DIVINE CHAMPIONS 6: A FINAL CONFLICT

AIR-WATER: HOLD ON, A RESORT?

Homecoming much? Not really, for Aitri. 

She was nervous, a little worried, but hopeful. The last time she had been driven by Rick's Kolkata chauffeur Anwesh, she was single. Maybe, she had no idea if she was. One thing was for sure, she was confused. Anyway, the funny thing about time? It changes.

Three years later, she was back in the same car, sitting on the same seat, driven by the same man. But, the one beside him had changed. Rick was kind enough to accompany him last time, since he had a job to do and all. But it was he who had shown Aitri how much she had missed him the last time, fearing that he might not see her again. Something that he, himself, felt every time they left for a quest. Rick had made her realize that Rishi was a part of her life she couldn't even think of living without. Anwesh had asked her when he saw her this time, "What did you do to Samar Dwip, Madam?"

"What happened?" Aitri had asked.

"Some foreigners came and took over. It has become a resort now."

"I'm sorry?" Aitri had said, surprised. So Magni and Modi had done what they planned to.

Now, driving through the roads of the City of Joy, Aitri looked at Rishi beside him, in deep thought. Ever since Rick had turned into a divine champion, Rishi had realized the responsibility of leadership. He was very different from the man who had murdered twenty people to free Pankhpur of evil. Aitri still remembered how she had to hold him tightly to stop him from punching the Drug Lord after that jerk was already dead. However, now, Rishi thought more. He carefully planned his moves, his decisions. He was still a little hot-headed. True. Instinctive? Yes. But careless? Not at all.

Aitri reflected on the fact that even she wasn't so different from the day she was chosen. She was way more used to balancing this life and the normal life well. Before, she was a boring book-worm. She was still a book-worm, but was not boring anymore. She had become outgoing, lively, and so much more indulgent in things other than just studying. Yes, it had come at a cost, but at least, Airish would be proud. Her father was. Her mother was still a little skeptical at first, but even she had accepted it now.

Aitri put her hand on Rishi's, and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"I hope they are okay."

"Hey, come on. They've got Rick with them. They'll do fine."

"I know, but I can't help it."

"I know you can't. You are their leader, their friend. And Rick? He's like your brother. It is normal to be worried. Even I'm worried for them, and for Maggie and Maja. But we can trust them. They would do very well. You know that. We have trained well enough."

"We have." Rishi held Aitri hand tightly, "Now I feel a bit better."

Four hours full of talking about her last experience of Samar Dwip, they reached Samar Dwip. As soon as they got down, and let Anwesh return, Aitri could hardly believe her eyes. The island had completely changed. Before, the huge house was dark, unpainted, and old. And it seemed like the island was only big enough to fit the house. Now, however, the island looked way bigger with that boring house gone. It had been remodeled into a huge building. In front of the lush green area inclined upwards, the building now had a very different gate to the one Aitri had seen before. Rishi told her the terminologies, as Aitri noted down like a student. The main entrance was made of glass. There was a grey shed on top with a wooden structure forming an extended shade for the ones entering through the entrance. Aitri could feel that the inside of the resort would be bigger, given she could see other shades too. But what caught her eye was the wooden bridge that connected the island and the mainland. And the number of cars that stood parked by the beach (it was not a beach, but you couldn't tell that now). Rishi and Aitri walked on the bridge to reach the island, before climbing the slope and reaching the entrance. As soon as they opened the gate, they entered a huge hall with high ceilings. The walls were fawn coloured, and there were beautiful designs, something you would see in the hotels in and around the City of Joy. There were big chandeliers, and to their right, the reception, separating itself from the rest of the lounge by a wooden counter. Opposite to it was a center table which looked like some antique piece, and a few couches were people waited. On the opposite side of the gate, there was another, smaller gate, also made of glass. Outside, as much as Aitri could see, was a swimming pool in the middle, and to its left and right, were villas.

In the reception, the young woman asked if they had reservations. Rishi, however, said that they wanted to see the owners, for it was a client meeting. The woman asked if they had any appointment, but before she could ask any more question, a heavy voice behind her spoke up. "Aitri Ghosh Dastidar!" He said in a very Sirius-Black-ish tone, "What up, chica?"

"Magni!" Aitri recognized the Spanish speaking brute god. Still just as she remembered him, fitness freak, buff, covered with tattoos, with side-shaved blonde hair, which was, for a change, not tied to a ponytail. Eyes, as electric as ever, Magni looked like his father, Rishi's patron, from the face, and like his foster-mother, Aitri's patron, from the hair and all. He wore a full sleeved dark blue shirt, tucked inside dark grey pants. He looked like a proper businessman. Aitri walked close to him, only for the son of Thor to hold her by the shoulder and pick her up like a soft toy. He laughed like a child, as he brought her down, and looked at Rishi. He looked at him confused, while Rishi smiled, waving his hands. Oh, how much Rishi had wanted to see these two. "It's him, baby god."

"Oh!" Magni went forward and shook his hand. Rishi shook it, and while Magni tried the trick of pulling him close with his brute strength, he could only move Rishi by half a step. "You really are as strong as he says."

"I'm his champion after all. How's he doing?"

"Not sure. We've been pretty busy building this."

"Well, this is actually a very good place you two have put together."

"We two?" Magni said, "Oh no. Our brother and sister have helped. Thrud brought the man and woman power. Ullr suggested the design, and I recommended the facilities. And, Modi got the permissions. He can be persuasive."

"No doubting there." Aitri said, "Talk of him, where is he?"

"He's somewhere by the swimming pool. He enjoys a good Sun bath. Come on, I'll give you two a tour."

"Magni, we needed to access the key."

"To get to Asgard? But Asgard isn't safe. Surtr's army might be an hour or so away."

"We just need to see Heimdall. We'll be quick."

"Yeah, well, even we need to leave soon. Gotta help in the fight. Come, its exactly where it was before."

They walked through the door, and stood by the swimming pool. Magni spoke something in Old Norse, and as soon as he finished, Modi arrived. Modi was very similar look-wise, and height-wise. Modi was also very similar to as Aitri remembered, with long braids, red hair, tattoos, and electric blue eyes. Had it not been for the red hair, the two would have looked exactly alike. There were, however, two new things, though small, on their hands. Magni wore a blue diamond ring. And Modi wore two metallic bracelets. Aitri could only guess what those were. "Aitri!" Modi gave her a pat on the back, almost breaking it. "Look who she brought." Magni said, pointing towards Rishi, "We can talk on the way. We have to return to Asgard."

They walked past the swimming pools, and the two floored villas, in grey walls, all of them with a patio. Apparently, the windows had been put on the other side so that the people could enjoy the view of the sea. On the other side was the restaurant and kitchen. Waiters were coming out of the door there in white coats and black pants. The restaurant was a white building with an entrance similar to the lounge. The four took a left turn in between two villas, as Aitri looked around her. Magni and Modi were talking to Rishi, with the three fanboying over each other. It was as if Rishi had met his long lost brothers. It was funny how Sif had once told Aitri that Thor and his brothers fanboyed over each other when they met, and Sif rolled her eyes at that. Aitri was doing exactly that.

They went inside the recreation area, and then, stood by a metal gate painted black. Magni touched his ring on the lock, as the lock glowed light purple, and the door opened. Inside was the switch, just as she remembered. The crystal made tree branch that appeared from underground, the massive metallic gate that covered everything else in the room, and the huge lever fit for a gate like that. "So, this is the key?" Rishi asked.

"It is." Modi said, "Anyway, Rishi, why don't you try opening it?"

"I'll be honored." Rishi stepped up, took a deep breath, and turned the lever, letting the gate open in its own pace. Outside was also just as similar as it was before. Thin air and cloudy sky. The four stepped out, and just like before, curling from heavens, came the rainbow bridge, Bifrost. "It appears when you need it to." Magni said, "Our stairway to heaven. Isn't that what you named it, Aitri?"

"We did." She replied. Rishi chuckled, and grabbed Aitri's hand, as they headed towards Asgard.