Adway stared at Devasena, while he stared back at her.
The air inside Sreebhoomi had grown heavy in a split second.
Devasena then looked at Avanthika, who immediately shifted her gaze and looked down.
Devasena then turned her gaze to Amarendra, and walked down the sraircase to stand before him. He smiled.
" A beginning? Hmm. I see. "
Devasena was really seeing. His man. How strange was the fact that this was the same man she regretted kissing just days back, and now the man meant the world to her. More than that.

" You know Adway, Devasena. There's nothing new or nothing different to be known about him. And Avanthika has been the most important part of your life." , Amarendra said.

" Exactly. "
Devasena uttered, very distinctly, staring at Avanthika. Avanthika now stared back, and very cautiously drew a smile on her face.
" But I don't see my Avanti in her, Amarendra. Rather she's behaving strange. Very....you know..very fake! "

" Deva! " , Avanthika was stunned. " Now I look fake to you? "

She then looked at both Amarendra and Adway, " I had told you, I had told you! This will break everything! This wasn't needed, you both! "
Avanthika had lost her calm all at once.

She then went ahead and grabbed Devasena's hands, " Look into my eyes Deva! What do you see? Nothing? All fake? What do you see Deva? "

Devasena coldly replied, " A murderer. "

Adway and Amarendra exchanged glances, Amarendra reassuring him.

Avanthika let go off her hands, and slowly walked backwards, tears streaming down her eyes. She was not shocked. Rather she had expected only this.

" Wow. Deva, wow! You know what? I'm not surprised. I won't even be. But I'm sad that I made a very wrong decision. Of bringing back Adway Mathur. I lost a friend forever. "
Avanthika was blabbering.
Adway came forward and grabbed her shoulder. She shrugged him off and stood stoned, in tears.

Amarendra walked to Devasena who kept staring coldly at Avanthika.

"Devasena, look at me. "
She did.

" What do you see in Adway? "

Devasena looked at Adway, who stood extremely helpless suddenly.

" Obviously, a murderer. Why would I discriminate? "
Devasena was unusually cold.

" Really? He looks a murderer to you? And so does Avanthika? Are you serious? " , Amarendra clearly wanted to lighten the situation.

" What exactly is your question Amarendra? What do I see or what do I feel? Do you expect me to be extremely normal and calm about everything and expect everything as usual after staying in almost a coma that showed me my past?
My husband having your face was shamefully and brutally murdered by Bhallaldeva having this man's face. Almost forty years later I was murdered painfully by Avanthika bearing her face and name! I don't even know how much she remembers or if she is the one, but how else will I see them now if not as murderers? "

No, Devasena did not show even a slice of excitement in everything she uttered slowly and peacefully.

Amarendra interpreted her words carefully and nodded. And said,
" I understand Devasena! But as someone who matters to you, maybe, I remind you something. The soul doesn't carry forward anything. No pain, no anger, no shock, no worries, no jealousy, no hatred... "

" And no love. Right? "
Devasena ended. Her cold eyes pierced Amarendra's soul for a moment. And he couldn't finish his statement.
" I'm no kid Amarendra. I know what I'm supposed to do as a lady of the twenty first century. The only difference being, not everyone of this time stands in a situation we do. "

She slowly walked towards Avanthika. She was sobbing, she turned her face.

" Avanti, do you remember the past? "
Avanthika didn't say anything, just the outflow of her tears increased.

" Avanti, I need to know. "

" I do. Fine? "
Avanthika shouted.

" Hmm. And that ring was... Mahendra's... "
Devasena voice fluctuated for a split second.

Motherhood, without being a mother.
Such irony!

Avanthika said nothing, only sobbed.

Devasena then stepped back to Adway. Adway didn't look away.
" What do you expect me to do Adway? "

" I don't expect you to do anything Devasena. Because this is not something that needs some reaction when known about. I know my soul committed mistakes in the past, and I'm ashamed, but not for myself. Only for who I used to be. I expect only that from you. If I do a harm to you in this life, I will forever fear a return. Not in this case. "

Devasena kept staring.
Amarendra added from behind, " most importantly, Mahendra Baahubali didn't let go your plight in vain. "

Devasena turned to Amarendra, her expressions now changing from calm to a surprise.

" I don't really get you Amarendra! You call him Mahendra Baahubali? Because your soul didn't carry anything forward? Then why did you spend so much time looking for me Amarendra? Looking for Devasena whom you didn't even carry along with your soul? "

" Exactly! Exactly my point!! What is the use of digging the past when it isn't at all easy to just say, 'oh I forget and forgive!'
If that is so, why all these drama? Why even? "
Avanthika said, this time much at peace.

Devasena looked at her. And Avanthika did too. And they had hardly ever stared at each other that way.

" Okay guys! Seems like we all are contradicting ourselves at some point. "
Adway said suddenly.

Amarendra was staring at the ground. He looked up, while the ladies turned as well.

" Let me clear myself then. I had never wanted to face my past. Though I knew of it thoroughly. But I saw Devasena by chance at some event photos of my dad's art college. A sudden surge happened that I should seek forgiveness because I ruined her life, extremely unsure though if she was Devasena even. I visited India and realized she remembered nothing, wasn't even the one maybe.
Then Avanthika met me, making sure she's the one. And I'm not the only one who was burdened with the past. She was the one who told me that even Amarendra resides in Bhopal at present, that was almost a lightning strike, but now I'm thankful to Jesus for everything... "
Adway uttered in a single breath.

" Avanthika insisted upon me to come and see Amarendra and seek forgiveness. And now she herself blames me for bringing back the past! She doesn't want Devasena to remember things, but didn't even let me leave for Paris! I don't get her exactly! "

" Oh yes... That's what I have been telling you Adway Mathur! I was wrong in bringing you back. Because I saw guilt in your eyes for murdering Amarendra! And you couldn't die with a guilt of your past life! But at the same time, I had requested a zillion times to not revive Devasena's memory! "

She then made a strong eye contact with Devasena.
" Because, Avanthika Mohan loves Devasena Sehgal. But once she becomes Devasena Baahubali and I Avanthika Baahubali, I cannot do that. Because Adway Mathur, you regret murdering Amarendra, but....

Avanthika doesn't! "

A thunder struck nearby. It was going to rain again, this time, devastatingly.