Aahan's eyes fluttered open, the fog of sleep slowly lifting to reveal his surroundings. His attempt to move his arms was met with resistance, and he realised he was bound to the bed.
Confusion knitted his brows as he shifted his gaze downward, noticing that the bandages on his left arm had been reapplied, and then he remembered what had happened earlier.
For a moment, Aahan was scared of his own arm. Wondering what he was supposed to do with it.
'I need to get out of here-' As he tried to sit up, a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Easy now," it said, soothing and calm.
Aahan's gaze shifted to the source of the voice, and the old sage was sitting by his bedside. The Gurudev's eyes had been closed in meditation but now opened, revealing a depth of wisdom that seemed to reach the soul.
"How are you feeling?" the sage asked, his voice conveying genuine concern.
Aahan blinked, his mind racing to process the situation.
"I... I'm not sure," he admitted, his voice raspy. "How long was I out for?"
"You've been resting for a while," Gurudev's lips curved in a faint smile as he adjusted his position. "I hope you don't mind the restraints."
Although he wasn't feeling comfortable, Aahan shook his head. After what he accidentally did to the attendant earlier, he was relieved to be in restraints to not cause any damage to anyone else.
The sage nodded understandingly before getting up. It was then Aahan got a proper look at the sage. The man was a giant and would be around seven feet tall, if not more.
As if that wasn't enough, the man was ripped, unlike anyone Aahan had seen. Even then, with a delicate smile on his face, Gurudev appeared more of a gentle giant than anything else.
"W-Where are we?" Aahan managed to mumble to carry on with the conversation.
"Below the Kashi Vishwanath Temple," Gurudev replied. "Think of it as a sanctum for the Rathis, warriors who fight for the peace and tranquillity of the human world."
"Warriors? I know my brother he is-"
"He is the best Rathi I have trained in recent years," Gurudev interrupted Aahan. "The brother you knew is not Vivaan's only identity. I assume it's hard to believe my words, but you'll recognise the truth in my words once you get to know more."
"Can I... meet him?"
Gurudev offered a sad smile before shaking his head gently. Aahan's heart sank at the gesture, disappointment etching across his face.
"I know your concern for your brother runs deep," he said, sounding strangely comforting. "But you must trust that he is in good hands."
"I just want to see him," Aahan pleaded. "I need to know he's safe."
Gurudev's gaze remained steady, his expression one of gentle resolve. But it was a look of an immovable mountain. Aahan knew no matter what he said or did, Gurudev would not allow him to do anything that might jeopardise Vivaan's safety.
Despite wanting to, Aahan couldn't blame Gurudev for looking out for Vivaan. After all, if Aahan lost control in front of Vivaan, who knew what he could do to his brother.
"Rest assured, Vivaan is alive and recovering," Gurdev assured Aahan. "But you must understand that opening the chamber before his healing is complete would set back his progress. He needs time, and he needs to be in a controlled environment for that to happen."
Aahan's shoulders slumped, his impatience pressing down on him. He knew Gurudev spoke with Vivaan's best interests in mind, but the ache of separation from his brother was almost unbearable.
After all, he had waited years for their reunion, only for him to become the cause of his brother's condition.
"What can I do, then?" Aahan asked, his voice resigned. "I can't just sit here, feeling helpless."
Gurudev's smile held a hint of warmth as he reached out to place a reassuring hand on Aahan's shoulder.
"You're not helpless, my young friend," he said. "There are other ways for you to keep an eye on Vivaan, to know that he is safe and well."
Aahan's gaze flickered with curiosity, a glimmer of hope amidst his disappointment. "Other ways?" he asked.
"We have a surveillance room where you can observe Vivaan's progress," Gurudev nodded. "You'll be able to see that he is recovering, and hopefully, it will provide you with some peace of mind."
Aahan's spirits lifted at the prospect of being able to watch over his brother, even from a distance.
"I'd like that," he said, determination creeping into his voice.
Gurudev rose from his seat, only for Aahan to realise there was no seat, and the sage had been seemingly floating in the air this entire time. But before Aahan could express his surprise, Gurdev cut him off.
"Come," he said, gesturing for Aahan to follow him. "I'll show you to the surveillance room."
Aahan looked at Gurudev with confusion. How was he supposed to follow him if he was strapped to the bed? Then Aahan looked down and saw the restraints disappearing into thin air like they had never existed. He stared at Gurudev, who smiled and once again gestured for him to follow.
Aahan didn't waste any time and rushed after Gurudev. Despite the situation, he was excited as it was his first time going outside his room since he had opened his eyes.