𝕊𝔼𝕍𝔼ℕ 𝕀ℕ 𝔸 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 {𝙼𝙰𝙷𝙰𝙱𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙸𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙻}

102. Selfish

I walked up to the room, watching as Rudra and Devi walked side by side.

Her hands fidgeted, picking at her fingers..

I rested one hand on hers, " Don't do this, she'll be fine, " I whispered and she nodded.

" I hope so. My sister is one of the strongest people I know, but she has the softest of hearts. It can't take any more heartbreak, " She wiped her tears, pulling Rudra into her arms.

" Papa can't I come with you? " He asked, eyes wide.

It was surreal to me how we went from young teenagers to parents, " No Rudra, you need to wait. I need to talk to bua alone for a while, " I kissed his forehead before looking at the massive doors.

We may have been living as entertainers in Maharaj's court, but he treated us like his own family. It filled my heart with immense gratitude.

I knocked on the door and after a rather silent murmur of, " Go away, " I pushed the doors open.

" Didn't I tell you to go away? " A voice rasped from the room.

Immediately as I opened the doors I felt the heat of a thousand suns on my face and I heard the sharp gasp my wife made.

"Saag? " I asked, moving in, holding a hand in front of my eyes to escape the glare.

" Didn't I tell you Ajatshatru. Leave, "

" I promise I'll leave. I just wanted to talk to you about a problem, " I answered, moving close to where she sat on the floor, her back to me.

" I'm not interested in solving- "

" Please, I'm asking as a friend, " I pleaded, sitting next to her as she shifted her face away. Even in this heat, I could see her hands turning pink in the heat... I didn't have much time.

She sighed, running one red hand over her face, wincing as she turned to me.

" What is your problem? And what kind of friend am I? You had to take an arrow because of me -"

" How is that -"

" Had I not done the most horrendous actions by willing the weapon here, we wouldn't have to come, you would not have to fight and you wouldn't be hurt. So don't sit there and tell me it isn't my fault."

" And what about the son that calls you? " I asked sharply and she looked up at me with fiery eyes, yet behind that heat, all I saw was dead and numbed emotions.

" He will grow up knowing that his mother hurt him. He will hate me -"

" No son could ever hate his mother-"

But I was interrupted by a harsh laugh, void of any joy, it was condescending and I knew what was coming.

" Please, " She laughed again and I was growing irritated by her nonchalance, " You are not the authority to say that sons can't hate their mothers.... You hated yours, " She said, her eyes dark as she stared at me.

" Saag, that is my past. We made a pact, we would never bring that up again -"

" And now you've proved your own point! I'm not a good friend, so please, don't waste your time and mine and just leave." She demanded, eyes back to staring at a painting that was going up in flames.

It was her in a garden, eyes closed.

" And what about the man who made that painting? " I asked and she scoffed.

" That man is better off without me. Ajatshatru go, you're wasting your time and mine. I've done my work as a flame, I helped kill the monsters, the weapon is destroyed. Now you all can go back to your lives -"