LOVE AND BATTLE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3 :

Reminiscing about the earlier dream, Saanvi found herself drawn back to the voice of the man. With fear in her eyes, she answered,“Ravali! You won’t believe this, but I heard a strange voice reprimanding me to leave him alone. I was frightened because it felt so real, like my heart was filled with anguish, as if my soul was leaving my body. What do you think happened?” Her words carried both astonishment and puzzlement.

Noticing the fear and puzzlement in her eyes, Ravali chuckled and teased,“Being an educated woman, you fear silly dreams? Sometimes dreams can feel very real. Maybe you dreamt this in the early morning, which caused your fear”.

“Was it really just a dream? It felt so real. Oh my god, I couldn't bear the anguish, it was as if his words were slicing my heart. Thank goodness”, Saanvi said, heaving a sigh of relief as she began to relax.

Glancing at Saanvi’s relaxed face, Ravali teased once again, “Saanvi! Did you see your charming prince in your dreams? You’re worrying as if it really happened,” she said playfully.

Blushing at her comment, Saanvi tried to bypass the teasing and reprimanded,“This is not the time for jokes. Come on, let’s go confront Rudrendra. Wait for me a moment”, leaving Ravali behind, Saanvi hurried into the washroom to get ready.

After a few moments, they both found themselves standing in front of Rudrendra’s house, prepared to confront him about the recent incidents where Rudrendra himself had appeared before the gathered members surrounding his house.

“Everyone, please stay calm for a moment. Let me speak”, Rudrendra initiated, pleading for silence from the gathered crowd. He continued,“I feel deeply sorry for the parents who have lost their children. Please believe me, I am doing everything possible to find the culprit. Unfortunately, we haven't found any evidence or leads to locate the culprit or the missing children. Please give me some more time to uncover the real culprit. I assure you, they will face the consequences of their actions”, his voice laced with unwavering determination.

“How long should we wait, Sir? Do you want to see more kids go missing from this town? Why don’t you arrange for a special security force to guard the town, especially in the evenings? You can’t give lame excuses after losing three children. Can you even comprehend the torment their parents are enduring? If you don't take immediate action, I will go and inform the police about this matter”, spoke Saanvi, her words laced with confidence and unwavering determination.

Hearing the familiar voice that always confronted him for justice on behalf of the suffering victims, Rudrendra heaved a sigh of frustration and turned his head toward the direction of Saanvi. She stood erect and confident, challenging him to take action immediately.

“Saanvi! You are well aware of our town's restrictions. The police have not been allowed into our premises for decades. I understand the turmoil the victims' parents are enduring, but I am doing my best to find the culprit. I will arrange a squad, as you suggested, to guard the town 24/7. If we still encounter any missing cases, we will consider approaching the police, even if it means crossing our restrictions for the sake of the children. Is everyone okay with this decision?”, stated Rudrendra with a calm expression, attempting to persuade the people.

Saanvi glanced at the crowd, awaiting their reply, and saw them nodding their heads in agreement. They responded in unison, "Yes, Sir! We accept this. Try to find the culprit as soon as possible," and dispersed from there on Rudrendra’s instructions.

Once the public departed, Rudrendra shifted his attention to Saanvi and inquired,“Teacher! Are you satisfied with my decision? Don't delve into the matter unnecessarily. I will handle this seriously and catch the culprit as soon as possible. Please inform the students in your class to be careful and not to roam alone in the streets. Explain it to them in a way they can understand. I trust your ability in handling children”, he suggested, offering a warm smile.

Satisfied with his decision, Saanvi nodded, reciprocating his smile, and thanked him, saying,“Thank you very much, sir! I appreciate your efforts, but we must work quickly to find the culprit. We don’t know how long this will continue or how many more children we will lose. My fear drove me to speak so seriously and demand protection. I apologize if I hurt you. I will take my leave now; it’s time for school”, she said, her words laced with respect and humility.

Bidding farewell to Rudrendra, Saanvi was about to leave from the place along with Ravali but feeling some intense gaze upon her, she looked at the surroundings and found Gajendra, only son of Rudrendra, watching her with lust filled eyes. Feeling disgusted by his stare, averted her gaze with palpable irritation on her face before quickly departing for school.

Rudrendra continued to gaze at Saanvi's departing figure, his fury simmering like lava within. Despite his cruelty and viciousness, he managed to project a facade of kindness and ethical uprightness to the townspeople.. Saanvi's interference with his ambition to achieve global supremacy troubled him deeply; he knew she would stop at nothing to safeguard the kids. Resolved to monitor her until he finished his last two offerings to the goddess, he felt a sense of relief upon reaching this decision before returning home.

On their way, Ravali and Saanvi parted ways, with Saanvi heading towards the school where she worked. She was almost there when someone blocked her path. Startled, Saanvi took a step back and lifted her head, only to find Gajendra standing in her way with a sinister smile.

“Hey beautiful! Trying to escape from me?”, exclaimed Gajendra, advancing towards her.

Saanvi moved back, stumbling on her feet and nearly falling to the ground. Before she could hit the ground, Gajendra's strong hands swiftly pulled her back, holding her around the waist. Disgusted by his touch, Saanvi pushed him away and steadied herself by taking two steps back.

“Gaja! Don't test my patience. My respect for your father is the only thing stopping me from taking action against you. Don't make me do something that could ruin your father's reputation”, warned Saanvi, her words laced with threat.

With a smug smile, Gajendra replied,“Nothing can stop me until I get you. How long can you escape from me?” He reached for her again, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a small girl's voice.

“Teacher …!”, called out a small girl who was in a school uniform.

Saanvi abruptly moved away from Gajendra and approached the girl. The girl inquired,“Teacher! Are you coming to school? Come, let's go”, and offered a charming smile.

Saanvi held the little girl's tiny finger and, without looking back, headed towards the school, leaving Gajendra behind. Gajendra glanced at her retreating figure and, with a sinister smile, muttered to himself.

“How far can you go, Saanvi? If not today, then tomorrow, I will surely get you in my bed. I will not leave you”, with a wicked grin, Gajendra left the place.

At school, Saanvi gathered all the little kids and gently warned them not to venture out alone and to stay safe at home after leaving school for the next few days. She also shared some clever tips on how to escape if they ever found themselves in a tricky situation. Understanding that the children were very young, Saanvi took her time, weaving her warnings into captivating stories to help them grasp the potential dangers without scaring them too much.

The next few days passed in the blink of an eye, with no incidents occurring, much to the relief of the townspeople. The squad maintained a vigilant 24/7 guard, ensuring the safety and security of the town's surroundings and boundaries, bringing a sense of calm and peace to everyone.

Unsatisfied with the arrangements for security and safety, Saanvi sought answers through various means. She investigated whether the parents of the missing children had any enemies, but to her dismay, she found that all of them were kind-hearted individuals who always helped the townspeople whenever needed. Unable to comprehend what had happened to the children, whose bodies had not been found even after so many days, a feeling of dread overcame her. Determined to delve deeper into the mystery, she approached Ravali to discuss her innermost thoughts and explore different avenues of investigation.

Saanvi sat with Ravali discussing the troubling matter of the disappearing children, a wave of realization struck her like a thunderstorm. Terrified by her thoughts, she quickly ran to gather a calendar, checking the dates of the days the children had vanished. Upon confirming her suspicion, she looked at Ravali, her eyes filled with dread.

“Saanvi! What's wrong? Did you find anything?”, inquired Ravali, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Terrified by her suspicions, Sarayu ran to the main door and closed it tightly. She then ushered Ravali into her bedroom, shutting all the doors before guiding her to sit on the bed. Sitting beside her, Sarayu glanced at the calendar once more to confirm her fears.

Noticing the fear on Saanvi’s face, Ravali asked with concern, “Saanvi! Don’t be frightened. What’s wrong? Share with me”, her voice laced with empathy.

Shifting her attention to Ravali, Saanvi explained her assumptions, saying,“Ravali! The three kids disappeared consecutively over the past three months. Each time, it was a no-moon day. All three vanished on the same day”, her voice quivering with fear.

Gasping in surprise, Ravali covered her mouth with her palm and gaped at Saanvi in astonishment. Unable to believe what she was hearing, she inquired,“Saanvi! What are you saying? What do you mean by this?” Her words carried a sense of uncertainty and concern.

Lowering her voice, Saanvi explained, "Ravali, all three girls were of the same age. Their clothes were found near the nearby forest, but their bodies were never recovered. And it all happened on a no-moon day. I feel like it's related to some kind of black magic," making sure her words were audible only to Ravali.

Suddenly, they heard the rustling sound of the trees, roaring like thunder, leaving the two girls in fright. Startled by the sudden change in the atmosphere, they hugged each other tightly and fell silent, their breathing the only sound to be heard.