. If she remembers, your bad.
If she doesn't, ours. "

+++++

Devasena sprang up on the bed. The entire world around her drastically changed forms, once again. And she felt as if bits of her were dismantling into nothingness. She slowly touched her left hand with her right, then ran fingers across her face and body. Things seemed too vague, too superficial now.

Devasena had imagined nothing of the vividness she actually belonged to. And now her every definition of life was reshaping.

Devasena slowly walked upto the door, that was almost connected to the staircase. She took firm steps forward, and down the stairs.

++++

Amarendra stood up as he saw her walking down the stairs, tall and straight. Adway and Avanthika did too. Avanthika was almost going forward, but Adway held her and nodded a no. They hardly knew what was coming.

Devasena came down and stood at the last step, staring intensely at Amarendra for a long time. Then her eyes rolled to the others in the room.
A smile crossed her face.

" I and my husband stand together in a hall with the one who murdered him, and the one who murdered me. Is this an irony ? Or an end? "

A silence occurred as if none breathed, nor even a heart did beat.

" Neither. It's a beginning. "
Amarendra smiled.