Ram woke up to realize that he was alone in a room. It has one bed upon which he was sleeping.
Nothing else.
He glanced all around him and saw that he was inside a spherical structure. It was similar to The Obsidian Sphere structure where he met with Diana and her underlings.
He started to panic. But he remembered that he could depend on Em in situation like this. She was the other half of his Merged Soul and they could talk with each other no matter where they were, using their Merged Soul connection.
But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't even feel Em through their Merged Soul connection. Forget about talking with her.
His panic was full blown, with him trashing in the bed, as he imagined several worse situations that he and others were in.
They might be kept in rooms similar to this. Or they might have been killed. He might have been caught by Chitra's Agents and they somehow found a way to separate Em from him. They might have fed him with The Solution that Chitra had that would generate fake love between Chitra and himself.
For a moment, he thought Bhumi was his Soulmate and that they had acknowledged their bond. But he discarded it as he came to know that she already had a Soulmate, though they are yet to acknowledge their bond.
But he remembered that just as they were surrounded by white fog, he heard familiar voices.
That of The Crazy Twins, Nano and Rita.
And they lost consciousness after that.
Was he dreaming? Or did he imagine them speaking to him?
He slapped himself and found that it hurt. So this was not a dream. The part where he heard them might be his imagination though.
When he observed his surroundings, he found that this room was awfully familiar to him and Em, being trapped inside a sphere, as Aunt Sheila and others discovered that he was a Merged Soul and a fraud.
He was breathing in short bursts. Was he really captured by Chitra's agents? Were they angry that he went against Chitra and were planning to torture him before experimenting on him or worse, pick him apart to see why he was a Stable Merged Soul? Was that why he was not able to hear Em?
His Merged Soul Connection still exists. It meant that Em might have been asleep just like him or he was isolated form others.
If he was isolated from others, then whose idea was it? Why did they isolate him from others? Why didn't Em and Aunt Sheila prevent others when they suggested it?
He had many questions and no answers.
Before he could feel even worse, he heard The Crazy Twins talking amongst themselves.
"Do you think what we did was right?" a nervous male voice asked. It was Nano.
"Of course, why did you start to doubt our actions once again? Did you forgot why we are doing this in the first place?" a female voice asked. It was Rita.
For some reason, Nano reminded him of himself. Doubtful, worried about his actions. And Rita sounded just like Em. Confident and always trying to help her brother.
"Rita, what if we messed it up? You know that something was wrong with him. Did you think we are too late? Or too early? Did our interference changed things drastically?" Nano asked.
Rita sighed. "No, you should stop blaming yourself. You inherited worst features from our father. If only you were more like our mother. But it doesn't matter. If you don't have confidence in yourself, at least trust me. After all, I am trained by our father's competent friend while you dedicated yourself by our father's side. That's why I wanted you to spend some time with others. But you were scared of our father's friend and you didn't listen to me when it came to even meeting with our mother," she said.
Nano sighed. "I know. But the more I spend time with our father, the more started to think and act like him. And eventually, I started to feel even more worthless and was doubtful of my every action. If you hadn't come up with your beautiful plan and helped me get away from our father, I don't know what I would be doing now," he said.
So, Nano was just like him in many ways. It seemed like his father raised him to be a weakling. Ram determined that when he grew up and stopped being a burden for everyone that was present, and he would star a family and raise his children to be more confident.
But the more he heard their conversation, the more it felt like he was eavesdropping. So, he cleared his throat.
Nano and Rita stopped talking.
Nano gasped as he looked at Ram. He was trembling. Rita was startled for a moment, before taking her brother's hand and squeezed it. "I believe you have heard everything we talked about?" she asked.
Ram shook his head. "Not everything. Just the bit where you were convincing your brother that what you did was right. If you don't mind, what is the thing you were talking about?" he asked.
Rita shared a glance with Nano. He nodded. Rita sighed. "To use the sleeping gas on all of you and bringing others to our secret base. Anyways, it's already been done. I think it was time for us to insert our second device into your body," she said.
Ram frowned. "I appreciate your help the first time, but you did it by manipulating me. Why do you think I will agree to you once again as well?" he asked.
Nano was shaking his head while Rita gave him an amused smile. "Who do you think we are?" she asked.
"Crazy Scientists?"
"I hate it when others call as crazy. I hate it even more when you also call us the same. Did you know what risk we are talking by involving with you, by trying to modify you so that you could be of use to us in defeating The Forces of Darkness?" she asked.
Ram frowned. "I think you got the wrong guy. You should have chosen Chandra or Sandhya. Not me. Why don't you insert your devices inside them starting from now onwards and leave me alone?" he asked.
It was Nano who answered him. "We are not wrong. The person we have in mind was you from the start. Not Chandra or Sandhya, who we don't even care whether they exist or not," he said.
Ram gasped. "You were talking about them as if you have some personal grudge against them," he said.
Nano swore under his breath and Rita chuckled. "Let's say that we had some troubled past with them. But our mission was more important than our grudges and if we thought they were the right person, we would do it without second thought. But sadly, you are all we have for now," she said.
Ram frowned. "How are they now? Are they still together?" he asked.
Rita winked at him. "What do you think? They are perfectly alright. So, you don't have to blame yourself for ruining their relationship by kissing Sandhya. They knew you did it under influence of Veera. Enough about them. What about you? How are you feeling? Did anything strange happened since the last time we met?" she asked.
He wanted to tell the about the same, but he didn't.
Bhumi stepped inside the room. She walked towards him and put herself between them. She crossed her arms and glared at Nano and Rita. "Why should he reveal it to you? Who knows whether what you spoke was really the truth or not?" she asked.
Rita trembled. It seemed she was complete opposite of what she had been earlier. It seemed like she became just like Nano, who looked even worse.
Nano looked like he wanted to say something to Bhumi, but he could not. Rita finally snapped out of her fit of fear and glared at Nano before she turned her gaze at Bhumi.
Nano clutched Rita's hand and she sighed. "Excuse me, is it alright if I have a small talk with my brother?" she asked.
Bhumi nodded and turned towards Ram. "Are you alright?" she asked, looking at him worriedly.
Ram couldn't tolerate her looking at him with concern. He stepped away from her. "It would be better if you keep your attitude towards me like you did earlier,," he said.
Hurt flashed across Bhumi's face.
Aunt Sheila came along with Em, followed by Anu and Manoj.
Aunt Sheila and Em were looking at him and Bhumi with worry, while Manoj looked extremely happy. Anu was glaring at Ram.
Aunt Sheila was the one who spoke to Bhumi first. "We should have told him about what happened, but you didn't listen to me. When will you realize what you are doing now could ruin you forever?" she asked.
Bhumi looked at Aunt Sheila, who didn't relent.
Anu's gaze softened as she looked at Bhumi with concern and ran towards her and hugged her.
Manoj just looked at her in sympathy.
Ram turned his gaze away form them and saw that Rita was busy consoling her brother.
It seemed like everyone were keeping secrets from Ram. Even Aunt Sheila and Em seemed to be concerned about Bhumi, as if they sympathize her for her Soulmate Bond and they care more about her than him.
He didn't want to admit it, but it hurt him. It hurt him to see them care about someone other than himself. In a way, he felt like he was back a small child and he was jealous of Aunt El loving Aunt Sheila.
He could not tolerate it any longer. "Can anyone tell me what I forgot? It seemed that something huge happened back at the battle with Chitra's Agents and none of you are willing to reveal it to me," he said.
It was Rita who glared at him. "I hate you. How dare you …" she trailed off as Nano squeezed her hand. She looked around herself, frowned and shook her head. She grinned at them sheepishly. "Sorry, for a moment I thought all of you were someone else. Why don't I give you guys some room so that I could discuss what I had to with my brother and come back?" she asked.
Aunt Sheila shook her head. "I think you are lying to us. Ever since we woke up, I saw you looking at Ram with nervousness and happiness. Also a sort of something else that I failed to recognize. But I didn't see you being angry and hateful at him, which you did moments earlier. What is it you are lying?" she asked.
Ram frowned. "I also think the same. And you said you wanted to insert your second device inside of me? Then tell me who you really are and what you really wanted. And especially why you are so hateful towards me for a moment over there," he said.
Nano seemed even more nervous. "I think we should use it," he said.
Rita shook her head. "No, you dummy. Did you forgot it will not have any effect on him?" she asked.
"But…" Nano trailed off as he glanced towards others. "You are right. Sorry."
Ram groaned. "Come on, what did you want to use and why it wouldn't have any effect on me? Are you talking about Powers of Time or Devices of Time? Did you want to use it to reverse The Flow of Time so that you could undo what had happened? Only in that scenario will I remember what had happened. What is it?" he asked.
Nano couldn't take it any longer. "Sorry. We are from future and it was pretty hopeless. We came back here to prevent from changing not only your future, but also ours," he blurted it out.
Before anyone could react, someone reversed The Flow of Time just to a moment before Nano could reveal their secret. "Sorry. He was talking about using the sleeping gas and escaping form both of you. He was so easily scared and it seemed I shouldn't have brought him along with me," she said.
Nano was looking at her horrified.
Others accepted it as a possible solution. But Ram was not.
Right in the next moment, Nano and Rita Froze the Flow of Time for others and they walked towards him. "I guess you know our secret after all," she said.
Ram swallowed. "Time Travel? I thought it was not possible," he said.
Rita shook her head.
When her brother was about to open his mouth, she glared at him. He closed it right back.
Rita then looked at Ram. "My father and his friend made it possible. You could say that was what made our world at the brink of defeat under The Forces of Darkness hands. He blames himself from that and forbids anyone using Time Traveling again. But with the help of my father's friend, we came back in time to guide you towards right path. Are you in with us or not?" she asked.
"It's too much to take at the same time. Who are you guys really? Why did this affect Em also," he said pointing towards Em, who froze just like others.
Rita frowned. "It should not have been possible. But our interference had altered the device's true purpose and now she got a body of her own. We are not experts in this matter. We will bring our father's friend who was guiding us and then we might know something about it. But until then, can you stop letting others use the devices you are meant to use?" she asked.
Ram shook his head. "I don't think so. If it helps my friends, I will gladly let them use the device just like I did it with Em. But why did you really chose me? Were we related to each other in any way?" he asked.
Rita chuckled while Nano just trembled. "Do you want us to be related?" she asked.
Ram looked at each of them and knew that there was no way that they are related to each other. They seemed more intelligent than him. "Can you tell me why you chose me then?" he asked.
"There were many powerful beings surrounding you. Changing you affects them also. We are doing this under our father's friend's help. During our next meeting, you will get your answers. But as of now, you will have to trust us," she said.
Ram was still finding it hard to believe that they are using Powers of Time to Time Travel. "Changing my present could change your future?" he asked.
Rita nodded.
"You said your father messed it up. Don't you think you will also mess it up the same? Like Em using Powers of that device to merge with me?" he asked.
Rita shook her head. "We are doing this under the guidance of my father's very intelligent and most knowledgeable friend. We are not messing it up. For all we know, I think this is what was supposed to happen. As I already said, you will get answers during our next meeting. Are there any more questions?" she asked.
Ram thought about how Rita grew nervous, completely out of character, when she saw Bhumi. Nano became even worse. "Are you related to Bhumi?" he asked.
Rita sighed. "Every one of our actions has rippling effects on your as well as our future. Even we are not sure about what we have to say and what not to say. The reason I am doing this was because Nano slipped about Time Travel part and you can keep memories of Time Travel after others use it in your presence. We will have to go to our present and see the changes our visit caused, consult with our guide and come back with answers. But it will not be done immediately. And not even in Soul World. That much I can say with clarity. Can you please stop asking any more questions and accept our device?" she asked.
Ram finally agreed to her.
She and Nano went back to their original position. Before she could return The Flow of Time back to normal, Ram had one more question. "Why did you bring your brother along with you when he was clearly a burden for you most of the time?" he asked.
Nano stiffened. Rita sighed. "Why did Em, both of your Aunt's and even… well, everyone who loves you want to keep you by their side wherever they go? Why did your Aunt Sheila created Em? You clearly know that you are a burden, even said outright to them many times. But they still won't listen. Why do you think it is?" she asked.
Ram had often wondered about it. But he didn't know the reason for it.
Nano was the one who answered for him. "Because she loves me. She wants to protect me and let me face these situations by myself. If it failed, she will help me when I needed it the most. They also love you and if there is one thing that I will suggest, it's to keep your loved ones by your side forever. Otherwise, you will become just like …" he trailed off, looking at Rita. Who nodded at him. "You will become just like our father if you push everyone away. You promise us that you will keep everyone you love with you. Do not, at any point of time, push them away because of your self doubts?" he asked.
Ram was shocked to see Nano giving him suggestions. He seemed to be more like Ram. But since he was surrounding himself with his sister and other friends, he was different form him at the same time.
Was this what Ram needed in his life?
He knew he was clearly a burden for others. If they stayed with him, then their lives would be in danger. He did not want to put them in danger anymore.
He can achieve that by separating himself from others.
But they will not leave him alone. Em can find him using their Merged Soul Connection.
If he was inside Obsidian Equipment, then she can not. She has Aunt Sheila with her. Once they reunite with Aunt El and Elder of Air, they will find a way to find him. No matter what.
They loved him.
He then glanced at Bhumi. Whose face was still riled with worry.
Ram shook his head. Maybe she was not his Soulmate. Maybe someone else was. If he meet with his Soulmate, he will be not so easy to reject their bond.
He did not want to put one more person whom he will love in danger. But it was a thing he will have to worry about in the future when he meet with his Soulmate, if she even exists.
For now, he will have to surround himself with his friends and family and that included Sandhya and Chandra.
He glanced again at Bhumi, Anu and Manoj.
They were also sort of his friends. But he will not put them in more trouble than necessary.
"I will keep my friends closer to me. But I can't promise that I will make new friends from now onwards," he said, glancing meaningfully at Bhumi, Anu and Manoj.
Rita smiled at him and returned The Flow of Time to normal.