Chapter 25
Breakfast ended with laughter, teasing, and many stolen glances of Aariv at Veeransh's calm face.
But the moment the plates were cleared, Veeransh did something unexpected.He stood up, Still holding Aariv’s hand.Aariv blinked up at him, surprised by the sudden tug.
Veeransh didn’t bother to soften his tone.
Veeransh:Maa.
We are going out.
He didn’t ask.
He announced.
Shanti looked pleasantly confused.
Rajnath raised a brow.
Ridha’s eyes widened with excitement.
Rudra nearly choked on water.
And Yug.... Yug smirked like he had just witnessed the birth of a new era.
Yug (teasing Aariv under his breath):
“Ja… ja… long drive and all huh.”
Aariv slapped his arm lightly, cheeks turning pink.Ridha dramatically flapped her hands like a Bollywood mother.
Ridha:Arey JAOO! Bata kyu rhe ho??
Enjoy your day! Jaldi aane ki koi zarurat nahi hai.Pura din ghoomna. Samjhe?
Veeransh shot her a glare that only made her laugh harder.Without another word, Veeransh led Aariv outside.Aariv stumbled, trying to match his long strides.
The moment they reached the porch, Veeransh walked straight to his SUV, opened the passenger door, and looked at Aariv expectantly.
Veeransh:Andar baitho.
The tone gave Aariv no choice.
He nervously clutched the scarf around his neck.
Aariv:P... par hum jaa kahan rahe hain?
Veeransh leaned closer, one hand braced on the door, caging Aariv without touching him.His eyes locked with Aariv’s dark, unreadable and intense.
Veeransh (low voice):Pata chal jaayega.
Pehle baitho.
Aariv swallowed and nodded quickly.
He slid into the seat, heart beating faster than it should.Veer shut the door gently but his jaw was tight, eyes burning with a silent storm.
He walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and without waiting another second, started the engine.
Aariv looked down at his hands nervously.Veer had said nothing yet.
Not about the mark.Not about the dream.Not about the way he held him.
But his knuckles were white on the steering wheel.
His aura…
dangerous and protective.
The car pulled out of the haveli gates.
Aariv finally whispered, anxiety slipping into his tone
Aariv:Mr. Rathore… hum… hum jaa kahan rahe hain?
Veer didn’t look at him.His jaw clenched harder.
Veeransh:Tumhare sapne ka jawab dhoondne.
Aariv’s eyes widened instantly.
Veer finally turned his head slightly, gaze burning into him.
Veeransh: Aur… us mark ka bhi.
Aariv touched the scarf unconsciously.Veer’s eyes followed the movement dark, furious and possessive.He looked back at the road and accelerated.Nothing more was said.But the air in the SUV was thick With tension.With danger.
With an answer neither of them was ready for.
.........
The temple courtyard was quiet when Veeransh parked the SUV.
Aariv looked around, nervous, clutching his scarf.But the moment their feet crossed the temple threshold.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
All the temple bells began ringing together.Loud, Violent and Echoing.
Aariv jumped, heart leaping into his throat.The sound thundered through every corner of the ancient temple.
Veeransh’s hand immediately shot out and grabbed Aariv’s wrist protectively.
From the inner sanctum, Pandit Harinarayan turned slowly.A mysterious smile curved his lips.
Harinarayan:Aakhir… tum use khud hi lekar aa gaye.
His eyes twinkled knowingly.
“Kaha tha na maine… bhagya ka likha koi nahi mita sakta?”
Aariv’s throat tightened.
Bhagya?
Destiny?
What does that mean?
He looked between them, confused, scared.Veeransh stepped forward, jaw tight.
Veeransh:Bhagya ka likha hi… jaanne aaya hoon.
Aariv stared at Veeransh silently, eyes wide.Harinarayan folded his hands behind his back.
Harinarayan:Kya jaana hai, Veer?
Before Veer could answerAariv whispered without meaning to.
Aariv: Sach.
Veeransh and Harinarayan both turned sharply to him.Aariv lowered his eyes, embarrassed by his own trembling voice.Veeransh looked at Harinarayan again, voice rough and urgent.
Veeransh:Apne atita ka sach jaanna chahta hoon.
His eyes flicked to Aariv.
"I can’t risk him. Not even a little.”
Aariv stiffened.
Him?
Risk?
Why is he talking like… I matter?
Harinarayan raised a brow.
Harinarayan:Kyun? Kya lagta hai yeh tumhara?
He looked straight at Veer.
“Na tum is shaadi ko maante ho…
na tum ise pyaar karte ho.”
Aariv’s breath caught.
His eyes filled instantly.
He looked down, hiding his trembling mouth.Veeransh’s jaw clenched.
His fists curled.His voice came out harsher than he intended.
Veeransh:That doesn’t matter.
Harinarayan (sharply):Kyun nahi karta?Huh, Veer?
Veer turned away for a second, trying to calm something roaring in his chest.Then he faced the pandit and spoke the truth that slipped out before he could stop it.
Veeransh:Because…
vo ab mera hai.
Aariv felt the words like a shock through his entire body.
He blinked rapidly, trying not to cry, but a lone tear escaped and slid down his cheek.He wiped it quickly, hoping no one noticed.
Harinarayan noticed.
Veeransh noticed.But neither said anything.Only Harinarayan’s voice broke the heavy silence.
Harinarayan:Wahi toh puchh raha hoon.Kya hai tumhara?
Veeransh’s eyes darkened.
Veeransh:Vo…
mai isko bata doonga.
His tone softened dangerously.
“Aap pehle humein woh batayein… jo sirf aap jaante hain.”
Harinarayan chuckled softly.
Harinarayan:Achha baba… batata hoon.
He took a step back and gestured.
“Par pehle tum dono… aaraam se baith jao.”
Veeransh didn’t wait.
He took Aariv’s hand openly, firmly and walked deeper into the temple with him.
Aariv followed quietly, heart racing, fingers tingling in Veer’s grip.
Harinarayan led them to a secluded chamber dimly lit, filled with prayer lamps, old scrolls, and ancient symbols on the walls.
A woven mat lay on the floor.
Veeransh sat first.Then pulled Aariv down beside him.Close enough that their shoulders touched.
Aariv looked at him, startled, confused.
But Veeransh didn’t look at him.
He didn’t look anywhere else either.
He just sat rigid, jaw tight, eyes locked on Harinarayan as if finally ready to face the truth…
Whatever it was.
Harinarayan sat in front of them.
A heavy silence settled.
Then he spoke:
“Jo sach tum dono jaan-na chahte ho…
vo tumhari soch se bhi gehra hai.”
The lamps flickered.
The air turned colder.
Aariv unconsciously grabbed Veeransh’s arm.
Veer didn’t push him away.
He covered Aariv’s hand with his own protectively.And as the shadows on the walls stretched unnaturally long…
......
The chamber was dim, lit only by flickering lamps.
Aariv sat between Veeransh and Harinarayan, hands cold, heart beating too fast. The ancient symbols on the walls looked alive in the dancing light.Harinarayan clasped his hands together and exhaled deeply.
Harinarayan:Kahaan se shuru karu…
His voice echoed strangely in the chamber.Veeransh leaned forward, eyes intense.
Veeransh:Shuru se.
Har. Cheez.Jaanni hai mujhe.
Harinarayan’s gaze softened with something like pity.
Harinarayan:Seh loge har sach?
Veeransh’s jaw tightened.
Veeransh:Koi shak hai?
Harinarayan’s smile faded.
He looked directly at Aariv.
Harinarayan:Tumhari nahi…
tumhare patni ki baat kar raha hoon.
Aariv’s breath caught.He lifted his eyes slowly and found Veeransh already looking at him.For a moment… everything went quiet.
Veeransh didn’t waver.
He slid his hand into Aariv’s and squeezed it firmly.A possessive, protective grip.
Veeransh:Yes.
He can.Main hoon iske saath.
Kuchh nahi hone dunga.
Aariv’s heart lurched painfully.
Harinarayan nodded.
Harinarayan:
“Thik hai.
Toh main kahaani sirf sunaunga nahi…
balki tumhare saamne poora atit ek film ki tarah dikhane wala hoon.”
Aariv’s eyes widened.
Aariv: V... vo… kaise?
His voice shook in fear and curiosity.
Harinarayan’s lips twitched.
Harinarayan:Masoom to bohot hai ye , kitne bhagyashali ho tum.
Aariv flushed.
Before he could say anything, Veeransh frowned.
Veeransh:Naanu… please.
Aariv blinked.
Aariv:N.... Naanu?
He repeated the word, confused.
Harinarayan burst into laughter, loud and echoing.
Harinarayan:Ab khud bataoge…
ya main bataun?
Veeransh glared at him, cheeks faintly pink.
Veeransh:Vo… naanu....
Harinarayan raised a finger to silence him.
Harinarayan:Main bata deta hoon.
He grinned.
“Main iska khud ka saga naana hoon.”
He tapped Veer’s shoulder.
“Aur ye… badmaash ladka.”
Aariv stared, jaw dropping.
Veeransh felt Aariv stiffen beside him and muttered.
Veeransh:Naanu… aapne hi toh kaha tha…aap sanyasi ho.”
Harinarayan shrugged proudly.
Harinarayan:Toh kya hua?
Sanyasi hoon…par tumhara naana to hoon hi!”
Aariv looked between the two with wide eyes, completely stunned.
This terrifying pandit…
this mystical man who controlled rituals and saw the future…
was Veeransh’s maternal grandfather?
Aariv (whispering):Ye… kya…
Harinarayan chuckled again.
Harinarayan: itna mat chouko, beta.
Ye to shuruwat bhi nhi hai.
Veeransh exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead.Harinarayan leaned closer, expression suddenly serious.
Harinarayan:Chalo.ab tyaar ho jaao apne baare me baad me bata dunga
His voice dropped.
Aariv shivered.
Veeransh shifted closer to him, tightening his hold protectively.
.....
The chamber fell completely silent.
Only the soft crackling of the lamps echoed around them as Harinarayan sat upright, his posture suddenly powerful…
ancient… as if he were invoking something far older than himself.
He looked at the two boys in front of him.
Harinarayan:Ek doosre ka haath pakdo…aur aankhein band karo.
Aariv’s breath trembled.
Veeransh didn’t wait even a second.
He reached out and took Aariv’s hand firmly, possessively, fingers threading with Aariv’s like an instinct.
Aariv felt his entire body warm at the contact.Their palms fit too perfectly…
like this wasn’t the first time.
He looked up at Veer once those dark protective eyes held his for a momentthen both closed their eyes.
Harinarayan’s voice dropped, deep and commanding.
Harinarayan: Man ko shaant karo
He began a rhythmic chant under his breath, the type that made even the air vibrate. The spiritual energy in the room thickened dense, heavy, like something invisible circling them.
Aariv’s heart pounded.
Veeransh’s thumb brushed the back of his hand, an unconscious gesture of reassurance.
Harinarayan (softly):Dhyaan lagane ki koshish karo…
sirf saans par…
sirf ek doosre ke sparsh par…
sirf apne dil ki dhadkan par.
Aariv inhaled shakily and tried.
The burning mark on his neck throbbed faintly.Veeransh’s grip tightened slightly, as if he felt it too.
Their breaths slowly synced.
In…
Out…
In…
Out…
The chant grew deeper.
The brass bowl before them began to tremble not with the wind but as if something beneath the water wanted to rise.Aariv felt the ground shift under him.His mind blurred, the darkness behind his closed eyes dissolving into strange light.
Veeransh’s hand squeezed his, grounding him.
Then
Harinarayan placed his palm in the bowl.
A gust of cold air rushed through the chamber.The lamps flickered violently.
Aariv gasped but Veeransh’s grip steadied him.
Veeransh (low, whisper, close to his ear):I’m here. Don’t be scared.
Aariv swallowed and nodded even with eyes shut.
The grip between their hands tightened to the point of pain.
The world around them vanished.
Like the chamber was pulled away ripped open
erased.
And then…
.
.
.
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