Hours passed by and the birthday celebration was a joy of event. Laughs, jokes and fun games kept the party with a nice flow and Vinay being finally happy as he missed this type of love since a
tragedy structed upon him seven years ago. He prefers to not reveal it to keep his walls so high and hiding vulnerability to the world.
"Alright, Vinay. I and Rishabh are going to hang out for a bit and I hope you would be with Abhimanyu ". Vardhini continues
"Abhimanyu is scared of being alone in the room so be with him until he falls asleep and.... Thank you, Vinay, for being here …. with us". Vardhini thanks him and holds Rishabh's hand for walking towards their hangout place.
"Yeah sure, no worries at all". Vinay responded with a sense of duty.
The door closes and Vinay was sitting beside Abhimanyu and watching him sleep peacefully. Vinay was convinced that he can get all of the happiness just by staying with the people he cares about them. A sudden realization went through his mind as he looks at the key which the couple forgot to take before leaving the house.
"Oh no, they left this house key and by the time they come, I would probably fallen asleep". The thought in his minds concerns him. He took the keys and went outside and messaged them about the place they are currently at. To which Rishabh texted the location "H.S Super Mart". The messaged led him to go towards that super mart. Just as he was about to see that Super Mart, they were exiting the Super mart. From a distance it looked like, she was taking him to an alley. Vinay followed them and just as he entered the alley.
The blood sprayed against the brick wall as Vardhini tore into Rishabh's shoulder and the scream of the victim startled the boy who just wanted to give them the keys. Vinay's eyes widen and the face turning pale as he watches Vardhini tearing the flesh of the shoulder. Unable to stare at the horrifying event, Vinay gasped….
The eyes that were filled with predatory intentions looked upon the boy who witnessed something he was not meant to witness. The face as well as lips were covered with the blood and the skin looking more greyish and somewhat pale. The lips changed to give a smile that can terrify any sane human unfortunate of witnessing the act. Vardhini pushed the injured body of Rishabh and rushed towards Vinay with a speed that wouldn't let a prey escape. Vinay backed off but before he could do that, Vardhini jumped on him and tried to bite him as well but the difference of result was not that he was prepared for this attack but he was not unaware of the thing that could happened to him.
"Ahn, Vardhini …. Vardhini, it is not you…. You are not a predator…. You are not a monster!!!" Vinay grunts as he stops her bite with his hands and the perfect timing before he could be the prey of a predator.
The familiar voice of Vinay forced one woman to come out and reach him out. The Super Mart's door opens and the sound of heavy breathing and panic in the eyes as she watched her friend being attacked by a predator
"Vinay?! No No…No this could not happen ". The thoughts of the woman who sympathises with Vinay and cares for him. Tara's eyes widen as she sees a Vardhini attacking Vinay and he was stopping her attack by bare hands
Tara's horrifying reaction seeing her best friend struggling to defend himself. From her pocket a card comes out and she clings it to her chest and then her tears filled her eyes trying to build courage. She looks at the card and then chanted a spell.
{"Sahayata Karatu"}. The Sanskrit chant that she believed could help someone to fight predators was used. She hoped it could work and the sound of wind blowing picking up the pace within seconds
Vinay was trying to dodge Vardhini's attack and he punched her with guilt of hurting the woman who had been kind to him always. His hands shivered with every punch that provided resistance against the attack but the attacks weren't enough.
Suddenly the shadow of two people was formed on the ground and Vinay's eyes looked for the person and his eyes widen. Two warriors wearing Jodhpur suit with sword hanging around their waist and a stance made to rescue him. One of them saw the body injured and losing a lot of blood on ground.
"Yuvraj quickly, Go and rescue that man lying on the ground ". The man commands
"Got it, Acharya ". The boy prepared himself as he responds.
With a lightning speed, the boy goes past Vardhini and picks up that man and Vardhini turned back to attack him but a dagger pierced through her back, blood dripping down from the wound.
"No…Please don't kill her, I…I beg you". Vinay's desperate plea as he saw the wound and knows what might happens next.
"What are you talking about? You summoned us to defend yourself, right?". The man questioned with a stoic face.
"No, I didn't summon you …. you might have been mistaken". His voice sounded confused as he speaks.
"Well, whatever it is, the wounds on this man looks serious". Yuvraj explains as he dodged Vardhini's attack and he also attacks her with his swords and then…
{"Wind slash!!!!!!!!!!"}. The sword swings in the air as Yuvraj screams and a gush of winds channels through atmosphere and slashed Vardhini's arm with a quick blow without sword touching her.
"No… Please don't kill her, I beg you. Please spare her!!!". Vinay screams with desperation that stopped Yuvraj from further attacking her.
"I want you to stop attacking her and kill her …. Please I request you to…. to.". Vinay is in loss of words as he sees the limb that was cut from the attack lying on the ground. With that the Vardhini's back was slashed open and a black and red flesh alien to human anatomy came out of the body and Yuvraj tried to stop her but had to dodge a quick attack from pointed arrows released from that monster limb and with that a perfect opportunity, she escaped.
"Ah damn it!!" The man grunts as he looks at Vinay with a disgust and continues
"I don't understand, What's your problem? Huh Why did you let that predator run away by distracting us? You stupid brat!".
"I…. I... I wanted to… stop you…. from killing her". Vinay's eyes filled with unspoken fear as he stammers.
"That woman was a predator who attacked this man for taking eternal essence as they need this for surviving". The man explains with a stoic tone.
"Eternal essence? What is eternal essence? Vinay questions as he looked into his eyes.
"Eternal essence is basically parallel to oxygen and every being requires eternal essence to function". The man answers firmly.
"A predator? What are you talking about? She was normal before all of this, celebrating her son's birthday and talking normally to me and to everyone". Vinay questions as he tries to process the man's judgement.
"I don't care what she was doing and acting up, to me I saw her attacking a human and as an assassin it is my duty to eliminate predators and save civilians from them". The man dismissed Vinay as he speaks.
"How dare you….?". Vinay was about to burst but Yuvraj interferes
"Easy there, man. We are not here to defeat your psychic". He continues
"Well don't take it personal, Acharya Lokesh is very old and grumpy and he says these things when he is unable to comfort the person". Yuvraj mocks Acharya Lokesh witnessing their little rattle.
"Shut up, you idiot!". Acharya Lokesh bursts out in anger.
"Is he dead? How did this all happen? How did the things turn out so bad?". Vinay whispers as he stares at the large pool of blood after Vardhini attacked Rishabh. Vinay was shivering unable to withstand as he breathes heavily. Upon seeing this discomfort, Acharya Lokesh's anger fades away and he kept a hand on Vinay's shoulder.
"Well don't worry we would not let this man to die and trust me if you have any concerns so here is the place you can visit for meeting him". Acharya Lokesh soft word tries to comfort Vinay and upon hearing this, his shoulders relaxed a bit and heavy breathing were stopped.
"Well, we are taking this person for the treatment and have a faith on us, please". Yuvraj trying to lighten the mood.
"Looking at the eternal essence being spilled over the place ...
Hey kid, you should return to your house and then if you are too much worried about him then visit this place". Acharya Lokesh briefs him as he gives the address…
Mansarovar Assassin Academy
With that the two assassin takes Rishabh's injured body and Vinay returns to house and finds the light turned on and he quickly opens the gate and he sees.
"Big bro! You are back; I was really really scared!! Where did you go actually?". Abhimanyu rushed and hugs Vinay tightly and his voice cracks as he speaks, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"It is okay, Abhimanyu. I went to give the wallet to your mom and that's why I went outside". Vinay comforting him but unable to reveal the truth.
"Where are mom and Rishabh? They said that they would return by 12 but they are not here yet". Abhimanyu questions.
"They said that they wanted to go for a honeymoon and I promised them that I would take care of you till the time they come back ". Vinay forced a smile as he responds.
"Really? I am glad. Well okay they can enjoy their honeymoon if you are here with me". Abhimanyu's voice relaxed and tensions erased as he speaks up.
Vinay looks at his blood covered hands and he has fought with the experience he got from karate classes years ago but his heart is not yet relived knowing he couldn't keep on lying to the boy who calls him big bro and respects him. He then looks at his phone and opened the gallery to look at his parents with his younger brother standing near them in photo. Abhimanyu was already asleep after comforting him.
"It has been seven years since you all left me …Those damn monster… are back in my life to hurt me more than when I was hurt after you all left me….". Vinay's eyes filled with tears and his voice cracked up unable to hold his emotions he continues