And in the White House the president got the news, and after hearing the news of the explosion and that there weren't many casualties but there was a chance of mass death like Basra, he became silent. He looked around , seeing the reaction of others when his secretary came knocking informing them that the news channels were here.
The president nodded, and stood up.
" Ladies and gentlemen, good evening America." and he looked at the crowd of reporters in front of him, and in those reporters, Supriya was also there, holding a pen and notebook. And behind near the entrance stood Richard looking at him.
" Today, I stand before you not as a leader seeking comfort, but as a fellow human being grappling with the fragility of our shared existence. It has been a year since the shadow of Dr. Arya fell upon us, fell upon all of humanity, a catastrophe that almost brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Cities like Brasília and Mumbai lay in ruins, and several souls were lost in what felt like the end of days. In that darkest hour. Darkest hour for all humanity." And he became silent.
" And like they say, in times of trouble, great men emerge. And in that dark hour, a figure emerged—Krish, whose extraordinary abilities turned the tide. He became a symbol of hope, a savior who reminded us that even in chaos, light can prevail. We owe him a debt for that moment, and I acknowledge it openly.
But hope, as we've learned, is a double-edged sword." And his speech started to spread all over the world.
" The world we inhabit today is one of increasing peril. From the ashes of Basra, where over Two million lives were extinguished in a single, horrifying blast orchestrated by the GJF, to the unsettling events unfolding in Tehran, the capital of Iran, we see the dangers multiplying. Hours ago I heard the news that, Krish as an individual is catching down on all the terrorist organisations hiding in Iraq, maybe in a sense of guilt or maybe responsibility." and he paused and changed a page.
" An hour ago, a report emerged of a mysterious explosion on Tehran's outskirts, followed by a confrontation that left parts of the city in disarray. Witnesses and footage describe a glowing figure, wielding power that defies explanation, clashing with Krish in the skies above. I don't know who he is, and where he came from. But I care about the buildings that crumbled, lives that were disrupted, and once again, the ordinary people caught in the crossfire bore the cost. This isn't isolated—it's a pattern, one that threatens the stability we've fought so hard to rebuild."
" Can we entrust the fate of billions to the decisions of one individual, no matter how remarkable? The rise of these superhuman forces, sudden, unpredictable, places everyday lives at risk in ways we never imagined. Families in Tehran, workers in Basra, children in Brazil—they deserve security, not to live in the shadow of powers that could reshape the world on a whim."
" I ask this not in accusation, but in earnest reflection: Why must we navigate this path? What grants such authority, and how do we ensure it serves us all?"
" Krish, if you're listening—and I believe you are—we need your voice. Help us understand your choices, the burdens you carry, and how we move forward together. The United Nations convenes tomorrow; your presence there would speak volumes. Not as a demand, but as a bridge to clarity. Our world is too precious to leave in doubt."
And his speech came to an end, and Supriya there sat silently, and others around her started to murmur, and some even clapped and saw others clapping, other mixed bags also clapped, but a portion of people remained calm, Supriya being one of them. And behind them all, it was Richard who started clapping first, and stopped when the momentum was on.
And outside, Supriya stood in her previous position, where she did her first white House report, and started her news broadcast.
" Good evening India, and the world. Today I'm Live from Washington, D.C once again. And moments before, The President's address has raised the stakes: a call for Krish to explain himself after Tehran's chaos, echoing Basra's tragedy. The world watches, divided—hero or liability?" And she pauses.
" He raised a question, a valid one in that. Who gave him the power to take action, who gave him the responsibility to save the world? A question that maybe himself has no answer."
" But you know what I think? The question should not be who did? or why did? The question should be, is what he is doing is correct or not." And she became quiet.
" In a rain of questions and arguments, do we forget one crucial thing? Is what he is doing correct or not? Laws and mortality are built by humans, they have flaws. But we are forgetting something very crucial. Does our law, our morality, apply to him?"
" Why should he follow the rules and law or others, when he has the power to undermine everything. Dr Arya did that, he wanted to create a new world according to his rules, but Krish stopped him." And she seemed to remember something and took a long time, pondering it, and even the camera man and news crew looked at her.
" One of my old friends once told me- being a hero is never a glorifying thing, it's just a mask of glory behind a pained face. And at the end of the day, a hero's destiny is either retirement or death." And she became quiet.
And with Krish, he was near the city, helping a cat out of a rubble filled building. He grabbed the cat gently with a small smile, and after stocking it, let it go.
" Who was he?" Asked Sakshi through earphones.
" I don't know." he started honestly, then looked around, looking for anything to do and when he found nothing, he started flying away.
" Did you watch the news?" asked Sakshi.
" No! What happened?"
" Nothing, The president of America is now calling for you to come to tomorrow's hearing." and Krish asked puzzledly.
" Why didn't he want me to stay away from his country?"
" That was the previous one, this new guy, he has been following you since he came to power." And Krish nodded, and didn't ask anything more .
And after a long silence he heard her asking.
" Brother, why are you doing this?" and krish asked,
" Doing what?"
" I mean this hero stuff?" And krish who was flying slowed down a little, and replied.
" To save people." And Sakshi asked again.
" Why did you start doing this?" And krish seems to remember the past, where he put on the mask because he wanted to hide his identity, and he wanted to save people in need, but after that, he really never understands why he keeps wearing this mask, is it necessary? He himself doubted himself, he was just an ordinary boy, but now, what is he doing?
He calmed himself down, and then answered Sakshi's question.
" to save people." And after hearing this, Sakshi said in a resolute voice.
" Then remember this for the rest of your life, it doesn't matter if you are wearing that mask or not, the thing that matters is, can you stay true to your heart." And Krish after hearing this smiled.