19. Hallucination?

Beneath a canopy of twinkling fairy lights, Aditi and Arjun were seated at an intimate table draped with an ivory linen cloth. The private terrace provided a stunning view of a serene city skyline, where distant lights shimmered like stars that had descended to earth. A soft melody from a live violinist wafted through the crisp night air, establishing a tender and romantic ambiance.

The table was elegantly adorned with a centerpiece of blush-pink roses and flickering candles, their gentle glow mirroring the warmth in their eyes. Arjun, attired in a tailored suit, leaned in with a charming smile, while Aditi, radiant in an exquisite evening gown, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her laughter sparkling like champagne bubbles.

The culinary delights were as remarkable as the enchanting setting—a rich butternut squash soup infused with truffle oil, a perfectly seared filet mignon paired with red wine for Arjun, and a delicately herb-crusted salmon for Aditi, complemented by a bottle of chilled rosé. As they relished their meal, they exchanged soft whispers and inside jokes, their connection deepening with each smile and lingering gaze. 

"Did you organize all of this for me?" Aditi asked, her smile brightening. 

"Indeed," he responded. 

"Why?" 

"I wanted to give you a gift," Arjun replied, gently clinking his wine glass against the table. 

"I genuinely appreciate it. But if this is merely an attempt to soften the impact of my impending death, please don't." 

Arjun lifted his gaze to meet hers. 

"Can you momentarily set aside those thoughts of death?" he said, his voice laced with frustration. 

"This is all I can think about..." At that moment, she noticed a distortion. As Arjun stopped talking, Arjun suddenly flickered like a glitch in reality. In an instant, he disappeared—his chair now vacant, his talk abruptly silenced. Aditi felt a wave of panic wash over her as she scanned the restaurant, but no one else seemed to notice. Then, her gaze fell upon the table, where a note written in black ink read: 

"Character doesn't belong in to this world."

She was engulfed in sheer terror. What was happening? Where was Arjun?

In that instant, the chaos around her subsided, and she saw Arjun seated just as he had been two minutes prior. Staring at him in disbelief, she found it difficult to grasp the reality of what had just occurred.

Observing her bewildered expression, Arjun softly tapped her on the shoulder.

"What's wrong? Is everything alright?" he inquired.

"Yes, everything is fine," she responded, not wishing to alarm him.

"It must be hallucinations. This cannot be real. Perhaps it is a side effect of my heart condition. Yet, I have never encountered such vivid hallucinations before... it felt too authentic," she reflected internally.

"Aditi! Aditi!"

The sound of Arjun calling her name jolted her back to the present.

"Are you alright?" he asked with concern.

"Yes. Actually, I would like to go home and rest. Please take me home; I no longer wish to be here."

"What happened so suddenly? Are you feeling unwell? Should we go to the hospital?" he pressed.

"No, I'm truly sorry. I've ruined everything. I didn't intend to disappoint you, but I genuinely want to go home. Please take me home," she pleaded.

Despite his confusion, Arjun recognized her distress and agreed to take her home.

Throughout the diner, Arjun maintained a watchful eye. He was acutely aware that Aditi's abductor was lurking within the restaurant. However, he found himself perplexed by the kidnapper's decision to refrain from seizing her in plain view. Could it be that his constant presence beside her deterred the kidnapper? This idea did not sit well with Arjun. Both prior kidnapping attempts had taken place under the cover of darkness, and the sun was still shining brightly.

It was conceivable that the kidnapper was only capable of executing his plans at night, which might account for his current hesitance. Arjun endeavored to piece together the unfolding situation, but his thoughts were interrupted by Aditi's firm grip on his hand. She held on tightly, clearly unwilling to release him. He could only speculate about the terror she must be experiencing, yet he deemed it inappropriate to ask her about it at that moment, as she was already in a heightened state of anxiety. 

They were about to leave when suddenly the manager who greeted them earlier stopped them.

"Where is the money? Are you truly going to walk away just like that?" the manager shouted, his voice laced with fury. 

"Do not speak to me in such a tone. The payment has already been processed. I have made a payment that is double the required amount," was the reply. 

At that moment, a man clad in a waiter's uniform hurried towards them, yelling, "Run! Run!" 

"Everyone in this hotel has completely lost their senses," 

Just then, Arjun spotted a group of people, most of whom were dressed in hotel uniforms, indicating they were staff members. They began to dash towards Arjun and Aditi, chanting in Suryagarhi: "Hridya Avadhut!" which means "Go get her heart!" 

In that instant, Arjun took hold of Aditi's hand and bolted, as if his very life depended on it. It was at that nery moment that he understood that the kidnapper who wanted Aditi was also from SuryaGarh, the book realm whose author is Aditi.

They both hurriedly entered a car. As Arjun glanced back, he noticed a throng of people rushing towards them, all chanting in unison: "Go get her heart" in SuryaGarhi. This could only signify one thing—the kidnapper was after Aditi's heart. What could he possibly intend to do with it?

"I don't understand. Why are they coming towards us?" Aditi asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. He pulled her closer to him. 

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright," he reassured her.

He rolled down the car window. 

"Could you please close your eyes for a moment?" he requested Aditi.

"Why?" she inquired.

"Just trust me this time. Please, listen to me!" 

"Alright," she replied, meeting his gaze. He had always been her protector, and she had complete faith in him. With that, she shut her eyes.

At that moment, he extended his hand out of the window and snapped his fingers, igniting flames that engulfed the entire road behind them. The crowd that had been advancing towards them was consumed by the fire, along with all the vehicles on the road—everything was reduced to ashes.

"I apologize," he murmured, gazing at Aditi's closed eyes. Suddenly, a car erupted in flames behind them, accompanied by a deafening noise. 

"Arjun! What is going on? Can I open my eyes?" 

"No. Please don't. You trust me, don't you? Just keep them closed." 

"I trust you, Arjun!" 

This marked the first instance in which Arjun's abilities manifested in the real world. He had previously believed that his inability to wield his powers was due to his sword, but now he realized he needed a purpose to unleash his true potential. That purpose was clear: to protect Aditi, his master and creator.

He carried the heavy weight of his power, a force that, when unleashed, led to widespread destruction. He had only resorted to its use on two distinct occasions: the first instance was driven by a desire for retribution against those who had disrespected him and caused harm to Leela, the woman he once cherished. The second occasion occurred during a legal confrontation with Prince Yashomitra. Despite these instances, he had never experienced any feelings of regret for exercising his power. However, in this particular moment, he found himself grappling with guilt for the first time. This newfound sense of remorse may have stemmed from the realization that if Aditi were to discover that the deaths of all those hastening towards her were a direct result of his actions, she would be unable to forgive him.