Love Across Time

Chapter 20

“Panchaali!” Arjun called for what seemed like the nth time, she was no where to be found and her sudden disappearance had his heart thumping wildly in his chest.

He ran ahead looking throughout the corridor, maybe he had missed her somehow, he entered her room again only to find her gadget pulsing.

He rushed towards it and switched it on, a screen popped up.

“Popi! I can’t find Panchaali do you know by any chance where she could be? Or a way to find her? I am really sorry we lost her somehow, but don’t worry we’ll find her…” Dhananjay’s rambling was brought to an end by Popi,

“Hey don’t worry, actually I called regarding that.

You know today is Raksha Bandan, and it’s one of those times when Panchi completely disappears for a day, where she goes, we have no idea but just for today let her be alone.

She lost her brothers and today’s day is really bad for her. since the death of her brothers, she has quitted to celebrate this festival and complete vanishes, she wants to be alone.

See try and understand she wants space, she’ll return by tonight, tell the palace that she has gone to visit her brother for the festival, just for today let her be alone, please.

Try and understand her. I am really sorry for you getting so worried but you don’t have to she’s fine but for today’s day she needs some space, let her have that.”

He pleaded, unlike his regular jovial self, Popi was very serious toady his eyes held sorrow as his words were laced with pain, the others soon joined the conversation as their screens popped up.

They understood just by looking at Arjun and Popi that he had told Dhananjay the truth.

“But what if she falls in some trouble?”

Arjun tried, his heart squeezing as he looked at her family,

“Don’t worry son, we don’t abandon our own, she is family and we do all we can to keep her happy and safe, there is a device that keeps an eye on her all her missions, I might seem like a idiot of a man but I love all my children and Panchi is one of us.

Nothing will happen to her, she is a Ranavat, stubborn, strong and hella lot sarcastic those are traits of one and she possess them all.

There is nothing that we wouldn’t do to protect her.” Tammy said, honesty shone in his eyes as his heart felt heavy years back when Panchi’s brothers were alive this was one of the most celebrated days.

The jovial memories of his family made his heart heavy, he missed his grandsons and son a lot today, as an Indian he was proud of their sacrifices, but as a father and grandpa of the three he was broken, he had lost the three most important people of his life.

He was one of those unfortunate fathers who had seen their own son and grandsons die.

He had seen his son grow up, cried with him, laughed with him, he had seen him fall in love, get married, start a family, he was the happiest to have two grandsons and a granddaughter like Panchi but than fate had played its cruel game and he who had seen the birth of his own son had witnessed his death too.