Chapter 10 The Reflection
Nirag stood in his chamber and his dark reflection swayed on the wall within the glass of the mirror Only one lamp burned in the room and its flame gave his image in the glass a strange kind of movement It was as if that image was alive and breathing The lamp flame flickered with the gentle draft of air causing shadows to dance on the walls
He was looking at himself in the glass but his gaze was not meeting his own eyes He was seeing something else Something hidden His breaths were short and his heartbeat echoed in his ears
No He said to himself and his voice was a tremor This is all a lie This is my illusion This cannot be true
In the glass his reflection smiled The lips curled upwards but that smile was not his
Nirag breath stopped He closed his eyes I have dreamt it He reasoned with himself It is exhaustion It is fear
Nirag
The voice came not through his ears but from within his bones Cold Hoarse Familiar
He opened his eyes
In the glass his image was no longer his own It was a dark blurry silhouette surrounded by a dense light swallowing aura And the eyes of that silhouette were two flickering red dots like embers burning somewhere far away The red dots slowly expanded as if some ancient shadow was waking up
Look The reflection said and its voice was a distorted echo of Nirag own tone Open your eyes This is the truth
No Nirag voice broke This is not me I am Nirag
I am the form inside you The reflection said softly as if scaring a child Look within yourself You are this Exactly like me
Nirag clenched his fist and his nails dug into his palm The scent of blood spread in the air What do you want Why are you after me
The reflection took a long hungry breath Everything I want everything Do you remember Andhak Void and your battle You betrayed me You left your father and chose Agni and Neer
Nirag eyes widened Glimpses of that night floated before him Veera Ghati Fire Blood And the decision he had made against his real father Vayansh final smile Dharaya last touch Everything began burning in his mind
I just want revenge for that The reflection voice was a mixture of sorrow and rage To take everything from you To take your loved ones from you
Nirag stepped back in fear No That will not happen I will end you Right now
He looked around A heavy stone vase sat on the table Without thinking he picked it up and hurled it at the glass with all his strength
The shards of glass scattered in the air forming tiny gleaming mirrors and in every single one of them that same black reflection was smiling
And from every shard came the sound of laughter All at once A terrifying chorus How far will you run Nirag From me I am inside you
Nirag covered his ears with his hands and ran out of the chamber He was running through the corridor and his breaths were ragged His heart pounded as if it would tear through his chest and escape
At the turn he collided with Agni
Agni steadied him and grabbed his shoulders Nirag What happened
Nirag looked at them but there was no recognition in his eyes Only fear He stepped back I am not like you
Anvay had arrived there Nirag calm down
I am not like you Nirag screamed and his voice was cracked
Agni grabbed both his shoulders and shook him Nirag Come to your senses What happened Who are you not like And who are you running from in fear
Nirag wiped the sweat from his head His eyes were still seeing that black image trapped in the shards of glass That That Tauji Nothing
Agni looked into his eyes There was no lie there Only a deep raw fear Tell me Nirag What happened Why did you run from your chamber like that
Nirag tried to stop them but Agni did not listen He walked towards Nirag chamber Nirag clenched his fist and lowered his gaze
As soon as Agni entered the chamber his eyes fell upon the broken glass The shards were scattered everywhere and in each of them the lamp flame flickered Like hundreds of eyes glaring at him
How did this glass break Agni asked and his voice was harsh You threw something and broke it
Just then Neer arrived there He saw Nirag condition Drenched in sweat Trembling Breaths rapid And worry immediately surfaced on his face Nirag What happened son Why are you in such a state
Agni looked at Neer but Neer signaled him to stay quiet He went to Nirag and made him sit He filled a cup from a pitcher of water and gave it to him Nirag drank all the water in one breath and began coughing
Neer patted his back Nirag suddenly hugged him tightly so tightly that Neer breath caught for a moment Neer looked at Agni There was anger in Agni eyes but Neer ignored it
What happened son Neer asked softly Why are you so scared For the past few days you have seemed very frightened Has something happened
Nirag said nothing He lowered his gaze
Agni stepped forward Tell me Nirag Why did you break this glass
Neer came before Agni Agni stop
Move Neer Agni voice held fire I need to talk to Nirag
No Neer said firmly and his eyes held the resolve of a protector No Not until he is ready
The air tensed between them Agni placed his hand on the hilt of his sword Neer looked into his eyes
So what Neer said in a calm tone Will you strike me now
Agni stopped He turned his face away
Remember one thing Agni Neer said and his voice was no longer soft but firm as iron I am with Nirag And I can do anything to protect him Anything Even if I have to fight you
Agni turned back He looked at Neer and then drew his sword Agnishikha But he did not attack He just stood there and his eyes held a complex struggle Anger Worry And a fear that he had never admitted
He walked away from there without a word
When Anvay entered Nirag chamber Nirag was standing near the window looking out into the darkness His shoulders were still trembling slightly
Anvay gently placed his hand on Nirag shoulder
Nirag jerked his hand away But then as if realizing who it was he turned and looked at Anvay And suddenly he hugged him
Anvay said nothing He just stood there holding Nirag trembling body with his calm stillness
Are you okay Nirag asked in a whisper and his voice was muffled against Anvay shoulder I did not do anything to you did I I am not like him
You are Nirag Anvay said softly The Nirag of your Pitashree and Tauji
I am not like him Nirag said again and this time there were tears in his voice
Anvay pushed him back slightly and looked into his eyes Calm down Nirag I am here
Nirag looked into his eyes There was no fear there and no judgment Just an unwavering unshakable faith You are here
Anvay nodded and smiled Yes
Nirag grabbed his hand tightly You will not leave me will you
Never Anvay said and it was just two words but they were heavier than any vow
Anvay made him lie down on the bed Rest I am here
You will not go right Nirag asked again and his eyes were still wide
I will not go Anvay said firmly
Nirag held onto his hand and slowly his eyelids grew heavy He closed his eyes and within moments he fell asleep His breaths were now steady but his fist was still clutching Anvay hand tightly
Anvay sat beside him stroking his head and running his fingers through his hair But his own eyes were worried He looked at the broken shards of glass that still lay on the floor And in each of them the lamp flame was still flickering as if some life remained within them
He picked up a shard In his own reflection he saw nothing unusual Just his own face Tired Worried
But as he turned the shard the light cast a strange shadow for a moment A shape that was not his own For an instant he thought he saw a glimpse of red eyes
He placed the shard back on the floor
Outside in the corridor Neer had escorted Agni to his chamber As soon as the door closed Agni asked him Why did you do that I had to ask Nirag something
You only see your questions Neer said and there was a rare harshness in his eyes You did not see his condition What state he was in
But I just wanted to help him
Help is given Neer cut him off When someone is in a state to receive or ask for help Not when he is going through something where he himself does not know what is happening to him
Agni remained silent He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword but this time it was habit not a threat
Neer looked at his hand So what Will you strike me now
Agni turned his face away
Do it Neer said in a calm tone Strike me Agni
Agni angrily drew his sword Jwala and began advancing towards Neer
© 2026 Aaryaveda All rights reserved Do not copy or repost without permission