Chapter 23: The Conflict of Trust
Nayan's breath stopped. Karishma stood beyond the window, but she was not the Karishma he loved. The moonlight fell across her face, making her golden eyes look even more terrifying. Yet Nayan's feet carried him toward the door on their own.
He stepped outside. Karishma smiled. An empty smile. A smile that butter would not melt on.
Karishma. Are you. Are you okay. Nayan's voice was shaking.
I am better than I have ever been, Nayan. Her voice was sweet, but there was a metallic coldness to it. She extended her hand. Come. Come with me.
Before Nayan could take her hand, he heard rapid footsteps behind him. Aarav came running and grabbed Nayan's hand, yanking him back hard.
Run inside. That is not who you think it is.
Aarav dragged Nayan inside and slammed the window shut, bolting it tight. Outside, Karishma's golden eyes flared suddenly. For a single moment, they turned red. Then she faded into the darkness and was gone.
Nayan stared at Aarav in disbelief. What are you doing. Aarav, that was Karishma out there. And you did not let her inside. She has been missing for three days, and now that she is right in front of me, you are telling me to stay away from her.
Aarav tried to calm him down. He placed a hand on Nayan's shoulder. Nayan, that is Karishma. But.
But what, Aarav.
Aarav took a deep breath. But she is a Dayan (a witch-like dark entity).
Nayan stumbled backward, stunned. Dayan. Aarav, are you in your right mind. Do you even know what you are saying.
Yes. I know exactly what I am saying. And you may not be able to trust my words, but this is the truth, Nayan. Karishma is a Dayan. She put on a fake act of love with you and lived among us pretending to be human.
Nayan slapped Aarav hard across the face. Are you out of your mind, Aarav. What kind of insane nonsense are you talking.
Aarav's cheek turned red, but he did not react. He pushed Nayan down onto the bed. Sit. I am completely in my right mind. You tell me. You saw Karishma's transformed appearance. Her golden eyes were glowing. Her hair and choti were whipping through the air. Her nails had grown long. These are all the signs of a Dayan.
Nayan tried to laugh. A hollow, broken sound. What Dayan. Which Dayan. All of that only exists in stories. Nothing like that happens in reality, Aarav.
It does happen, Nayan. Karishma is a Dayan.
Nayan shoved Aarav away in anger. Who is a Dayan. Do you even know a Dayan. As if you spend every day hanging around witches.
Aarav shouted back. Yes. I do spend every day hanging around a Dayan. With Kiyaan. Kiyaan is a Dayan.
Nayan went completely still when he heard that. His breathing stopped. He just stared at Aarav in utter shock.
Aarav kept going. And I. I am a Vaishnav (a divine protector blessed with Sudarshan Chakra's power).
Nayan went numb at those words. He just stared at Aarav in silence. His eyes were wide. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
Aarav stepped closer to him. I was going to tell you everything. I just never got the chance to tell you any of this. Forgive me, my brother. He pulled Nayan into a hug.
Nayan hugged him back and began to cry. How is any of this possible, Aarav. Karishma. You. Kiyaan. How and why is all of this happening.
Aarav patted his back. This is a very long story. Let me tell you from the beginning. He poured a glass of water from the jug and handed it to Nayan. Nayan drank. Aarav sat down in front of him and began. I am a Vaishnav. Kiyaan is the son of a Dayan. He is a Dayansh.
---
That same night, the forest rustled like a living breath. Kiyaan sat inside his cave when he heard a distant sound. Someone crying. A woman's sobs. Muffled, but filled with pain.
He strained his ears. The sound was coming from behind the cave. He stood up cautiously and began following it. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
Behind the cave, beneath a tree, Karishma sat alone. Her shoulders shook with sobs, and tears were streaming from her eyes. Her real eyes. Not the golden glow. Just normal, human tears.
Kiyaan saw her and called out. Karishma.
Karishma looked up sharply, wiping her tears away. Just then, someone placed a hand on Kiyaan's shoulder from behind.
Kiyaan spun around. Nishi the Dayan stood there.
Maa. You are here.
Nishi smiled. I heard someone crying, so I came to see.
Kiyaan pointed ahead. Look, Maa. But by then, Karishma had already fled. Only the marks of tears remained on the damp grass.
Nishi smiled as she spoke. What. Was there a cat out here or something.
Kiyaan stared at her, stunned. Maa. How did you know a girl was crying here. I never told you that.
For a moment, panic flashed across Nishi's face. Then she smiled again immediately. Son, did you forget. I am a Dayan too. I can hear everything from far away.
Kiyaan nodded. Alright, Maa. Let us go.
Nishi said, You go. I will come soon. I just need to finish the protective barrier.
Kiyaan left. A short while later, Nishi came back into the cave. She saw that Kiyaan had already fallen asleep. She walked over to him and stroked his head gently, smiling. My life, you have fallen asleep. Then she walked out of the cave.
But as she was leaving, she glanced back one time. Toward that damp grass where Karishma's tears had fallen. The smile vanished from her face. A deep, serious worry took its place. There was a question in her eyes. A fear. Then she vanished quickly into the darkness.
---
Morning had come. Nayan's eyes were swollen. From crying. From a lack of sleep. Aarav sat in front of him. He had told him everything now. The Vaishnav. The Dayan. NCLRL. The Neelmukhi flower. Everything.
Nayan buried his face in his hands. So. Karishma really is.
We do not know, Aarav said. Maybe she was always hiding it. Maybe she was kidnapped and changed. But one thing is certain. Whatever she is now, she is dangerous. And we have to find her.
Nayan lifted his head. There was no more confusion in his eyes. Only a firm resolve. I am with you.
Aarav looked at him. Are you ready.
Nayan nodded. We need to call Kiyaan.
Aarav said, Yes.
The time had come to face the truth. And this time, that truth was very close to their own world. Far too close.