In my Devil's Arms

Vicky brought Riya to Gunjan's room in the palace. With his team help he refurbished it. The size was incerased. The idol remained and so did the tree. Manav told him he had an idea to inculcate tree in the structure. He agreed. Now it looked more of a modern bedroom with a double bed, AC, an almirah and attached washroom.

He placed her on bed. She was still shaking in fear. He switched on the AC and gave her some water.

" Am I hallucinating Vicky", she asked.

" No".

" How do you know"?

" Because I hear and feel the creep too", he said.

Riya looked at him.

" I believe you heard of a war that is coming", said Vicky calmly.

" Yes", she said.

He nodded. He then held her hand. And looked in her eyes.

" Then you don't need to be afraid. We will face It together", he said. " You are strong sweetheart. Believe in yourself".

She looked at him for some time. And then nodded.

" Okay", she said.

" Come sit with me", he said.

" I am blessed with piwers and so are you", he said.

" What powers", she asked.

He rose a hand asthings in the room started moving.

" This", she said surprised.

" Is way less than I have", he answered.

" And me", she asked.

" You need to manifest it", he answered. " And learn to control it too".

She was in deep thought.

At that moment the Chakra fell. Vikram had kept it on table.

" Ohh", they both looked there.

" Sonia excels at this", he said as Riya looked at it keenly.

" This", she said. " This was in your hand when he ran away", she said.

" Yeah", he looked at it.

" A symbol of Protector God. He is with you in this war. The devil was in pain as he left".

She remembered THE Ascetic's prophecy.

" The Protector will fight the evil".

" The protector has blessed you Vicky to fight him", she said. " This is a symbol that he has.

" You are the guide", he said.

" I shall not be afraid", she promised him.

He nodded. " Come here", he said.

She snuggled upto him.

Later when he sat with Riya on his lap he fell truly blessed. He informed Manav that she was feeling suffocated and claustrophobic in party. So he brought her to the private room they have prepared.

Manav replied with Take Care. So no need to return back to the party.

Riya was thinking

Gunjan and Srikant's bodies were never recovered. Its this reason that their souls cannot find peace. She is in pain. Vicky is in pain. Is it possible to search for them now? How ? Only when they are at peace would he and Vikram finally will be able to move forward. She prayed in her mind

" Oh Shiva help me give those two tortured souls peace. Please show me the way".

Vikram on the other hand knew their time together on this Earth was limited. It was like sand slipping away from his hand. The past was his and his only. Riya had no memory of it and the future was unknown and uncertain. AND HIS PRESENT WAS HIS GIFT SNUGGLED UP IN HIS ARMS.

Alive, breathing, warm..

As opposed to her cold lifeless body lying in his arms.

Vicky closed his eyes. He wished to forget everything but a curse is a curse..He remembered it.

THE EARTHQUAKE, THE FISSURE, AND THE VOICE THAT BOOMED IN SKY

" You denounced my devotee. You questioned her purity. You were supposed to be her husband and her protector. But instead of saviour you became the tormentor. I CURSE YOU. You will suffer the same pain she did. Physically, mentally and Emotionally. You don't deserve her. I am taking her back. She will never come back to you. I DENOUNCE YOU".

After that he suffered a lonely life. He turned mad with pain. And ended it all again and again. But the curse was placed on his soul. He remembered and suffered. But he never asked Shiva for forgiveness. He quietly took the punishments. He only asked for her.

"Give me my wife back", he argued with the God. He hates the God. Never bends down to gim.

But he followed all the rituals she did in her life as Gunjan. Cleaning the idol, offering milk, flowers, fruits, incense,bhasm(ashes), honey and sandal. It was a rirual he never missed. Like her he fasted on Mahashivaratri.

IT WAS THE DAY HIS SON DIED..

" Give my Gunjan back".

But God mocked him remaining silent. His powers grew. He became a strong elemental controlling the five elements. He never cared for it.

Whatever was the name of his soul Srikant remembered Gunjan and his penance. He never married in any of his incarnation. ONLY GUNJAN WAS HIS WIFE.

Shiva was adamant in punishing him too.

" Burn your hands", came the second curse.

The moment he would touch the idol his hands will burn.

Well it did not deter him. He would still do it.

" TRY YOUR WORSE LORD. I WILL TAKE HER BACK", he said.

And the miracle finally happened. She came back.

He was ready to confess.

" Riya", he said.

" Yes Vicky".

" I remember everything. Each and every minute details of our lives as Gunjan and Srikant", he said. " I lied I couldn't. I always knew".

" Is it that painful", she asked. " You don't want to tell me".

" Its very painful. But I will tell you. Because you are strong. Stronger than me. Always was. Still are", he smiled.

" I wronged you. Denounced you. It was me who caused your sufferings. I stood with the ones who debarred you from that temple", he said.

" With that king", she said weakly.

" I. I. Yes", his response was equally weak.

" Its like you turned to him he who mauled me", Riya's head ached. Often Vicky's and king's images overlapped.

" He kiled our son", she said with difficulty .

"Do you remember " he asked.

She shook her head.

" My head hurts", she said.

" Don't try. It will come back to you", he said.

It will not he knew. Using his powers he has put those mental barriers on her.

Its only my curse Riya he thought. And I will suffer it alone.

He slowly massaged her head. Riya slept as he drifted back in time.

" Sahib I can't. Our gouna is not done yet. I can't meet you in fields at night", said a neo adult Gunjan.

He wished to touch and feel her.

" Now that you have turned beautiful you play games with me Gunjan."

SRIKANT'S EGO WAS HURT.

Girls always acted as per his wishes.

" You think yourself above me han", he said with clipped anger.

" No sahib", tears came out. " The society"..

" I will wait Gunjan. If you don't come there will be no gouna", he said and left.

She did go to meet him. He pulled her in his lap and forced her to sit there whole night feeling her soft curves with his rough hands.

As she cried he took pity.

" You bewitch me Gunjan. Don't cry. I love you. I don't want to punish you".

" They say I am a witch. I ate my father", sobbed the girl." They say I am manhoos( unlucky) . So you left me. ".

" Sshh", he soothed.

" The landlord said he will make me his consort". The girl cried and cried. " You forgot me sahib".

Srikant clench his fist.

" I will cut him into pieces and feed him to wolves", he said. He assured her of her safety. " The next time I come here it will be for our gouna. Don't cry little love".

" If you leave me I will die Sahib", said the girl.

And she kept her promise thought Vicky.

The little doe was still in his arms. He kept his ears on her chest

Her heart was beating. To see , hear and feel her living again. He closed his eyes and slept.