Anika considered Dashanan's proposal. Escape from their trials, a shining destiny; if she would betray Dhruv. But seeing him, seeing the fear and exposure in his eyes, she could not do so. He was her friend.
"So, they know," she said, her voice tight with worry. "They know about your powers, and they know it was you."
Dhruv nodded, his shoulders sagging. "I messed up, Anika. I've put you in danger.
Anika grasped his hand, her hold steady. "No," she asserted, her voice resonant with newfound determination. "We'll get this fixed, Dhruv. Together. We'll master your powers, all four of them. And we'll find a way to defeat the Dashanan. We have to." The magnitude of the task before them was daunting, but she knew, deep down, that they were in this together.
After a prolonged, heated discussion, Anika returned home, agitated by Dhruv's disclosures.
He had exceptional powers: Divya Drishti (perceiving feelings and intentions), Vaani Siddhi (a captivating, nearly manipulative voice), Atma Shakti (spiritual strength), and brief, five second time manipulation.
"I require your assistance," he'd pleaded, "to master, intensify, and stabilize these powers."
Anika collapsed onto her diwan, stunned. Five seconds? How could he battle Dashanan with only five seconds?
She remembered Dhruv's explanations: the creepy surge of emotions from Divya Drishti, the seductive force of Vaani Siddhi, the subtle strength of Atma Shakti, and the frightening glimpse of time tampering. "I'm scared," he'd admitted, "these powers are taking over me."
He was her childhood friend. She could not leave him. Standing up, she looked out over city lights. She was plain Anika, an ordinary student, but Dhruv needed her.
The following day in college, the atmosphere hummed with pre-vacation anticipation. Anika and Dhruv encountered each other under the banyan tree. "Vacation!" Anika exclaimed.
Dhruv's smile was tense. "Yes," he said, "time to concentrate."
"On your powers," Anika breathed.
Dhruv nodded. "I must know more about them."
Anika rested her back against the tree. "Tell me all about your powers, Dhruv."
Dhruv breathed deeply. "Divya Drishti… it's feeling everyone's feelings. Like there's always a hum. Vaani Siddhi… I can use my voice to control people, but only if they're not strong-willed. Atma Shakti… my inner strength."
"And what about the time manipulation?" Anika asked.
Dhruv went pale. "That's… complex. It's not stopping time. It's… like… a brief pause. A stutter. Imagine we're playing catch," he explained, catching a leaf. "You toss the leaf. In those five seconds… I could… I could slightly alter its trajectory. Just enough that it doesn't fall on you. Or," he lowered his voice, "suppose someone is about to stumble. I could utilize that few seconds to… just push them so they don't stumble. Small things. But… it's not that efficient."
Anika scowled. "What do you mean?"
"I… I can't sustain the whole five seconds to stay consistent," Dhruv confessed. "It wavers. Sometimes 8 seconds, sometimes less.
It's unpredictable. And even for a few seconds… it takes it out of me. Like… like all my energy is gone.
I've been practicing it, attempting to sustain those few seconds, but it's like… trying to hold water in my palms. It slips away."
Anika's brow furrowed. "So it's not reliable?"
Dhruv nodded firmly. "No. It's strong, but… unstable. It's a flash, a brief second where I can make a difference. But it's also a great danger.
If I use it at the wrong moment, if it disappears before I can act… I'm left exposed."
Anika grasped his hand. "We'll get through this, Dhruv," she said, her voice full of conviction. "Together.".
Vacation tomorrow. We will make every moment count. We will know everything we can. About your powers, about Dashanan … about how to make those few seconds worthwhile, and how to make them… consistent." The banyan leaves whispered, softly to each other, as they stood in the face of the unknown.
Upon reaching home, Anika hopped onto her laptop, the light of the screen brightening her features. Dhruv's anxious face pushed her to move. She needed answers.
She started her quest, inputting keywords of Dhruv's powers – Divya Drishti, Vaani Siddhi, Atma Shakti, time manipulation – into the search bar.
She browsed through sites and forums, looking for any reference to these powers, any lead to assist Dhruv.
Unknown to Anika, she was already in the focus of Dashanan. They were aware of her association with Dhruv. Inspector Robin, one of the brutal members of Dashanan, had been keeping her under surveillance. They had even visited her once, a veiled threat in the guise of an offer to betray Dhruv. Anika had spurned the offer, her allegiance firm, but the experience had left her unsettled. She was certain that they were observing.
Tonight, Robin wasn't just watching. He was actively searching. Dashanan 's patience was thin.
Dhruv's powers were developing, and they needed to secure him. Robin was tasked with accelerating the operation, leveraging Anika. He knew she cared for Dhruv, and would do anything to protect him. He awaited his opportunity.
Tonight, Anika, desperate to help Dhruv, unknowingly gave him that opportunity. She logged into a closed online community using her college ID, a careless oversight.
Robin's systems detected her action instantly. He wasn't surprised. He had expected this. It reaffirmed his suspicion, cemented her link to Dhruv's powers, and provided him with the control he desired.
There was a cruel smile that twisted his lips. He had his opportunity. He knew Dashanan would be satisfied.
This was how he would corner Anika. He would use her love for Dhruv as a tool against her. He wouldn't make an offer this time. He settled back, a hungry glint in his eyes. Anika's search, her effort to shield Dhruv, had just led them one step further.
Dashanan was closing in.