I walked up to the room, watching as Rudra and Devi walked side by side.

Her hands fidgeted, picking at her fingers..

I rested one hand on hers, " Don't do this, she'll be fine, " I whispered and she nodded.

" I hope so. My sister is one of the strongest people I know, but she has the softest of hearts. It can't take any more heartbreak, " She wiped her tears, pulling Rudra into her arms.

" Papa can't I come with you? " He asked, eyes wide.

It was surreal to me how we went from young teenagers to parents, " No Rudra, you need to wait. I need to talk to bua alone for a while, " I kissed his forehead before looking at the massive doors.

We may have been living as entertainers in Maharaj's court, but he treated us like his own family. It filled my heart with immense gratitude.

I knocked on the door and after a rather silent murmur of, " Go away, " I pushed the doors open.

" Didn't I tell you to go away? " A voice rasped from the room.

Immediately as I opened the doors I felt the heat of a thousand suns on my face and I heard the sharp gasp my wife made.

"Saag? " I asked, moving in, holding a hand in front of my eyes to escape the glare.

" Didn't I tell you Ajatshatru. Leave, "

" I promise I'll leave. I just wanted to talk to you about a problem, " I answered, moving close to where she sat on the floor, her back to me.

" I'm not interested in solving- "

" Please, I'm asking as a friend, " I pleaded, sitting next to her as she shifted her face away. Even in this heat, I could see her hands turning pink in the heat... I didn't have much time.

She sighed, running one red hand over her face, wincing as she turned to me.

" What is your problem? And what kind of friend am I? You had to take an arrow because of me -"

" How is that -"

" Had I not done the most horrendous actions by willing the weapon here, we wouldn't have to come, you would not have to fight and you wouldn't be hurt. So don't sit there and tell me it isn't my fault."

" And what about the son that calls you? " I asked sharply and she looked up at me with fiery eyes, yet behind that heat, all I saw was dead and numbed emotions.

" He will grow up knowing that his mother hurt him. He will hate me -"

" No son could ever hate his mother-"

But I was interrupted by a harsh laugh, void of any joy, it was condescending and I knew what was coming.

" Please, " She laughed again and I was growing irritated by her nonchalance, " You are not the authority to say that sons can't hate their mothers.... You hated yours, " She said, her eyes dark as she stared at me.

" Saag, that is my past. We made a pact, we would never bring that up again -"

" And now you've proved your own point! I'm not a good friend, so please, don't waste your time and mine and just leave." She demanded, eyes back to staring at a painting that was going up in flames.

It was her in a garden, eyes closed.

" And what about the man who made that painting? " I asked and she scoffed.

" That man is better off without me. Ajatshatru go, you're wasting your time and mine. I've done my work as a flame, I helped kill the monsters, the weapon is destroyed. Now you all can go back to your lives -"

" You know Saag, I thought you were one of the most selfless people I know. You would give up everything for those who you loved. Despite not knowing history, you remade that project for me, staying up at night just so that I could get good grades, even as you knew you had an exam and didn't do as well as you wanted in it. I thought you would give up everything for those who you loved before you even thought about dying, because the Saag I know would never voluntarily go and kill herself, this isn't my Saag. She's just selfish" I answered, glowering at her.

Her eyes twitched at that... But the she looked at me yet again, eyes dead and gloomy.

" I'm sorry to have disappointed you then. You were the only one I hadn't, now I have, " She rasped out, coughing.

I was worried for her. The heat inside the room was increasing rapidly, sweat dripping like a faucet was opened above me.

" He begged me, "I tried again, clearing my head of the anger that was rising,
" You husband, he begged me to bring you back to him, to them. I don't know why, clearly you don't care enough to - aargh ! " I shouted in pain as I put my  hand on a hot metal sword.

" AJ! " She shouted, the heat evaporated from the room as she shifted over to me, her eyes wide.

" Stupid idiotic man! I told you to leave! " She screamed, rushing around the room as she brought a jug full of cold water. I could feel myself cooling down as well, body adjusting to the room temperature.

" Idiot! Didn't I tell you to leave -"

" Why do you care? " I moved my hand out of her reach, holding it to my chest as it burned, my mind throbbed with a headache from the incredible heat.

" I -"

"No no. You're not my friend, you've disappointed me, hurt me, everything that's happened to me is because of you so why bother. Revel in the fact that you burnt my hand too, " I shoved her palm off my shoulder, standing up.

" Please let me heal it -" She moved to hold my hand, but I pulled back.

" Please. Stay away. " I raised both hands to keep her away.

It hurt me so much to say all this to her, but this was necessary. She needed to realize that her grief isn't the only thing that's important in the world... And I understand her, but grief is shared... You don't shut out your best friend.

" I'll tell Yudhishthir and Abhi, Madhu, Mini. Their Sagarika isn't returning. They'll figure out how to live their lives. Your children have their father. They'll survive. Mini will be under my care. So move back Devi Karali. You have nothing to save here, " I moved back, turning around to walk out of the door.

" What else do you expect me to do! I have hurt everyone I love! My parents died, my grandparents died! Madhu is away from me because I was a fool! I nearly killed both my husband and son! What else am I to do! Just like a fire I've burnt all that there is around me!I have flamed all which I love! " She screamed.

" You were supposed to trust them. " I whispered, watching as she grabbed her head.

" Trust? I trusted Krishn! He sent me into that fire with my son! He knew I had him with me - "

" And for one moment did you not think that your trust should be greater for those you love! Your husband was about to collapse, shattered as you left him there! The guilt in your eyes that he found unreasonable yet his worry for his son froze his legs to the ground ! All because he loved a woman who was too scared to face the situation?  But he stayed strong because his son needed him. And you abandoned him to come here and grieve when you didn't even listen to anyone's words! " I shouted and winced again.

" Please, let me fix that - "

" Until you accept that we matter, that what you did was not your fault you're nothing to me Sagarika. You're not even Sagarika. You're just Karali to me till then."

" I - I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you - "

" Still not the right words. " I tapped my foot on the floor as she sighed, pressing her hands to her eyes.

" AJ please understand-"

" I am not your friends Devi Karali. I haven't given you the permission to call me so with the fondness I extend to my friends. My name is Ajatshatru. Yuvraj if we are being specific, " I snapped.

Her eyes went wide, " AJ - Ajatshatru please, "

" If you're not going to be amenable to my terms then I have no work here. Enjoy the rest of your mortal life alone Devi. "

Every word I said to her was thorns in my feet.

But we're friends... I can take a thousand arrows for her... Such thorns mean nothing.

As I reached the door, ready to open it, I heard it, the words I had been dying to hear.

" I'm sorry. I understand that it isn't my f-fault. " She whispered and I smiled.

Her head hung low as she looked away, eyes still guilty.

" I'm waiting for the super extra Saag Special Hug Sagarika... Your nephew wants one too you know. He's standing outside - oof! " I exclaimed as a hurricane of tears ran into me.

" Please get you hand treated or I'll gut you myself, " She murmured as I laughed out loud.

" I will, but shall we leave first? It's very hot here and I'm pretty sure you're making it cooler, "

" Why me? " She asked and I stared at her.

" Have you had a look at this!" I smoved my hand up and down my body, " This hot body is the only reason, " I stopped after suffering a punch to the gut, " Okay okay. Come, " I said, slinging my arm over her shoulder, just like old times.

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Radhekrishn ♥