The Rising Phoenix // Vani Fanfiction

#37. Playing Tricks

Bani as Shukla reached the cheel gufa. This time she was on her own. The Singhanias weren't there to keep her warned about anything that could occur. They were there to protect her if her secret was out. Before she entered the gufa, Bani said a silent prayer.

"Bholenath, main wahi karne jaa rahi hun jo mujhe sahi lagta hai. Aapne humesha hi mujhe sahi rasta dikhaya hai. Aaj bhi meri madad kijiye ki main sahi kar saku. Aap toh pashupatinath hai. Saare sansaar ke jeev aapke saamne jhukte hai. Yeh Adi-Naagin bhi aapke jhuk ke aapse prarthna kar rahi hai ki mujhe sahi karne ki shakti dena." Bani prayed.

She then walked into the caves. Daksh had drawn her the whole sketch of the cheel caves. Bani was amazed by the intricate design of the caves. They had secret entry and exits everywhere. He had her memorize it so she knows exactly what is where in the caves and Markaat won't doubt.

"Shukla... bade jaldi aa gaye." Markaat growled. Bani saw the burnt feathers. Markaat had just wrapped a shawl around since he couldn't wear a shirt while feathers refused to go back inside. With the feathers damaged, the body itself refused to pull back the wings considering there were chances of injuring the wings.

"Huzoor. Le aaya main ark ke liye samaan." Bani answered.

"Jaldi banao." Markaat told him. Balwant had given her a lot of information on Shukla that could be necessary for her to play the part well. Markaat had his own teacher train Shukla so Shukla could become the kul guru of cheels properly. Yet, Bani presumed that Shukla was a waste. He didn't really know much.

"Huzoor, main abhi kuch der pehle Veeranshu se milke aaya tha. Woh keh raha tha ki aap kamzoor ho jaayenge. Kuch aisa ho raha hai kya?" Baniasked.

"Kamzori toh lag rahi hai, Shukla. Body puri tarah thak chuki. Agar Veer nahi jaata toh shayad jald hi body band padni shuru ho jaati." Markaat answered.

"Toh aap kya soch rahe hai? Matlab agar Veeranshu ki baat sach hai toh phir aapko koi aur body ki zaroorat padegi na?"

"Woh toh sahi hai, Shukla, par aisa koi aur nahi hai jise Suraj jalaye nahi. Sirf Veeranshu hai."

"Par agar uski body kamzor ho gayi hai toh kuch toh karna hoga."

"Pata hai mujhe, Shukla." Bani gave the potion to Markaat. Markaat drank it. He sighed after that and a moment later Chandrakala walked in. Behind her was Chandni.

"Tum dono?" Markaat asked, an irritated look on his face. Chandni just stared at Markaat. Markaat raised his eyebrow at her. "Aise kya dekh rahi ho?"

"Abh mera chaand mere saamne hai toh dekhungi hi."

"Main tumhe Chandra lagta hun?"

"Veer. Veer ki body mein ho. Mera chaand toh Veer hai."

"Main Veeranshu nahi hun."

"Haan par dikhte toh uski tarah ho. Kuch kuch cheezein bhi tumhari Veer jaisi hai."

Bani had never known jealousy much but at that moment, the way she said Veer, Bani almost wanted to shut her up. Chandni tried to sit next to Markaat but he pushed her away. She fell to the ground.

"Apni jagah pe raho, Chandni. Na toh mujhe tum mein koi iccha hai aur na hi Veeranshu ko." Markaat answered. He rubbed his temples.

"Yeh batao ki abhi uss Adi-Naagin ko kaise khatam karna hai?"Chandrakala asked.

"Adi-Naagin bacchi nahi hai. Pehle, Shukla, jaao aur pata karo ki Nageshwari kya karne ki chah mein hai. Aise khaali baitne walo mein se nahi hai woh." Markaat told Bani. Bani internally scoffed. As if Bani would let Shukla know her plans.