(Chapter - 37)

  [True Face]

  Night settles in. It’s 8:30 PM. Mehaki stands in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water.

  Mehaki : *Granny and great-granny left for their home in the afternoon. I wish they'd stayed for a few more days.*

  She comes out, heading towards the stairs when she halts by the sound of knocking on the main door. Stepping closer to the door, she asks who it is — but no answer comes from the other side. She peers through the peephole — still no one.

  Mehaki : *I'm sure I heard knocking on the door.*

  Lost in thoughts and confusion, she turns around, only to be shocked to see Asroy behind her.

  Mehaki : Woahh!!

  His dark red eyes are tinted with an orange hue from beneath, his expression unreadable. Mehaki feels relieved that it's Asroy — not some weirdo or creep.

  Mehaki : Asroy!? *Though it’s a relief that it’s not some weird stranger… I almost thought Onol had followed me home.* Why are you here? How did you get in?

  She looks in the direction of the back door and instantly normalizes Asroy being here.

  Mehaki : Oh, I probably forgot to lock the back door, huh? Wait, I'll lock it well fir—

  She can’t even finish her sentence before Asroy blocks her path, slamming his hand against the wall beside her. Mehaki gets startled, with no idea why he's doing this.

  Mehaki : A-Asroy? What's wrong?

  She sees Asroy glaring down at her with half-lidded, expressionless eyes. A feeling of unease grips Mehaki.

  Mehaki : …Are you okay?

  Asroy : I am. But you won’t be, Anami.

  A chill runs down her spine hearing Asroy call her by ‘Anami’, which he was never supposed to. Asroy’s subtle smirk sends Mehaki spiraling into deeper confusion.

  Mehaki : What? What do you mean?

  Asroy : You won’t be okay, I meant.

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  Mehaki : Why are you calling me Anami?

  Asroy : Isn’t that who you are? The ‘Blessed girl’?

  Mehaki : !?

  Asroy : Let everyone know, so the one searching for you can finally come and get you in their grasp. Like as… My brother Obhoy.

  Asroy’s words shake her to the core, anxiety tightening around her chest. She notices his eyes seem a bit different than usual, his dark red eyes had never carried that orange glow before. Acting on instinct, Mehaki quickly slips beneath Asroy’s arm and moves away, her heart pounding — yet her gaze remains firm.

  Mehaki : What's wrong with you!? Have you gone crazy?

  Asroy : Nothing is wrong. I am who I am… And you are who you are, right? It's my job to make way for my brother who's searching hard for you.

  Mehaki : What the heck are you even saying?

  Asroy : I'm only saying what I should, Anami.

  Mehaki : Huh…? *What is happening? Why is he suddenly like this? He was all good until the last time we met!... Is this his true face?*

  Mehaki is left stunned, unable to gather words to take out her inner thoughts. Her heartbeat quickens, pounding so loudly it echoes in her ears. Asroy chuckles but his half-lidded eyes still show no expression.

  Asroy : Look at you, Anami. Your distressed eyes, full of shock, full of an uncertain fear… Imagine how satisfying it would feel for Obhoy when he sees it.

  Mehaki : You…

  Asroy : I know about you just enough to help my little brother. He’s been craving that power of yours. It's about time he finally gets it. He'll be very, very happy. Hahaha!

  A sharp sting pierces Mehaki’s heart — she never expected this kind of betrayal from Asroy. Her voice trembles as disgust flickers in her eyes.

  Mehaki : How could you… How could you do this!?

  Asroy : That’s what I’ve been here for, from the very beginning.

  Mehaki : You pretended to be trustworthy! You liar!

  Asroy : Oh, that was just to get close to you and earn your trust. I became your friend so I could make you lower your guard and do my work at the perfect time.

  Mehaki : Betrayer! You're not worthy of being called a friend!

  Asroy : Haha… I just wanted you. Your powers are too precious. Obhoy is eagerly waiting for me to take you to him.

  Mehaki : *Is this… Who Asroy really is? Did I make a mistake thinking he wasn't one of the wicked ones?... What do I do now? I'm… I'm scared. *

  Asroy : Now, Anami. See me for the last time, because I doubt Obhoy would let you see anyone once I hand you over to him.

  Mehaki : Asroy…

  Her voice falters, as a dark shadow falls over the slightest bit of hope she had until now. Her eyes scream of dejection from his betrayal. Unwavered, Asroy's expression remains the same.

  Asroy : ‘Asroy Onil Newaz’, Indeed.

  Asroy’s dark red eyes flare with that orange glow. His half-lidded eyes glare at Mehaki as if a predator is finally about to hunt down its prey. He summons a violent gust of wind with his powers that surrounds Mehaki. The wind is so fierce that even breathing becomes difficult. Her eyes grow bigger in panic.

  Mehaki : *I can't breathe!*

  Mehaki squeezes her eyes shut and turns around, to take a normal breath despite the wild wind trapping her. Asroy grabs one of her hands, pulls her close and covers her mouth from behind — so she won’t be able to scream or shout. An unsettling smile forms on his face. Struggling within his grip, Mehaki desperately calls out to the Ariya flower internally, since nothing else comes to her mind.

  Mehaki : *Ariya flower — My companion of rosy powers… Respond to me, for I call upon you! Please!*

  The Ariya flower tree in the backyard starts to glow immediately. Within seconds, the flower petals carried by pink lights surround Mehaki and form a rope, tying both of Asroy’s hands. The wind stops and Asroy is taken aback. The petal rope yanks him away from her. Catching a breath again, Mehaki looks at Asroy with subtle surprise. Asroy struggles, trying to free himself from the rope. Mehaki narrows her eyes at Asroy, with a feeling of dejection, hatred and relief. She mutters in a low voice.

  Mehaki : I can't believe you're like this, Asroy…

  She makes up her mind and shouts with determination, though her eyes are devastated.

  Mehaki : Get out of my house! Just go back where you came from… GET LOST!

  The petals cover up Asroy, teleporting him back to his room at Miraz Monjil in a flash of light. Then the flares around Mehaki also fade away slowly. She's still shivering. After a few seconds of standing there, she runs upstairs to her room, unable to grasp everything that just happened before her eyes. The betrayal, the shock from seeing the power of Ariya flower's magic that she used, the fear of what's going to happen in the near future… She can’t process any of it — not yet. Her heart is still racing from anxiety, tears gather in her eyes filled with dejection.

  The next morning, Asroy is squirming in bed from a headache. Tushar wakes him up.

  Tushar : Yo bro! We're gonna get late for school. Get up!

  Hearing his voice, Karu walks in their room. Tori peeks inside from the door to observe what's going on.

  Tori : *He's been having headaches every morning for the past few days.*

  Karu : You're still in bed, Asroy!?

  Asroy finally sits up and opens his dark red eyes — now completely normal. He touches his head in pain.

  Asroy : Ugh. My headache… Has gotten worse.

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