As the light touched the injured angel's face, her legs surged forward with full force. "Dhruv!" With a gentle touch, she cradled his head in her lap. Although he struggled to speak, his smile spoke volumes. His blue eyes were a mix of pain, longing, and a little happiness.
There were faint impressions of feet behind Dhruv, wearing formal shoes. Sooner, the light unveiled the being standing next to them. He was wearing a formal suit.
"What are you?" she said.
The angel's purple eyes bore a deep contempt for her mere presence. Two silver horns shone like moonlight on his head; a stark contrast to the grey hair that framed his face. And a halo above, emitting eternal darkness. With the intensifying light, his wings materialised—withholding a blend of purple and grey feathers. "I am Kri."
An invisible force paralysed Manya; not even her eyes had freedom. In an instant, she was airborne, being controlled by Kri. He threw her a short distance—her eyes still locked on Dhruv.
"That's where you belong," Kri said. Never had she heard such a sneer filled with venom.
Kri left a trail of bloody footprints with every step he took. Blood, which was dripping from Dhruv. Approaching Manya, he traced his shoe across her face.
"Foolish Mortal. Trying to face the invulnerable."
A strong tremor shook the whole spaceship.
"What entity sows this turmoil?" Kri said. "It's intriguing how my sight fails to perceive it. Since when have humans mastered the art of concealing themselves so effectively?" He stood up, restless about not finding the source of the disturbance, which was known to Manya. "Regardless of its nature, it lacks power to avert humanity's downfall. I am determined to shape this nation into a realm befitting our celestial aspirations."
Kri moved to Dhruv. "I must express my gratitude for this fate. An opportunity to perish this nation." He poured a green liquid all over Dhruv's face. "Refrain from departing prior to such filth, for it would only tarnish our celestial reputation."
Hundreds of screens filled the entire space, each displaying the live feed of the massacre of blue angels in different parts of the country. Desperation and fear had engulfed the civilians. Parents sacrificed themselves for their children, and the elderly had lost hope for survival.
Gazing upon the unfolding horror, her heart—heavy with the weight of tragedy, felt like a boulder in her chest. The events of despair brought Kri a sense of esteemed pleasure.
Restriction on Manya's mouth lifted.
"Any last words, mortal?" Kri said.
"Why? why kill all those innocents?"
"Why do the vulnerable meet their end?" He flew closer. "Because they are vulnerable."
"What point do you want to make by killing innocent? That you are strong?" Manya chuckled. "You are nothing but a coward!"
Rather than giving a response, Kri moved closer and knelt down.
"What are you, mortal? You couldn't be a human, or else you would have perished the moment you set foot upon my celestial conveyance or when I confronted you at the restaurant. And you also lived through the train accident."
"Train acci—" she said.
"I dispatched my most valiant warriors to obliterate him, yet he emerged unscathed. But I uncover no sign of abnormality in you when I looked into his memories. What I couldn't perceive was the face, an entity you refer as 'Atharv.' By what means could a typical human being obscure their presence within the memories of others? An achievement that only the utmost experts can attain. Experts transcending earthly realms." Kri flew away from her. "Perish her."
Female angels, lighter in hue than their male counterparts, marched out from various paths, holding a stern gaze. One stabbed Manya with a feather in the back, which was growing at a slow pace, tearing it apart. And she couldn't lift a finger.
A portion of the floor flew to Kri, wiping away Manya's tears with the strong gust. Kri redirected it with his wings, causing it to veer off course. The restriction had disrupted her wish to glimpse at this entity. The female angels retreated behind Kri.
"Years have passed since I've encountered a human of your strength," Kri said. "I command you to reveal your essence!"
The footsteps grew closer. Sooner, the most annoying sound of rubber fell on her ears. In a matter of seconds, they appeared right before her very eyes. The foul smelled, rubber flip-flops. She giggled out blood. A freeing sensation enveloped her. She could feel her limbs again. And a warm hand embraced her head—spreading a rush of relief over her senses.
"Didn't know they will be the last thing I will see before dying," she said.
"Miss me?" Atharv said.
"Why would I miss a person who can't even text a woman without consulting me?"
"Why do you have to be so personal? I thought it was a secret."
"Like they will tell anyone."
Atharv smirked. "And I was thinking of sparing a few of them. It's your fault. Don't blame me now."
Atharv helped her up and sat her against the wall so she could see everything. Dhruv looked better, but was still upset and wrapped in his own tears. She raised her arm, gesturing him to smile and not worry. "Mamu's here," she said.
***
The memories from their Goa vacation flooded back. Once, while struggling with what food to eat. They decided that they would order the food that would bring a smile to others. But none of the food enthusiasts surrounding them were happy or enjoying their food.
After a while, a young girl on the sidewalk caught their attention. She was drowned in a hamburger; her eyes gleaming with its flavour. Her clothes were barely hanging from her body. Being loaded with alcohol, they forgot about the lunch and marched forward to grant every wish of that little girl.
After buying 3 taxi's worth of clothes, they took her to an amusement park. Seeing the child enjoying every ride intensified their greed to have a kid that instant.
"But how can we adopt her?" Manya said.
Dhruv tilted her head and looked at her. "With money."
They laughed. "No, stupid. We don't ha-have marriage. Certificate!"
That same night. Manya lay next to the kid. Dhruv thought she had passed out from drinking too much. "I never thought I'll be blessed enough to meet a girl like you." She could feel his breath merging with hers. He brushed the teeth? "I want to marry you, but I don't know if I am strong enough to protect you." His touch on her hair sent a tingling sensation down her spine. "I. I love you, Manya." He kissed her forehead.
Protect me?Theirs stories about this world being mean to lovers. But time has changed. She really wanted to kiss him right then, but the kid was holding onto her tight. She glanced at him with narrowed eyes. He was standing by the window, with moonlight reflecting through his tears.
The following day, they found themselves in a mess; being arrested under the suspicion of kidnapping the same child they had pampered the day before. The little girl was innocently enjoying her ice cream with her parents, and Dhruv was excited about his first arrest.
She rested her head on Dhruv's shoulder. A cry of the child reached her. She jolted towards the window—hoping to see the bond they shared yesterday.
"Don't raise your hopes. Her ice cream fell," Dhruv said.
Manya cried on his chest the whole way to the prison. That moment still ached her heart. All because of that adorable and mischievous little girl. And they later discovered that it was a scam created by the child's well-earning guardians to deceive tourists like them, but no tourist went further than giving her some money and another hamburger.
***
A sharp pain from Atharv's thin liquid tube brought her back to reality. "What is it?"
"It will close this cool, beautiful wound."
She giggled. "Stop, it's hard to laugh right now. If it's beautiful, why healing it?"
His eyes glistened with pride. "You've grown."
Kri enveloped Dhruv within his wings, constricting him with each passing moment. "Stop!" With a roar, her blood dripped out from the wounds.
"You were right," Atharv said. Out of the blue, he showed up next to Kri, set Dhruv free, and carefully placed him in her lap in a split second. "That you'll never be able to live your dream life."
Before she could understand Atharv's swift actions, Dhruv's gentle hand caressed her wet cheek. "Oh, hi, Ms. Manya," he said. A mixture of green liquid and tears encircled his eyes.
If it wasn't for her wounds, she would've been all over him. "S-Still want t-to marry me?" she said.
Dhruv's eyes widened. "You weren't asleep?" She shook her head. "Sorry, because of me, you."
"Love without pain. Who wants it?"
They smiled.
"Wait, what marriage?" Atharv said.
Her stomach screamed. She took a deep, but painful, breath. "We would have got married if not for that little devil we came across." Blood didn't seep out this time. "And I wouldn't have invited you." Atharv's eyes lost their sparkle, and he had a distant look. "Oh, please."
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of angels entered the area. "Mamu, Dhruv's with us. Let's leave."
"What about the city? Or country?" Atharv said.
"But we can't… you can't fight them alone."
Atharv avoided her pleading and stood fearlessly between the formidable army and them.
A sharp pain shot through her, made her glance to her once open wound. It had turned into a scar, healing rapidly. Gazing back up, there was no sign of Atharv.
"The time has come to offer homage to the one who once bore the title of heir to the throne, my dear Dhruv," Kri said. Every single one of them exuded a bloodthirsty aura. "As a recompense, the one who shall bring about his end will earn the choice to either subjugate or bring an end to this nat—" In a blink, half of the angel's army were ripped apart by a powerful force. "ion." Shock froze everyone, their eyes haunted by an invisible foe. They glanced at each other, seeking confirmation of the reality that had transpired.
Atharv appeared out of thin air and grabbed Kri's neck and smashed him to the ground. The strength of the impact made everyone question if surviving the attack was even possible.
The question that lingered in Manya's mind was how on earth had Atharv become so strong? Does he have some secret training regimen? It was hard to believe that his police training alone could account for the immense strength he exerted. Manya's veins pulsed with adrenaline, a wide grin stretched across her face.
***
Atharv went on a merciless rampage, relishing every moment as if he were a child, finally visiting an amusement park after months of longing. In the meantime, Kri somehow got up and drank some of the purple stuff, which made his veins turn dark and scary.
"It's impossible to stop him now," Dhruv said.
"Wait—why's your eyes blue?"
He smiled. "These are my original eyes."
"I would have said they are beautiful, but the ones mamu's fighting also have blue," she said. "Ok, why's its impossible to stop him? What is that thing?"
"A strengthening formula, and a powerful one."
"Like healing portions?"
Dhruv smiled. "I used to think like that. But what you are seeing is no magic, but science. Pure and advance science."
"Why is it impossible to kill him? You saw mamu, smashing his brains out."
"That portion not only strengthens you—it alters your DNA, gives certain abilities."
"Like what?"
"There are tons of it, but the one he drank will make his skin energy poisonous, just a touch to erase any matter."
"Energy?"
"Manya, I don't know if we'll survive this, but I think you should know about the grain of the world you are experiencing right now. The entities present here can alter the energies to their needs. But its output is limited in restricted areas."
While she couldn't grasp his words, but she still understood the essence. The ongoing battle drowned her voice out as she tried to yell and warn Atharv.
"How can we stop him, then?" she said.
"We can't. To stop him, one must have the counter formula or the energy particles stronger than him."
"Is there no way?"
"Not on this planet, but your mamu's mysterious strength is making me to doubt it."
With renewed strength coursing through her arms and legs, she could run towards Atharv to deliver the warning, but she had to leave Dhruv.
"Mamu," she whispered.
Next instance, Atharv appeared beside her.
"How did?" she said.
"Why were you yelling?" he said.
"But you were just—"
"I what?"
"He's poisonous." She pointed at Kri.
"So?"
"I want to help you."
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Ok," Atharv said. He leaned Dhruv by the wall. "Ready?" Manya nodded. He shoved her into the middle of the angel crowd. Sooner, she was getting beat up while floating in the air, but luckily, she didn't get stabbed by their feathers or weapons. A few seconds later, she ended up next to Atharv. "It wasn't much, but few of them definitely fainted from laughter."
She pulled herself up. "I never wanted to fight alone."
From his sleeve, Atharv fabricated several tiny red particles that assembled into a mask in his palm. "You want to see something cool?"
She nodded. "If it doesn't involve me getting beaten by them."
The instant he put on the mask, his hair changed colour, turning into a mixture of red and golden.
"Beautiful. Dhruv, you're seeing this?" she glanced at Dhruv. He was stunned by the unfolding scene. She rushed to him because he wasn't breathing, but his eyes were fixated on Atharv. "Are you ok? Dhruv!" she massaged his chest and the first thing came out of his mouth was his own black blood.
"Why… are, you. How?" Dhruv said.
Atharv placed his hand on Manya's head. "Take care of him."
"But I want—" she said.
Dhruv grabbed her arm. "Let him."
Atharv stepped back—smiling at her and giving Dhruv a strange look—as if urging him to take control. With lightning speed, he spun around and struck the angel's stomach with his bare hands. However, that wasn't the thing that shocked the entire hoard.
Kri and his accomplices began to retreat, shaking visibly to their very core. Kri moved in reverse, struggling to communicate his instructions to the angels, resorting to frantic gestures instead. His sweat had taken on a disturbing black hue.
"It can't be. You. How… How in the heaven you're alive?" Kri said.