Yaman woke up with a head ache. The night was fuzzy and he had the weirdest possible dream. He drew a sword from the thin airs and a crazy girl almost killed him. The memory of his dream was totally messed up and his body felt sore.
WOW.... FINALLY ITS OVER... he thought as he headed for breakfast after completing the morning chores.
Weekends at home was his favourite time as he considered those days as his bonding time with his elder brother. After that crazy 4 months of travel and a crazier night full of nightmares, Yaman headed happily towards the breakfast table, fantasizing an awesome weekend ahead. But the moment he entered the dining room, he froze.
On the head of the table sat that monstrous girl who almost killed him the other night. Instantaneously he woke up from his daze.
SHIIIIIT.... SHE WAS REAL. AND SHE WAS THAT GANDHAARVA PRINCESS.... DAMN... DAMN.. DAMN.
Panicked, Yaman decided to run back to the room. But then a thought came to him. Since he was not hallucinating, he can actually draw a sword from the air. Determined, he concentrated on the act of drawing a sword and in no time, a white sword sat comfortably in the grip of his right hand. He smirked and took a step forward to meet the crazy visitor. The sword made him courageous.
********************************
Sweta was talking to Ajay when Yaman appeared for breakfast.
Although she didn't react, the entire time she followed his dazed activities and hilarious behavior. But when he held his sword in a defensive stance and approached them, Sweta almost choked on her cornflakes.
Yes, the previous night was crazy. And Yaman fainted in exhaustion after drawing his sword the second time, but, wasn't his behavior way too exaggerated?
Sweta wanted to tell Yaman a lot more about what she realized the other night. But she wanted to be sure before uttering a single word. Just as Yaman was about to sit down, the door bell rang and perhaps because of the sudden noise the guy lost focus and his sword disappeared into the thin airs.
Immediately his reactions changed from confident to panicked and Yaman jumped towards Ajay, putting the maximum possible distance between himself and Sweta.
The act was insane, but intense.
Ramu Kaka saved the moment as he entered with a blue envelope in his hand right at the moment.
" Sweta didi (sister) this was lying at the doorsteps, addressed to you, but I didn't find anyone else as I opened the door"
The moment she saw the envelope, Sweta knew where it came from. She excused herself and headed towards her room. The Council had finally sent the next letter , she knew that Seal.
And she would be the last person to open it in front of anyone unrelated to her.
She was by nature paranoid.
***************************************
As the girl crossed the road and headed for the Flower Market area in Connaught Place, two shadowy figures closed their gap on her.
It was mid afternoon and these creatures had been given the task of scouting the area for picking up any scent that's different from the scent of normal human beings. And this girl in a baggy tshirt and Jeans smelled too sweet to be a plain homo sapien.
As they turned the corner to close on her, suddenly the girl took another abrupt turn and dissapeared from their sight. The leader of the duo huffed in irritation, " She is too fast and too subtle, Sagred( assistant) call for backup... in this pace we will lose her... and Boss wont keep us alive if we fail today. He has news, they will be gathering the new kids today"
Sweta heard them.
Clearly.
Not that she expected to reach her destination without hindrance, but, she didn't expect them to call for backup either.
She cursed and increased her pace.
As per the letter, behind the Hanuman Mandir ( The shrine of Lord Hanuman) was the secret gateway to the meeting hall, hidden in plain sight. Sweta could see the crest of the temple, but she knew heading straight for the destination would be catastrophic , she was already followed. She looked at the crowded flower market and then to the surroundings.... too many people and too much exposure, she couldn't take cover using celestial powers, too much risk. She raked her brains, but no suitable idea popped up.
Finally she decided to take the biggest risk and headed towards the temple straight through the crowd. If she was afraid to blow covers, so would be her followers. 200 meters... 100 meters..... 50 meters... she was almost there...
To her eyes, the entrance was clearly visible and right then someone pushed her. She stumbled and another pair of hands gripped her and in next second she knew things have gone utterly wrong.
The familiar sensation of teleportation made her dizzy and the next moment she stood in a barren warehouse surrounded by five hooded figures. She could smell faeces and flower. Instinctively she drew CHINTAAK and took her defensive posture. She was not afraid of her captors, she was after all a top level commando. As she took a step back to steady her posture, her back hit another body.
"Lolita, and you? " the body whispered back.
So that's the flower she smelled in the faeces.
Sweta smiled, two is better than one, she thought.
" Swetambhari ", she replied curtly.
Right at that moment, the smallest hooded figure chirped, " If you girls are done with your chit chats, I am Master Yoda... and these are my people"
Sweta heard a fountain of laughter from her back.
" Seriously!!!! Master Yoda!!!! That's all you got? You are funny", Lolita was literally shaking with laughter.
Sweta frowned, what did she miss!!!!
" Look Missy, my name is not important and if you want to learn something, take it from Master Yoda.... Rule 1: Dont give out your real name... Idiots ".
Sweta deepened her frown. The man has a point.
Lolita however sounded unperturbed as she spoke, " Well then, tell us, why are we here? I am getting late for a meeting "
Slowly, the figure removed the hood and Sweta found herself looking at the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Though smaller to the rest of the creatures, this Yoda thing towered atleast a foot over the girls.
" I come in good faith girls. I mean no harm. "
It was now Sweta's turn to snap, " Oh really!!! You follow me, teleport us to this barren warehouse and wave weapons at us and now you declare you come in good faith? Wow... I am so smittened"
"Easy princess, easy.... "
Lolitha whisper to her, " You a princess?"
" Ummmm"
Sweta cleared her throat, now unsure how did they know about her identity.
" What do you want?"
" Girls, we wont hinder your rendezvous with the big people, but before you step into that meeting, we just want to let you know the other side of the story also. Do you know, what's your mission?"
For the first time in two months Sweta fumbled a bit. She didn't. All she knew, THE COUNCIL appoints powerful individuals to take care of the mess that the stupid men creates by destroying mother nature.
She started at the so called Yoda.
"MAKE IT CLEAR, TALKING IN RIDDLES HURT MY HEAD", Lolita barked from her back.
" You both look fresh and young ... and I never met you before. So I assume you are new recruits. Since they have chosen you, it goes without saying, you both are talented Immortals. So far I see, here stands one Gandhaarva Royal and a Celestial fox Noblewoman of 5th level... I wont say who I am, it's for you to figure out, but I am here to tell you something important. Whatever you do, dont always assume every other creature you come across means harm... Use your brains and your heart. And if you ever feel contradicted, remember the name, Yoda. I will help you sort things out "
Sweta huffed in frustration, " You took us here to say this? "
The creature nodded.
He was definitely not human.
But he was definitely a sight to behold.
There was something about this being that was trustworthy and Sweta sheathed her weapon as she adjusted her posture to take a better took at him. All the other hooded figures lowered their hoods and the girls could now see five towering men and women look alike in weird skin tone of blue and violet. They definitely didn't smell of faeces. They had too gentle eyes and transparent aura to smell that foul. May be it was just the place.
Sweta felt ashamed, father always advised her not to be too hasty while arriving at decisions.
She again did the same mistake.
Bloody hell.
" If you indeed mean no harm, atleast tell us who you are", Sweta heard Lolita's voice.
" We are the fallen Angels" and with that everything changed and the hustle bustle of the market place returned.
Lolita stood right beside her.
For the first time Sweta looked at the other girl who looked like a typical Chinese/ North-east Indian beauty with streaked hair and jade black eyes.
" Damn girl... they can create co-dimensions and can freeze time.... they were awesome...", Lolita blurted.
"Shhh...." Sweta silenced her as they headed towards the Hanuman Temple in haste, now unsure whom to trust.