Chapter- 48

Shashi turned facing his mom being held by the hideous Vanya's husband, he charged at him but that monster dodged him and Shashi fell on his face, he rose and charged at him again but again he missed the aim and he fell hard.

Hrida was reminded of the scene where she witnessed Vanya's husband almost killing his wife just because of a mere ego issue, her breath choked in her throat, she couldn't risk Shashi's mom's life in danger because of her. She observed how Shashi was trying to tackle Vanya's husband but that hideous uncle is a swift trickster.

Navya and Lakshman weren't able to pass through the barrier for some odd reason, a few police officer groups gathered at the scene, and all of them tried to push through the layer but they couldn't.

Meanwhile, Hrida purposefully diverts their attention towards her, and mutters with a demanding tone, " Moth-, I mean, Mrs. Chand, why are you targeting others, when you have a problem with me?

Ohh..Now I realize, you are afraid that your powers or these shadow minion's influence won't work on me.

Fair enough, it's nice to know that you don't have the dare to attack me directly and not use some old villain trick, you know."

The whole environment stills, and there is a long pause, before those shadow puppets burst into laughter, which confused her a bit, she pretended she wasn't affected but she was afraid of their answer now but she didn't forget the intent behind this act of hers.

Silently, she gestured to Shashi through her eyes to drag his mom away from his side while those Shawmys were busy mocking her for unknown reasons. Shashi understood her hint, he stealthily sneaked behind Vanya's husband but he was fast enough to dodge his attack and fell on his face again, his head hit a small sharp stone inflicting a small deep scratch on his head, and his head bled a little.

Hrida shouted his name as she noticed blood on his forehead, she rushed to his side, closely observing his wound, Shashi would have blushed at this proximity but his gaze was fixed on his mom.

Hrida held his hand bringing his attention back to her, she whispered under her breath, audible only to him," Shashi, nothing would happen to Shashi's mom. I won't let that monster hurt her. Listen, we need to quickly plan something to safely take out aunty from these sticky shadows. Hmm. What can we do? At the moment, I can think of only one thing, which is a bit reckless but it might work.

Listen, I would smack Vanya didi's husband with something heavy weighted object and this would make him lose his vision for a moment, then you need to take her to a safe place and then we deal with them.

And, you have to be fast as a bullet train when I tackle that egoistic uncle. Understood?"

Shashi nodded, she remarked how his face held a serious expression, a rigidness in his lips, worry swirling in his eyes, she had never seen him wear a serious and stern face and this disturbed her mind because she knew he was afraid of what that merciless kidnapper can do to his mom.

Hrida mumbles under her breath with a warm tone, " I promise no harm would be done to Aunty, I assure you with my life."

Before they could act out their plan, she heard her mother calling out her name and announced with a mocking tone," Oh Wild girl, think about your safety first because the dolls that get rejected or worn out, are disposed of for other use, which I will show you, my not-so-pretty doll.

And, your loved ones especially dear ones would pay huge debt because of their bond with you. Poor them!

Oh! I HAVE ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR YOU, ENJOY! "

She snapped her fingers again, and Soma plunged into the scene under the demonic presence of Divit, who didn't look familiar to Hrida anymore.

Hrida was upset by Divit surrendering to the shadow minion's influence but she also knew that he must have been manipulated by using his weak points but she won't let him hurt his friend either.

Shashi rushed towards Soma, but his movement halted when felt being held back by Hrida, she asked him to wait for a bit more time as they needed to save both Soma and his mom at the same time.

They heard a loud groan, they faced the front and found Soma pinned under Divit's large foot, he was trying to crush him beneath him. 

Hrida announces with a dominating tone, " Divit! Your friend Hrida is here.

Won't you greet me with a hug? Come and hug me! "

Shashi refuses to let her hug that possessive boy but she shushed him down. Divit's focus and grip weaken at her call, he finds himself pacing towards her but a scream brings back his attention to Soma.

Divit returns to his position locking Soma underneath his feet while Soma helplessly suffers. Soma's mom's scream broke him out of a trance, Soma's mom bumped continuously into the layer to break through, but nothing happened, she just kept tiring herself out, her vision looked weary, tears streaks running through her eyes.

Lakshman holds back Soma's mom from hurting herself by harshly colliding against the tough layer, she calls out Soma's name, asking them to release her with a vulnerable tone.                Navya consoles Soma's mom and asks her to keep her faith and be assured that Soma is safe till Hrida and Shashi are there for him. Lakshman hands Soma's mom to her and asks her to hold her tight and not let go of her even if she hits, scolds, or does anything, Navya nods her head immediately.

Lakshman ponders in depth and something sparkles in his eyes, perhaps the short explosion of hope scattering everywhere in his mind, he assigned the present officer groups with them to bring unaffected civilians from their nearby colony homes to the current location after explaining the plan to the civilians and if present in their home, ask them to bring Bluetooth speakers, speakers, etc. along with them.

Each group of officers divided themselves into every colony near the location, meanwhile, Lakshman and other police officers fired the dart guns towards the Shawmys but somehow the dart gun fired back in their direction, the officers dodged out of the way and thankfully no one got fainted.

Hrida saw how the darts got fired back at the police officers when the dart arrow came in contact with the layer. Hrida's brow creased, forming a dense mood of anxiety on her forehead, she couldn't ignore the fact that the shield had gotten stronger than before, if not done anything soon, then terrible nightmares might touch Shashi's mom, Shashi, and Soma first, which she can't bear to see.

Mere thinking of this uncertainness is killing her inside, each cell fighting to keep up the hope of light blooming within. She looked at her side, Shashi's face looked stiff as a statue, conflicted as a whirlpool, fiery as hot magma, and helpless as a wilting flower and the most devastating emotion on his face was fear of losing his mom forever.

Hrida could hear his inaudible loud whimpers, his pain, she just wanted to shield him from all this ugliness and she would. She tugged Shashi's sleeve, Shashi stared at her with hopelessness, which almost made her hiss but she kept her walls from crumbling because before her walls were destroyed, she would escort all her people out and if possible, save herself as well.

She gestured to him through her eyes to enact the new plan that they made a few minutes ago. Shashi nods his head in agreement. Hrida's eyes searched for a heavy object to use, she luckily noticed a shovel soaked in the wet soil, whereas Shashi located Divit's posture, thinking of ways to attack him, and both of them spontaneously enacted their plan.

Hrida picked up the shovel, and bolted in the direction of Vanya's husband, her hands raised in the air, with a roar, smacked the shovel upon his back head. He growled loudly, his grip loosened, Hrida taking advantage of the moment, she pushed Shashi's mom away from these shady people, and made her sit on her house's garden bench.

She hugged her with relief in her heart, and she whispered in her ear with a heavy tone, " Aunty, I was afraid for you, and Shashi, he was devastated when he saw you trapped in his arms. I had never seen that expression on his face until now.

Aunty…..I am afraid that Shashi might get badly hurt because of me, he...I can't even imagine...I am sorry. Because of me, you had to go through all this but still being selfish, I am actually grateful that I have you both in my life and now more people have entered my circle of loved ones.

It's good though but I feel guilty that they are being targeted just because you all are connected with me. 

Silly me.Tchh..It's not the time to raise the pity party campaign. But still, I have one thing to say to you, you wouldn't lose your son. I promise you that neither of my loved ones will be hurt. Soma needs me as well, so I need to go.

Aunty, although I can't break the barrier to send you to a safe place and I feel this place would be safe, this bench holds memories of good emotions and those shadows can't touch you because I have already tied my red thread of protection on your wrist. See!

However, in case you want to help yourself or anyone else, here have this shovel. Be safe."

Shashi's mom is touched by her willingness to defend her loved ones even when she is the one who is wounded the most, she cheers with an encouraging tone, " Hrida, I believe you, remember that. Please, be safe, beta."

She mumbled under her breath while looking at Shashi from a distance, " Beta, you chose yourself a good person to share your life with. Shashi, please protect Hrida and Soma, they need you."

In the meantime, Shashi tackled Divit to the ground despite his strong muscles, he pinned him and punched him relentlessly, his eyes blinded with wrath for hurting his family, especially Hrida.

He rambles under his breath, " How dare you! how..how could you..Hrida considers you as a friend, she even brought you out of despair without caring about her wounds despite you hurt Tapish and her.

Don't you have a heart?

Just go away, you shadow master. I know you are listening and seeing everything right now, I bet you are enjoying this. 

Since you are listening, let me tell you, Hrida would never choose you over us, she would never be your dark light because she is the heart itself and the heart doesn't have shadows to carry cause it is transparent.

I am ready to defeat you for once and all, but not alone, with the power of unity, we will make you taste the defeat."

Soma felt his body aching from head to toe, still, somehow he suddenly felt like a heavy weight had been lifted, he rotated his head around and absorbed the situation that he was also in. He discovered Shashi wrestling Divit to the ground and punching him countless times, he then regained his memory of how he got here, his eyes searched for Hrida, and he found her alongside Shashi's mom, who appeared tired and a bit wounded.

He tried to get up but then he felt an immense pain from moving an inch of his body, yet he tried and finally, he stood and heard his mom's cry, he rushed towards her despite every twitch in his body he felt as he sprinted towards his mom.

Before he could collide through the barrier, Kali- Inner Demon King pounced on his shoulder, his knees gave up, and he felt like his soul was being torn apart from the inside, he let out a scream, and the whole surrounding became still.

Hrida gasps covering her mouth in horror, Shashi worryingly looks over his friend, Soma's mom escaped from Navya's grip and bangs against the layer, the layer didn't faze a bit, instead Soma's mom is hit with a current of high voltage, causing her to numb down and fell helpless against the ground, she whimpers with heart-aching tone, " My SON! Shashi, save him. Hrida, please save him. He..he is being tortured and I feel my soul being torn inside. Please someone do something. MY…..myyy….sson *sobs* "