The Rising Phoenix // Vani Fanfiction

#80. Those Silent Manipulations

Bani walked towards Naag Mandir. If there anything that calmed her down well, it was her being in the Naag Mandir before the idol.

"Adi-Naagin. Aap? Koi baat hui hai kya?" Panditayin asked.

"Nahi, Panditayin. Sabh theek hai. Bas thodi si pareshaan thi toh socha yahan aa jaau." Bani answered. She was in her human form. Panditayin was carrying a basket of flowers to make a flower garland. "Main kar dun?" She offered help. Panditayin smiled and gave it to Bani.

"Aapko bhi lagta hai ki meri softness mushkil ban jaayegi mere liye?" Bani asked Shiva's idol. She sighed when there was no answer. "Sahi hai. Sawaal karke aapka dhyaan bhang nahi karungi. Continue." Bani said to the idol.

She continued her work of making the garland. She finished the garland and put it over the idol. Smiling with satisfaction that came properly.

She then felt an odd feeling creep up on her. An odd kind of power pulling to her.

"Nageshwari..." Bani's head whipped at that. She could recognize that voice anywhere. The tray fell from her hands and she ran off outside.

"Adi-Naagin." Panditayin tried to stop her.

Aakesh. She knew it was Aakesh's voice. She stood at the main temple gate and saw Aakesh. Same clothing. Downright to every detail, it was the same. Someone hit her from behind on her head. Bani fell over from the stairs.

"Adi-Naagin!!" Panditayin shouted.

"Nageshwari..."

Aakesh. He was there. Bani stumbled back a bit. So many things washed over her. She had to face the truth. She had herself killed the one who was her true soulmate.

"This can't be true. No." Bani stumbled back. The guilt resurfaced. Her heartbeat went really fast. Fear, guilt, and uneasiness poured over her.

"Adi-Naagin, sambhaliye khud ko. Yeh sabh..." Panditayin's voice slowly got muted. She couldn't hear anything she was trying to say. Panic. Bani felt panic. Her mind was getting chaotic. Somewhere deep inside her heart, she felt as if something was really wrong. Really wrong. But then Aakesh was right there before her.

"Nageshwari..." He called her. The next thing Bani saw was that Aakesh was kicked away.

"Nahi!!" Bani shouted. Panditayin stopped her. She saw Hriday attacking Aakesh. "Nahi, please, nahi..." Bani shouted. She pushed Panditayin behind and ran up before Aakesh.

"Hriday, suno. Please." Bani tried to tell him. Bani couldn't explain why she felt no anger towards Hriday when she stood before him.

"Nageshwari..." Aakesh called her. Bani stood before Aakesh and before her was Hriday.

Veer clenched his fists. Shakura had crossed his limits. He must have put Bani in the same trap that Veer had earlier walked into. Bani was standing before him, defending Shakura by pushing him behind her. The trap made her think Shakura was Aakesh and he was Hriday.

"Bani, listen to me. Meri baat suno. Yeh sabh bakwaas hai. He's playing with you. Main Veer hun. Tumhara Veeranshu." Veer tried to tell him.

"Main tumhe hurt nahi kar sakti. Please..." Bani tried to tell him. Veer knew how much anger she bore for Hriday and if she hadn't attacked him yet, somewhere Bani could feel it was him.

"Bani, please mujhe suno. You know me." Veer tried to tell her.

"Please. Stop this." Bani was feeling tortured. She could hear Veer's voice. Then there was Aakesh calling to help her. The guilt was majorly torturing her. She had killed Aakesh. Aakesh was her soulmate. The one who was made for her. She was made for him. Her instincts did warn her that she was attached to Aakesh in a way but she didn't listen to her soul who already knew Aakesh. The guilt was pouring over her. She tried not to let it affect her relationship but now when she felt Aakesh was right before he, she couldn't help that panic. That was why maybe Bholenath cursed her. She had murdered her own soulmate.