Strangely Familiar

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” - Mark Twain

“If you are here to advocate for my adoptive Mother,” her face twisted to sneer as she lurched forward while leaning against her revolving chair, gripping the table for support. “Walk yourself out.”

“At least listen to -”

“NO.”

Naina felt awful for yelling at her, but this was none of her business.

Tia bit her lips, her body leaning against the entrance. “I know you are angry. It’s understandable.”

Naina was a little taken aback at her soft mumbling. The girl never gets angry. She didn’t think it was even possible. Her eyes scanned the mixed expression evolving and disappearing on her face. It was like the words were imprinted in some alien language. Denying her ability to read faces, which she obviously lacks, she headed straight to the point, hoping to brush off the conversation.

“Thank you.”

Tia moistened her lips, reattempting, “If only you could speak to your mother once, you could -”

A sharp glare directed her way made her tumble upon her words. Tia pursed her lips, suddenly feeling the change in atmosphere. She walked steadily into the room and stood a good distance away from her.

In her honesty, Tia wasn’t advocating for anyone. She had gathered tidbits from Samraat, his adoptive mother, ancient books, and Mr. Rahil Kazmi, not to mention Ayaan’s mysterious facade and sudden revelation was unsettling. Quite frankly, it wasn’t enough to lay any conclusion. She may be soft-spoken, considerate, and understanding, but she wasn’t a fool. There were so many loopholes in the tales she heard far too many times, each narrating their own and none closer to the truth.

How is it possible for everyone to tell a different version of the same incident? She often questioned herself. Observing and analyzing the behavior and objective of the current residents in the house, she concluded that everyone has a secret agenda, and it could be possible that they may be fighting their own battle.

“I know you don’t want to talk right now but -”

“You are right. I don’t.” Naina cut in between her words, stopping her once more, her tone trailing on the verge of anger. The face of her Late father was still lingering in front of her eyes. Nothing could justify that. Nothing. “I don’t want to hear any more lies.”

“Please, just for once - ”

“Give it up already,” Naina shouted in frustration and instantly got up to punch the table, slamming her fist down with a random blow. “Damn it, Tia! Why do even care? This does not concern you. Stop interfering in things you do not know about.”

Tears welled up in Tia’s eyes as she blinked them off.

“I’m sorry!” Mumbling an apology, she walked to the window gazing at the West Wing through teary eyes.

Brilliant! Now I am the villain. Naina thought, rolling her eyes.

“Would you stop crying and leave me alone if I listened?” Naina negotiated, an ache reaching her forehead. “Only listening, no promises.”

Wiping the tears off her face, Tia turned around and nodded, wearing a tight smile. Clearly, she was upset but trying her best to hide it.

“Very well.”

“I just wanted to talk about Mrs. Patil’s sudden disappearance and appearance,” Tia stated.

“My adoptive parents were taken captive by Shaurya,” Naina responded. “Locked inside the circle of truth, she lied or deceived magic in some way and sacrificed my father for her freedom.”

“How are you so sure?”

Naina heaved a sigh in frustration. “I’ve read about ‘Circle of Truth’. The magic only feeds on truth. Easy language - if you speak the truth, no harm shall come to you. But she lied and asked to be free. Magic, unfortunately, obliged by her ancestry for some reason, responded to her and granted it for a price.”

Tia was listening intently. Naina, however, had no clue where the conversation was heading.

“You are trying to tell me that we can bend magic like we bend rules?” Tia asked curiously.

“No,” Naina denied straight away, feeling a throbbing pain inside her head. “It can never be compromised. It’s an absolute law.”

Tia’s face twisted in confusion. “I don’t understand. As per your words, your adoptive mother did bend magic. She lied and escaped, and your father paid its price.”

“Your point?”

“Don’t you see? If magic truly can’t be compromised, why did it let the culprit untouched, and killed an innocent?”

“Well -” Naina paused as the words registered inside her head. Flashes appeared in front of her eyes clearing her thoughts.

... magic comes from Magee...

... it does not take deception lightly...

... your adoptive mother gave you away for her and her family...

... her family...

... magic shall not be compromised...

The pain inside her head suddenly increased by ten folds and instinctively she fell to the floor, the revolving chair sprinting off in the other direction. Tia was quick on her foot as she tried to support her shoulder. Leaning beside her she murmured something that Naina couldn’t quite capture. The words roaming inside her head were far too dominant to retrieve anything else.

“Naina?”

She felt Tia jerk her shoulder to bring her back to sense. Sweat was rolling on the side of her face, as she started back in horror. Her lips suddenly felt dry.

“She is a liar.”

“And do you think Shaurya Lomhani is the truthful one?”

Choking on her own words, she swallowed audibly and managed to talk. “I need to see my adoptive mother right now.”

“Wait, right now? I don’t think this is the best time.” Tia spoke in haste.

“Excuse me.” Naina scowled slightly, “I listened to you -”

“But you didn’t let me finish.” Her tone overlapped hers in intensity and frequency. “Every coin has two sides. Don’t let your judgment cloud the truth.”

Storming impulsively, Naina stopped abruptly without turning around. “What are you trying to say?”

“No one likes to be the villain of their own story.”

Mrs. Shreeparna Patil was busy rummaging through her possessions. She was half down with her packing by the time Naina arrived in her room.

“Going somewhere?”

Without looking at the visitor, she responded evenly. “I am not wanted here anymore.”

Naina wanted to roll her eyes.

“In between the two of us, you can quit the act.”

“Act?” Shreeparna Patil yelped. Although the usual impact of her raised tone ceased with time. “You think this is an act?”

“I know what you did.”

Shreeparna Patil’s eyes faltered at the reference to their past. She looked the other way, refusing to look into her eyes that were full of anger, resentment, and betrayal.

“What?” She asked scornfully, “Now you can’t even look at me while speaking.”

Balancing the weight on her left foot, Naina waited for her adoptive mother to continue. However, the moment was lost somewhere as the two stood in complete silence.

“I should have left you at the orphanage.” Mrs. Patil spoke, her eyes were red with constant crying or anger, she could not tell. “That was my only mistake and I had to pay its price.”

Naina scoffed. “I know what you have done when I was just five. You tried to use my magic and when it refused to help you, you locked it. INSIDE MY MIND. How is that not a crime?”

“I see your magic is unlocked now. He never does anything for free. Tell me, Naina, what does he want from you?”

“Why do you care? It’s not like he put me through all the trouble.” Naina seethed out. “It’s not like he chose to kill my father.”

“STOP.”

Naina halted, sucking her breath all of a sudden. Her heart was beating erratically at the change in composure.

“Your father made his choice. I made mine just like you are making yours. You reek of his magic. You are speaking his language.” Her adoptive mother made a disgusted face as she continued to bristle. “He has successfully manipulated you.”

“The only one who has been manipulating me has been you.” Naina was breathing fast, her anger griping her like second skin crawling across her body like small currents.

“Silly girl, do you even know what truly happened, or are you so blinded by his lies that you can’t see the truth?”

Before Naina could respond, she felt her arms being yanked at full force that she yelped out in pain. She was brought near the portrait of Aruha and Naina instantly tried to stop her legs, preventing herself from going any further. Her magic acted on impulse and she stumbled her way out of her adoptive mothers’ grasp.

The three other occupants came dashing out of their room at the noise.

“Nans, are you okay?” Samraat was the first one to appear beside her sister whose eyes were filled with tears. He brushed through his dark locks, ready to brace her, already having an inkling that something unpleasant is about to happen.

Both Mr. Kazmi and Tia stepped into the living room to scan their surroundings for any imminent danger. Mr. Kazmi haphazardly, stumbled out of his room, almost tripping on his leg in haste, banging the door shut behind him while Tia steps out immediately at the noise more gracefully though startled by the loud angry shrieks. Catching movement from the corner of her eyes, she takes notice of Mrs. Patil’s serious mood and furious expression pulsating like never before. It was clear to her that Naina impulsively stepped on the wrong nerve.

“I thought you said you are gonna leave,” Tia asked Mrs. Patil, attempting to divert her anger.

“Not before I tell you all the death sentence you brought upon your heads.” Sheeparna Patil spoke without fear.

She walked towards the wall and pointed at the portrait of the First Witch. “She tried to save our kind.”

“She deceived Magee.” Naina was shaking badly on the ground, trying to fumble away. The magic was affecting her in a way couldn’t explain. “Stole her magic.”

“Is that what he told you?”

“He doesn’t have any reason to lie to me.”

Samraat tried to get hold of her, making her steady.

“Doesn’t he?”

Naina got up with help and without grace, walking unsteadily until she reached a good distance away from the portrait and leaned against the arm of the chair. She sighed, releasing her tense muscles knowing her fear will do her no justice tonight. She had to get tough.

“She wanted to rule our world, Naina. The strong rule over the weak. Mortals are nothing compared to Magee and her followers. They are Immortals. Centuries ago, they killed anyone who defied them and treated us like slaves. Aruha only wanted to stop her. Yes, she gained Magee’s trust and disobeyed her direct order having stolen the main ingredient of her flawless magical drink without which her purpose wouldn’t be fulfilled. Aruha took the ingredient and dug it into the ground. Magic got absorbed into her pores and marked its essence in the process. That’s how she became the First Witch, though not by choice.”

Naina bit the inside of her cheeks. She was tired of listening to her lies.

Shreeparna Patil continued anyway accessing the silence around her.

“However, a mere mortal, no matter how powerful, couldn’t stand against both Magee and Tempus. She was cursed. Her entire ancestry was cursed.” Her breath quickened a bit, as she choked on her own words. “But she never desired magic. She only wanted to stop them. So she took away their child, raised it as her own, away from the magical beings in the hope that they might live a normal life. But magic calls magic and soon he revolted against her. Build his army and attacked the mortals again. She used all her magic to lock him up in the portrait, killing herself in the process.”

Shreeparna Patil shut her eyes as tears were streaming down her face.

Naina clenched her fist to her side as no other occupant utter a word or even moved a muscle.

“What happened inside the -” Samraat paused, unsure to proceed, “What happened to Dad?”

Shreeparna Patil sat leaning against the wall. Tia got up to bring her a glass of water. She looked like she needed one. Nodding her head, and impliedly thanking her he recounted the events. “I tried to save him. He just wouldn’t understand. Sometimes, you have to make tough choices for well-being.”

Tia whispered in horror. “You left him to die.”

“Stopping Shaurya Lomhani from progressing in his plans is more important. Should I fail to do so, a lot of innocent lives will be at risk once more.”

“So you made him a martyr?” Smaraat exclaimed in an unbelievable tone.

“I gave him a choice. He picked death.”

Even Rahil Kazmi was shocked to his core. He knew people sacrifice themselves in love knowing he would have done that for his beloved in a heartbeat. However, leaving someone to die when you can save them is an act of murder, and calling it sacrifice was beyond him.

“And how would you explain what you did to my younger self?” Naina asked.

“Call it a foolish, naive hope of becoming a mother and desiring a normal life.” The anger was back in her tone. “But I should have known better than to trust someone with your heritage.”

“You knew I was a mage. That’s why you adopted me. You wanted to use my magic at your convenience.” Naina countered, sending a fiercely harsh look. “So why regret now?”

Even her brother, who was still holding her side was taken aback and flinched by such expressions, secretly glad it wasn’t directed his way. He knew his sister was short-tempered but only throws light glares and scowls when her moods dominate her. Witnessing her contemptuous look was something he would never want to get accustomed to. The Naina he has known would never raise her voice in contempt no matter what.

The magic running in her is letting her emotions free. He reasoned within. Samraat only hopes they stop before it reaches out of her control.

“Silly girl, Mage is who you are. Your heritage, on the other hand, is -” She paused, pondering over something, and when she saw an inquisitive look appear on her face, she was tempted to crack a grin in mock humor, secretly enjoying her power of knowledge over her.

Although Naina could tell from her face that she won’t earn a word out of her in the said context, she couldn’t help but reveal her curiosity hoping to hear something about her real family.

“Of course, he didn’t tell you.” Shreeparna Patil muttered under her breath. She looked up at her again, this time wearing a clever grin.

“Don’t beat around the bush.”

She hummed, raising her brows speculatively. “You are treading in dangerous water, Naina, or should I call you Akira?”

“Akira?” Mr. Kazmi asked in confusion.

“That’s the name imprinted under my wrist,” Naina answered, insouciant. It never was a secret. “Any reason you changed my name?”

Shreeparna Patil smiled secretly. “Did your newfound friends not tell you the significance of the name in the magical world?”

Candidly, Naina never bothered to ask, thinking it was just another tattoo underside of her wrist. Knowing she was a mage only added clarity, to an extent. She naturally, assumed every mage must have some mark on their body. Perhaps, that was their insignia.

Her adoptive mother was watching her cautiously. When no response was received, she clicked her tongue in mockery.

“No? That’s a pity. A name, like in any world, represents one’s identity, but only in the magical world, it represents one’s magical talent - intensity. Akira means ideal. No wonder he wants you by his side. Such intensity hasn’t appeared in centuries. On top of it, you have healer magic running in your veins. It makes you most valuable.”

“Is that why you gave me away?”

“I’ve told you before I will do everything in my power to protect my family. My line has suffered a lot because of your heritage. You were always an insurance.”

“What about me?” Samraat knitted his eyebrows at her statement, hurt that she sounded so casual. “What am I?”

“I never treated you like a stepchild, Samraat, and made you my top priority. And look where it got me.” She waved her hands around, depicting her present state and denoting the current time. “Even you think of me as the bad guy here.”

“I don’t even know what to think anymore.” Samraat was dispirited.

Some minutes pass in silence as they simply stare at each other.

Ignoring the stares directed her way, Shreeparna Patil confidently walked to the cupboard and took out an old journal before placing it on her bed. “With Aruha’s portrait on the wall, I can use the magic of the mansion and channel it in me. It’s time for Shaurya and his army to repay for the wrong they did to my family.”

Naina gasped and stepped forward to stop her. Her body cannot imbibe the dark magic lurking in the walls.

“You can’t control it.” Mr. Kazmi yelled in between the spurring magic.

Without waiting, she slammed the journal toward the portrait, sticking it close. The color began to freshen up on its own. The painting looked vibrant, real, and as good as new. The walls vibrated around them as the tremor began to uproot their legs and the occupants immediately tried to grab the nearest thing trying to fix their balance. When the shake ceased, Naina opened her eyes to find the portrait of Aruha gone and so was her adoptive mother.

Just a few feet away from them, the portrait of Shaurya Lomhani came crashing down on the floor.