Chapter 18

         [ Luminous] (n); radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.

                            Asha

I love the smell of cardamom tea so much that it helps to calm me even before I drink it. Pouring the tea into my mug, I went to sit on the sofa and drink tea in silence. As everyone is still sleeping.

No matter how much I fight, I kept thinking about the nightmare. I guess I will need more tea to soothe my emotions.

" You should be sleeping I was having fun," Nina jumped on the sofa in front of me as she mumble, confusing me with her words. It took me a while.

" You gave me the nightmare," I accused her to which she smiled wickedly.

" Don't you ever do that again otherwise you will pay," I warned her but she laugh.

" You promised that you won't use your powers on me," She mumbled in happiness.

" I promise not to use my memory power," I pointed out making her realise then I used my blood power to freeze her and strangle her a bit.

Instead of regret, I felt satisfaction and pain that forced me to stop using my power quicker than I thought.

" You are sick, Nina," I exclaimed in shock to see that side of my sister.

" Tell me something I don't know, Asha," She said while coughing.

" You shouldn't have given me the worse nightmare, Nina," I declare holding my mug tightly bearing the heat of the tea which doesn't match my rage.

" You shouldn't have called me a fool," She snapped back.

" Just because I called you fool, you traumatised me, Nina. I will make you pay for it," I announced making her smirk,

" Do your best then," She muttered and went to her room which she shares with Yasmin.

Astra started to growl in fury giving me an intense headache.

" Give me the control and I will rip that smile off her face!" Astra Barkly-growl.

" She will attack back. I know a way which will make her stop bothering us at once," I said and took a sip from my tea.

" What is it?" Astra asked.

" It's not what but who," I mumbled and then shared my plan with Astra who then purrs being satisfied with the plan.

" So, Luv, Khush, Rohan, and Roshini will go to Guru Ji at night. Haniya and Yasmin will go in the evening. Already they have the plan to visit Nina's showroom to try on their dresses," I told the plan to Disha who hummed as her mouth was full of biryani.

" Asha, when are you going to eat biryani? It's better to eat when it's hot," Dadi muttered as she passed by Disha and me.

" I am going to make something else for me to eat, Dadi," I said and she walked to her room.

" I am fed up with biryani, " I whined to Disha.

" I know right, we have been eating biryani for two days. So what are you going to make?" She asked.

" Mug pizza," I answered and then I went to the kitchen to make my lunch.

" Amma, what's the plan for today?" I asked Amma as she came inside the kitchen dressed up.

" Seher, Meher, Ma and I are going to the parlour. Your Papa and Chachas have an important meeting to attend. So Disha and you have to look after the children," She answers in Tamil before filling her glass with water.

This is the perfect opportunity to act on my plan as it will take hours for the meeting and parlour. And Disha can take care of the teenagers.

Disha didn't have any problem looking over the teenagers as they aren't really little for babysitting. She took them to the mall. As I told her I wanted privacy and the best place to keep teenagers was the mall.

Placing my hand on the mirror and looking at my phone screen. It was a page from a soft copy of witchcraft. The magic spell is written in Sanskrit as it's the oldest language and inspired many European languages which was shocking information for me.

"अहम् अस्य तत्त्वस्य माध्यमेन यात्रां करोमि। यत्र अहं इच्छामि तत्र मां नयतु" I chanted the spell.

Translation; Let me travel through this element. Take me where I desire

My hand went through the mirror as if it was water. The coldness of the mirror ran through my whole body causing me to shiver.

" Oh my god," I gasped and slowly walk through the mirror. Walking through the mirror it was like a being underwater. The moment I come out of the mirror I was in my room in Mumbai.

" I will use this spell more often," I squealed in excitement.

I search my entire room looking for my car key. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I thought hard about where my key is.

" Try finding it in your parent's room. Your Mom told you she will be keeping important things in her wardrobe," Astra barks.

" Thanks, Astra," I said and went to my parent's room.

Growing up, my parents had few drawers where they kept all the important documents but they never let me or my siblings go through it. I am sure Amma kept the key in one of those drawers.

I walk inside my parent's walk-in closet and open the top drawer.

It was filled with files that I couldn't help but read them. The first file had financial statements on Papa's business then the second file had information on Papa's competitors.

The third file had information on the Malhotras, at least five pages had personal information on each of the members of the Malhotras. The pages on their business information on each of the businesses they own. Analysing these pieces of information I think they do a lot of tax avoidance. These types of people cause our country to never developed in the first place.

" Why does Papa have this much information on them?" I question myself.

Then I went through other files. It had information on Nina's business and the profits of her business are in billions.

" She is a freaking billionaire," I shouted out loud that causing the mirrors to crank.

She still uses my skin cares and makeup because saying she can't afford them. Turns out she is richer than me. And I still haven't made a billion. I took pictures of her financial details and send them to my brothers. Then messaged them not to tell Nina about this yet. Soon they message back sharing their shock as well. We made a deal not to buy anything for Nina until she buys every expensive thing we want.

Then I found the file which had a police complaint and reports on Nina's injuries and her mental state. According to one report, Nina has shares trials of a sociopath such as a lack of guilt, remorse and empathy. But then other reports cancel out the possibility of her being a sociopath.

" Thank God," I muttered.

At the end of the file, the page had information on the policemen in charge of Nina's cases. I clicked pictures of it so I can find out about him and maybe get any kind of information on the rapist.

After reading all the files, I open the second drawer which was filled with certificates and medical reports.

In the third drawer, I found my car key. As I took the key, I saw Papa's Porsche car key. So I took that instead and went out of the house. Looking at my watch, I realise I spend more than an hour reading the documents.

I called Disha,

" Hey, Asha," She answers sounding like her mouth is full.

" I need more time so can you manage to handle the teens for a bit longer?" I asked.

" Yeah, no problem. We are planning to watch a movie in the cinema here," She said.

" That's good. Have fun," I muttered opening Papa's car and I was about to cut the call when Disha said my name,

" What happened, Disha?" I asked starting the engine.

" If you don't mind telling me why you needed privacy. Are you on your period?" She asked.

" No, I wanted to try a magical ritual which worked. I am in Mumbai now," I announced smiling.

" What?" Disha exclaimed and then started to cough.

" Are you okay?" I question as I started to drive.

" I am shocked. How did you transport yourself?" She whispered.

" Through a mirror. It's so much easier to travel. I am going on a world tour with this spell," I talked excitingly.

" You have to teach me that," She ordered.

" I will," I promised.

" Okay, teens are coming I will talk to you later. Just message me when to come, "

" I will, bye," I then cut the call.

Because of the traffic, it took me half an hour to reach. I immediately regret the decision of taking Papa's car as people stare towards me or mostly at the car.

I chanted a protection spell on the car so nobody tries to break or steal it. I walk inside the Chawl which is like an apartment complex but for the lower middle class.

It was crowded with people as I walk up the stairs to the corridor and even outside Geeta's home.

After a few knocks, Geeta open the door looking fearful but her emotion was ten times over intense.

" Asha," Geeta blurted out in shock.

" I am sorry to come uninformed. But it's a really important matter," I said ignoring Astra snarling sensing danger because of Geeta's fear.

" Come inside," She spoke quickly while her fear kept increasing.

" Geeta, how is your mother? Is everything okay you look scared?" I asked once she closed the doors. While I ignored the smell of alcohol and smoke.

" She...She went to a friend's house to... visit and I don't think she will come for a few days. What's the important matter, Asha?" She asked. I could sense her heart beating faster than normal and her forehead started to sweat.

" I want you to come and tell my parents about Nina. She fired you because you accidentally spill coffee on her and then made sure no one hires you," I muttered walking to her and holding her hand.

" Please Geeta, you have to come. Nina isn't someone who quits without any reason. And my parents are the only people who can stop her," I pleaded to Geeta who stop breathing after listening to me.

" You have to breathe, Geeta," I point out making her realise.

Geeta nodded and quickly shook her head a bit fiercely.

" No! I can't go with you to Delhi, Asha," She spoke this time with fear dropping her nonchalant mask.

" Why are you scared? " I asked. Before Geeta could answer, the door knocked.

" Open the door!" A man shouted from the other side and Geeta immediately followed his order.

The smell of rogue alarmed Astra and I composed myself in a position to quick defence myself if he attacks me.

The rogue pushed Geeta to enter and paused in shock once he saw me. He gave me a recognised look while Geeta closed the door.

" Asha, he is one of my friends, Sunil," Geeta's expression revealed she lied as she introduce him to me.

Looking at him up and down, I can say he is a goon based on his clothes.

" Why are you here?" I commanded him which he immediately answer.

" Boss told me to look over her to make sure she doesn't ask for help,"

" How..." I interrupted Geeta saying,

" He is a dog who needs to be commanded to tell the truth, Geeta,"

Sunil snarled at me showing his canines which astonished Geeta and within a minute he stabbed her in the abdomen with his claws.

As Geeta fell to the ground, I released my claws and ran with the speed of a vampire to slice his throat. It took me a second to realise my action as he fell with blood pouring out of his throat.

" Asha...," A timid voice broke my focus on him and I quickly keen down holding Geeta's wound which was bleeding non-stop.

" Geeta, it's okay. I will call the ambulance," I said as I took my phone to call but she covered the screen with her hand.

" No... I am sorry. Nina was right...to fire me. I was helpless... They have my..." Geeta lost consciousness scaring me.

I shut my eyes tightly concentrating on my power. The chilling through my body spread making my claws extend more than normal. I kept one hand on her head while another on her abdomen.

As the air squeeze out of my lungs, I could feel a sensation going through my hand to claws that made me stab Geeta. The sight of a glowing wolf appeared covering Geeta's body. Then I heard a slight growl of a wolf. And slowly she was healing while I caressed her head feeling relieved she is alive.

" What was she saying before she lost consciousness?" Astra barked.

" She will tell us once she wakes," I muttered feeling dry throat.

" Look into her memories. She may not tell us the whole truth," Astra growls at me but I won't obey her.

" No" I announced in exhaustion.

Then I was pulled back and couldn't feel much of my body as Astra took control and looked into Geeta's memory.