Chapter 28 The Secret of the White Coat
The darkness of the forest was not just darkness. It was a dense living entity that clung to Aarav and Kiyan's backs dissolving into their every breath. Karishma's scent floated through the air now like a poisonous flower. Sweet but leaving a burn deep in the throat. Yet the scent was fragmented. Irregular. Like a wounded bird fleeing and leaving splatters of blood from its wings.
Tracking her down Aarav said his eyes fixed on the mark of the Aadisrashta Chakra (divine discus of the creator) on his wrist. The mark was pulsing with a faint blue glow. Like a slow uncertain heartbeat. Might be harder than we thought. She is not just running. She is hiding herself.
Kiyan closed his eyes. Behind his golden pupils an invisible world opened up. Colorful threads of energy. The filaments of life that connected every living thing. And that distinct bitter glow unique to a Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) that was radiating from Karishma. But the forest itself was a living enemy. The thick layer of moisture. The sharp smell of rotting earth. The pained groans of dying trees. All of it was covering that glow like a fogged up window.
She is not far Kiyan whispered. His voice rang through the forest silence like a clear bell. But she is not just afraid. She is breaking. Her energy is flickering like a shattered mirror. In thousands of pieces.
Then what do we do Aarav asked. His gaze was fixed on Kiyan's tense face.
Kiyan opened his eyes. A decision blazed inside those golden depths. A decision filled with confidence for the first time after centuries of loneliness and fear. We have to merge our powers. Not just a spell. We need to create a bond that can reach her very soul. A needle that can pierce through her fear and reach the truth hidden inside it.
Aarav looked at him with hesitation. His palm drifted toward the mark on his own wrist. Kiyan. Our powers. They are opposite poles. Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power) and Chhayodhbhav (a nightborn entity who drains age). Can they really merge. Will their union not cause an explosion.
They were made for each other Kiyan said. A bitter but tender smile played on his lips. To complete one another. To create balance. Come.
They stood face to face. The distance between them was barely a breath. Kiyan extended his hand palm facing upward. A challenge. An invitation. Aarav took a deep shuddering breath and slowly placed his hand on top of Kiyan's.
The first touch was an explosion.
A wave of hot white Devanshik power surged through Aarav's veins. Sharp and pure like the first ray of the sun. And in that same instant a cold golden energy seeped out from Kiyan's fingers and began dissolving into him. Soft as moonlight but deep. The two energies crashed swirled and then began weaving together in a strange harmony. Like two opposing currents merging to form a single river.
Focus Kiyan said. His voice was tight with strain but an unbreakable resolve ran through it. Come with me. Think of her. Not just her face. Her memories. Her laughter. Her pain.
Aarav closed his eyes. An image of Karishma surfaced in his mind. Not like a photograph but like a living painting. She was laughing in the college garden. Glancing at Nayan and turning shy. She was dancing. Her hands telling a story in the air. And then that terrified look she must have had the first time she saw a golden glow in her own eyes. A fear born of recognition not of the unknown.
Kiyan's energy dissolved into that thought. It sharpened it. Clarified it. Turned it into a three dimensional picture. And then from their joined hands something miraculous happened.
Particles of light began gathering in the air. Threads of blue and gold that had been separate now began to intertwine. They spun and wove together into a complex dizzying mandala (a sacred geometric symbol). A symbol that held both the geometric purity of the Devanshik and the organic complexity of the Chhayagrasini. Right at the center of the mandala Karishma's blurred face began to flicker into view. A reflection that was breathing.
The mandala spun rapidly. Suddenly from its center a sharp brilliant beam shot outward and raced toward a specific corner of the forest. Like a mysterious compass needle that knew only one direction.
Found her. Aarav gasped in wonder. They pulled their hands apart at the same time. The mandala dissolved slowly into the air but that beam of light was still there hanging like a burning trail in the darkness.
They ran after it. It was no ordinary run. Tree branches began lashing at them as if the forest itself wanted to stop them. Roots burst up from the ground to snag their feet. Screams echoed through the air. The voices of old forgotten fears.
But they did not stop. Kiyan was in front his golden eyes slicing through the darkness. Aarav was right behind him. His Devanshik power was spread around both of them like a shield.
The beam led them to the densest most forsaken part of the forest. A place where the trees grew so close together that sunlight could not even reach it during the day. The air here was still. Thick. Heavy with the smell of rotting leaves and old tragedy.
There curled between the roots of an ancient hollow banyan tree (Akshay Vriksh immortal banyan tree) sat Karishma. She had hidden herself inside a hollow like a wounded animal. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. No sound came out. A mute lament. Her hands rested on her knees. Tears streamed from her eyes. Normal human tears. No golden glow. No Chhayagrasini aura. Just a terrified girl.
Karishma. Aarav called out. His voice was a gentle push against the silence of the forest.
She jerked her head up. A storm of emotions raged across her face. Fear. Relief. Shame. Guilt. All boiling together at once. Her eyes were red and swollen. She tried to look at them but her gaze could not meet theirs.
Aarav. Kiyan. Her voice was raw as if she had been screaming for a long time. Why did you come here. You should not have come. I am dangerous.
Kiyan stepped forward slowly keeping his footsteps light as if approaching a wild deer. We came to find you. And to get answers. Not to punish you.
Karishma buried her face in her hands. Her fingers dug into her hair. I do not know where to start. The story is so long. And so ugly.
Aarav sat down near her keeping a small distance. He kept his voice gentle but firm. From the beginning. Tell us everything Karishma. How did you become a Chhayagrasini. What role did Girgit Raj (the Chameleon King) play in it. And now he is dead. Who killed him.
Karishma's breathing quickened. Her chest began rising and falling rapidly. She spoke slowly. Every word was a thorn tearing out of her throat.
I was never a Chhayagrasini Aarav. I was just a normal girl. College. Dance. Friends. Nayan. The moment she spoke his name her voice dissolved into a painful tremble. She shut her eyes as if saying that name alone was causing her injury.
But then one night. She continued. Her voice was almost a whisper now. That man in the white coat came. Wearing a mask like always. Two other people were with him. No expression on their faces. Their eyes were empty like machines. They were outside my house. I saw them through the window. And then they covered my mouth. A cloth with a sweet dizzying smell. They dragged me into a black van.
She lifted her left wrist. There was a deep red scar there now. Like burned flesh but with intricate carvings on it. Like surgical stitching.
They took me to a lab. Everything was white. The walls. The floor. The lights. So bright that my eyes started hurting. Then he came. The masked man. He injected me with something. Karishma's body jolted as if she was feeling that same pain all over again. It was burning. Cold as ice and hot as fire at the same time. It spread through my veins. Through every cell. He said Now you belong to us. A success of Project Kaya.
Aarav asked. A dangerous calm had entered his voice. What did he want Karishma. What was his purpose.
Espionage Karishma said. The tears were falling without stopping now. On you all. Especially on Kiyan. Collecting data on his powers. His limits. His weaknesses. And on the relationship between the two of you.
She looked at Kiyan. A ruthless honesty filled her eyes. He used to say that the connection between you two was a unique experiment. A Devanshik and a Chhayodhbhav who are not afraid of each other. Who seek each other out. He thought this was no accident. That it was some kind of scientific principle he wanted to understand.
And Girgit Raj Kiyan asked. His voice was solid as stone.
He was his pawn Karishma said. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. He transformed Girgit Raj just like he transformed me. Half human. Half monster. But my transformation was different. He had to change me completely. Into a full Chhayagrasini. So I could live among you. So I could keep an eye on you.
She stopped and took a deep breath. But I never hurt anyone. I just lied. I gave them information. Where you were going. What you were doing. But I never. Her voice broke again. I never wanted to hurt you.
Kiyan asked And Girgit Raj's death. Do you know who killed him.
Karishma shook her head. There was real terror in her eyes now. I do not know. But I used to hear things in the lab. That man in the white coat. He belongs to Aagya Sangathan (the Aagya organization). But that name is just a front. The truth is that organization creates Chhayagrasinis. Experiments on them. And maybe they even want to control them.
Aarav spoke softly. We are taking you back. Nayan is waiting.
Karishma closed her eyes and covered her face with both hands. I cannot go back Aarav. Look at me. She stretched out her arms. Faint golden marks had surfaced on her skin. As if another layer of skin was glowing beneath it. This change is forever. I am not who I used to be. I am a Chhayagrasini. And for Chhayagrasinis there is no place in the human world.
Kiyan stepped forward. He took hold of Karishma's hand. Gently but firmly. A soft golden glow leaked from his fingers and seeped into the marks on Karishma's arms. Her body tensed but she did not pull away.
Maybe Kiyan said. A strange new tenderness had entered his voice. But we will not leave you alone. Loneliness is what breaks us. The difference between us is not just about our powers Karishma. It is about our choices. And today you made a choice. The choice to tell the truth.
They lifted her gently and took her to Nayan's house. The whole way Karishma's body kept trembling as if she was fighting a storm inside herself. When they arrived at Nayan's house the door was already open. Nayan was pacing inside. His eyes were fixed on the window every single second.
The moment he heard the door he spun around. When he saw Karishma his breathing stopped. His eyes went wide. Hope fear anger and a deep aching pain were all swimming inside them at once.
Karishma. Her name fell from his lips like a broken prayer.
Karishma froze for a moment. She wanted to step back. But then Nayan ran to her. He looked at her. At the marks on her face. At her trembling body. At the ocean of shame hidden inside her eyes.
And then without a single word he pulled her into his arms. A tight full embrace. All the questions all the anger all the fear drowned inside it.
Forgive me Nayan Karishma whispered. Her voice was muffled against his shoulder. I told you the biggest lie of all.
Nayan held her even tighter. I know. But now everything will be alright. We will fix everything together.
Aarav looked at Kiyan. The same decision burned in both their eyes. Aarav said Now we have to go to Aagya Sangathan. And find out who that man in the white coat is. This game is about to end.
Karishma pulled back gently from Nayan and nodded. The tears were gone now. A new dangerous clarity had taken their place. That masked man. He is the one who changed me. In a white coat. And behind that mask. That face.
She stopped. Her face went pale. She looked at Aarav. The fear in her eyes was the kind that could change everything.
I recognize him Aarav. Because I have seen that coat before. Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. That coat had a symbol on it. A white flower. And below it three letters. NCL. Not R and L. Not just Aagya Sangathan.
She dragged in a deep shuddering breath.
That coat. It was the coat from your father's lab Aarav. And the man beneath the mask. I can never forget his eyes. They were in a photograph hanging in your father's office. That man is your father's colleague. Dr. Vikram.
Karishma's words dissolved into the air like poison. Dr. Vikram. Bhaskar's colleague. The mastermind behind Aagya Sangathan. Does Bhaskar know about any of this. Or is he a part of this conspiracy as well. In the next chapter Aarav will be forced to confront the secrets within his own family while Kiyan and Karishma must decide who to trust. And whose hidden lies pose the greatest danger of all.
© 2026 Aaryaveda. All rights reserved.
Do not copy or repost without permission