The Rising Phoenix // Vani Fanfiction

#77. The Present

Bani was standing before a beautiful mansion near a lake.

"That is your birthday gift." He winked at her.

"Are you joking?" She asked surprised.

"No. Why would I be joking about your gift?"

"You seriously brought a mansion for me?"

"Abh tumhe main apni koi property dun toh you think ki main tumhe paise dikha ke impress karne ki koshish kar raha hun."

Bani rolled her eyes.

"It is beautiful but didn't have to go overboard and buy a mansion for me."

"Hmm... you know there's a reason why I chose to buy it. There is a story about this mansion. The 200th Cheel Rajkumar Raksh Aditya had built this mansion. He had fallen in love with a human. During that time, it was still not accepted to have humans as mates to Cheels. Markaat was still their patron god. Markaat didn't accept humans as a part of our world. The woman, Charul was just as much in love with him as he was. People didn't allow them to be together. So, they used to meet here in this forest and often spent time with each other in this mansion. There was rumour among humans that the mansion was haunted because it rang with laughter and was often surrounded by cheels flying over it. A few giddhs could be found too. The mix gave off eerie air to humans. After a while, both of them started having problems with their sides because they loved each other. Markaat didn't let Raksh marry Charul and Charul's family didn't accept her love for Raksh who was practically just another rich, reclusive man to them. They were seen with doubtful eyes by humans. Charul told Raksh that she was being forced to marry a man her family chose for her. It was either her escaping from it or she'd be found dead. Raksh didn't know how to explain to his people that he loved a human and wanted to marry her."

Veer took her hand and led her ahead into the Mansion. The interior of the mansion was so beautiful. Bani could see the changes Veer had gotten in the manor. The interior had a touch of a rustic theme. Wooden brown and green with the stone architecture. One large open courtyard. The glass roof above was tinted with various colors reflecting a colorful look on the small indoor pool. It was a very large manor almost the size of Singhania Mansion. Yet, it was perfect for a getaway. A large open balcony overlooking the lake. Swans and ducks swimming in the lake could be seen perfectly well. A swing was placed at the balcony.

Four master bedrooms and three smaller bedrooms. A library. One kitchen and six bathrooms. There were several statues as decorations. Bani knew they had to be old. It wasn't Veer's addition.

"They came across a man. He suggested Raksh that if he had loved Charul enough, he should break away from the aerie. Pehle toh Raksh yeh sochne laga ki sahi nahi hai. Koi bhi cheel apne pariwaar ko chodke nahi jaa sakta. Aur phir Raksh toh Cheel Rajkumar tha. Uss aadmi ne Raksh ko samjhaya ki agar uska pyaar utna zyaada hai toh ek baar ke liye uske dil se hi awaaz aayegi ki Charul ke saath rehna sahi hai." Veer told her.

"Phir?"

"Usi aadmi ne Charul ko bhi himmat di ki use apne pyaar par vishwas karna chahiye. Kehte hai na ki pyaar andha kar deta hai par pyaar ne Raksh ko nayi Aankhen di. Pehli baar kisi ne himmat ki thi Markaat se alag hone ki. Raksh ne tay kiya ki woh abhi kabhi Markaat ko apna dev nahi maanega. Thanks to him, Markaat didn't remain the patron god to all the cheels. Usne cheelon Markaat se dur nikala. Phir bhi insaano ko kabhi samjhaya hi nahi jaa sakta tha. Toh Raksh ne plan banaya. He pretended to be a monster terrorizing the area nearby, scaring life out of the people. Uss aadmi ne ek pandit ka bhes banaya aur yeh kaha ki agar Charul ko uss monster ko de dein toh gaanv bach sakta hai. People are superstitious. They agreed instantly to send off Charul into the forest. Tabh se insaan iss jungle mein zyaada nahi aate. It is said haunted kyuki bohot saare cheel aas paas rehte rahe hai."