Chapter 03 - Barwa Sapera - II

The old man looked Raahi straight in the eyes and started to get up from his lotus position.

"hee, hee, hee. Do not go back on your words now that you said them."

With a creeping smile, that old man started to walk where Raahi came from. Raahi simply followed him without leading the way. Raahi knew that this was his first-time visit to his mansion, yet he walked like he know his way and headed straight to where Saara was sleeping.

Gaurav, after informing the orders of Raahi was guarding the room where Saara was sleeping. He was worried about what was happening between them but wouldn't leave the place. He noticed the way that led to the stairway and found that Raahi was walking there. He let out a sigh of relief and took a few more steps forward until he noticed another man walking in front of Raahi. When Gaurav found out who was walking in front of Raahi, he felt nothing. He was confused that even though that old man was walking in front of Raahi, it seems like he barely exists or his eyes don't even acknowledge an existence like him.

When both the old man and Raahi were in front of Saara's room, he gave a nod and spoke to that old man.

"I have a condition"

That old man looked at Raahi without changing his serious expression.

"Do tell"

"Wait"

With that, Raahi went to the next room and brought a Talwar, a one-handed sword that had curved in the middle and a pump action shotgun. He gave the shotgun to Gaurav and held the Talwar in his right hand.

"You aren't allowed to speak a single word inside the room until I gave permission. You will maintain a distance of 3.5 meters from the bed. You are not allowed to make any sudden moments. Whatever you do, you will explain it to me first. If I got the slightest suspicion of you are doing something that can harm her or break any of those conditions, you'll be shot to death after getting your throat cut"

"hee, hee, let it be as you say."

That serious face of that old man changed and made a small smile. There were still maids in the room, so Gaurav entered first and made them leave. All the 3 maids were worried when they saw Gaurav entering the room with a shotgun, but they still left the room without asking anything.

When that old man entered and started walking for a few steps, Raahi followed him until his cold voice stopped him.

"That's it. Now heal her"

That old man only took a few steps and there is still a distance of another 6 steps to reach the bed. Every second spent was causing Raahi's guard to rise. That old man sighed and looked at Raahi before speaking.

"Worry nor child. I assure you that no harm will come to her"

Those words went to deaf ears as Raahi raised his sword and placed it near that old man's neck so that he can cut it at a moment's notice.

"I can't heal her if I cannot see her face at least"

Raahi stared at the old man and signalled Gaurav to move forward. When Gaurav stood near the bed, Raahi let that old man take a few steps.

The old man didn't rise his objection and simply lifted his staff to a horizontal position. He closed his eyes and began to murmur some words until,

"Stop! What are you doing?"

Until Raahi's voice disturbed his spell-casting. A frown appeared on that old man's head and disappeared as soon as it formed. His serious face also changed to clear displeasure. But still, 'there was a sword placed on his neck and a gun pointed at his heart. Yet he shows no fear. Something is wrong here.' That's what Raahi thought at the moment.

The old man was silent for a while and lowered his staff and started speaking without turning back.

"I am casting a spell that I know. It will restore her energy to a certain limit."

"You said you would save her. This isn't saving"

Raahi spat out those lines behind him with disgust. His sword touched the skin of that old man.

"It's a temporary measure. No matter how many miracles I make, I am but a mere mortal with so little power."

His voice sounded a little apologetic, but he didn't stop.

"If you keep your word to me and get me what I want, I can completely heal her and make her like she never suffered before"

This made Raahi look in a new picture. He thought for a while and told that old man to continue. His sword also lowered but never left.

That old man again raised his staff and started to chant a spell in low voice and waited for a while. Maybe he thought that Raahi would disturb him again and would demand to explain the spells he used but he didn't make a single sound.

That old man's staff started to glow at the end where it was wrapped in cloth. Soon, blue sparkles started to fall like a meteor shower. That sparkle travelled to Saara and disappeared. That old man lowered his staff and told that it is succeeded. But Saara's condition didn't change in the slightest. Looking at her drops of sweat formed on Raahi's forehead. Without speaking, he raised his sword and prepared to cut that old man's throat.

"Young miss!"

That is until Gaurav's voice sounded in the room. When Raahi looked at his side, his sword dropped.

"Saara!!!"

With a shout, he jolted forward and hugged her in a thigh embrace. Saara, who opened her eyes and sat up straight, held a look of surprise. There was clear light in her eyes and a simple glow on her face, apparently different from when she was in the hospital.

"Yes, yes? What happened? Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Fine, everything is fine."

Raahi, overcome with joy didn't notice that old man leaving the room.

***

"I don't trust you completely, but I'll believe you this time. Until it's over."

Raahi was sitting on the large sofa in the living room. Unlike before, that old man was now sitting in from of him across the table. He still had that serious expression, devoid of any feelings. But when he heard Raahi, a creepy smile broke out that showed his teeth.

"Yes yes, child. Yes." *haaaaaaa*

He exclaimed like he was truly enjoying. A feeling of clear anticipation showed on his face. He continued.

"Ohhh, how long I waited for this, you hear, finally!"

Raahi just watched him. Not bothered by his behaviour. He was half satisfied. Now Saara can give birth to a healthy boy without much problem and a great deal of worries were lifted by how energetic Saara seemed. He was now planning how to use the man in front of him. He didn't believe in miracles. He knew everything has a logic behind it and he has to pay the price for it.

"So, what do you want?"

"I just need one thing child, just one,.. little…. 'thing'"

"I know, I know. But first, tell me your name"

"You can call me 'Sage' child. Names are meaning less for me"

The suspicion held by Raahi raised a few meters now.

'he clearly denied sharing his name' 

"It's meaning less to you but not to me. I want to know so that we can move forward. The decision is yours"

With that, he closed all the out for that 'Sage'.

"I hear, hmm."

With that, he closed his eyes and bend his head. Raahi wondered what he is up to but before any thought came to his brain, he heard him speak in a cold voice.

"Barwa Sapera"

Without letting Raahi speak, he continued with a cold voice and an ere tension filling the air around them.

"But you can call me Sage"

Bewildered, Raahi spoke before bending his back a little in a businesslike way,

"So, what do you want from me?"

All the tension in the air, the coldness in the Sage, everything disappeared. Even the serious face he maintained, everything. Also a total 360-degree turn in Sage's personality. He even imitated Raahi before speaking with a large grin on his face.

"With the help of you and your former six friends, I need you to kill a reaaaalllllyyy powerful snake and bring me a little crystal he carries."