Shaurya Rathod's words hung in the air, a heavy, unrelenting truth that wrapped itself around Niranya's fragile heart. She stared at him, her trembling hands clutching Ashtram's arm as if it were the only thing anchoring her to reality.
Shaurya took a deep breath, his voice solemn and deliberate, yet laced with a paternal softness. "Seventeen years ago, when you were five years old, your parents were driving somewhere in their car. It was supposed to be an ordinary journey, but..." He hesitated, as if even recalling the memory caused him pain. "Their brakes failed, and the car lost control. It veered off the road and slammed into a tree."
Niranya's breath hitched, her chest tightening with each word. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she tried to picture the tragedy, her mind conjuring blurred images of a life she barely remembered.
Shaurya's gaze softened, his own grief evident. "From the moment I learned about the mark on your hand, Niranya, I knew who you were. You are a descendent of the Panditian lineage-the very family whose matriarch gave Ashtram the curse." His voice grew heavier, weighted by the revelation. "That's why... the Boon is none other than you, my child."
The words pierced through Niranya's mind, unraveling every sense of normalcy she had clung to. She stared at Shaurya in disbelief, shaking her head slowly, the world spinning around her.
"You," Shaurya continued, "are the Boon to your husband's curse. You were born for this purpose. Only you can end the torment he has endured for two centuries."
Ashtram stood rigid beside her, his expression dark and unreadable, but his eyes flickered with a storm of emotions. He glanced down at Niranya, his hand tightening around hers as if her presence alone grounded him.
Shaurya continued, his voice trembling as he recounted the fateful day. "I followed your parents' car the moment I confirmed the mark on your hand. I knew who you were, Niranya, and I knew what you would mean for Ashtram's destiny. When the car hit the tree, I was close enough to see it all unfold. I rushed toward the wreckage, desperate to save all of you."
Shaurya's voice cracked slightly, his hands clenching as though reliving the memory. "When I reached the car, I found you in the back seat. You were so small, so fragile. I took you in my arms. You were crying, terrified, clutching a small doll to your chest."
His expression darkened, a shadow of anger crossing his face. "But before I could check on your parents, I heard the sound of an approaching jeep. I hid with you under a tree, keeping you close and praying they wouldn't find us. I watched as the jeep came to a halt near the wreckage, and three men stepped out."
Shaurya's voice grew colder, his gaze distant as he recounted the memory. "I heard them talking, their voices loud and cruel. 'Where is the girl?' one of them asked. 'Boss ordered that the girl should also die, but where is she?'"
Niranya stiffened, her tears momentarily forgotten as shock took over.
Shaurya continued, his tone heavy with regret. "One of them pulled out his phone and called someone-probably their boss. I heard him say, 'The girl isn't here. What should we do?' After a moment, he cut the call and turned to the others, saying, 'Boss says to burn the car. Make it look like the brakes failed naturally. No one should know it was tampered with. And search the area for that small girl.'"
Niranya gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as the weight of the revelation hit her.
"They didn't waste any time," Shaurya said, his voice laced with pain. "They poured gasoline over the car and lit it on fire. Your parents were still inside." His voice cracked, the memory clearly haunting him. "I couldn't save them, Niranya. I couldn't save them."
Niranya's knees threatened to buckle, her mind racing with the enormity of the truth. She clung to Ashtram, her breaths coming in short gasps.
Shaurya's tone grew softer, yet firm. "I stayed hidden, holding you close while the flames consumed the car. I couldn't risk exposing us. If they had found you, they would have killed you too."
Shaurya took a deep breath, his voice trembling as he delved deeper into the terrifying events of that day. "As I held you close, I overheard their conversation. One of the goons, a tall, rough-looking man with a scar on his cheek, said, 'Boss has been searching for this girl for a long time. If you see any girl with a mark on her hand, make sure she's killed immediately.'"
Ashtram's expression darkened further, his jaw tightening as his grip on Niranya's hand grew protective. Niranya, overwhelmed by the revelation, looked between Ashtram and Shaurya, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
Shaurya's voice grew heavier as he continued, his eyes reflecting his frustration and regret. "Another one of the men asked, 'Why does Boss want her dead so badly?' And the scar-faced man replied, 'I don't know. All I know is that Boss doesn't want anyone else to find her. He said she could save someone in the future, and he doesn't want that.'"
The words struck like a lightning bolt, the implications chilling. Niranya felt her knees give way, but Ashtram caught her, wrapping his arm around her waist to steady her. His touch was firm yet gentle, silently vowing to protect her from anything that threatened her.
Shaurya clenched his fists, his expression haunted. "I realized then that you were in grave danger, Niranya. That mark on your hand wasn't just a symbol-it was a target. I knew I had to keep you safe at all costs."
Niranya looked down at her trembling hands, the faint scar of the mark she had always thought insignificant now carrying a weight she couldn't bear. "So... they killed my parents because of me?" she whispered, her voice breaking with guilt and anguish.
Shaurya shook his head vehemently, stepping closer. "No, Niranya. Your parents' deaths weren't your fault. They were victims of someone else's hatred and fear-fear of what you represent. They died protecting you, my child. They loved you more than anything."
Niranya's sobs grew louder, and Ashtram pulled her into his arms, cradling her trembling form against his chest. He whispered softly, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion. "You're not alone, Niranya. You have me. You always have me."
Shaurya's gaze softened as he watched them, the bond between them undeniable. "You were born to be more than a victim, Niranya. You were born to bring an end to this curse, to save the man you were destined for. That's why you've endured so much, why fate brought you to Ashtram."
Niranya looked up at Ashtram, her tear-streaked face filled with a mixture of fear, sorrow, and a glimmer of hope. For the first time, she felt the weight of her Destiny--- not as a burden but as a purpose.
Tears streamed down Niranya's face as she struggled to process the horrifying reality. "Why... why were they after me uncle?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with fear.
Shaurya's expression grew graver. "Because of who you are, Niranya. Because of the mark you bear and the bloodline you carry. They feared what you might become. They feared what you could mean for the curse that binds Ashtram."
He paused, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of sorrow and hope. "You were meant to save him. You were born to be his salvation."
The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of Shaurya's words settling over them like a dark cloud. Niranya looked up at Ashtram, her tears reflecting the anguish in her heart. For the first time, she felt the magnitude of the bond between them-not just as husband and wife, but as two souls intertwined by fate itself.
Shaurya exhaled deeply, his voice steady but laced with regret. "That's why I kept you in the orphanage, Niranya. It was the only way to protect you from the danger that surrounded you. After your parents' death, I couldn't risk anyone finding out who you were. Your parents' love marriage had been frowned upon, and they had no family to stand by them. There was no one else who could shield you from the chaos."
Niranya's hands trembled as she absorbed his words, her mind spinning with the weight of everything she had just learned. Shaurya's gaze softened, his expression heavy with the burden of years of secrecy.
"When I found you," he continued, his voice breaking slightly, "you had a small bag with you. In it was a photograph-a picture of you with your parents. Written on the back were the words, 'Our little baby, Niranya Sharma.' That photograph was the only clue I had to your identity. It was a piece of your parents' love that I knew I had to preserve for you."
Shaurya paused, glancing at Ashtram, who stood silently, his protective grip around Niranya unwavering. "I waited for the right time to tell you the truth, Niranya. I wanted you to be old enough, strong enough to handle it. But more importantly, I wanted you to be able to meet Ashtram when the time was right. I was always there, quietly watching over you, ensuring you were safe."
Niranya's voice trembled as she whispered, "You... you've been watching over me all this time?"
Shaurya nodded, a faint, bittersweet smile on his face. "Yes, I've been behind you every step of the way, ensuring no harm would come to you. And when fate finally brought you and Ashtram together, I knew my task was complete. You were meant to find each other. You were meant to end the curse and rewrite the destiny that had been written centuries ago."
Ashtram's voice broke through the silence, deep and resolute. "She was always mine. Even when I didn't know it, I was waiting for her. And now that I have her, I'll never let anything take her away."
Niranya looked up at him, her tear-streaked face reflecting the storm of emotions in her heart. She could feel the truth of his words in the intensity of his gaze, the unwavering determination that seemed to anchor her amidst the chaos.
Shaurya stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Niranya's shoulder. "You're stronger than you realize, Niranya. You've faced so much already, and now you know the truth. It's time to embrace your destiny. You are the light in Ashtram's darkness-the key to ending his pain."
Niranya swallowed hard, her tears subsiding as a new resolve began to take root in her heart. She turned to Ashtram, her voice soft but firm. "We'll face this together. No matter how dark or dangerous it gets, I won't run away. Not anymore."
Ashtram's grip on her tightened, his voice low and filled with emotion. "You're my salvation, Angel. But I'll be your shield. Nothing will ever harm you-not as long as I live."
Shaurya's expression turned grave, his voice heavy with the weight of his next words. "This is not going to be easy," he began, his gaze shifting between Ashtram and Niranya. "You are the Boon, Niranya, and as such, there is a price to pay. According to the manuscript, you must endure pain to break the curse."
Niranya's breath caught in her throat, her fingers tightening around Ashtram's hand. "What kind of pain?" she whispered, her voice trembling with apprehension.
Shaurya hesitated, his expression filled with regret. "The pain involves performing the Shiv Tandav-the dance of destruction-on burning coals. It is a ritual that symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice and purification. Only through this act can the curse be broken."
Shaurya said gently, but firmly. "It will test your strength and your will. But before this ritual can take place, there is another step you must complete. You and Ashtram must remarry in the Shiv temple near the place where he first received the curse. The temple itself holds the power to sanctify your union, making it pure and eternal."
Ashtram's jaw clenched, his protective instincts roaring to the surface. "She has already suffered enough. I won't let her endure more."
Shaurya's gaze softened as he looked at Ashtram. "I understand your concern, Ashtram. But this is not just about her-it is about both of you. The manuscript is clear: after the marriage and the Shiv Tandav, your bodies and souls must intertwine completely. Only then can the curse be lifted."
Niranya felt a chill run down her spine. "What does that mean? Our bodies and souls intertwining?"
"It means," Shaurya explained, "that your bond must transcend the physical. Your souls must become one in every sense-connected by love, trust, and destiny. It will be the final step to ending this torment."
A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by Shaurya's somber tone. "But there is a risk. If Ashtram dies before the curse is broken, you, Niranya, will inherit the curse. You will become immortal, and the burden he has carried for centuries will become yours."
The color drained from Niranya's face. "I would become... immortal?"
"Yes," Shaurya confirmed. "And you would live forever with the weight of the curse, unable to die, unable to escape its pain. That is why this must be done carefully and without delay."
Niranya took a deep breath, her trembling hands clutching Ashtram's arm. Her voice, though shaken, held a newfound determination. "I will do it," she said firmly, looking into Ashtram's stormy eyes. "I'll do the Tandav. I'll bear every pain if it means breaking the curse and freeing you from this torment."
Ashtram's reaction was immediate. His grip on her tightened, and his face darkened with fury and fear. "No," he growled, his voice low and raw with emotion. "No, Jaan. Never. I will never let you do this."
"Ash, please listen-"
"I don't care about the curse, Niranya," he interrupted, his voice rising with desperation. "I don't care if it never ends. I only care about you. I can't-" his voice broke slightly, his hands shaking as he cupped her face, "-I can't see you in pain, Angel. I can't risk losing you. Do you understand that?"
"But, Ash-"
"No!" he roared, stepping back and running a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is too dangerous. You're asking me to watch you suffer-to put you through unbearable pain. How can you ask me to be okay with that? You're my world, Jaan. I don't need the curse to end; I only need you."
Tears welled in Niranya's eyes, but she stood her ground. "And you're mine, Ashtram. This isn't just about you or me-it's about us. I'm willing to do whatever it takes for you to be free, to finally live without this shadow hanging over us."
Ashtram turned away, his fists clenching as he fought the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Before he could respond, Shaurya interjected, his voice calm but firm. "You both need to think this through," he said, his gaze shifting between them. "This decision cannot be made in haste. Take your time and decide together."
Ashtram's jaw tightened, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. Without another word, Shaurya left the room, leaving them in tense silence.
Niranya stepped closer to Ashtram, her heart aching at the torment etched into his features. "Ash," she said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "Please, just-"
But he pulled away, his voice cold and clipped. "I can't talk about this right now, Niranya." He turned and strode toward the stairs, his anger and fear radiating from him in waves.
"Ashtram!" she called after him, but he didn't stop. She watched helplessly as he disappeared upstairs, leaving her standing alone, her heart heavy with the weight of their unspoken fears.
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