Mystic Flames

9

When Aaradhya and Jalandhar returned to their shared house after the visit to the Jagannath Puri temple, they were greeted by Saagarika, who was waiting for them in the living room. Her arms were crossed, and a stern expression was etched on her face. The moment they stepped inside, her eyes locked onto Jalandhar.

"Where have you two been?" she demanded, her tone sharp and accusatory.p

Aaradhya, still wrapped in the tranquility of the temple visit, replied coolly, "We went to the Jagannath Puri temple. It was—"

But before she could finish, Saagarika's eyes widened in shock. Fury ignited within her, and she cut Aaradhya off mid-sentence. "You went to a temple?" she repeated, her voice rising with disbelief. Without another word, she stormed over to Jalandhar, roughly grabbing his arm and yanking him away from Aaradhya.

Aaradhya's expression hardened as she watched them disappear into another room, annoyance flickering in her eyes. She had never gotten along with Saagarika, and this outburst only deepened the animosity between them.

In the privacy of the room, Saagarika spun around to face Jalandhar, her face twisted in anger. "Have you lost your mind?" she hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "Why would you go to a temple? Do you have any idea what could have happened?"

Jalandhar, though startled by her intensity, remained calm. "Saagarika, it was for Aaradhya. She wanted to go, and I couldn't say no."

Saagarika's eyes flashed with fury. "Of course, it was for Aaradhya," she spat. "But do you even comprehend the danger you put yourself in? You have dark magic inside you, Jalandhar! Walking into a temple could have exposed you, could have—" Her voice caught in her throat, a mixture of fear and frustration choking her words.

Jalandhar's jaw tightened. "I know the risks, Saagarika, but I couldn't let her go in alone. I'd do anything for her."

Saagarika's eyes narrowed, her anger boiling over. "You're being reckless. What if you'd accidentally consumed the basil leaves or prasad? It would've revealed your true form in front of everyone! You're playing with fire, Jalandhar, and I'm not going to stand by and watch you destroy yourself."

Jalandhar met her gaze with determination. "I'm not going to let anything happen to her. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her."

Saagarika's expression darkened, the weight of his words only fueling her anger. "This obsession with Aaradhya—it's going to ruin you. I can't bear to see it anymore. I'm done, Jalandhar. I can't stand being around the two of you."

With that, she stormed out of the room, leaving Jalandhar standing there, his mind racing as he tried to process the confrontation. The tension between them had been building for a while, but this felt like a breaking point.

The next day, Jalandhar knew he couldn't let things remain unsaid between them. He needed to be honest with Aaradhya, to tell her how deeply he felt for her. The beach, with its serene waves and endless horizon, seemed the perfect place to bear his heart. It was a place where he always found peace, and he hoped the same tranquility would guide him in expressing his feelings.

As the sun began its descent, casting a golden glow over the water, Jalandhar and Aaradhya walked along the shoreline. The gentle breeze played with Aaradhya's hair, her traditional Bomkai saree swaying gracefully with each step. Jalandhar couldn't take his eyes off her—she looked ethereal, the rose in her hair accentuating her natural beauty. Every detail about this moment felt perfect, yet his heart pounded with nervous anticipation.

After walking in comfortable silence for a while, Jalandhar stopped and turned to face her. The setting sun bathed them in a warm, soft light, making the moment feel almost dreamlike. Aaradhya noticed the seriousness in his eyes and felt her own heart begin to race.