As Ram stepped out of Bhumi's room, The Spire shook.
Ram stumbled backwards, about to fall down when he was supported by Bhumi and Em.
He thanked them and steadied himself. The Spire shook once again.The air was crackling with electricity and there was a scent of ozone in the air. The area in front of them glowed with orange Soulfire, followed by blinding white. When his vision cleared, Ram saw darkness swirling in front of him.
A portal. The one he had seen Chitra open, but this was opened with much ease.
A majestic figure stepped out of the portal. He was the one whose statue Ram had seen outside of The Spire. He was the one whose glorious battles displayed in museum in The Black Market.
He was Bhumi's father, Bharghav. He has shoulder length Orange Soulfire hair, with orange eyes just like the rest of The Souls of Living World. He closely resembled Bhumi.
Bharghav grinned at Bhumi, looking so excited that he was struggling to control himself. "Is it true?" he asked.
Bhumi groaned. "Who told you?" she asked in annoyance.
"You know how long I had been waiting for that to happen? Forever. I promised to your mother that I will be patient with you and gave you the freedom that was necessary for you to grow, but who would've thought that you would not have a Soulmate of your own even when you reached late teens?" Bharghav asked.
"I remember mother telling me that you found each other during your mid-twenties," Bhumi said.
Bharghav sighed. "You are so much like her, including your eyes. If your face didn't resembled mine, I would have really wondered whether you are really my daughter," he said.
Bhumi grinned. "I am so much like my mother. Besides, you had a chance to change my personality. But you gave me the freedom that you promised to my mother and you can't blame me for that. Besides, I am just in late teens and if we see it that way, I found my Soulmate even before you did with mother," she said.
Bharghav shook his head. "I would have found her if she had visited me earlier, but you know how difficult it was for beings of other worlds to come to our environment. Besides, your mother was princess of Water World and you know what I had lost as a result," he siad.
Bhumi went to her father and hugged him, consoling as much as she could.
Was that why Bhumi's eyes were blue?
Bharghav composed himself and pulled back from the hug. "Please tell me this is not a dream and you really found your Soulmate," he said.
Bhumi nodded.
Bharghav roared with happiness and The Spire trembled once again.
Bharghav Ram stumbled once again and this time, he was supported by Em.
Ram thanked Em, to see that she was looking at Bhumi and Bharghav with jealousy.
Ram turned again to see that Bharghav hugging Bhumi and crying.
Ram sighed. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"They seemed awfully close, even more closer than you are with Aunt El. It's lucky that you both of you have parents. But look at me. I don't have any parents. I am an A.I. that kind of became a human being recently and my Soulmate rejected me meanwhile she had loving parents and you even accepted her as your Soulmate. Why was she having such a good luck while I am down with nothing?" she asked.
Ram patted her shoulders.
Em shrugged her shoulders and walked away from him.
Bhumi cleared her throat, looking pointedly at his arm, but she didn't say anything about him trying to console Em. "Father, this is Ram, my Soulmate. I met him few days back during one of our r…" she trailed off.
Bharghav stared at her. "You raided Chitra's base once again?" he asked.
Bhumi smiled at him sheepishly.
"With that hotheaded Anu and that fool Manoj?" he asked.
Bhumi looked at everywhere but at Bharghav.
Bharghav sighed. "I should have known you would do something like this. You never seemed to stay still. How many times do I have to tell you that you should not interfere with her business. If everything were normal between us, she would have been like your sister," he said.
"Even if she were born to you I would never accept her as my sister. How dare she experiment on souls and even divide The Soul World into two?" she asked.
Bharghav sighed. "It was Chola's fault. He was the one to blame. I tried to do everything I could to save her. But …" he trailed off. "I broke the promise to Chola's wife, who was our best friend. I am afraid that your obsession with Chitra would be your downfall and that I will not be there to protect you when that happens."
Bhumi groaned. "You trained me since I was a kid and I am the most powerful other than you inside Living Soul World. Nothing is going to happen to me," she said.
Bharghav shook his head. "No you are not. There were many hiding that are even more powerful than me. Why did you think I hid your identity from others, went as far as creating a separate room for you, for which only you have access to it?" he asked.
"Father, I know that you love me. But if I don't go out there and face the world, how am I going to improve?" she asked.
"You will improve by fighting against your trainer, who are best in both of our worlds," he said.
Bhumi shook her head. "I already defeated them and I was barely making any progress with our training sessions. If you participate in my training, then maybe I would've grown even more stronger," she said.
"You know why I don't spar with you. It could be dangerous to you. Did you forget what happened to your mother," he choked.
Bhumi stiffened, her eyes on the edge of tears. "It's happened in the past. I don't think it will happen once again. Why don't you give it a try?" she asked.
Bharghav shook his head. "I don't want anything happen to my baby girl," he said.
"Father, nothing will happen to me. I promise to you. Why don't you give it another try?" she asked once again.
"No. I promised to your mother that I am going to protect you no matter what the cost. And I will not let go of it even if it meant that I should die," he said.
Bhumi sighed. "Well, I tried to convince you many times and failed every one of them. If you are not willing to train me, then I am going to get the necessary experience by going out with my friends," she said.
Bharghav shook his head. "The little group that you called Rebels were a bunch of nonsense. I know that Chola was not like me. Cruel. He will do anything to make his daughter stronger, even if it meant that his methods could harm her. Look how it changed her. Even though she is powerful, she lacked warmth. If she were to take this seriously, I believe you would've been harmed," he said.
Bhumi chuckled. "Which would not happen as you would interfere," she said.
"Yeah, but Chola will also interfere. I cannot save you while dealing with him at the same time."
"Then train me by yourself."
"No. I will not. I am not going change that opinion. Why don't you take Zola with you at least?" Bharghav asked.
Bhumi stiffened. "No thanks. I already have to deal with Anu. Zola is similar to her in one way, while different to her at the same time. She is always serious, suspecting anyone she meets," she said.
Bharghav frowned. "But she is fun to be with and also competent. It was her job to be suspicious of everyone. Once someone passes her inspection, then she will be loyal to them," he said.
Ram didn't want to interrupt them, but his Aunt is in danger. He didn't want to alienate Bharghav who was so powerful that The entire Spire trembled. He was not winded as he opened the portal like Chitra did. So he didn't know whether he could ask her about The Soul Bead in front of Bharghav. "Bhumi, if you don't mind, can you show it me so that I could save my Aunt?" he asked.
"Are you talking about The Soul Bead?" Bharghav asked.
Ram nodded.
"No. Bhumi, I gave it to you, even let go of my ownership to you so that you can use it at the time when you needed. Not for anything else," Bharghav said.
Bhumi sighed. "But his Aunt is in danger," she said, and proceeded to tell her father what happened.
When it's finished, Bharghav frowned. "It is sure tricky situation, but it doesn't require you to risk taking out the Soul Bead," he said.
"But Ram was worried that something is going to happen to his aunt," Bhumi said.
Bharghav sighed. "I didn't want to interfere, but taking out The Soul Bead is even more dangerous. Just give me a moment," he said, opened another portal was easily as one could breathe in and out. The Spire shook and this time, Ram steadied himself on the walls of The Spire.
Bharghav stepped inside the portal, there were few screams, followed by momentarily silence as Aunt Sheila stepped in first, followed by Bharghav.
Aunt Sheila was shaking.
Ram froze for a moment and ran towards her, hugging her. Em also hugged her the same. "I thought something was going to happen to you. Are you alright?" he asked.
Aunt Sheila trembled.
Ram's heart froze. "What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing. I need to take a moment after seeing what happened," she said.
Ram frowned.
He let go of the hug, but supported Aunt Shela. Em was the impatient one as she looked at Bharghav.
"What did you do to her?" she asked Bharghav.
"And who are you?" Bharghav asked.
"I am his friend. Why was she so shaken?" Em growled.
Ram tried to pacify Em, but it didn't work.
Bharghav gave Em an amused smile, but he turned to Ram instead. "I can feel something strange from her and it was indded powerful. You have surrounded yourself with powerful friends. Though for now it seemed you were surrounded by women, I think you will have a difficult road ahead of you along with my daughter. But don't worry. I will help you in anyway that I can. It keeps my heart at ease that my daughter is in safe hands," he said.
He then turned towards Em. "And to answer your questions, she just saw me unleash my move on her captors. Though I only incapacitated them, not harm then in many manner," he said.
Em still stared at Bharghav with mistrust.
Aunt Sheila interjected. "Sorry Sir. It's my first time seeing someone so powerful than Ella's father or his nemesis," she said.
Em frowned. "Are you saying he was even more powerful than The Old Man?" she asked.
Before Aunt Sheila could reply, Bharghav chuckled. "Are you talking about Ekachakra?" Bharghav asked.
Aunt Sheila frowned. "I didn't know what he was called. I just know him as Ella's father. Here is how he looked like," she said, showing him a holographic image of The Old Man.
Bharghav sighed. "He is really Ekachakra. He is the most powerful being in your world, but against me, he was nothing. There was a reason why he didn't dare to attack me when he lost his wife and went on to seek attack against others," he said.
Ram stumbled. "You knew about them?" he asked.
"I knew more about them than any of you. Wait! Are you saying that …" he trailed off, looked at Aunt Sheila, then at Ram back at Aunt Sheila.
"Is he the one who came in between you and Ella?" he asked.
Aunt Sheila stiffened. "How did you knew about that?" she asked.
"Not only I am powerful, I have connections in many other worlds. When your Soulmate rejected you, It was the topic of much interest in The Hotel Pleasure & Privacy. But it wane down as my battle with Chola split The Soul World into Two. There were many rumors and speculations about why you were separated from your Soulmate and one amongst them was because of her foster son. Since I am a father and I had a Soulmate, I know what I would have chosen if my soulmate had asked me to chose her or Bhumi. I will gladly chose Bhumi. But mind you, I would first try to find a solution where I could be with both of them," he said.
Aunt Sheila was ashamed. "I was young and impulsive back then," she said.
Bharghav laughed out loud. "Who hadn't been? Heck back then I had been close friends with Chola and we did many mischiefs together. Those were good old days," he said.
Bhumi choked. "You were friends with that bastard?" she asked.
Bhargahv sighed. "I had been young and I didn't know what was right and what was wrong," he defended himself.
Aunt Sheila asked. "Then what changed?"
"My Soulmate. Bhumi's mother. She came on a visit to The Soulworld along with many others. The moment I met with her, I was swept off my feet. As I came to know more about her and spent time with her, I know of my mistake and tried to come out of my bad relations. But you all know how it ended," he said.
They were silent for few moments. Bhargahv broke it out at last. "Enough about me. It's past. The way the boy was worried about you seemed like he was more accepting of you now. Then you are going to reunite with your Soulmate soon?" he asked.
Aunt Sheila nodded. "But there's a slight situation with Ram who turned into a Soul from Soul World," she said.
Bharghav frowned. "This is the work of The Crazy Twins?" he asked.
Ram gasped. "You even knew about them?" he asked.
Bharghav shook his head. "Not much, but that they are very competent. Don't worry, I will inform my scientists to find a solution to your problem. But enough about discussing about our problems. I just learned that my baby girl found her Soulmate. If this doesn't call for a celebration, I don't know what would," he said.
Bhumi froze. "Are you allowing me to celebrate with all of The Spire?" she asked.
Bharghav shook his head. "No, not with everyone present in The Spire. In my room with people that both of us trust. Now, shall we?" he asked.
"I should have known."
"It's for your own good."
"Yeah, Yeah, I know," she said.
Bharghav sighed, looked at Aunt Sheila. Aunt Sheila put her hands on Bhumi's shoulders. "I would've done the same thing if I were in his position. And Ella would've done even worse. You should be happy that he let you go out from time to time," she said.
Bhumi groaned. "Don't give him such ideas," she said.
Bharghav interrupted. "Don't worry. I promised to your mother that I will give the freedom that you deserved. I will not break that promise," he said.
Bhumi nodded, then hugged her father. "Thank you for everything," she said.
Bharghav sighed. "What do you think I would've done otherwise? You are my baby girl, the most important thing in the entire world. There is nothing that I will not do for you," he said.
"Except training me or putting me in danger."
"Except those. Enough about it. Let's go party," he said.
He opened a portal, then they stepped inside of it into Bharghav's room.