Chapter 20 - Back in Time

The morning of the auction arrived with a tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. The boys and I prepared meticulously, each of us armed and ready for whatever danger awaited. I could feel Vikrant’s eyes on me the entire time, his silent concern palpable.

The auction was being held in an abandoned warehouse near the outskirts of Varanasi. The building loomed ahead like a dark specter, its windows broken, and its walls covered in graffiti. As we entered, the air was heavy with the smell of dampness and metal.

The room was filled with dangerous-looking men, all bidding on various artifacts that were displayed under dim lights. The locket we needed was the centerpiece, encased in glass on a raised platform. It shimmered under the light, an object so small yet so significant that it felt like the entire room revolved around it.

The bidding started, and the tension in the room skyrocketed. Vikrant and the boys played their roles perfectly, blending into the crowd while keeping their eyes on the locket. I stood beside Vikrant, my heart pounding as I scanned the room for any threats.

Finally, the locket came up for bid. The atmosphere grew electric as the price climbed higher and higher. The men around us grew more aggressive, their voices louder, their postures tense.

Vikrant raised his hand, placing the winning bid. The room fell silent for a moment before a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.

“That’s our cue,” Vikrant whispered to me, his hand brushing mine briefly.

Just as we moved toward the platform to claim the locket, chaos erupted. Men surrounded us, their weapons drawn. The leader, a burly man with a scar running down his face, stepped forward, his gun pointed directly at me.

“You really thought you could walk out of here with that locket?” he sneered.

I didn’t flinch. Instead, I smirked. “You’re making a big mistake.”

The next moments were a blur. The boys sprang into action, their guns blazing as they fought off the attackers. I focused on the leader, my movements swift and calculated. I managed to grab the locket, but before I could secure it, a gunshot rang out.

Pain exploded in my side, but I didn’t let it show. My eyes snapped to the man who had fired the shot, and my breath caught in my throat. It was him—my father. Aaradhya's Father.

The room seemed to freeze as everyone turned to look at him. He stepped forward, his gun still trained on me, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

“You thought you could escape , my daughter , didn’t you?” he said, his voice dripping with venom.

“You’re not my father,” I spat, my voice steady despite the blood I could feel seeping through my clothes.

He chuckled darkly. “You’re right. You’re not my daughter. You never were. I found you in an orphanage, a nameless, worthless child. You should be grateful I even gave you a roof over your head.”

The words stung, but I refused to let him see it. “And yet, here you are, still trying to control me.”

He moved to grab the locket, but I acted first. With a swift motion, I pulled a hidden gun from my boot and aimed it at him.

“You think you can control me?” I said, my voice cold. “You’re the reason Aaradhya was like this. Her anxiety, her fear—it was all because of you.”

I pulled the trigger, the bullet hitting his leg. He cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. Even the boys winced at the ruthlessness of my actions, but I didn’t care.

“Did Daksh know about this?” I demanded, my voice sharp.

He didn’t answer, his face contorted in pain. I shot him again, this time in the shoulder.

“Answer me!” I roared.

He groaned but remained silent.

I stepped closer, my gun still trained on him. “You haven’t seen Aaradhyanshi yet,” I said before knocking him out cold with the butt of my gun.

I felt the blood loss catching up to me as the adrenaline faded. My vision blurred, and my knees buckled. The locket was still clutched in my hand as I fell to the ground.

The last thing I saw was Vikrant running toward me, his face etched with panic. I felt his arms catch me before I hit the floor, his voice calling my name.

“Stay with me, Princess,” he said, his voice breaking.

I felt his tears on my face, warm against the coldness creeping into my body. And then, everything went black.

I opened my eyes to a place that felt both foreign and familiar. The soft rustling of silk curtains, the faint scent of sandalwood, and the warm sunlight streaming through intricately carved windows told me I wasn’t in the present anymore. My heart skipped a beat as I realized where I was.

This was my room, my room from my teenage years in my original era. The realization hit me like a wave. I looked down at myself, my body unscathed, no signs of the gunshot wound. My heart raced as I noticed the locket glowing faintly around my neck.

“It’s the locket,” I whispered to myself, holding it tightly. “It brought me back here.”

I glanced at the mirror and froze. A flash of memory struck me—a day I had forgotten, a day Aaradhya had lived for me. It was the day she felt guilty about . My chest tightened as the memory unfolded. In front of my eyes.

I saw myself playing on the terrace with Veerendra Thakur’s younger brother. We were laughing, running, and teasing each other. Then, the accident. He slipped, his hand reaching out for mine, but Aaradhya in my body couldn’t save him. The guilt, the horror—it all came rushing back. Aaradhya had been so devastated that she had tried to take her own life.

The memory ended abruptly, leaving me gasping for air. I stumbled back, my legs weak.

“So, this is what happened,” I muttered, tears streaming down my face.

Without wasting another moment, I ran through the palace halls, searching for Dadi Sa. My heart pounded as I called out for her, desperate for answers. Finally, I found her in the prayer room, her serene face lighting up as she saw me.

“Dadi Sa!” I cried, throwing myself into her arms.

She held me tightly, her comforting presence grounding me. “Aaradhyanshi, my child. What happened ?”

I pulled back, showing her the locket. “Dadi Sa, I don’t understand. How am I here? What is this locket?”

She smiled knowingly. “So, you’ve lived another life, haven’t you?”

I nodded, my voice trembling. “Yes, but how do you know?”

She cupped my face gently. “This locket is no ordinary trinket. It has the power to save its bearer from death—three times, no more. It seems you’ve used it twice already.”

Her words stunned me. “You mean… this locket brought me back to this time?”

“Yes,” she said, her eyes twinkling with wisdom. “And now, you must decide. Do you want to stay here, or do you wish to return to the life you’ve built in the other era?”

I stared at her, trying to process her words. “How do you know so much about this, Dadi Sa?”

She chuckled softly. “Because I’ve lived two lives myself. This locket has been passed down through our family for generations. It was first discovered by your great-grandmother, and now it’s yours.”

I was speechless. “What did you choose, Dadi Sa?”

She smiled wistfully. “I chose this time because I found love here, family here, and you, my dear. You are my greatest treasure.”

Her words brought tears to my eyes. “Who were you in your other life?”

“I was a princess, but of a very different time,” she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “I lived in an era 500 years ago, under the rule of a ruthless king. It was a harsh life, but it shaped me into who I am today.”

I took a deep breath, my heart heavy. “Dadi Sa, I’ve found people in the other era too. Friends, love… but no family.”

She placed a hand on my cheek. “Then live your life, Aaradhyanshi. Don’t hold yourself back. It’s okay to be selfish for your happiness. This is your journey.”

Her words gave me strength. I hugged her tightly, tears streaming down my face. “Thank you, Dadi Sa. I’ll never forget you.” i didn't want to leave but her words encouraged me .

I knew what I had to do. I had to right Aaradhya’s mistake. I found Veerendra Thakur and his younger brother on the terrace, just as it had happened before. My heart pounded as I approached them, determined to change the outcome.

We played together, laughing and running. Then, the moment came. His younger brother slipped, just as before, but this time, I was ready. I lunged forward, grabbing him before he could fall.

But in saving him, I lost my balance. I felt the air rush past me as I fell.

As I hit the ground, pain shot through my body, but I smiled. I had done it. I had changed history. The locket around my neck glowed brightly, and I felt a strange warmth envelop me.

The last thing I saw was the sky above me, and then darkness.

I felt like I was floating, weightless and free. Somewhere in the distance, I heard familiar voices calling my name. Vikrant, the boys—they were waiting for me.

And I knew, with every fiber of my being, that I was going back to them.