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Chapter 51 - Roots Of Redemption

I walked into my room, shutting the door behind me, as though I could lock away the storm building inside me. The silence wasn’t a reprieve—it was suffocating, pressing down on me like the weight of the centuries I’d endured.

Her voice broke through the stillness, soft yet unwavering. “Ashtram...”

I froze, my hand gripping the edge of the desk as though it could ground me. I couldn’t turn around. Couldn’t face her. She didn’t know what she was asking of me—what it would cost her.

“Don’t do this, Angel,” I said, my voice rough, each word dragging out the turmoil clawing at my chest. “Don’t ask me to let you bear this burden. You shouldn’t have to.”

Her footsteps were light, but they carried a weight that threatened to break me. Then, her hand touched my shoulder—warm, steady, and resolute.

“I’m not afraid,” she said, her voice a quiet declaration.

I turned to face her, my gaze locking onto hers, and it felt as though she could see every scar, every shadow etched into my soul. “You don’t understand, Jaan. This curse—it’s not just pain. It’s endless, consuming everything it touches. I can’t let it touch you.”

She stepped closer, her presence a balm and a challenge all at once. “And I can’t let you carry it alone. Don’t you see, Ash? You’ve borne this for too long. You’re not alone anymore—I’m here, and I won’t stand by while it destroys you.”

Her words tore through me, her resolve unwavering in the face of my resistance. “You think I’ve survived this long because I don’t feel?” I rasped. “Every day, this curse chips away at me, but I endure because I have to. If I let you take this on, it’ll break me, Niranya. Don’t you get that?”

She reached up, cupping my face with hands that trembled yet held a strength I didn’t deserve. “And if I let you keep suffering, Ash, it’ll break me. I love you, don’t you see that? Your pain is mine, your fight is mine. You’re not protecting me by shutting me out—you’re hurting us both.”

My chest tightened, her words tearing down every wall I’d built to keep her safe. “You’re my light, Angel,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “The only light I’ve ever known. How can I risk losing that? How can I let that light dim, even for me?”

Her smile was soft but resolute, her tears shining like stars. “Because I’m your light, Ash. And a light shines brightest when it’s shared. Let me carry this with you—not because you’re weak, but because together, we’re stronger than anything this curse can throw at us.”

I felt my resolve crumble, her unwavering love piercing through the darkness that had surrounded me for so long. “You have no idea what you mean to me,” I murmured, brushing my thumb against her cheek, wiping away a tear. “You’re not just my light—you’re my life, Niranya. If you’re willing to stand by me, I’ll fight every shadow, every curse, because I can’t lose you.”

Her arms wrapped around me, and for the first time in two centuries, I let myself believe.

He doesn’t understand. He thinks this curse will destroy me, but how could it? I was made for him, born to be his light in this darkness. His Boon.

I stood in the doorway, watching him. His shoulders were hunched, the weight of centuries carved into the rigid lines of his body. My Ash—strong and unyielding to the world, yet crumbling under the fear of losing me.

“Ash,” I called softly, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

He didn’t turn. His hands gripped the desk so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Don’t,” he rasped, his voice broken. “Don’t ask me to let you do this, Angel.”

I moved closer, undeterred. “Look at me, Ash,” I said, standing directly in front of him.

He hesitated, his head lowering further before he finally lifted his gaze. The anguish in his eyes nearly brought me to my knees, but I held firm. “You’ve carried this pain for so long,” I whispered, placing my hands on his chest, feeling the frantic beat of his heart. “But you don’t have to anymore. Let me carry it with you. Your pain is my pain, Ash. That’s what love is.”

He shook his head, his hands capturing mine as though to anchor me. “You don’t know what you’re saying. This curse—it destroys everything it touches. I’ve lived in darkness for so long because I had to. To keep everyone I care about safe. If I let it near you, it’ll consume you too.”

Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You’ve spent two centuries fighting this alone, Ashtram Raghuvanshi. I won’t let you fight it alone anymore. You think you’re protecting me, but all you’re doing is shutting me out. Let me stand beside you. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

His breathing grew uneven, his grip on my hands tightening. “You’re everything to me, Niranya,” he murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “My life, my light, my Jaan. How can I risk you for me?”

I stepped closer, pressing my forehead to his. “Because you trust me, just as I trust you. You’ve fought so long to keep me safe, but I was made for this, Ash. For you. Your curse, your darkness—they’re ours now. And I’ll face them all, not because I have to, but because I love you.”

His hands trembled as they moved to my waist, pulling me into him as if I were his lifeline. “You’re my light, Angel,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “My only light. I don’t know how to let you into this without losing myself.”

“You won’t lose yourself,” I promised, cupping his face. “You’ll find yourself. And we’ll find a way through this together. Always.”

And in that moment, as he held me close, I knew we’d face whatever came next—together.

The next day, the sun rose with a soft glow, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, as if nature itself were preparing for a new beginning. Ashtram and Niranya stood side by side on the tarmac, the sleek private jet before them gleaming under the morning light. The chill of the air was sharp, but their hearts were warmed by the silent promise they had made to one another.

As they boarded, Ashtram’s steps were hesitant, each one weighed down by centuries of guilt and doubt. Niranya walked beside him, her hand brushing against his arm—not holding it, not yet, but close enough to remind him that she was there. Always there.

Inside, the cabin was luxurious but subdued, as if Shaurya had ensured nothing would distract them from the journey ahead. Ashtram sank into a seat, leaning back with a deep exhale, his eyes slipping shut. For a moment, the quiet hum of the engines seemed to echo the pounding of his heart. He looked every bit the man who had carried the weight of time on his shoulders, a prince without a kingdom, a man without peace.

Then he felt it—a light touch on his arm.

“Ash,” Niranya said, her voice like a tether, steadying him against the tide of memories threatening to drown him.

His dark eyes opened, finding hers, filled with concern and love. “Angel,” he whispered, his voice low, as though afraid to break the fragile moment. “Are you sure about this? About me?”

Niranya leaned closer, her fingers brushing against his. “I’ve never been more sure of anything,” she replied softly but firmly. “I chose this. I chose you. And I will choose you every day, no matter what.”

Her words pierced through the haze of doubt, filling him with a hope he had thought lost. He didn’t answer, but his hand covered hers, his grip firm. It was all the response she needed.

The jet soared into the skies, cutting through the soft clouds. Niranya rested her head against Ashtram’s shoulder, and he leaned into her, letting her presence soothe the storm within him.

“Thank you,” he murmured against her hair, his voice raw.

“For what?”

“For being my light,” he said simply.

She tilted her head to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to thank me, Ash. I was always yours.”

And as they flew toward Rajgarh, Ashtram found a strange peace in her words. Whatever lay ahead—salvation or despair—they would face it together.

At Rajgarh

The jet descended over Rajgarh, and Ashtram’s chest tightened at the sight of his homeland. The sprawling fields, the winding river, and the distant ruins of the palace whispered of a life he had buried deep within himself—a life of duty, love, and belonging, cruelly stolen from him.

The air was thick with history as they stepped off the jet. The scent of damp earth mingled with faint sandalwood from the nearby temples. Shaurya waited near the entrance to the estate, his stance formal but his expression warm. Beside him stood an elderly man, his hands folded in reverence.

“This is Mr. Raghav,” Shaurya said. “His family has tended to this estate for generations, preserving what they could.”

The old caretaker bowed deeply, his voice trembling. “Rajkumar Ashtram,” he said, emotion thick in his tone. “This land still remembers you. And so do we.”

Ashtram tried to respond, but his throat was too tight. His eyes glistened, the weight of his name spoken aloud after so many lifetimes almost unbearable. Niranya, sensing his struggle, moved closer, her hand grazing his back in silent support.

Shaurya spoke again, his voice calm and steady. “I’ll head to the Shiv Mandir to ensure everything is ready for the process. You can rest here until evening. After that, we begin.”

With a nod, Shaurya left, leaving Ashtram and Niranya in Raghav’s care. The caretaker led them through the gates, and as they stepped inside, the memories hit Ashtram like a tide.

The grand halls were quieter now, but they still echoed with the whispers of a time long past. Faint laughter seemed to brush against his ears—the sound of his younger siblings chasing one another. The scent of jasmine, his mother’s favorite, seemed to linger faintly in the air.

Ashtram stopped abruptly, his hand brushing against a cold stone pillar. His eyes were distant, his jaw tight as he whispered, “Maa… Baba…”

He could almost hear the voice of a servant announcing his arrival. “Rajkumar yaha aaye! Rajkumar Ashtram aaye hai!” The memory of his father’s prideful smile, his mother’s gentle touch, and the chatter of his siblings filled the silence, pressing heavily on his chest.

“I failed you,” he muttered, his voice trembling. “I failed to protect this land. This family…” His fingers curled against the stone, his body rigid with guilt. “Everything is gone. Because of me.”

Niranya stepped forward, placing her hand over his. “Ash,” she said softly, her voice steady and grounding. “You didn’t fail. The curse wasn’t your choice. None of this was your fault.”

He turned to her, his dark eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I was the prince of Rajgarh, Niranya. It was my duty to protect everyone. And yet, I let them down. I let everyone down.”

Niranya cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. “You didn’t let anyone down,” she said firmly. “You were a victim of someone else’s cruelty. You never stopped fighting, Ashtram. You’re here now, and you’re trying to set it right. That’s what matters.”

Her words broke something within him, and he exhaled shakily, his hands covering hers. “How do you do it?” he asked, his voice cracking.

“Do what?”

“Make me believe in myself, even when I can’t.”

She smiled softly, brushing her thumb over his cheek. “Because I see the man you are, not the mistakes you think define you.”

Together, they walked through the estate, the shadows of the past lingering, but the light of hope growing stronger with each step.

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