'Not all stories end with a happy ending'
When a fierce 21st-century CEO crosses paths with a powerful King from the 15th century, their worlds collide with passion that defies time itself.
He is driven by selfishness; she is his very obsession.
He...
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The dense forest closed around them, Maya and Arjun trekked through the undergrowth, the air thick with the scent of earth and damp leaves, as if it had rained.
Their steps were cautious, their senses heightened by the unfamiliar environment.
They had hidden the time machine behind a corpse of bushes, marking the tree, near to it with a cross carved into its bark using a nearby stone.
"We should be cautious," Maya whispered, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential danger. The trees seemed to move along the breeze, as if they had life of their own. "We're in a different time now."
Arjun nodded, though his curiosity was obvious.
worry He kept glancing around, eyes wide with wonder. "Do you think we'll see anything different right away?"
Maya smiled faintly, trying to ease his apprehension. "Maybe. Keep an eye out for anything unusual." nerves
The forest seemed endless, the top above was dense and thick, letting in only slivers of sunlight enter on the forest floor.
The air was filled with the sounds of rustling leaves, distant bird calls, and the occasional crack of a branch under their foot.
After walking for what felt like hours, they encountered a group of travelers.
The travelers were dressed in simple yet vibrant attire, approached them with cautious curiosity.
"Namaste," one of the travelers greeted them, his brow furrowing.
His voice was deep and carried a melodic accent that made Maya's heart skip a beat; they were truly in another time.
"We have not seen you around here before. Can we assist you?"
Maya, fluent in Sanskrit, stepped forward, her mind racing to formulate a plausible story.
"Namaste. We have lost our way while traveling from our hometown." She gestured vaguely in a direction. "Can you tell us whose kingdom we are in?"
The traveler smiled warmly, his demeanor easing the tension slightly. "You are in Maharaj Rudra Pratap's region."
Maya's eyes twinkled with recognition and hope.
She turned to Arjun, whispering excitedly, "We're in the right timeline. King Rudra Pratap's reign is when the plant we're looking for became extinct."
"Excuse me," Maya addressed the travelers again, her voice steady. "Could you guide us to the nearest market?"
"Of course," the traveler replied. "We are heading to the market ourselves, but first, we are going to attend the Maha-Pooja arranged by Maharaj Rudra Pratap for the kingdom's betterment."
Arjun's eyes lit up at the prospect.
He leaned closer to Maya, his voice a hushed plea. "Can we go to the Maha-Pooja? It sounds amazing!"
Maya hesitated, weighing their mission against Arjun's eager expression.
The plea in his eyes melted her resistance.
She asked the travelers, "Would it be possible for us to attend the Maha-Pooja as well?"
The travelers beamed, their faces lighting up with enthusiasm. "Certainly. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the King up close."
The journey to the temple was filled with awe-inspiring sights.
The landscape was a lush green spread, dotted with small villages and patches of cultivated land.
The travelers led them along a narrow path that wound through the forest, occasionally opening up to reveal stunning views of rolling hills and sparkling streams.
Arjun couldn't stop marveling at the scenes around them.
"Maya, this is incredible. It's like stepping into a history book," he exclaimed, his eyes wide with adoration.
Maya nodded; her mind preoccupied with the mission but still appreciating Arjun's wonder.
"It is. But remember, our primary goal is to find that plant."
As they approached the temple of Lord Shiva and Parvati, Maya's steps grew hesitant.
The crowds of people, the bustling activity, the sheer noise—it all started to press in on her.
Vividly dark memories flashed in her mind, memories of the past, same crowd, same overwhelming surge of people that had left her scarred.
Arjun noticed her hesitation. "Maya, are you okay?"
Maya forced a smile, her pulse quickening. "I'm fine, Arjun. Just a bit overwhelmed."
Inside the temple grounds, the crowd was thick, pressing in from all sides.
The sounds of chanting and the smell of camphor filled the air.
Maya's breathing quickened, her vision blurring.
She could feel a panic attack rising, her chest tightening as the memories crashed over her.
"I need... I need to get out of here," she gasped, pushing her way through the crowd toward the temple's edge.
Arjun tried to follow her; worry etched on his face. "Maya! Wait! Maya..." he ran after her, eventually loosing her in the swam of people.
Maya stumbled towards a river behind the temple, the still water an absolute contrast to the chaos she had just fled.
She fell to her knees by the riverbank, trying to control her breathing.
The panic attack, the memories from her past, had her in its tight grip, making her unable to think clearly.
"Make it stop... make it stop, please. It hurts... it hurts, please." The tears were flowing down her eyes freely. Fifteen years hadn't dulled the edges of her fear.
She was drenched in sweat, her breaths coming in shallow, ragged gasps.
She felt herself slipping, both into the memories and into unconsciousness.
As her vision blurred, she fell into the river, the cool water embraces her, into its arms.
For a moment, she didn't struggle.
The pain was too much, the water was a merciful escape from her racing heart and suffocating anxiety. She let herself sink, her body numb and her mind foggy.
That's when a man dived into the river, reaching towards her.
His fingers brushing against her cold skin as he wrapping his arm around her waist, he kicked hard, bringing them both towards the surface.
Breaking through, he gasped for air, his lungs burning. He pulled Maya towards the shore, using every ounce of strength to keep her head above the surface level.
But Maya's system already filled with the river water, leading her to slipped into unconscious.
The last thing she saw before darkness overtookher was the outline of a man with dark, intense eyes.
