Vikram's eyes opened, but his vision was still blurry. He heard a familiar voice—none other than his mother.
"Vikram, my son, thank God nothing happened to you. I was really scared. What would I have done if something had happened to you?" Her voice trembled as she spoke, tears flowing.
Vikram, still dizzy, looked around. He was lying on a white bed with a blue blanket. A cushion was beside him, and a small table with medicines and used syringes sat next to him. He soon realized he was in a hospital.
"I'm sorry, Mom... I did things recklessly," he said, his voice breaking. He couldn't hold back his tears. "Because they want me, they killed Grandma... just because of me."
His mother hugged him, trying to comfort him. "Don't say that. It's not your fault, understood?" She grabbed his face, looking into his eyes.
Vikram wiped his face, still sobbing, when his mother spoke again. "You should meet your father. After what happened, we took him to the hospital quickly. He kept repeating, 'Mr. Ansh, go save my child,' and saying he would feel relieved seeing your face."
Vikram nodded. "Okay."
He took a deep breath before entering his father's room. As he stepped inside, he saw his father, Aditya, in very poor condition—unable to speak, one of his legs gone. Aditya looked at Vikram with a small smile of satisfaction, a tear falling down his face as he broke down.
"I'm glad... I'm so glad nothing happened to you," Aditya said, his voice cracking.
Vikram, seeing his father cry for the first time, became emotional. He walked up to him and hugged him tightly. "Don't cry, please, Dad," he whispered softly, his voice filled with emotion.
After a while, Vikram left the room and met Anu outside.
"Take care of Dad," Vikram said. "I need to talk to Samradh Uncle about the Black Bird."
Anu's face filled with fear. "Why do you need to talk about him? Just forget it. We'll leave this city."
Vikram interrupted her. "And then what mom ? Where will we go? They'll find me, and this time it was Grandma. I don't want to lose any of you. After Dad gets discharged, go to the village. I'll come there after finding out who they are and what they want. And Onna is one of them."
His mother's face was filled with shock. "Onna? But I thought of her as my daughter. She even helped me in the kitchen... though it was a disaster, I still felt like she was my daughter if you meet her ask her why she did this I will never forgive her ".
Vikram nodded. "If I meet her, I'll definitely ask her."
With determination in his eyes, Vikram headed home. As soon as he entered his neighborhood, everyone began asking him what happened. "Are you all right? How did the hole in your house appear?"
Hearing all of this, Vikram ran into his house, locked the door, and sat down, exhausted. He closed his eyes and felt as though he were in a deep ocean, but still able to breathe. He felt like he had hit the bottom and then fell into a familiar chamber.
Silence greeted him first, followed by the faint sound of water dripping. His body tensed, his breathing heavy. As he stood, he asked, "Why did you bring me here again? And why only you? Where are the other thirty-one?"
Sthirani, standing at the center of the chamber, had a firm posture and a steady gaze, though there was a faint trace of a smile on her otherwise stoic face.
"You've done well, Vikram," Sthirani said, her voice calm but brimming with quiet strength. "You've proven your resilience once again. So, as promised, I will give you your reward."
Vikram thought to himself, You've totally ignored my question, but he asked aloud, "Reward?"
Sthirani stepped closer, her expression softening slightly. "You faced the Feathered Nightmare and stood tall, even when the odds were stacked against you. You've earned your reward."
She extended her hand, and a faint golden light began to emanate from her palm. "Resilience is not just about enduring pain or rising after a fall. It is also about equipping oneself for the challenges ahead. The power I grant you is one that reflects your unyielding spirit—instant regeneration. No matter how grave your injuries, you will heal and rise again, stronger than before."
The golden light swirled around her hand as she placed it gently on Vikram's chest. He felt a surge of warmth spread through his body, filling every nerve with energy and vitality.
Vikram woke up. His pain was gone. He opened his bandages and saw that his wounds had healed. His body felt better than it ever had before. He looked at his body and saw that he was in peak form—not bulky, but perfectly fit with abs and biceps, just the way every fit person dreams of.
"Wow, is this really me?" Vikram said, astonished.
His phone rang. It was his grandfather.
"Hello, Vikram," his grandpa said. "How are you? Is everyone all right?"
"Yes, yes, everyone is all right," Vikram replied.
His grandpa spoke in a soft but caring tone. "Tell me everything."
Vikram then explained everything to his grandpa. In shock and disbelief, his grandfather said, "All of this happened in one night, and yet I couldn't do anything. Just come here. I have something important to tell you."
Vikram hesitated. "No, they might hurt you too. I'm sorry, but I won't even meet my parents for some time."
His grandpa understood. "I understand, but I have some military mission reports that mention abnormal humans. Maybe that will help you."
Vikram thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll come to your place."
"I'll book a train ticket from Mumbai to Goa for you," his grandpa said.
"Mm," Vikram replied, before hanging up the phone.