The air crackled with energy as Aaliyah and I materialized amidst the chaos of a mortal street. Sound, colour, and motion crashed against us all at once—horns blared, vendors shouted, and a thousand footsteps rattled across the ground like a living heartbeat.
"Ah, we finally arrived…" I spread my arms wide, drinking in the vibrant frenzy. "Welcome to India, Aaliyah—land of saints and sages, where stories older than the stars still whisper in mortal hearts. Right now, we stand in Mumbai, the jewel of their world."
Before she could answer, a three-wheeled contraption shot past us, screeching its horn. Aaliyah jumped back with a startled cry, wings twitching.
"By the heavens! What was that beast? And the stench it leaves behind!" She wrinkled her nose, fanning the black smoke with a delicate hand.
I laughed softly, watching the swirl of mortals rushing past. "Not a beast, little dove. Merely a carriage of their own creation. Ingenious, if inelegant."
She huffed, wings rustling. "A cacophony of noise, smoke, and sweat. And look at them—swarming like ants in a hill. How do mortals endure this chaos?"
Her disdain only deepened my smile. For every honk and shout, there was another scene that softened the edges: a balloon vendor tying a string to a laughing child's hand, a vendor passing steaming chai to weary workers, children sharing street snacks with sticky fingers. Their laughter rang through the polluted air like a hymn of survival.
"Because, Aaliyah," I murmured, "even in their flaws, they shine. Mortals are paradox. Fragile, yet resilient. Selfish, yet selfless. Their struggles weave a tapestry of life no heaven can imitate."
She tilted her head at me, suspicion narrowing her eyes. "Your words drip with poetry, my lord. But tell me truly—did Father truly send us here for this? Or is there another reason you've dragged me into this madness?"
I offered her nothing but an enigmatic smile and began strolling into the crowd. "Patience, little dove. Answers come with time."
Despite her protests, curiosity soon softened her glare. She gawked openly at skyscrapers piercing the clouds. "These towers—do they reach to the heavens themselves? And those thunderous creatures rushing past—are they demons in disguise?"
I chuckled. "Marvels of mortal ingenuity. Their towers are homes and workspaces. Their 'beasts' are machines. Every one of these creations speaks of their minds—the most intricate among all creatures save the gods. They shape fire, air, stone, and water not with divine hands, but with sheer will. Truly remarkable."
We wandered deeper until the street opened to a park, a breath of green amid the concrete. Aaliyah's eyes widened in wonder as she stepped onto soft grass. Children played hide-and-seek around a fountain, a stray puppy barked at fluttering pigeons, and a vendor sold flowers beneath a sprawling banyan tree.
Her lips curved into a smile, her earlier annoyance fading. "This place… it is pleasant. Quiet. Almost peaceful." She pointed eagerly at a flock of pigeons taking flight. "And look at them—so free, unbound by heaven or duty."
I glanced at her fondly. "See? Even you can find beauty in the mortal realm."
Her wings twitched nervously. "But what if they see us?"
"No need to worry. I've veiled us with invisibility. To them, we are but whispers in the breeze."
As she relaxed, I quickened my pace, slipping behind the ancient banyan tree. Its roots twisted like the veins of the Earth itself. Aaliyah followed, puzzled.
"Why hide here, my lord? What is so special about this place?"
I smiled, eyes fixed on the swing beneath the banyan's shade—where a boy sat alone, scribbling furiously in his notebook, his brows knit in thought.
"Because, my dear Aaliyah…" I whispered, heart quickening. "We have finally arrived at our destination."
**********
The sunlight filtered gently through the banyan leaves, scattering dappled patterns across the little park. The laughter of children echoed faintly, yet my gaze was drawn elsewhere. There, on the swing, sat a boy apart from the world—hood pulled low, headphones dangling around his neck, a notepad balanced against his knees. His pen flew as though it carried the weight of his soul.
I leaned against the ancient tree, my arms folded, my voice barely a whisper.
"Fascinating… truly fascinating…"
Aaliyah shifted beside me with a sceptical arch of her brow. "What's so fascinating, my lord? Another stray cat?"
Suppressing a chuckle, I lifted a hand and pointed. "Not a cat, Aaliyah. That child."
She followed my gaze, her wings rustling. The moment her eyes landed on him, they widened slightly. "…That boy. The one you're always watching from the heavens. Don't tell me you brought me all this way for him? My lord, is the great Guardian Deity truly reduced to a common stalker?"
I exhaled sharply. "For the heavens' sake, Aaliyah, I am not a stalker. He is… different. There's a spark about him, something I cannot explain. And today, I intend to befriend him. With your help."
Her wings bristled, and she crossed her arms like a mother bird shielding her chicks. "Have you forgotten Father's command? You can't just waltz up to mortals and reveal yourself!"
I tilted my head with a mischievous smile. "Father forbade revealing who we truly are. He never said anything about friendship. Words, my dear Aaliyah, can be very… flexible."
Her glare could have cut through diamond. "Flexible? You're twisting the law into a pretzel! What's your plan—descend in celestial robes and terrify him into being your friend?"
With a flourish, I summoned light to swirl around me. "Watch closely."
Closing my eyes, I wove a string of spells. Light flared around me, and the air rippled with magic. The brilliance faded, and I stood in a sleek black suit, sunglasses perched on my nose, striking a pose like a hero from some mortal film.
"Behold! Men in Black!"
Aaliyah's silence lasted only a second before her deadpan glare dropped like a hammer. "You look less like a hero and more like a suspicious abductor. The boy will run screaming before you say hello."
I tugged at the lapel of my jacket, frowning. "…Hmm. Perhaps you're right."
The light flared again. This time, when it dimmed, a boy stood in my place—slim, youthful, clad in a white hoodie and blue jeans, blue hair tousled playfully across his forehead. I flexed my fingers, smiling with satisfaction. "There. Much friendlier."
Aaliyah groaned. "Now you resemble a child yourself. What's next? You'll beg him to share his crayons?"
I wagged a finger at her. "Approachability, Aaliyah. That's the key. And you, my dear, will play my sister."
Her cheeks flamed pink instantly. "S-Sister? Why not a friend? Or—" She stopped, pouting. "This is awkward."
I grinned knowingly. "Sister is less suspicious. Now, come on."
She muttered under her breath but finally lifted her hands, chanting softly. Light swirled around her, reshaping her into a little girl with twin ponytails tied by pink ribbons, dressed in a simple black frock. She looked every bit the picture of innocence.
My eyes softened. "Marvellous. You're beautiful, Aaliyah."
Her blush deepened as she looked away. "Stop saying such things. Let's just… finish this quickly."
I took her hand gently, feeling the warmth of her fingers. Together, we stepped out from the shade of the banyan tree. My heart beat faster with every step.
The boy kept writing, oblivious to us, his pen racing as though recording secrets only he could see. I inhaled slowly.
This is it. After centuries of watching from afar… destiny brings us face to face.
**********
The park was alive with a sweet symphony of birdsong, harmonizing with the rustling leaves and the laughter of children in the distance. Squirrels darted across the grass, and sunlight dappled the ground in golden patches.
But amidst the liveliness, one boy sat alone on a swing. He couldn't have been more than thirteen, dressed in a black hoodie and loose pants, his notebook balanced on his lap. His pen twirled between his fingers, tapping against the page as if urging the words to come. Then, with a groan, he scribbled furiously, only to slash it out in frustration. Another page ripped free, crumpled, and landed among the growing pile scattered beneath the swing.
"Not good enough…" he muttered, shoving the pen against his lips. "No… this still isn't right…"
I exchanged a glance with Aaliyah as we approached. The ground around him was littered with crumpled papers, each one a fragment of some world he was struggling to shape. My lips curved into a playful smile as I bent down, plucked one of the discarded balls, and tossed it in my palm.
"Hey, Earth to paper-thrower! You know this counts as littering, right? The park's starting to look like your personal trash can."
The boy jolted, as if I had pulled him out of a dream. His pen froze mid-tap, his wide eyes snapping up to meet mine. For a moment, he just stared, startled and speechless, as though he couldn't quite decide if I was scolding him or teasing him.
Beside me, Aaliyah tugged gently at my sleeve, her curious gaze fixed on him.
"Brother, don't scare him already."
The breeze stirred then, carrying a swirl of fallen leaves between us—a fleeting dance of gold and green, almost as if the world itself was holding its breath. And in that quiet instant, I knew.
This meeting… this chance encounter beneath the banyan tree… was no accident. The Meeting of Two Realms had just begun.
**********