" Not Alok", said Vicky. " Never. I promised Mrs Pundit I will perish to save him".
" No Vicky", sobbed Riya.
" Beautiful. Listen to me", said Vicky. He took Riya's face in his hands " Dhara and Aditya. Gunjan and Srikant. Riya and Vicky. And whoever we become next does not matter. We belong together".
She kept on crying.
" I can't let you go Sri ". I can't", she cried hugging him.
" Punditji please tell us what you know", he spoke calmly.
" Your bones will provide the base for the weapon that could kill Baldev", said Agni.
" You will be reborn as prince Aditya's heir in his clan. Gautam will find a way to help you".
" Noo.. please n oo", sobbed Riya.
Ramcharan wiped his tears. His son was happy at last. Why Shiva?
" This is our Agnipariksha( ultimate test)", said Vikram to them." Remember Baldev is out there preying on the weak. He does not know about Alok but he knows me".
" But we both are powerful elementals", argued Riya..
" My blood Riya is his source. If I am no more his plans fail. Alok is a Shashtri not Pundit. He remains safe", said Vicky.
" Isn't there any other way", asked Ramcharan.
" No", said Agni.
But Riya outright refused her husband. As she was still his master he could not make the decision alone.
She was as so restless she started complaining to her Lord. She visited the temple. She said to Shiva,
" Why Shiva? Why can't I and Sri live happily? Why did we have to be separated again from each other?"
Aditya's photograph came to her mind. His dying oath. His justice is still left.
" How will I find Sri again", she wailed.
A visioin came over her. She was lying below a man. BELOW HER VICKY. Except he is not Vicky. Sun kissed face. Golden brown hairs. Pink lips and striking blue eyes.
Well she looked different too with her raven black hair, tatoos and kohled green eyes.
They were in some mountains.
" You moron. You have already closed your ears to the world. But have you closed your eyes and brain too. Walking towards a sure death. I shouted and signalled. We could have both died".
And the vision ended.
Did she just saw her future?
Someone spoke in her mind....
" Let him go child. I will send him back to you".
Meanwhile even Ramcharan was in turmoil.
Why Vicky came to me of all people? And how long shall I wait before I see him happy with kids?
THERE SURE WAS AN ANSWER. BUT IT HAS TO WAIT.
Vikram meanwhile put his plan in motion. He started to say farewell to his friends.
" Remove Alok from here Mr. Shashtri. He could be next target of terrorists ", he said to Murugan Shashtri.
Despite protests he was shipped off to Chennai. His mother had just one wish
" Grand child Alok. Only that will make me happy".
" Alok be happy and raise your chid well. Always love that kid", said Vicky.
" Why does it seem ths is a kind of goodbye", asked Alok. " What's wrong Vicky"?
" Nothing moron. As promised I am here to take care of your kids too", said Vicky.
They hugged.
Riya bid Laxmi an emotional goodbye.
Vikram transferred his shares in company to his father after his demise not Riya. He gave Bhishma's two percent to princess Jeniffer in case of his death two percent each to Gaurav and Vinod and remaining 14% to his father. All Riya got in his will were the homes he made with her in every corner of the world.
Next he and Riya met Numaan and Zoya.
" What about London", he brought the topic. He knew they were keen to settle in London.
" I have projects here. Zoya does too", said Numaan.
" Complete them and move to London. I think of launching a branch there. A fashion weak comes up in Paris. Zoya's designs are good.", he said.
" Deal but look my son Zaid is already six months. Plan kids. In future we will co-parent our kids. We need your business genes passed down", said Numaan.
It was with great difficulty Vicky kept his tears at bay. HE HAD NO FUTURE. He would always make fun of his immortality in past.
" Ohh don't worry guys not ony you I will take care of your kids too".
Now with a lot of emotion and his trust in Shiva he said., " The business prodigy will arrive".
" Already planning one", asked Numaan.
" Something like that", he replied. " Hey listen you have a great talent in hacking. I want you to take an apprentice and pass that talent down" . Numaan agreed.
He did not have to work hard on Manav.
" I loved Australia", said Manav to him one day. " Can we both shift our families there"?
" Certainly", he said. With utmost urgency he arranged for Deshmukhs to shift their base to Australia.
" I have projects to finish here", he said.
" Then I'll join you".
Meanwhile Salman married Aasma and shifted to Delhi.
Next he was planning to shift both his friends Gaurav and Vinod. Mitali and her mother were all for Gaurav to take an interest in his royal duties.
" A few estates man. No big deal", said Gaurav to Vicky.
" But perfect for holiday with your wife. You have worked hard. Take it", said Vicky.
GAURAV AGREED.
Vinod seemed lost somewhere. These days he had stopped teasing and joking. He looked worried and there was something his friends could not pin point.
" Vinod", Gaurav shook him. " What's the matter?
" N.nothing", he said.
But one evening he said to Vikram.
" I need to talk to you Vicky in private".
THIS WAS NOT HIS FRIEND THOUGHT VICKY.
Vinod's eyes were empty. And his face was hard as if carved from stone.
" Talk", said Vicky.
" Not now and definitely not here", he said. " Tomorrow at our usual restaurant".
Gaurav had left with his wife for his estate. So Vicky said yes.
About same time
Dipti was elated when she met Riya.
" I am pregnant ", she told.
Riya was really happy. " Trust me it will be a boy", she said. Dipti hugged her.
Night time
Vicky had made sweet love to her. But she was far away from being satisfied.
" Beautiful. I love you", he said.
" Why are you doing this Sri ", she wept.
" Sssh baby I am a soldier and you are my wife. You are a brave woman. To save people around us and to ensure the coming generation's safety its a must", he said lovingly soothing her.
" You will leave me all alone again Sri. I won't let you do this. I can't. I don't want to live without you."
Vicky sighed.
" Sweetheart I am all yours. We shall not be separated for long. Remember that forever you saw. Remember our friends Kishan, Rajjo ..They are waiting for us. Lets go and attain that. Bodies perish Riya not souls. And my soul is forever bound to you."
And he kissed her eyes drinking in her tears. She moulded into him.
" Promise me Sri. You will not belong to any other woman. Or I will haunt you", she said.
" I promise", he said. They made love again.
" I set you free Srikant Pundit", said a crying Riya. " Make your sacrifice for the sake of humanity."
This was his final Goodbye. đŸ˜đŸ˜
But the shocks did not end...
Vinod disappeared next morning . And a lot of dents were found in Oberoi finances...