Hearing Sarah's words, a surge of electricity ran through Ananya's body. The voice she had longed to hear for twenty years—the word "Amma"—blurred her glasses with tears. She could no longer remain the stern officer; the mother within her broke free of all restraints.
Sarah grasped Ananya's hands and said in a trembling voice, "I know… you are my Amma. That demon may say anything, but my heart tells me you have returned. I have a younger sister, Amma, your little daughter… she's never seen you. Should I call her? Will she even know that our mother has come back?"
Ananya gently wiped the tears from Sarah's eyes. Her navy-blue shirt sleeves were damp with Sarah's tears. She realized that in this life-or-death struggle, her greatest strength lay in her two children.
Ananya said, "Yes, Sarah. Call her. Tonight is the night we become whole. Henry may think he can scare us, but he does not know that when mother and children unite, no sorcery or dark magic on Earth can defeat them."
Sarah quickly took out her phone and video-called her younger sister. Soon, the screen revealed the face of a beautiful young woman, around twenty or twenty-one. Her eyes were identical to Ananya's. Her name was Rini.
Rini said, "Appu? Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"
Sarah turned the camera toward Ananya. Seeing Ananya in her navy-blue shirt and glasses, Rini froze, almost dropping the phone.
Rini said in a trembling voice, "Appu… who is this madam? Why does she look exactly like the Amma in our old photos?"
Ananya looked at the screen and smiled warmly, "Rini… I am your mother. It took me long to come to you, but look—I have returned."
Rini sobbed uncontrollably. But at that very moment, a sinister laugh echoed from outside Ananya's apartment door. Henry was standing outside, listening to everything.
Henry shouted from outside, "What a wonderful family reunion! Mother, elder daughter, younger daughter—all together. Thank you for making my job easier, Laboni. Now I can sign you all into my dark dominion at once."
Ananya placed the phone on the table. Her eyes no longer held tears—they burned with destructive fire. She placed her hand on Sarah's head and said, "Sarah, tell Rini not to be afraid. Tonight, a mother will rise to protect her children from a demon."
Ananya pulled out a small drive from the drawer and stepped toward the door.
With a firm hand on Sarah's shoulder, Ananya's eyes hardened. The motherly warmth was gone; in its place was an unbreakable resolve. She knew the terror waiting outside was beyond her daughter's capacity to handle.
Ananya said, "Sarah, take Rini inside. Lock the door from the inside. Cover your ears, but do not try to come out. You should not see this. When a mother confronts a demon, her children must remain unseen."
Though frightened, Sarah could not disobey Ananya's iron command. She ran inside with the phone in her hand, sobbing. Once the door closed, Ananya seemed to reclaim her true self.
She removed her heavy glasses and placed them on the table. She rolled up the sleeves of her navy-blue shirt. This battle was no longer a job for a forensic officer—it was a judgment of lifetimes.
Ananya gently unlocked the door. Without a sound, the door creaked open. In the dark corridor outside, young Henry stood, his lips curled in a cruel, blood-stained smile.
Henry said, "Moved the children? Good. Now the old game can continue in private. What will you do, Ananya? Your hands don't tremble, but your eyes say you are afraid."
Ananya stepped back to make space and spoke in a calm, commanding voice, "I am not afraid of you, Henry. I am afraid of the beast inside me. You tried to kill me twenty years ago, but today I will not let you die. The pride you flaunt in your youth—I will poison every drop of that blood tonight."
Ananya aimed the small drive at the smart panel on the wall. Instantly, the room's lights turned red, and a high-frequency sound began to resonate.
Henry immediately clutched his ears and dropped to the floor, his youthful face contorting in pain.
Ananya said, "The demon didn't tell you, Henry, that black magic cannot withstand these sound waves? Your new body is just an illusion. And this tiny digital chip in my navy-blue shirt is enough to shatter that illusion."
Ananya expected the chip and sound waves to destroy Henry's supernatural youth, but what she saw froze her blood. Even amidst the piercing sound, Henry remained perfectly still. In fact, he seemed stronger, advancing toward her.
Henry laughed and said, "Science? You think a chip and sound can destroy my body? Laboni, you forget what my mother said—I sold my soul to the devil. Does the devil care about your little devices?"
In one swift motion, Henry snatched the digital device from Ananya's hand, smashed it on the floor, and stepped close, grabbing the collar of her navy-blue shirt.
Henry whispered in her ear, licking his lips, "Remember the deal? No matter how much you hate me, I will grow stronger. Your scientific toys cannot harm me. You are still helpless before me!"
Ananya realized her mistake. She had relied on science, but Henry's power had surpassed reason. She struggled against his grip, but the young Henry's strength equaled that of ten men.
Henry whispered again in her ear, "Your two daughters are inside, yes? I could go to them now. But I want you to surrender first. Say that you have lost. Say that you will serve this young Henry. Say it!"
Ananya's glasses trembled on the table. She realized she could no longer fight with devices; she would have to fight with something else. At that moment, her elderly mother's last words echoed in her mind: "If you love, the deal can be broken."
Suddenly, Ananya made a bold decision. She stopped resisting and loosened her body, staring Henry straight in the eyes.
Ananya said calmly, "You are right, Henry. I have lost. Your form is truly mesmerizing. I came to hate, but now… I think I was wrong."
Henry froze for a moment, releasing her collar, staring at her in disbelief.
Henry said, "You… what are you saying?"
Ananya took a step forward. Was this a trick? Or was she truly surrendering herself to save her children?
Henry came so close that their breaths mingled. Her sudden surrender shook the demonic pride inside him. He grabbed her chin, focusing on her lips.
Henry's finger touched Ananya's lips. She did not flinch or pull away. She looked straight into his eyes. He expected her to shrink in fear, but her gaze held a profound tenderness—reminding him of the old Laboni he had once known.
As Henry leaned closer to kiss her lips, he noticed a single tear in her eye. It was not hatred, but a strange sorrow.
Henry froze. He pulled his hand away. His chest heaved. He had wanted her hatred, because it empowered him. But this surrender, this love, weakened him.
Henry whispered uneasily, "No! This cannot be. You are supposed to hate me, Ananya! Shout at me! Don't show me this… affection!"
He realized that if Ananya truly loved or forgave him, the dark power of their deal would consume him, leaving him powerless. He would become an ordinary man, forever indebted to her.
Henry jerked away. Fear and confusion filled his eyes. In his mind, he thought, Am I falling in love with her? No, I came to be a king, not a servant!
Without another moment, he strode toward the door. Pausing at the threshold, he looked back. Ananya stood still, without glasses, her eyes calm like a dormant volcano.
Henry said, "You've survived today, Ananya. But remember, I will return. I was not born to surrender to your love."
With that, Henry stormed out of the apartment. The heavy thuds of his boots faded down the corridor.
Ananya collapsed onto the sofa. Her entire body trembled. She realized she had played a dangerous game—and had only won temporarily. She did not know if Henry would truly touch her again, but she understood that someone as arrogant as him could not withstand mercy or compassion.
Sarah came out of the room. She saw Ananya staring at the door.
Sarah said, "Amma! He's gone? Are you okay?"
Ananya put her glasses back on. Her hands were still shaking. She said softly, "He fled, Sarah. He may have overcome my hatred, but he could not endure this form of mine. The fight has only begun. Next time, he will return even more dangerous."
Outside, rain poured in sheets. The sky seemed to release a long-held sigh. Henry stood in the open street, drenched, his mind in chaos—unable to comprehend Ananya's sudden transformation.
Then, a voice shouted from behind him—"Henry, listen!"
Henry turned in the rain. He saw Ananya running toward him, soaked to the bone. Her light blue shirt clung to her body, her glasses pushed up on her forehead. She now appeared ethereal yet unyielding.
Ananya stopped in front of Henry. The rain roared around them, but between the two of them, a strange silence fell. Before Henry could speak, Ananya pulled him close and pressed her lips against his in a deep, consuming kiss.
Henry froze like stone. The cold rain drenched them, but the warmth of that kiss seemed to stop the world. He could do nothing; the pride in his strength, the arrogance of his invincibility—all of it began to crumble under a single touch from Ananya.
After a while, Ananya slowly pulled back. Her tears mingled with the rain. Pressing her forehead against his wet one, she whispered softly—
Ananya said, "Didn't I say, Henry, I wouldn't kill you? Today, I have trapped you in the web of my love. With this kiss, I have let go of twenty years of hatred. From now on, every breath you take will carry my name. No matter how far you run, this taste will haunt you every moment."
Henry trembled. He saw the veins on his hands reappearing, but this time they were not black—they were pure white. His supernatural powers seemed to turn poisonous under the touch of Ananya's love.
Henry whispered, barely audible, "You… what have you done, Laboni? You have made the deal eternal! Now I can never be apart from you. You have made me your servant forever!"