Vedika rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay. I'm drinking it." She set aside her work, locked her eyes on Shivangi, and obediently drank her Aam panna. Her expression was a mix of mock annoyance and reluctant compliance, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
As they laughed and joked, unbeknownst to them, a sudden turn of events was lurking just around the corner, threatening to upend their carefree moment.
Shivangi crossed her arms and watched her intently, a satisfied smile plastered on her face. "Good." She said, her voice tinged with relief. "I'm glad to see you've finally finished your drink. You work so hard, Vedika, but your health matters too." She patted Vedika's back in approval, her tone softening.
"Alright." Vedika replied, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "Now, let me get back to my work." She adjusted her posture.
Once again she activated her Nabhovajranetra and Abhayagami skills, and refocusing on her task. Her gaze sharpened as she refocused on the intricate details of her task, her surroundings fading into the background, while her fingers twitching with anticipation in swift motion.
Shivangi observed her friend with a mix of admiration and concern. Vedika's focus was unparalleled, her determination unmatched, but I am worried that such single-minded dedication came at a cost.
She decided not to disturb Vedika for the time being, but her moment of consideration was short-lived. As she was about to reach her drink, she sensed something.
"Did you hear something, Vedika?" Shivangi asked, her voice laced with concern.
"No." Vedika replied, frowning. She checked the device, her fingers moving rapidly over the wrist-top. "Everything's fine on my end. Did you sense something?"
The flickering stopped, and a moment of uneasy silence settled between them.
"No, nothing. Maybe I'm too sensitive." Shivangi relaxed and relieved, slightly nodded, assuring Vedika to continue her work.
Moment later, as Shivangi once again reached for her Aam panna glass, she noticed it had tipped over, spilling its contents onto the table and threatening to a bigger damage. Just as she gasped, her mind racing as she grabbed for tissues to stop the mess from dripping onto Vedika's equipment.
Before she could act, a sharp crackle filled the air. Shivangi froze, her eyes darting to the projector across the room. Its lights were flashing erratically, sparks flying from its edges.
"Ved...!" Shivangi began, her voice laced with alarm.
But Vedika, fully absorbed in her work, didn't hear her, not noticing the impending disaster.
"Vedika! Move!" Shivangi shouted, panic rising in her chest.
Her warning came too late.
The projector emitted a deafening whine before erupting into chaos, and then—
KA-BOOM!
The room was consumed by a blinding flash of light, followed by the roar of an explosion. Flames burst forth, shattering glass and sending equipments flying. The force of the blast knocked both ladies from their seats.
Sometime later, slowly, Vedika lifted her heavy eyelids. The room was a haze of smoke and fire, the heat pressing down on her like a suffocating weight. Her mind reeled as she tried to process the devastation around her.
The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning plastic and ozone. She coughed, her throat burned, each breath a struggle.
"What... what just happened?" She stammered, her voice barely audible over the crackling flames.
She turned her head, her gaze falling on the wreckage of the projector. Fear clawed at her chest as she realized the extent of the destruction.
Vedika tried to move, but her body felt heavy, as if pinned down by an invisible force. Her limbs trembled with the effort, but she managed to shift slightly. She looked to her side and saw Shivangi unconscious beside her, her face unnervingly calm despite the chaos.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she realised the gravity of their situation. They were trapped, with no escape from the inferno.
Cough~ "Shiv... Shivangi..." Vedika called out, her voice hoarse from the smoke. Cough~ "Wake up... Shivangi..." She coughed again, her lungs burning from the acrid fumes.
But Shivangi remained unresponsive desperate of multiple calls, lost in a world of unconsciousness. Vedika's heart sank, her thoughts racing with the grim possibilities.
This is not good. She thought, her mind racing. We have to get out of here, no matter what. But how? I'm trapped, and Shivangi... Her mind trailed off, the weight of their predicament pressing down on her.
Her eyelids grew heavier again, the smoke and exhaustion taking their toll. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but it was a losing battle long ago. As the darkness closed in, she wondered if this was indeed the end...
As Vedika's eyelids drooped, a tiny figure materialized before her.
What is this? Is it... She thoughts struggled to form as she stared at the apparition.
{Master!} The voice was small yet urgent, trembling with anxiety. The figure — a young girl — hovered before Vedika, her eyes wide with fear.
{Oh Aloka! Why are you here? Go back, it's not safe here!} Vedika's gaze locked onto Aloka's small, chibi face.
But Aloka stood her ground, through telepathy — her voice steady despite the chaos. {No, Master. I'll protect you at any cost.}
{Stupid girl.} Vedika, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Her strength was fading fast, and she knew she couldn't hold on much longer.
Her heart swelled with emotion, but she knew she was too weak to survive. The flames engulfed the room, casting a golden-red glow on the desperate scene.
Outside Vedika's room, the muffled cries of a growing crowd could be heard. Voices shouted over one another, their panic palpable.
'Bring fire extinguishers, not water!' someone yelled, their voice cutting through the cacophony.
Aloka's voice cut through the chaos, her determination palpable. {Master, I'll protect you this time.}
Vedika thought internally about the situation had unfold before her. A moment ago, everything had seemed so normal. Laughter and playful banter had filled the air, the two friends lost in their own little world. But beneath the surface, an unseen storm had been brewing, waiting to disrupt our joyful tranquility. The subtle shift in the atmosphere went unnoticed, foreshadowing this dramatic change that would alter everything.
Vedika's eyes fluttered open one last time, focusing on Aloka's tiny form hovering in the air. The girl's determination was unwavering, a beacon of hope in the darkness.
With the final glance, she turned her attention to Shivangi's unconscious body. Her heart ached as she looked at her friend, the bond they shared flashing before her eyes.
Her gaze drifted to the calendar behind Shivangi, which the words 'Azure' and 'Year 2545' was written.
Azure Planet... Goodbye. Vedika thought. Goodbye, Azure's people.
"Goodbye to everyone..." She whispered, her voice lost in the roar of the flames. The words felt like a farewell to not just the world but to the life she had lived.
If there's truly an afterlife, a realm beyond the veil of morality, I hope to find what I've lost. She thought, her mind growing quieter with each passing moment.
Vedika, the chaos, from the crowd or the cry of Aloka, faded into silence. Her thoughts drifted to memories of joy, of laughter, of Shivangi's warm smile. The world around her dissolved, leaving only a sense of peace.
With a final thought of the afterlife and the mysteries that lay beyond, Vedika took her last breath.