NOW WHAT?

Two Months Later

The sterile scent of the hospital lingered in the air as Rivaan's eyes slowly fluttered open. His body ached with a dull, constant pain, his head heavy as though he had been submerged underwater for an eternity. It took him a moment to process where he was. The ceiling above was stark white, and the rhythmic beeping of machines surrounded him.

A weight pressed against his chest, warm and familiar. Rivaan tilted his head and saw Aiyana, Her face bore the scars of the explosion. Her left eye was covered with a bandage, and the faint burn marks around it.

Rivaan (softly): "Aiyana..."

She stirred, her eyes opening to meet his. Aiyana's face instantly lit up with relief, and tears welled in her eyes again.

Aiyana (sobbing): "You're awake! Oh, thank God. I thought— I thought I'd lose you too."

She threw her arms around him gently, mindful of his injuries. Rivaan winced but didn't pull away. He let her cry against him, her words sinking in.

Rivaan (hoarse): "What... what happened? How long have I been out?"

Aiyana (sniffling): "Two months. You've been in a coma since that night... the explosion... everything."

The memories came rushing back—Enoch, the burning mansion, the screams, and the overwhelming helplessness. Rivaan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

The Reality of Loss

After calming Aiyana down, she explained what had happened in his absence.

Aiyana (quietly): "The explosion... it killed so many. Most of your family didn't make it. Your grandpa... he's alive, but..."

She hesitated, looking down at her lap.

Aiyana: "He's on life support, Rivaan. His lungs were badly damaged, and he can't breathe without assistance. He's awake, but... he's not the same."

Rivaan's heart sank. His family—the people who had always been there, even if they weren't close—were gone. He swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to process the enormity of it all.

Rivaan (softly): "And Jilpa? Is he...?"

Aiyana gestured to the bed beside his. Jilpa lay there, motionless but alive, his chest rising and falling steadily. His face bore faint scars, a testament to the battle they had barely survived.

Aiyana: "He hasn't woken up yet, but the doctors say he will. He just needs time."

A Determined Resolve

Rivaan turned his gaze to the window, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. He felt an overwhelming mixture of grief, anger, and determination.

Rivaan (thinking): Enoch did this. He destroyed my family, my home, my life. But he hasn't destroyed me.

He looked back at Aiyana, her eyes red but full of worry and care.

Rivaan (quietly): "I'm going to make him pay. For everything."

Aiyana didn't say anything. She simply held his hand, her grip firm and unwavering.

As the weight of his loss settled in, so did the fire in his heart. The battle wasn't over—not by a long shot.

A Glimmer of Hope

That night, Rivaan sat by Jilpa's bedside. The sight of his best friend, bruised and hooked up to machines, made his heart ache.

Rivaan (quietly): "Wake up soon, Jilpa. I can't do this without you."

As the moonlight streamed through the hospital window, Rivaan clenched his fists. The pain, the loss—it was unbearable, but it was also a reminder.

They had survived, and they would rise again. The entity that caused this destruction had to be stopped. Rivaan swore to himself that when Jilpa woke, they would finish what they started, no matter the cost.

Two Weeks Later

The days blurred into weeks as Rivaan and Aiyana spent almost all their time at the hospital. Despite the weight of their shared grief, something unspoken began to grow between them.

Strength in Loss

At the end of the first week, the devastating news came. Aiyana's parents, who had been caught in the chaos of the explosion, didn't survive. The loss hit her hard, shattering her composure.

Rivaan was there when she broke down, her cries muffled into his chest.

Aiyana (sobbing): "They were... all I had left. And now they're gone, Rivaan. They're gone."

He held her close, his voice steady despite the pain in his own heart.

Rivaan: "I know it hurts, Aiyana. I know it feels like there's nothing left. But you're not alone. I'm here... for as long as you need me."

Their bond deepened in those quiet moments of shared sorrow, not through words, but through the comfort of simply being there for each other.

A Quiet Routine

Over the second week, Rivaan and Aiyana settled into a rhythm. They talked about everything and nothing, from their childhood memories to silly dreams of the future.

Aiyana (teasing): "So, Mr. Millionaire's Grandson, what's your next move? Buying an island, maybe?"

Rivaan (smirking): "Tempting, but I think I'll settle for not burning down another school. Small goals, you know."

Her laughter, though subdued, was a sound Rivaan cherished more each day.

The Awakening

On the afternoon of the fourteenth day, Rivaan sat by Jilpa's bedside, exhaustion finally overtaking him. He had drifted off in the chair, his head tilted back, with Aiyana leaning against his shoulder.

A faint groan broke the silence. Jilpa's fingers twitched, his eyes fluttering open to the blurry sight of the hospital ceiling. The dull ache in his body reminded him he was alive, though barely.

Jilpa (hoarsely): "Rivaan...?"

The sound stirred Rivaan awake instantly. He leaned forward, his face lighting up with relief.

Rivaan: "Jilpa! You're awake! Finally, man. You had us worried."

Jilpa's gaze shifted to Aiyana, still leaning against Rivaan's shoulder, her eyes closed. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Jilpa (weakly): "Looks like... you've been busy."

Rivaan chuckled softly, his voice tinged with emotion.

Rivaan: "It's been a lot, Jilpa. But we made it. We're still here."

Jilpa's smile faded as memories of the explosion flickered through his mind.

Jilpa: "The others... are they?"

Rivaan's expression darkened, and he shook his head slightly.

Rivaan: "We'll talk later. For now, just rest, okay? We've got a lot to catch up on."

The Bonds That Endure

As Aiyana stirred awake, her tired eyes met Jilpa's, and a spark of relief crossed her face.

Aiyana: "It's good to see you, Jilpa. Welcome back."

In that small hospital room, amidst the weight of loss and uncertainty, the three of them shared a quiet moment of unity. They had been battered, scarred, and shaken to their cores, but they were together. And that was enough to face whatever came next.

A Conversation Under the Moonlight

The hospital was quiet, its stillness broken only by the occasional hum of machinery. Rivaan and Jilpa sat on the hospital bed, the dim moonlight casting long shadows across the room. Both were exhausted but unable to sleep, their minds tangled in the events of the last few months.

Rivaan (leaning back): "I still can't wrap my head around everything that's happened. Feels like every time we get a moment to breathe, something crazier comes up."

Jilpa (chuckling weakly): "You're not wrong. Speaking of crazy, there's something I didn't tell you earlier. Something… strange."

Rivaan raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

Rivaan: "Stranger than demons and explosions? This I gotta hear."

Jilpa hesitated for a moment, then sighed, running a hand through his messy hair.

Jilpa: "Okay, so… I had this vision—or maybe it wasn't a vision. It felt real. There was this… guy. A human body, but he was wearing a pig mask."

Rivaan blinked, clearly not expecting that.

Rivaan: "A pig mask? You sure you weren't dreaming?"

Jilpa (serious): "Dead serious. He called himself 'Professor Neigh.'"

Rivaan stared at him, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he was trying not to laugh.

Rivaan: "Professor Neigh. That's... unique."

Jilpa: "It gets weirder. He said to me, 'Oh, so you're his new work.' Whatever that means. Then he said, 'Don't worry, he isn't going to find you that important. But I am.'"

Rivaan frowned, leaning forward.

Rivaan: "What else did he say?"

Jilpa: "He told me if I want to get stronger, I need to go to Egypt next year. Specifically, to the Pyramids of Giza on April 15th, at exactly six in the morning. Said I'd find answers there."

Rivaan's skepticism was clear, but he didn't interrupt.

Jilpa (grinning): "Oh, and get this—he said that the sound pigs make isn't 'oink.'"

Rivaan (confused): "What?"

Jilpa (smirking): "Yeah. He said 'oink' is propaganda made by the shadow government. Apparently, the real sound pigs make is 'neigh.'"

Rivaan stared at Jilpa for a long moment, his lips pressing together as he tried—and failed—not to burst into laughter.

Rivaan (laughing): "Neigh?! Pigs? Are you messing with me right now?"

Jilpa (grinning): "I wish I was. He was dead serious. Mask and all. It was like something out of a fever dream."

As Rivaan's laughter faded, he shook his head, his expression sobering.

Rivaan: "Alright, jokes aside, this whole thing… it sounds insane, but considering everything we've been through, I wouldn't completely rule it out. Egypt, huh? You thinking of going?"

Jilpa (nodding): "Yeah. If there's even a chance of getting stronger, I'll take it. After everything that's happened, we can't afford to stay weak."

Rivaan leaned back again, his expression thoughtful.

Rivaan: "Well, if you're going, I'm coming too. No way I'm letting you handle some pig-mask professor on your own."

The two shared a small laugh, the tension in the room easing slightly. Despite the absurdity of the situation, they both knew one thing: their journey was far from over.

The next morning 

the two decided that it's about time that they had to start training so they decide to have a four week journey. 

Week 1: The Journey Begins

Rivaan and Jilpa began their journey with a visit to Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India. They trained along the ghats of the Ganges, meditating and honing their control over spiritual chi. Jilpa focused on refining the solidity of his chains, while Rivaan experimented with controlling the intensity of his light heat without causing unintended destruction.

On the third day, they encountered a wandering ascetic who had awakened his 3rd eye. The man, introducing himself as Kiran, admitted he had no special powers but had mastered spiritual chi. Intrigued by his insights, they invited him to join their travels, hoping to learn from him.

Kiran's teachings emphasized control over raw power. He demonstrated how to form intricate shapes from chi and how to use it for defense. Both Rivaan and Jilpa benefited greatly, realizing that finesse could often surpass brute strength.

Week 2: Into the Wilderness

The trio ventured into the dense forests of Madhya Pradesh, where they trained in isolation. The serene yet challenging environment pushed them physically and mentally.

Rivaan worked tirelessly to limit his power's radius, trying to prevent the collateral damage that plagued him. Jilpa trained to increase the speed and flexibility of his chains, attempting to use them as both weapons and shields.

Kiran, meanwhile, taught them how to sense spiritual energy in living beings. By the end of the week, Rivaan could detect the faint chi of a bird perched hundreds of meters away, while Jilpa used his chains to interact with the spirits of the forest.

Week 3: The Mountains

In the third week, they traveled to the Himalayan foothills. The high altitude and freezing temperatures tested their endurance, but it also offered a unique training environment.

Rivaan's training focused on channeling light heat to warm his body and control its intensity in extreme conditions. Jilpa worked on solidifying his chains to a point where they could withstand the biting winds.

Kiran taught them meditation techniques to heighten their focus. He explained that the 3rd eye was not just a tool for power but also for perception. By the end of the week, Rivaan and Jilpa felt so tiered that They as close to a atom to quitting.

Week 4: The Farewell

The final week took them to Rajasthan, where they explored ancient ruins and vast deserts. Kiran's guidance helped Rivaan and Jilpa understand the balance between their powers and their spiritual chi.

On the last day, they stood at the edge of the Thar Desert, the sunset painting the sky in brilliant hues.

Kiran: "This is where our paths diverge. I've taught you all I can. The rest of your journey is yours to walk."

They embraced Kiran, thanking him for his guidance, before parting ways. Jilpa and Rivaan watched as Kiran disappeared into the horizon, his silhouette fading into the desert sands.

The Reunion with Aiyaana

After their farewell with Kiran, Jilpa and Rivaan made their way to Goa to visit Aiyaana. She greeted them warmly, her burnt eye a reminder of the battles they had fought. They spent the evening reminiscing and sharing stories of their travels.

The Airport Goodbye

The next morning, they left for the airport. As Rivaan and Jilpa prepared to board their flight back to China, Rivaan realized he had forgotten his charger in the car.

Rivaan (to Jilpa): "Wait here. I'll be right back."

He rushed to the car, where Aiyaana was waiting.

Rivaan: "Hey, I forgot my charger. Could you hand it to me?"

Aiyaana reached into her bag, pulled out the charger, and handed it to him. Her gaze lingered on him, and before Rivaan could react, she leaned out of the window and kissed him.

Aiyaana (softly): "I love you, Rivaan. I always have, and I always will. Stay safe."

She drove away, leaving Rivaan standing there, stunned. He walked back to Jilpa, his heart racing.

Jilpa (grinning): "You're looking weird. What happened?"

Rivaan hesitated, then explained what had happened. Jilpa burst into laughter, shaking his head.

Jilpa (teasing): "Man, you're hopeless. I can't believe you let her just drive off after that. She literally dropped a bomb on you, and you're standing here like a statue."

For the entire plane ride back to China, Jilpa couldn't stop teasing Rivaan, alternating between laughter and exaggerated romantic impressions. Despite the embarrassment, Rivaan couldn't help but smile, Aiyaana's words replaying in his mind.

THANK YOU FOR READING

TO BE COUNTED