DIVINE CHAMPIONS 6: A FINAL CONFLICT

SKY: MEMORIES BRING BACK YOU

As the white mist cleared, Rishi found himself standing in the Avenue Street in Pankhpur, on the night of his first date with Aitri. He was translucent. He was standing next to Aitri, who, in the street lights of a Pankhpurian post-evening street, looked simply terrified. In front of her, Rishi himself stood. One of those Pankhpur jerks had been murdered by him. Two lay a little away, knocked out. Seeing a live homicide must have taken a toll on Aitri's mind. For once, she was scared of Rishi.

However, as soon as Rishi belched in pain, and sank to his knees, she came running to him. It was as if she had forgotten that Rishi was this majorly strong guy who had just murdered someone in cold blood. Suddenly, she had remembered that her boyfriend was stabbed. She had rushed to him. She had torn a piece of her top and despite the shock that he wasn't bleeding despite the stabbing, she still put the piece on the wound. The scene shifted back to the white mist. However, the torn piece floated mid-air. The vision changed again. 

The next scene, unfortunately, was not Rishi's favorite. It was the moment of him facing VC. He still saw that brainless moron laughing, taunting. Rishi saw himself held powerfully by at least fifteen people, while VC played with Aitri's messed up hair. Her eyes had turned red with all the crying. Her face had blackened due to her tears. Rishi felt the same instant anger he had felt that same day. In about ten seconds or so, he would lose his vision, and in about ten more, would burn each of the fifteen to death.

It happened. His eyes closed by itself, as he seemed to space out. Translucent Rishi looked at Aitri, who smiled slightly, despite the situation. As if he could read her mind, he understood that she knew. She could feel something huge coming. And so, just as she had felt, lightning struck, as Rishi saw himself break free, electrocuting every single thug who held him. And the scene shifted.

Now, it was a scene of their final days together in college. Rishi's final year exams were over. So were Aitri's. Aitri would, eventually, come back as a PhD student, but this would be Rishi's second last day in the college. They were in a lawn, the only place in the college for students who would get to spend some time alone without anyone casting a judging eye on. He sat with his back rested on a tree's trunk. Aitri lay her head on his lap, her eyes closed. Rishi had fashioned her a little drawing of hers with his own hands. A sketch. Rishi had never been good at drawing people, and had always kept his drawing abilities restricted to buildings and graphics. He pulled the paper out, and took a look. The eyes didn't look in line. He had forgotten the little wart by the side of her left eye. The neck looked thicker than it was. Rishi was scared that it was a disaster. But he had made it, and all he had wanted was to show her.

He put his hand on Aitri's hair. She opened her eyes, and seeing the paper in his hand, sat up. "What is it?" She asked. Before Rishi could even give her, she snatched it from him. When she saw it, her eyes were full of a happy surprise. "I never knew you drew." She said. "I am gonna be an architect, you know." He replied. Translucent Rishi laughed. He had rarely drawn sketches. He knew he was not good at it. Yet, he had guessed that day that a gesture was all that was needed. Aitri was so happy with it, that she had taken it home.

The sketch kept swirling and twirling mid-air, until Rishi's visions returned to the beach. He saw Aitri slowly open her eyes as well. Unn seemed satisfied with her magic. She laid back a little on the beach, before saying, "Was the last scene in your visions the same?"

"We were at the college lawn." Rishi said.

"You gave me the sketch." Aitri replied.

"So, the sketch is the thing."

"I feel so."

"It is the thing, you dum-dums." Unn said, correcting her hair, "Where is it?"

"It's at home." Aitri said, "In my cupboard. Kept safe in a file."