The lyrics caught Hrida's ears, music passed through all noises and made it inside her heart, the noise slowly faded, and her gasps diminished, Kali desperately increased his power but he couldn't focus and felt his powers weakened
Hrida stayed unconscious, her body temperature decreased little by little, and the black hue over her skin depleted into a faded black shade, noticing this rapid effect, they all continued singing her song until her body turned normal.
Kali channeled all dark channels towards her but what he saw, left him astonished, the dark shadows wisps surrounded Hrida, Shashi hid her in his arms, they tried to block his energy from reaching Hrida but the dark wisps found their way and floated above her head.
Slowly, those dark wisps took the form of a tornado and Shashi and Hrida in the center of it, all others outside the tornado tried to penetrate through but couldn't. Shashi held her hand firmly in his hand and he kept singing her song.
The tornado grew stronger, Shashi felt his skin being prickled by the pull of the tornado but he didn't flinch from his place and held his ground. Hrida interweaves her fingers into his, completely surprising him, he looks at Hrida's face with flustered face but he is more glad that Hrida's body is responding.
Hrida's eye flickered open to Shashi's face, her eyes widened, their eye contact warmed their hearts, and weird feelings arose in their stomach, she diverted her attention to their surrounding, and she whispered in a low tone, " Shashii, What is this, why are we inside a tornado? "
Shashi concernedly responds, " This is Kali's doing, he doesn't seem to digest that he is losing control over you and I admit, his power is too strong but somehow songs weaken his power and we need to use this to our advantage."
Hrida unconsciously stared at Shashi's face, her eyes glowing with strange glints, Shashi resumed singing her song, Hrida recognized this song, which she made randomly, she just liked to hum new tunes, it soothes her heart.
Hrida joined him as a duet and sang loudly, increasing their power over Kali, Her loved ones outside the tornado heard her voice, and Soma glees in happiness, he gestured for everyone to raise their pitch and sing a little aloud.
The song's rhythm was orchestrated into the tangible form of white ribbons with golden lining intertwining with each other like a dance, which left everyone shocked, the ribbons wrapped around the tornado turned into shimmering stars swirling around Shashi and Hrida but they couldn't clearly see through the tornado.
Shashi and Hrida are admiring the stars rotating around them, Hrida giggles, and Shashi chuckles, " Never imagined, I would be standing between the pool of stars, isn't it like a nightmare turned into a dream."
Hrida fondly responds while staring at his face, " But, I did imagine standing among the stars with you and Tapish. "
Her statement pulled his attention towards her face, and her loving gaze shut down his brain, she suddenly felt nervous under his gaze. She never felt like this around him before, and she couldn't understand what was happening inside her.
She continued her statement regardless, " If you were with me, Shashi, then it was never a nightmare, but more of an adventurous dream. Don't you agree?"
Shashi is speechless, he can't mouth his words, so he playfully jokes, " Hmm, Hrida, you sound different but this new different side is scary but beautiful.
And, after this, are you gonna include that Divit guy into our gang as well since he is adamant about being by your side every second? Tchh.."
Hrida sensed irritation in his last statement, so she teased him, " Of course, he is my friend now, so I don't plan to leave him alone.* Dramatic laugh *
Pfft... But on a serious note, I consider him as my friend, that doesn't force you to include him in our group, he will remain my friend."
Shashi expresses his thoughts with a gentle tone, " I don't mind making new friends as you know, how enjoyable company I am, we can include him in our group but we need to ask Soma for his opinion as well since he is our friend as well.
This journey introduced a few good people into our lives. I am glad about that and our friendship too grew deeper and stronger than before."
Outside the tornado, Soma was trying to peek inside or plunge through the tornado but he couldn't, so he instead touched the pool of stars, he felt a surge of positive energy absorbed in his body, and a fond smile took over his lips.
Navya hesitantly touched the tornado, she felt a calming breeze soothe her soul, she took a chance and carried Tapish in her arms and made his paw come in contact with the wave of stars.
A streak chain of stars danced over Tapish's body, bathing him in white light, Tapish coughs and his eyes wide open staring at the tornado as if he knew what lay within the tornado, he jumped from her arms into the tornado.
Surprisingly, he ventured into the tornado but others couldn't. Soma kept trying to enter inside, he was curious and worried for them, especially about Hrida.
Hrida exclaimed in happiness when Tapish appeared inside the tornado, Tapish happily purred seeing her, and he jumped into her lap.
Hrida pulled their intertwined hands closer and hugged them both tightly, Shashi embraced both of them affectionately, golden pink crystals emerged from the ground and skyrocketed into the sky and burst like fireworks, the people outside experienced the golden soft raindrops all over them.
On the other hand, Kali is also captivated by the lights and golden sparkles, the rain didn't isolate him, soaked him in golden sparkles, he felt like a warm star residing in his center, he tried to diminish the light but he couldn't.
Meanwhile, inside the tornado, Hrida's relaxed expression converts into a worried one, she asks with a worried tone, " Shashi, is everyone fine out there?
Soma, he was hurt, is he fine? And Soma's mom and your mom, looked injured, are they fine?
And Lakshman bhaiya, Kritak bhaiya and Dhansi uncle, are they alright?
And, Navya didi, is she fine? Oh no, Divit, he was stabbed in the stomach, what about him, he saved him from risking his life. He is being treated, right? Say something, Shashi?"
Shashi fondly chuckles, " I would if you let me, Rambling Queen. I missed your chatter, I just thought I almost lost you when you took all my pain on yourself, silly.
For that, I was going to stay and on you but I'm not anymore since you came back...to me, Hrida. I love you too, my best friend, Miss Colliding girl."
Hrida bursts into giggles, Tapish stares at Hrida with an innocent gaze and licks her cheek, Hrida giggles more, and the sound reaches outside the tornado, everyone is relieved to hear Hrida's giggle, Soma couldn't help but feel eager to see her, which didn't go unnoticed by his mom and Lakshman.
Meanwhile, inside the tornado, Hrida couldn't stop giggling, she pointed out with a goofy tone, " Shashi, you and your names. Tch..Tapish bro, tell him to invent some decent names and not weird names for me. "
Shashi mentions with a mischievous glint, " But, you didn't say earlier, that you love my nicknames. Now, you are denying it, not good, partner.
Anyway, I am happy that this dark journey of yours has finally ended and now you can start a new chapter with all of us. Congrats to that, Hrida!"
Hrida nodded, and her gaze shifted to his face, she didn't know why she felt drawn to his face, she observed his goofy conversation with Tapish, she felt a sudden urge inside her heart, she tried to ignore but she couldn't, and gave in at last.
Shashi felt something soft touch his cheek when he looked sideways, he realized Hrida had kissed his cheek, and he went on Cloud nine.
He didn't how to react, so he stood still, he came out of his stupor when he heard Tapish let out a demanding 'meow' looking at Hrida. Hrida's cheeks were red as well, she slowly withdrew from Shashi's arms and stood up carrying Tapish in her arms, and pampered him with light kisses on Tapish's face.
Shashi sat there with flustered cheeks, wide eyes open staring at the ground, the ring of stars was slowly seeping into the ground, and they could almost see Hrida's face, Shashi didn't notice his surroundings changing.
He gathered his courage and quickly stood next to Hrida, while she was facing opposite him, animatedly talking with Tapish, they could see half of their torso, Shashi's mom had a motherly smile seeing Hrida in her happy and bubbly form, and she noticed Shashi being engrossed in his world and hasn't still realized his surrounding,
Shashi's eyes were sparkling, and his heart was racing wild, he tugged her arm and turned her slightly towards her, surprising her out of her stupor, before she could say anything, she felt his lips on her left cheek, over her moon birthmark.
Her heartbeat skipped for a second her eyes went wide open, her loved ones were shocked as well especially Shashi's mom and Soma, who stared at the scene with contrasting expressions, one with happiness, the other with hurt expression.
When he withdrew, yet stayed close to her face, she immediately looked into his eyes, their eyes twinkled, and the ring of stars which were lowered down to their knees, suddenly rocketed into the sky and burst into silvery glitter explosion, soaking them both in glitter.
They both burst into laughter out of a sudden, this left the people around them confused and shocked at the same time. Their heads leaned into each other laughing out, Tapish pounced on Shashi's shoulder.
Shashi's mom crashed upon them with an overbearing hug filled with motherly love and warmth, while Soma felt a burning feeling in his heart.
He didn't want to feel like this, his mom noticed his conflict, she placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered into her son's ears, " Don't be discouraged, they have been best friends since kids, and it's normal to kiss on cheeks, don't be bothered much.
And, friendship is a beautiful relationship, don't lose it over for anything, hmm, don't lose them. And about Hrida, don't give up and be there for her."
Soma felt optimistic and nodded his head animatedly; she kissed his head and dragged him towards them.
Slowly, all of them joined in their hug and it turned into a wide group hug, Hrida warmly smiled at Shashi, Shashi's mom, Soma's mom, Navya, and all of them, her contagious smile infected them as well.
When they withdrew, Hrida's eyes discovered Kali standing at their height level, while still holding his posture with grace and firmness, his pitch-black form was decorated with golden-bluish lining over the edges, her eyes softened as she realized his posture screaming defeated but still standing.
Kali's void eyes made contact with Hrida's soft chocolate brown eyes, he couldn't avoid the light in her eyes, Hrida flashed a smile despite the torture he put her through, and he felt warmth in his cold-still body.
Tapish followed her gaze, and he growled low, slowly they noticed Hrida staring at something, they traced her gaze and found Kali a few distances away from them.
Shashi's mom protectively shields Hrida but Hrida assures them with an understanding tone, " Aunty, the King of Inner demons won't send his shadows at us anymore."
Kali declared with a slight hint of warmth in his tone, " I admit that I lost this battle this time but one day, this era will reach its peak and the shadow will take over, and then no one will be able to defeat me at that time.
Tch..Don't worry, Hrida, it's 1000, 1000, and 1000 more years in the future, till then you all will have died and reincarnated maybe or maybe not.
Anyway, I must say, I had never seen the bravest, warmest, and most charming light as yours until now and I bet I would never.
I bid my farewell for now and see you all never again, technically."