"I'm sorry, beta... but I can't let you go to that city," her voice trembled. "I've already lost too much. I can't lose you too.
Tears welled in her eyes as she turned away. Krishna stepped forward immediately, wrapping his arms around her, trying to comfort her—but nothing could hide the fear in her heart.
She had never spoken about his father. Every time his name came up, she'd grow distant—either cold and quiet, or suddenly upset. For Krishna, both reactions had always been unsettling.
"I know you have questions… dreams… and a heart full of wonder. But the world isn't ready for someone like you, Krishna. Not because it's cruel—but because it doesn't understand."
She looked into his eyes now, and Krishna saw something he'd never seen before: a deep, quiet grief.
"It's been more than twenty years since I last saw your father. He was a kind soul. Gentle. Brilliant. But sometimes…" And she looked at him
" Those with great gifts carry a weight others can't see. And he carried it all alone." Her voice cracked, and the tears returned.
Krishna whispered, "What happened to him?"
She sat down slowly, motioning for him to join her. Her voice was soft as she began.
"Your grandfather was a scientist—he dedicated his life to the study of the stars, especially the search for other life. He was passionate, but… he pushed himself too far. He died in a lab accident while still chasing answers he never found."
She paused, collecting herself.
"Your father, Rohit Mehra. He was different! Different since he was born, due to an accident during his birth his mind developed later than anyone. At the age of fifteen his mind was of eight years old. But one day his life took a strange turn. Something changed in him. Overnight, his mind grew sharper than anyone imagined. Within a year, he completed school and began working on things most adults couldn't even grasp."
Krishna's eyes widened. "Just like me..."
She nodded. "Yes. And maybe even more. He was driven—not by ambition, but by wonder. He wanted to understand the universe, to discover what his father never could. But that wonder… it came with a cost."
She took out a photo—his father, smiling. His face looked almost like Krishna's, only older, worn by time.
"Your mother, Nisha, was his anchor. She loved him deeply. But it became harder for her as he lost himself in his work. Long nights in the lab… sometimes days without coming home. She worried—especially when she realized you were showing signs of the same gift. You walked for six months, spoke clearly before your first birthday. You were extraordinary."
Krishna hesitated, then asked softly, "And my powers?"
She sighed. "Your father never spoke of it. But he grew quiet and restless when your mother was expecting. He knew something… but he kept it to himself. I think he was afraid. Not of you, but of what might come with your gift.
" Your father becomes restless, paranoid and secretive, always watching the skies,,, and you!" He sat quietly, listening.
" Your mother tried to hold the situation, but one day she couldn't hold anymore, and asked him, 'What matters more—your family or your work?' He didn't answer. But she saw the truth in his eyes. Not because he didn't love you—but because he didn't know how to live outside of his mission. That night, she decided to leave ...to protect you, to start fresh."
Her eyes clouded over.
"We were on our way to her village when the accident happened. She didn't survive. I was injured, and you were just a baby. We were rescued by kind strangers, and I brought you here—to this quiet life, away from everything. I didn't want to hide you… I just wanted to keep you safe."
The room was quiet for a long time. Then, in a broken voice, she added,
"I never told you all this because I feared you'd hate me. Or worse—that you'd want to follow his path. I didn't want you to be alone like he was. I wanted you to grow up with warmth, not in the shadows of the unknown."
Krishna held her hand tightly.
"You're not selfish, Dadi. You were just scared. And I understand now."
He paused
"I promise... I won't show my powers to anyone. I'll be careful. I'll promise. "
She clung to him, her tears falling freely. And for a long time, they just sat there—two hearts, bound by love and memory, trying to find peace in all that was left unsaid.
And next day , Krishna was throwing rocks in the pond nearby. He was a little sad, and released his anger on the stones. They were hitting the water and after two or three huge jumps reached the other side of the water. He was throwing them in frustration, but soon he started to throw them in a rhythm and differently. He was so lost in his work that he forgot to notice the presence behind him.
" What are you doing? " Asked a feminine voice, and his focus falters and he throws a stone directly in the water, and makes a splash, and when he turns he sees that beautiful doctor with a face mask. And as soon as his eyes looked at her eyes. That same music starts to play. And she literally snaps him out of his state. And he saw her snapping her fingers in front of her face. .
"Hello, I said, step aside. " And he immediately did that. And after sometime. She removed her mask, and went to wash her face in the pond. And this was the first time he had seen her face, and she was just as beautiful as he imagined, And before that music could start again, he heard her asking.
" What's your name? " And he replied.
" Krrish, Krishna. " And she looked at him.
" Priya, priya Arora. " She replied.
" Priya." He said. And she looked at her.
" Where do you live?" She asked, not paying him much attention. And he replied in a happy tone.. And after hearing that, she starts to leave. When he suddenly grabbed her hand.
And she looked at him with anger, when he saw him. Looking down, and she was about to look down, when he told her to not move. And she felt a cold sensation on his feet, like something cold was there, and it was moving up. She closed her eyes, and grabbed his hand tightly. She kept her eyes closed, and Krishna went down, and looked at the small snake which was crawling on her feet . He patted his head, and gave the little snake thumbs up and an ok sign for his help, and then a salute. He picked the little snake and twirls it around his hand.
"You can open your eyes. " And when she opened it, she saw the snake in his hand and she immediately freaked out and got away from her.
" Don't worry, he is harmless, don't worry. " He said, presenting the snake. And she still takes a step back. And he patted the serpent's head.
And when she still gave hostile looks to it, he released the snake in the water. And he looked at the woman, who was now looking at him.
" How did you know the snake isn't venomous? "
" Who said it's not? I just said it's harmless."
" What's that supposed to mean? " She said in frustration.
" That means , he could have bitten you if you had stepped on him, and he didn't bite me cause I know him ."
" You know the snake ? How? "
" Let's just say, they know me, and I know them. " And she looked puzzled and then shrugged and started to live.
" Ahh wait! " And she immediately turns.
" What? " She asked .
" N-nothing. " And she starts to move again. And he once again told her to stop. She was about to turn when he stopped her from turning.
And she once again felt that cold sensation. And she immediately closes her eyes.
And he jumped silently in joy, and made his way slowly toward the frightened lady.
" Stay right there, doctor, this snake is very venomous. Stay there, don't move. Hmm, that's a big one." He said, and told her that. It's moving up, and she told him to stop anchoring and remove that snake.
And he immediately went there and looked at her feet, and there was the snake smaller than before. He saluted the guy again, and then picked him up, and said.
" It's done. Looks like you need my help. And if you need it again, just call my name." Said the man, and she opened her eyes. And immediately starts to walk away in anger feeling that she doesn't need his help.
" Think again, the jungle is full of - '' He was about to complete his sentence but before he could he heard her scream again.
-snakes" He completed his sentence , And he walked toward her smugly. And looked at her visibly shaken form.
" I thought you didn't need my help." And she yelled at him to do something.
" Now what do I say when you need my help? Yeh call my name. " And she opened her eyes to glare at him, but suddenly closed them, when he felt that crawling sensation.
" Ok! Ok! Krishna, please help me ! "
" Now that's like it." And he removed the snack from her grasp. And tossed it away. And she looked at him, and thanked him for his help. And he told her that it's his duty to help others in need.
" And remember if you need anything, just call my name, I know everything about this place" And she moved away in frustration of course. And Krishna counts his fingers.
" One, two and- "
" KRISHNA. "
-Three."
" My man."
And next thing they know, priya was in Krishna's hand, he was holding her bridal style. And she was looking down for obvious reasons.
" This is so embarrassing. "
" It's not my fault that someone twisted her anchor. '' Said Krishna while. People were giving him ,Looks.
They soon reach the med camp and Krishna drops him in the tent, and tells her again if she needs anything.
And she looked at him, and then sighs.
" Why do I get the feeling that I'm gonna meet you really soon?"
" No kidding, same here. " He said with that same smile.
And when he gets out, after their talk. He again counted on his fingers.
" One, two and- "
" Krishna. " And he enters the tent.
-Three."
And in the next morning,
Krishna waked in his bed, and went down directly, in a very happy and cheery mood. And down there, his Dadi saw him, she immediately smiled seeing his smile and happy mood. They danced for a bit and Krishna made their breakfast and went out giving him a kiss on his cheek . And seeing this granny asked why he is so happy today. And chintu from the window said.
" He lost his heart to a bird of the city."
"Bird of the city? What are you saying? "
" I'm saying that his heart's car's passenger seat has been filled. "
" What car? What passenger? What are you saying chintu?"
" I'm saying that Krishna found his Radha. "
" What are you saying? Don't talk in riddles."
" What I'm saying is, our little Krishna is in love." And granny got a worried look.
And down there, Krishna reached the Med camp, and saw them packing up. And he looked at them with a sad look.
And down there, priya was packing her stuff, when she heard a voice and almost screamed.
" You are leaving. " And she dropped some files. And he picked it up.
" You scared me. " She said, And she composed herself.
" And yes, we are leaving today. "
" Is it necessary?" He asked.
" I've a job and a home in the city, so I have to go there." And he got a down look.
" You can come there, you know, Mumbai isn't far, you can come to visit us, and I can give you a job in my college."
" College? You are a student there? "
" I'm a professor there, and my father is the dean, he can give you a job." Said priya, and he looked at her..
" Dadi won't gonna allow that. " He said, looking down . And she looked at him.
" Krishna, this is your life you can make your own decisions." And he looked at her. She cupped his cheek, and then got back.
" It's my last day. Do you know some weird or beautiful places here? I wanna make this day memorable, and do you know some place where I can eat some great food?" And he looked at her, and said,
" I know the exact place that you are asking for." And he took her at his home, and called for her granny, and when she came down, she saw him and a beautiful girl beside him.
" Dadi looked at who I brought." And they both looked at each other.
" Priya met dadi, dadi met priya. She is a doctor and came here to visit. " And they both looked at each other.
They all were eating momos that her dadi made. And she liked it very much. He praised the food and how tasty they were. And Krishna was trying his best to sound cool. And he told Dadi that she is a doctor in the city and she came here for free. Tying his best to impress his granny. And she wasn't looking convished. And after eating, she thanked her for the food, and dadi gave him a blessings, and dadi asked a question.
"Do you like him?" And she blushed a little, and Dadi looked at her twice.
" No! No! Not like that, we ...we just met." She said, trying to deny her claims. And Krishna told her that she needs to go and if they stayed there she would be late. And they are ready to leave. And then in the evening time, they were near the camp, where everything was packed, and they were ready to leave.
" Priya, how's the city life? How did it felt?" And she replied.
" Tired."
" Tired, how?" he asked. And Priya replied.
" It's too fast and too changeable. One day you are worrying about a job, next day you are worrying about the job, and the day after you worry because of the job. Too many limitations, too many lectures, too many risks, many failures, brutal competition and most of all, unsatisfactory results . And don't forget the boss. He is totally an alien."
" Really? How do you feel about life here?"
" It felt free and relaxing. Everything here is beautiful, no worries." It was her mind.
" But it has network issues." She added.
" How long did you stay here?" she asked.
" Me! Probably my whole life."
And soon they reached the medical camp where Priya's things were. She thanked him with a font and tired smile, and told him that her day was great, and the lake was beautiful . And he told her that the town is small, but beautiful. And she agreed with that.
" Why didn't you go to the city? You are talented."
" My Dadi needs my help? Her health, you know! "
"Why don't you both shift in the city? My father knows some of the best doctors! "
" She didn't like city life." He said with a sad smile. And someone called her over. And she thanked him for the trip again, and handed him a card, which had his signature and number on it , and she went into the car, where others were waiting for her. And then they drove away, and Krishna looked at her with a small smile.
And then he went into his house, and he was laying on his bed looking at the card that she gave him.
And her granny sees that. And closed the door. And she was looking worried. And after some days were hollow and empty for both of them. Krishna was a bit sad, and sadness was showing in all of them. His smile wasn't there, like a free bird in a small cage. You might think it's happy down there, but his heart may not