Bumping Into A 'Superhero' (BIAS)

Chapter 15 : Introspection

"I can't still believe this. You are repeating the same things that Arjun.. your dad did. He too helped these science-fiction guys out of his way. See where that landed him ?

Amruta and your father are never coming back", Mom said as we entered Dad's cabin. The memorial.

"There was a purpose he did all of that. Even you know what was. He left behind a legacy.. for me to continue", I said as I stood against his potrait again. This time, I could see my own reflection in it.

"I don't want you to become like him Sejal", she said.
"I know, that's something even Dad wouldn't have approved of", I smiled as I noticed Dad's smile again. "He wanted me to be better. Better than he ever could be."

"What ?"
"All this time, I thought only by convincing you I could finally be worthy enough of carrying forward dad's legacy. But now, I realise I've always been worthy. I just never accepted it."

"Sejal.."
"I no longer need anyone's validation to prove my worth. I no longer need anyone to carry forward REDZ. I'm damn sure Dad wrote my name in the will, didn't he ?", I asked her.

"Yes you're right.."
"Well that settles it then..", I hugged mom. "It's time you shed off this mantle of care and let me outshine. It's my time to rise mom."
"I didn't realise when you became so big", she said as she hugged me back.

"Sorry to ruin this family moment, but I really need you two to see these results", Tejas barged in.

"I haven't seen anything like this. What is this ?", My mom asked as she took a look at the test results.
"It's Frequenium. The thing that makes phoenix fighter's armour. But what really shocks me is Tejas's Adrenals. It's in hyperproliferative state", I pointed out.

"He has a cancer you suggest ?"
"No, it was normal last night. Now it's like it is crazily making Frequenium."

"That means something happened after the reports.. I'm sure that would have triggered the proliferation. Any idea what it could be ?", Mom asked.
Tejas looked at me. Don't even think of it dumbass !

"I was.. exercising..", he said.
"That was quite an exercise then, it literally caused so much adrenaline to be released that your adrenals reset themselves to hyperproliferative state", mom remarked as she stared at me. No. No. No. Don't give me that look.

"I'll give you some medicines that will suppress this hyperactivity. Or else you'll start to notice the side effects", she said.
"No. No. We want this side effect", I objected.

"You want him to get Cushing's syndrome ?"
"No. His speed is somehow linked with adrenaline secretion. We don't even know how. So it's better if we don't take any risks regarding it."

"Anything else I can help with ?"
"Not that I can think of right now."

"How's Vedant and Mayuri ?", Tejas chirped.
"I've shifted them to special quarters. Vedant seems better now. Even Mayuri is out of coma. All they need is some rest", she said. "Don't worry they'll be fine soon."

***

Next 3 weeks, we invested ourselves in making a drug for Tejas. One that could naturally boost Adrenaline rush in him but without comprising other vital functions. It was hard. But we had to try.

Mr.Versatile along with Mrs.Neha helped us in our project too. Finally, we had our own TEJSATVAR450. We tested it multiple times. There were no side effects.

"Everything will be fine now", I assured Tejas as we ordered a plate of pani puri.
"Yes, I hope so.. What happened to Project Affection ?", he asked.

"We are resuming it online. So as to avoid any type of infection. Some of my friends even came forward to help", I said.
"That's great. Actually there's something I needed to tell you.."
"What's it ?"
"My speed. It isn't the way it used to be. I'm fast. But not fast enough.. like.."
"Tejas.. you are just overthinking it", I said as the uncle gave us our panipuri plate.

"I'm not as fast as I was. I don't think I can defeat Negative Satvar with this speed."
"Vedant and Mayuri are down. Even Mr.Versatile can't help. You are our only chance", I said as I put a pani-filled puri in his mouth.

"Umm... I don't know maybe you're right", he said as he swallowed it.
That's when, I noticed Amruta. Not again !

"I'm not here to hurt you didi..
I'm here to warn you.."

"What do you want now ?", I asked. Tejas looked at me with surprise. I knew he couldn't see her, but facing her was a must if I wanted to get rid of my fear.

"Your plan.. it's going to fail !
Get a backup plan too. Trust me, I can see the future.."

"Why are you even helping me ?", I asked.
"You helped Amruta unleash her darkness once. I owed it to you.. good luck"

And with that, she vanished into the crowd. "Come back here ! I want to face you !", I yelled. But I couldn't see her.

I turned back. I knew Tejas was going to ask a lot of questions. I prepared myself to answer his questions. But what should I tell him ? That I'm getting hallucinations of my dead sister talking to me about weird unrelated things-

"What happened ?", He asked.
"You know once Amruta told me about one uncle who made her sit on his lap whenever he visited us. He even used to touch her inappropriately. She tried to tell mom but she always denied it saying Amruta was too small to understand all this..", I tried to tell him an incident as I diverted his attention.
"She came crying to me. I decided to take matters in my own hand. One day when he came both of my parents weren't home. He told Amruta to sit on his lap again. But this time she called me.."

"So you beat him up ?", Tejas asked.
"Yes I did. So did Amruta. It was the first time I saw rage inside her. I couldn't believe she was the same 'princess' as my dad would call her. I never knew this rage would eventually get herself killed..", I cried. Tejas hugged me.
"I'm sorry", he tried to comfort me.

"Let's go to ASPEX, we have an important work to do", I said.
"Anyways, who was that girl you were talking to ?", He asked all of a sudden.

"You could see her ?", I asked, astonished.
"Yes ofcourse, I couldn't see her face though."