Zebar's sudden arrival in the Vabe made Moohbhan a little stunned. Although Moohbhan knew yet he was unprepared. Zebar came closer to Moohbhan, looked into his eyes and then turned his face in the opposite direction, saying, "Oh dear uncle, where are my cousins?" Zebar gave an evil smirk.
"Leave them out of it," Moohbhan said in a calm voice.
Zebar grabbed his neck, "Don't you know your nephew?"
"Take me with you and leave them out of it," Moohbhan said.
"Soldiers! Search every corner of this village. Search everywhere." Zebar yelled.
The tribe leader was coming to save Moohbhan but Zebar's men blocked him.
"Sire, please stay away from this. I'm already grateful to you." Moohbhan appealed.
"Oh, so this is the case," Zebar said and looked at the tribe leader.
After some time, his men came back. "Leader, there is no one."
"Where are they? Tell me where are they?" Zebar pushed Moohbhan to the ground.
"Take these two bastards with us". Zebar ordered to capture the tribe leader and his uncle.
Moohbhan could have used his power but due to his age, it was enough only for one man. He knew it was not the best time for using his powers. He had let everything go.
"God, protect my family." He prayed.
______
Thyme had reached Beesakh after travelling for a week. The condition of Javedan's family was getting worst. He knew, his brother won't be at home so he took all three ladies to his home and called his best friend. His best friend – Jason, was happy to see Thyme. Thyme vented his heart in front of him. He asked Jason to find a place for Jaavedan's family. Thyme took the ladies to their new place at Beesakh (Thyme's house). In the evening, the ladies got some sense.
"Thyme", Misha Bai called him.
"Thanks for everything". Misha said in a low tone.
"Ma, please," Thyme replied.
Except for Risha, both the ladies were afraid. Risha tried to convince her mother and sister that she would do everything to release her father from Zebar's prison. She was fully convinced that Zebar would not kill him. Until he gets what he wants. Thyme also made them understand that he would move mountains to protect them.
It was 12 AM. Thyme's home was giving her a feeling of nostalgia. She was missing her home and Birsha. She stood up and went to the balcony. While she was staring at the moon, Thyme hugged her from behind.
"What are you thinking, my love?" Thyme asked.
"Why do pretty things have to suffer all alone? Is it the price of beauty?" Risha says.
Thyme turned her around, grabbed her shoulders, looked into her eyes and said, "Are you alone, Risha"?
"…" she did not answer.
"We all are alone. Everything else is just an illusion." She thought.
"I can hear you," Thyme said and kissed her forehead.
Thyme held her hands and asked to sleep. "You are tired. Come, let's sleep."
"Hmm". Risha says.
"It will never end. It will always be this difficult. I am not ready. I can't do that. I can't face Zebar all alone." She had forgotten all her strength, her courage, her bravery. She was just a damsel in distress. She loathed this idea of fragile femininity. But she fell victim to it.
"But, Thyme is here. He will support me. I know. He will not leave my side." She looked at the Thyme who was sleeping peacefully. His golden hair was touching his eyelashes. He was never so handsome. She kept on thinking. It was 2 AM when she finally fell asleep.
...
After a week, Jason managed to find a small house for three ladies and told Thyme.
"I would have allowed you to live here, but my brother…" Thyme said to Misha Bai.
"It is okay, Thyme." Misha interrupted him.
"You will not be alone there, Jason and I will be with you." He said.
There was nothing much to pack. They did not take many belongings, only some clothes, dishes and necessary things. Soon they were in their new house.
"Is it our fate to keep on shifting our homes like gipsies?" Birha asked Risha.
"Did not you know that in the first place, when we left Awaish"? Misha Bai answered.
"Maa…" Risha said but Misha Bai ignored her. Misha knew what she would say.
....
Zebar kept on torturing Moohbhan. He wanted the powers of girls. Little did he know that the girls were still unaware of their strengths and power. Nor did Moohbhan know much about it. Moohbhan used his freezing power whenever he could. Later he found it was of no use. He could not escape Zebar's prison in 10 minutes. He was locked up in the chain. Besides, he was weak and his spiritual powers were fading with time.
"Why are you letting me live? When all you care about is you." Moohbhan taunted Zebar.
"My dear uncle. Don't you know? You are the key to power. I will bring your girls here and do things which should not be done. You don't know Zebar, do you?" Zebar laughed and he further taunted, "Why don't you use your power? Are you old enough that your power has vanished? Haha! God is great."
"Shut the fuck up, you bastard," Moohbhan said angrily.
"Oh! Now my dear uncle can curse. Haha!" Zebar laughed.
"You don't know how I will use their powers to achieve my goals. I will conquer every single part of this earth. Haha!" He kept on saying.
"You are such a loser," Moohbhan said and spat in his face.
Zebar lost his temper. He was quick to react.
"How dare you do this?" He was full of rage. He got insane and killed Moohbhan. After getting senses, he regretted his act.
Shit... What have I done? How will I find the girls now? How will I find them now? He yelled and yelled. His servants came but they knew in anger he would not listen to any of them. He hit his head with both his hands till one hand bled. He was exploding in anger but now he had lost it all. Hwaz, his only trusted servant came near to him and said,
"Sire, We will find them. Please, keep calm."
"How, how. How?" He yelled.
"I have a plan," Hwaz said.
Upon listening to this, he came to his senses.
"Tell me about it."
Hawaz whispered some words and Zebar gave a devilish smile.
After some time, he asked his servants to spread the death news of Moohbhan everywhere. He knew only by doing this, he will find girls. Hawaz was right.
"They will come to me by themselves now." Zebar laughed.
...…..
There was a sadness in the air. All three ladies felt it. They felt something was broken. They were shattered.
"Are you guys feeling the same?" Risha asked.
"Yes." Both answered.
Risha was afraid that what she was thinking might come true. She was begging the gods to not let her fear come true. She begged and begged till evening. Thyme was outside. They were waiting for him. At 7 PM, he came. His face was pale. His eyes were teary. It seemed like he had cried a million times. Risha looked into his eyes and asked, "What happened"?
He did not answer. She thought that her fear might have come true. Thyme nodded yes. Risha lost her balance but Thyme grabbed her in his arms. Birha and Misha Bai knew that the thing they were most afraid of had come true. All three ladies lost consciousness. Thyme was alone but somehow he managed to put them on bed. The ladies were burning in fever and laid unconsciously. Thyme called Jason and managed a doctor. He injected them and asked Thyme to take care till they gain consciousness.
....
It was a rainy morning when Risha opened her eyes. She found Thyme sitting beside her. A tear rolled down her cheeks. When he was hugging her, she cried her heart out. It was decided that her fate will now be in the strokes of revenge. She knew her life was not going to be easy. She knew everything, yet she was in denial. She had no time to lose herself and her courage. It was time to show her enemies; what and who she was. She stood and went to the washroom. She saw herself in the mirror. The girl who could face death was feeling like a damsel in distress.
No, no, you don't have time for this Risha. Gear up yourself and kill that monster. Soon her face turned red out of anger. She washed her face and vowed to never settle till she gets the head of Zebar. She returned to her room and saw Birha and her mother sleeping. She kissed Birha's forehead. She gently put her hand on her mother's forehead and kissed her cheeks.
Thyme was waiting for her. He had made her breakfast. She took only a sip of tea.
"Risha…" Thyme was about to say something.
"Not now." She stopped him from talking further. His love for her grew much stronger, he kissed her forehead and said, "For you, anything."
She gave him a painful smile and left the room.
...…..
They had a hard time accepting the death of Moohbhan.
Death is such a strange creature, you can't escape it. You must be willing to sacrifice yourself, your loved one. Risha thought. Being the eldest daughter, it was her responsibility to take care of her family. She recalled her father's words. She hugged her mother tightly.
"Maa, it is time to get revenge," Risha said but her mother was not in a position to talk. Birha was sobbing in the corner. "Birha, my dear little sister. Don't you cry, your Di is here." She hugged and kissed her forehead.
Thyme was watching all this. What a strange thing love is. Thyme felt her pain and wanted to console her. But he knew it would be of no use. It was time for emotions. The death of Moohbhan fell heavy upon the three ladies. Yet, Risha was still the same girl who had killed the ghost general. She would kill Zebar too. And with cruelty. Thyme knew.
Risha then turned to Thyme and said: "Thyme."
He knelt and kissed her hand and said, "Yes, Love…" He tried to be as gentle as he could.
"I want to go back," Risha said in a calm voice.
"I support your decision, but not now." He replied.
"Then when?" Risha asked raising her eyebrows.
"When we figure out a plan."
Risha remained silent for a while. When they were discussing it all, Jason came. He was also a gentleman. He paid his respect to Misha Bai and Birha and knelt before Risha.
"I am so sorry Di for what happened. But whatever decision you take, I'll be with you." Jason said.
Risha looked at him with grateful eyes and asked him to get up.
"We need a plan," Risha said.
...…..