𝙉𝙞𝙮𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞

●Chapter 21● I am-- ●

Then in his peripheral vision he saw Niyathi AKA the brat, trying to control her laughter. He narrowed his eyes at her and thought, 'And look at that rude brat trying to control her amusement. Here I saved her life, this is how she repay me by laughing at my misery. You won't be laughing for long kid, I will take my revenge soon.'

Niyathi who felt his heat gaze on her, turned towards him and gulped slowly. His eyes promised revenge. She need to do something now or else she will swallowed whole by this old man.

As Arundati was about to continue her rant, Niyathi spoke slowly, "Don't scold him Devi, he didn't do anything. If anything, I am the one at fault."

The old man was surprised by Niyathi's words. He looked at her with slight suspicion. He thought, 'This brat is helping me? It can't be.'

Devi Arundati looked at Niyathi with suprise just like the old man. She said slowly, "Putri you don't meet to be afraid of him. Please tell me if he did something, I will deal with him."

The last line was directed at the old man. His wife's words sent a shiver down his spine. He pouted internally. He thought, 'Why is she not believing me? And deal with him? Am I child that needed to be dealt with? What if she takes my weapons away and make me clean the stables?'

His eyes widened comically at that thought. He prayed to whichever God listening not to give him such a cruel punishment. Anything but cleaning the stables.

Niyathi said, "I am not afraid of him Devi-" which is a lie, she is very wary of him "and believe me he did nothing. I was the one who did everything."

She smiled at her sheepishly and told her about her encounter with the old man. And of course skipping about the part where he revealed about her identity. She didn't want unnecessary tension between the couple because of her.

Devi Arundati nodded unconvinced. The old man mentally thanked all the gods for favoring him. He found it hard to belive that Niyathi defended him. Yeah truth sucks I know.

Silence engulfed the room as Devi Arundati was applying medicine on her wounds. She inspected each and everyone of her wounds carefully and said to her, "Putri, you are severely injured mainly on your head. Due to that you have lost a lot of blood. Adding to that you have multiple gashes on your arm and legs. Thankfully your chest and abdomen region are uninjured. For atleast a week you should take rest, so that your body heals properly. This will be your chamber, my husband and I will be taking care of you. Please don't hesitate to ask anything."

Niyathi was about to protest against the idea when the old man said, "I know what your gonna ask. You can't travel ahead in this condition. You look like crap and I know you feel like crap. And your wounds will heal in a weak because my wife here has abundant knowledge regarding physical wound healing. And she will deal with your injuries. What else do you need answers for?"

Niyathi glared at the old man for saying that she looked like crap. Honestly she knew she looked like crap and she felt like a crap but she didn't want to hear it from the old man who has been hell bent on irritating her.

Still she needed answers for that one question which has been bugging her for a quite a lot.

She asked for the millionth time, "Who are you?"

The old man smirked, "It's the question of the hour isn't it?"

Devi Arundati looked at him with exasperation and said, "Please tell the poor girl about your identity. Don't trouble her more."

Then she left the room.

Niyathi looked at him expectantly, her mind vying for the answer.

The old man had a mocking looking at his face and said, "Even after knowing my wife's name you didn't figure out who I am? Bad in fencing, bad in history. What else are you bad at kid?"

Niyathi threw him an annoyed look and said, "Will you quit the teasing and say it already. It's not like you are the Guru of Lord Rama."

The old man's smirk widened more and said, "Can't I be?"

Niyathi looked at him confused and asked "Can't you be what?"

The old man replied, "Can't I be Lord Rama's Guru?"

Niyathi looked at him incredulously. She said, "Don't fool me. How can you be--"

Million thoughts ran in her head. She thought, 'Forest of Ayodhya. The asurs words about the old man not interfering. The introduction of him being the guarding of the forest. His wife name being Arundari. This is so familiar. I had heard these somewhere.'

Then reality hit her hard. Her eyes widened with recognition. How could she not connect the dots? She felt like slapping herself. She should have known this.

The daughter of Agni slowly looked at the old man with recognition, fear and respect.

The old smirked looking at her pale face and said, "Looks like you figured it out kid. It is a good thing that you have not lost your ability to think."

She couldn't even find herself to retort sarcastically this time.

The old man asked her, "Now kid, pray tell me who am I?"

Niyathi stuttered out, "Your wife name is Arundati. You live in the forest of Ayodhya and the protector of it."

The old man looked at her expectantly and motioned her to continue, "You are the biological son of Dev Mitra, Dev Varuna and Devi Urvashi and mind born son of Lord Brahma. You are the husband of Devi Arundati. Then you must be--"

Her breath stuck in her throat unable to continue.

The old man took pity on her and continued, "Your information is correct kid. I am Vashishta."

The old man now identified as Vashishta finished his sentence as his gaze met Niyathi's horrified ones.

The daughter of Agni gulped looking at the great Sage infront of her and  thought, 'I am doomed.'

--
Oof! Another chapter!

How was it?

So the old man is Guru Vashishta! Do you like the twist? I know many figured it out but still.

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Ramsri
xx