chapter 19 - Exploring Varanasi

After the chaos of our journey, we finally got some rest last night. The guesthouse was quiet, tucked away from the bustling streets of Varanasi. Despite the peace, I barely slept. Something about this city felt off—not in a bad way, but in a way that made my instincts stay on high alert.

The auction was still three days away, so the boys decided we should explore the city like regular college students. Aaradhyanshi —no, my princess—had agreed, though I could tell she was as cautious as I was.

The boys and I were waiting in the lobby when she finally came downstairs. The moment I saw her, my breath caught. She was wearing a deep maroon and gold traditional kurti, paired with a flowy dupatta. Her hair was left open, and a small bindi adorned her forehead. She looked…royal. Like she belonged to this ancient city.

“You’re staring again,” she teased, a smirk playing on her lips as she walked toward us.

“And he’s not even subtle about it,” Aryan added, grinning.

“Shut up,” I muttered, though I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.

She chuckled, her laughter light and carefree, and I realized how much I loved seeing her like this—happy and at ease.

“You look…” I started, but words failed me.

“Like a princess?” she offered, raising an eyebrow.

“Exactly,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.

Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, and the boys, of course, didn’t let the moment go.

“Should we leave you two alone?” Rohan teased.

“Or should we just prepare for a wedding right here?” Karan added, earning a glare from me and a laugh from her.

We started our day with a visit to the ghats. The city was alive, its streets bustling with activity. The air was thick with the scent of incense and flowers, and the sound of temple bells rang out in the distance.

As we walked along the Ganga, Aaradhyanshi ’s eyes lit up with wonder. She paused at every small shop, every street vendor, taking in the sights and sounds.

“You act like you’ve never seen a city before,” I teased, walking beside her.

“It’s not the city,” she replied, her voice thoughtful. “It’s the energy. This place…it feels alive.”

We decided to take a boat ride along the Ganga. Aryan, being Aryan, thought it would be a good idea to stand at the edge of the boat for a dramatic pose.

“Careful,” Aaradhyanshi warned. “You’re going to fall.”

“Relax, Princess,” he said, waving her off. “I’ve got perfect balance.”

The next second, the boat rocked, and Aryan lost his footing, landing in the lap of an elderly man seated nearby.

The rest of us burst out laughing as the man glared at Aryan, muttering something about “youth these days.”

“I told you,” Aaradhyanshi said, shaking her head but smiling.

In the afternoon, we visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The atmosphere was serene, the air heavy with devotion. Aaradhyanshi seemed particularly moved, her hands folded in prayer as she stood before the deity.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. There was something about the way she carried herself here, something that made her seem almost…ethereal.

“Stop staring,” she whispered as we walked out of the temple.

“Can’t help it,” I replied, grinning.

Later in the day, we stopped at a small café overlooking the ghats. While the boys were busy arguing over the menu, I slipped away and returned with a small bracelet made of rudraksha beads.

“For you,” I said, handing it to her.

She looked at me, surprised. “What’s this for?”

“Protection,” I said simply. “And because it reminded me of you.”

Her expression softened, and she took the bracelet, slipping it onto her wrist. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

As the sun set and the city prepared for the evening aarti, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. I noticed subtle glances from strangers, lingering looks that lasted a second too long.

“Something’s off,” I muttered to Karan as we walked back to the guesthouse.

He nodded, his expression serious. “I’ve noticed it too. We need to stay sharp.”

I glanced at Aaradhyanshi, who was laughing at something Aryan had said. She looked so carefree, so unaware of the potential danger.

I’ll protect you, Princess, I vowed silently. No matter what it takes.

We ended the day at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, watching the grand evening aarti. The flames of the lamps danced in the twilight, and the chants echoed through the air, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere.

As the priests performed the rituals, I stood beside her , our shoulders brushing. She looked at me, her eyes reflecting the golden glow of the lamps.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For being here. For everything.”

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. “Always.”

When we returned, the boys immediately collapsed onto the couches, exhausted. She , however, seemed energized, her eyes still sparkling from the day’s adventures.

“Today was fun,” she said, looking at all of us.

“Yeah, it was,” Aryan agreed. “But let’s not forget why we’re here.”

Her expression grew serious for a moment, but then she smiled. “We’ll handle it .”

The next evening, Aaradhya dragged me out of the guesthouse, leaving the boys behind. She wouldn’t tell me where we were going, only that I needed to trust her. Not that I had any choice—I’d follow her anywhere.

As we walked through the streets of Varanasi, her hand slipped into mine, our fingers intertwining naturally. My eyes caught the rudraksha bracelet I’d given her. She hadn’t taken it off since yesterday.

“You really like that bracelet, huh?” I teased, nodding toward her wrist.

She glanced at it and smiled softly. “It’s special.”

Her words warmed something in my chest, and I tightened my grip on her hand.

She led me to a quieter part of the ghats, near Manikarnika Ghat. The atmosphere here was different—calm, yet heavy with unspoken reverence. The flames of the pyres in the distance flickered against the night sky, casting an orange glow over the water.

We sat down near the edge of the river, the water lapping gently against the steps. Aaradhya stared out at the middle of the river, her expression unreadable.

“What are you looking at?” I asked softly.

She gestured toward a spot in the water. “That’s where I found myself drowning. That’s where I took over Aaradhya’s body.”

I followed her gaze to the dark waters, imagining her struggling, fighting for breath.

“You didn’t panic?” I asked, my voice quieter than usual.

“I didn’t have time to,” she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. “The first thing I saw when I came here was the Manikarnika Ghat. The year. Everything was so different from my world.”

She paused, her fingers tracing patterns on the edge of her dupatta. “I met Tanu not long after. She was the first person who made me feel safe.” Her voice cracked slightly, and I saw tears welling up in her eyes.

“You miss her,” I said, though it wasn’t a question.

She nodded. “Every day. We only had three months together here , but she taught me so much about this world. About your world.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent, letting her speak.

“You know,” she said after a moment, “I didn’t know how to speak your language when I first got here. But I’d studied English and a few other languages back in my world. That’s how I communicated with Tanu. And with you all, I just copied Aaradhya’s way of speaking.”

I hummed in response, impressed but not surprised. She was nothing if not resourceful.

She leaned against me, her head resting lightly on my shoulder. We sat there in silence for a while, the sounds of the river and the distant chants filling the space between us.

Then she broke the quiet. “Vikrant, what will you do if Aaradhya comes back? If she takes her body back and I…disappear?”

Her question shook me to my core. I tightened my hold on her hand, unwilling to even entertain the thought.

“I’ll tell you what I won’t do,” I said after a long pause. “I won’t bully her.”

She gave a small laugh at that, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“And if you’re asking whether I’d stay with her just because you both share the same face…you’re wrong, Princess. She’s not you.”

Her gaze softened, but I could see the fear lingering in her eyes. “Why are you asking me this?” I pressed.

She shrugged, avoiding my gaze. “Just wanted to know what my bully thinks about me.”

But I knew better. She wasn’t just curious—she was scared. Scared of what might happen, of the possibility that her time here could be cut short.

We sat there for a while longer, the silence between us now comfortable. But then Aaradhyanshi stiffened, her body going alert.

“Someone’s watching us,” she murmured, her voice low.

I scanned the area, my senses on high alert. A shadow moved in the distance, disappearing behind a pillar.

“Stay here,” I said, starting to rise, but she grabbed my arm.

“We go together,” she insisted.

We moved quietly, our footsteps barely making a sound. The figure tried to slip away, but we were faster. Within moments, I had him pinned against a wall, Aaradhyaanshi standing beside me, her eyes sharp.

“Who sent you?” I demanded.

The man squirmed but didn’t answer. Aaradhyanshi stepped closer, her voice cold. “Answer him, or you won’t like what happens next.”

The man hesitated, then finally spoke. “My boss heard about the Vipers coming to Varanasi. He sent me to watch you.”

“Who’s your boss?” Aaradhya asked.

“I don’t know his face,” the man admitted. “I’ve never seen him.”

I exchanged a glance with her . He was a small fish, not worth the effort. We let him go, but not before warning him to stay out of our way.

When we returned, the boys were waiting for us in the living room. The moment they saw us, Aryan smirked.

“Look who’s back,” he said, his tone dripping with mischief.

“Had a nice little date?” Karan added, wiggling his eyebrows.

Rohan grinned. “Should we start planning the wedding now or wait until you two make it official?”

She groaned, shaking her head. “You guys are impossible.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips.

“Anyway,” I said, cutting through their teasing, “we caught a spy.”

That got their attention. “What did he say?” Aryan asked.

“His boss knows we’re here,” Aaradhya replied, her tone serious. “But he didn’t know much else.”

Karan frowned. “So tomorrow at the auction, we’ll need to be extra careful.”

“Agreed,” I said, glancing at her . She nodded, her expression determined.