Venkatesh drifted through the vast royal hall like a restless shadow, his translucent form slicing silently through the air as he moved toward Aarav.
The grand Darbar of Baji Rao II shimmered under golden lamps. Nobles stood in disciplined rows, their traditional Maratha attire flowing like waves of history itself. The air carried the weight of politics, pride, and unspoken tension.
And in the middle of it all—
Aarav sat beside Nana Saheb, speaking casually, almost playfully, as if the world beyond these walls did not exist.
But then—
Aarav's eyes flickered upward.
For a split second, he saw it.
He saw him.
Venkatesh.
Floating in midair.
Aarav's heartbeat skipped.
How is he here…?
Yet the very next moment, Aarav turned his gaze away, pretending he had seen nothing. His expression remained calm, composed — almost too composed.
Venkatesh waved his hand right in front of Aarav's face.
No reaction.
His brows furrowed in confusion.
"Why can't he see me?"
Rasika's voice echoed gently inside his consciousness.
"You are in your soul form right now. And he is a mere human. That is why he cannot perceive you."
Venkatesh's eyes widened.
"If he can't see or hear us… then how are we supposed to save him?"
A brief silence.
Then Rasika spoke again.
"You will have to possess someone's body."
A spark ignited in Venkatesh's eyes.
"Right… I'm a spirit."
Without wasting another second, he darted forward and attempted to enter Nana Saheb's body.
But—
He passed straight through.
Like mist through air.
"What—?!"
Determined, he tried again.
This time, he lunged toward Tatya, who stood nearby with sharp, observant eyes.
Again—
He phased right through him.
His frustration deepened.
Grinding his teeth, Venkatesh aimed for the most powerful presence in the hall — the man seated upon the throne.
Baji Rao II.
He shot forward with full force—
And once again—
Failure.
He stumbled midair, regaining balance.
"How do you even possess someone?!" he demanded angrily.
Rasika's voice came, calm yet firm.
"Possession is not so simple. You do not possess enough spiritual strength to control a living body."
Those words struck harder than any blade.
Frustration burned inside him.
Meanwhile, the Darbar proceedings concluded.
Nana Saheb and Aarav rose from their seats, preparing to leave.
And that was when the atmosphere shifted.
Heavy boots echoed against marble floors.
A tall foreign officer stepped forward, a faint mocking smile on his lips.
George.
He gave a slight bow, dripping with sarcasm.
"Hello, Prince."
The word Prince was not respect.
It was insult.
Inside, Nana Saheb's blood boiled — but his face remained dignified.
Tatya placed a steady hand on his shoulder and spoke calmly,
"State your reason for coming here."
George chuckled softly.
"Well, there is no need for us to come here… but unfortunately, we have a situation."
His eyes darkened.
"A rebel has dared to rise against us."
He paused deliberately.
"We have information that this rebel — this so-called Kranti Guru — belongs to Bithur's Royal family."
The hall fell silent.
Tension spread like wildfire.
Invisible to all…
Venkatesh hovered above them.
Watching.
George let out a low, mocking chuckle.
"What do you say, Tatya… or should I call you Kranti Guru?"
The entire hall stiffened.
All eyes turned toward Tatya.
Tatya merely smiled — calm, fearless.
"I admire the courage and skill of Kranti Guru," he said lightly. "But I am not him. If I were, I would strike openly… not hide behind disguises."
A flicker of irritation crossed George's face.
With deliberate slowness, he pulled out a folded parchment and held it up.
"We have a warrant to arrest you. Now come with me."
Tatya laughed softly.
"It seems you, too, bark at someone else's command."
The word bark echoed sharply.
George's composure snapped.
"Arrest him immediately! He is the one we are looking for!"
British soldiers stepped forward.
Instantly, several Maratha warriors placed their hands on the hilts of their swords. The tension was suffocating — one wrong move and blood would spill across the royal floor.
But Tatya raised his hand.
"No. This is not the time for war."
His voice was steady.
"I, too, wish to see how much strength the British Empire truly possesses."
Before anyone could react further, the soldiers grabbed his arms, binding his wrists tightly, and began dragging him away.
Above them, unseen—
Venkatesh watched in growing rage.
---
At that very moment—
The doors burst open.
Mannkarnika rushed inside, her breath uneven, eyes blazing.
When she saw Tatya being taken away, fury exploded within her.
"You foreigners!" she roared.
She lunged forward, ready to attack.
But Aarav immediately caught her arm, holding her back.
She struggled fiercely.
"Leave me!"
Aarav leaned closer and whispered urgently,
"Do nothing right now. If you act, Bithur will suffer. Leave this to Kranti Guru. He will never let an innocent be sacrificed."
His words carried layered meaning.
He was indirectly suggesting—
Become Kranti Guru.
Mannkarnika slowly calmed, though her eyes still burned with anger.
George sneered.
"She has too much guts. Arrest her too."
The soldiers began moving toward her.
And that was when—
Aarav stepped forward.
His voice turned cold.
In English "Don't push your luck too much… otherwise your head will be rolling across this floor."
The threat was clear.
George glared at him.
"And who the hell are you to speak to me like that?"
Aarav's lips curved into a dangerous smile.
In Hindi, he spat back an insult so sharp it cut through the air.
"Tera baap hoon Bh**di ke."
(Your father as**ole)
Above them—
Rasika's voice echoed in Venkatesh's mind.
"This is your son."
Venkatesh folded his arms proudly while floating midair.
"Of course he is. That's my blood."
But then—
Something unexpected happened.
Mannkarnika suddenly froze.
Her gaze lifted upward.
Her eyes widened.
She could see him.
Venkatesh.
Floating.
Her mouth fell open in shock.
Tatya and Nana Saheb, noticing her strange reaction, followed her line of sight.
But they saw nothing.
"Manu," Nana Saheb asked, confused. "What are you looking at?"
Mannkarnika slowly raised her finger and pointed upward.
"Can't you see him?"
"See what?" Nana replied. "There's nothing there."
Realization dawned upon her.
She alone could see him.
Venkatesh floated closer, astonished.
"Can you see me?"
She nodded silently.
Before more could be said, George scoffed.
"Stop this drama. You are lucky I am letting you go today. But next time, I will arrest you without hesitation."
With that, he stormed out, dragging Tatya away.
The heavy doors shut behind them.
Silence remained.
---
After they left, Nana Saheb spoke gravely.
"We must inform Baba."
Together, they walked toward the chambers of Baji Rao II.
The aging Peshwa looked at their faces and immediately understood.
"Do not worry," he reassured them calmly. "We will speak with the magistrates. We will secure Tatya's release."
Nana hesitated before asking,
"But… is Tatya Guru truly Kranti Guru?"
Baji Rao shook his head firmly.
"No. If he were Kranti Guru, I would have known first."
His voice carried authority.
"Do not worry. He will be freed soon."
Mannkarnika's gaze slowly lifted again.
Above her—
Venkatesh's spirit hovered in midair, faint… slightly blurred… yet unmistakably present.
She could see him.
Not clearly.
But clearly enough.
Her sudden focus drew the attention of Baji Rao II. He too glanced upward, but seeing nothing unusual, he frowned slightly.
"Chhabili… are you alright? What are you looking at?"
Mannkarnika hesitated.
For a moment, she wondered if she should remain silent.
But something inside told her the truth needed to be spoken.
"Dada Saheb… I don't know why, but I can see someone floating above us. No one else seems to see him… but he is there."
The room stiffened.
Baji Rao looked up again carefully.
"There is nothing there."
"I am telling the truth," she insisted softly. "Someone is there."
At that moment—
Venkatesh slowly descended.
His translucent form touched the ground, and now he stood directly in front of Mannkarnika.
Her eyes adjusted.
She could see him more clearly now.
"Do not be afraid," Venkatesh spoke gently. "You may consider me a spirit. Only you can see me… because your soul is powerful."
Mannkarnika swallowed and turned toward the others.
"He says… he is a spirit."
A wave of unease passed through the room. The nobles instinctively looked around.
Peshwa's expression turned serious.
"A spirit? Is he one of our ancestors?"
Venkatesh immediately replied,
"No. I am Aarav's father. My name is Venkatesh Shashtri."
Mannkarnika quickly translated,
"No… he is not our ancestor."
A faint trace of disappointment flickered across the Peshwa's face.
But then she continued—
"He says… he is Aarav's father. His name is Venkatesh Shashtri."
All eyes turned toward Aarav.
Aarav blinked, confused.
"I… have a father?"
Nana Saheb snorted lightly.
"What did you think? That you fell from the sky? Of course you have a father."
Venkatesh frowned.
"Why is he saying such strange things?"
Mannkarnika answered quietly,
"He has lost his memory."
Venkatesh stiffened.
"Amnesia? But how?"
"I found him drifting in the river," she explained. "When he regained consciousness… his memories were gone."
Confusion clouded Venkatesh's face.
"What should we do now?"
Before she could answer, Rasika's voice echoed inside him.
"We can think about his memory later. First, we must find a way to get him out."
"How?" Venkatesh asked.
"We need to open… or create… a doorway. But I do not possess enough power to do it alone."
Venkatesh felt his hope sink.
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
Mannkarnika interrupted, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Who are you talking to? Is there someone else here? Why can't I see them?"
Venkatesh scratched his head awkwardly.
"No… she isn't here. She is in another world. She is communicating with me directly."
"Another world?" Mannkarnika asked slowly. "Do you mean… heaven?"
For a moment, she wondered if he had already passed on and was speaking to someone divine.
Venkatesh shook his head.
"No. Not heaven. It is a world like this one… another Earth."
Mannkarnika nodded slowly.
The way he scratched his head—
Aarav had the same habit.
At that moment, she felt certain.
This truly was his father.
She took a breath.
"Do you wish to say something to him?"
Venkatesh looked at Aarav carefully.
"Ask him… does he truly remember nothing?"
Mannkarnika turned toward Aarav, studying his face intently.
"He is asking… do you really remember nothing?"
Aarav let out a quiet sigh.
He scratched his head.
Explaining time travel to people from an ancient era would be harder than pretending to have amnesia, he thought.
Aloud, he said calmly,
"I only remember my name… Aarav Shashtri."
That single sentence was enough.
Venkatesh's eyes narrowed slightly.
If his memory were truly gone and he only remembered his name…
He would have called himself Aarav Tiwari.
Not Aarav Shashtri.
Understanding dawned.
So you remember everything…
Venkatesh gave a small nod.
"Tell him… I have come to take him back."
The moment Mannkarnika heard that, her heart skipped.
She stepped back nervously.
"Mr. Venkatesh… you have already left this world. You cannot take his life away to bring him with you."
Her voice trembled slightly.
The Peshwa looked at her sharply.
"What is he saying?"
She hesitated, then answered,
"He says… he has come to take Aarav away."
Shock rippled across the room.
Fear.
Tension.
Protectiveness.
Venkatesh instantly realized the misunderstanding.
"No! That's not what I meant!"
He raised both hands quickly.
"I meant… I have come to take him home."
Mannkarnika looked at Aarav and spoke softly,
"He says… he has come to take you home."
Aarav met Venkatesh's eyes.
For a brief moment, the world around him faded.
Can I abandon the mission… and return home?
Before he could even finish the thought—
A glowing blue screen appeared before his eyes.
Only he could see it.
{You can't abandon the mission}
His heartbeat quickened.
Mission? What mission? he asked silently.
The screen flickered.
{Mission Details: Change the fate of Mannkarnika}
Aarav froze.
Change her fate? But won't that disrupt history? Couldn't that destroy the world itself?
No answer came.
The screen vanished.
As if it had never existed.
He exhaled slowly.
Then, aloud, he said casually,
"How can I trust the words of a ghost?"
Baji Rao II nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, Chhabili. It is possible this spirit speaks falsely."
Venkatesh frowned.
Through Mannkarnika, he asked,
"You do not wish to return home?"
Aarav shook his head.
"Not until I remember who I am… or where I belong."
Venkatesh fell silent.
He interpreted it differently.
We don't yet have a way back.
He gave a small nod.
"Fine. We will speak again."
And with that, he floated away.
Mannkarnika watched him disappear.
"He has gone," she said softly.
Aarav left soon after, needing time to think.
---
The Balcony
Mannkarnika searched for Venkatesh and finally spotted him near a palace balcony, staring at the distant horizon.
She approached cautiously.
"Hello… excuse me."
Venkatesh turned.
"Yes? Did you need something?"
She inhaled deeply.
"Yes. I need your help. In return… I will help restore Aarav's memories."
Venkatesh sighed.
"Tell me."
"You know about Tatya Tope's arrest. I want you to spy on the British and help free him."
Venkatesh immediately understood.
Invisible.
Intangible.
He was the perfect spy.
Then she hesitated slightly.
"Actually… I am Kranti Guru. They arrested Tatya Guru in my place. I will reveal myself and rescue him. I only need you to support me."
Venkatesh nodded.
"Alright."
---
A Few Hours Later
Inside a guarded outpost, Tatya was tied up.
A soldier lashed him repeatedly.
The sound echoed brutally.
Then—
BOOM.
A wall exploded inward.
Dust filled the air.
The source—
An explosive arrow.
Mannkarnika stood amid the smoke, bow drawn again.
She released another arrow.
It struck near a group of soldiers—
And exploded.
Chaos erupted.
"Impressive," Venkatesh muttered admiringly. "You are a skilled warrior. I wish I could help."
Rasika's voice echoed inside him.
"You can. Possess one of the freshly dead. The body will be weak."
"Won't it hurt?" he asked.
"No."
Without hesitation, Venkatesh entered the body of a fallen British soldier.
The corpse suddenly stood up.
Mannkarnika's eyes widened in shock.
But there was no time to think.
More soldiers rushed in.
Venkatesh cracked his knuckles.
"Time for action."
He charged forward and knocked one soldier unconscious with a single punch.
Another shouted,
"Michael! What are you doing?! Has your brain malfunctioned?!"
Michael.
That had been the body's name.
Venkatesh smirked.
"Or perhaps… a ghost has possessed me."
He laughed.
The soldier stepped back in fear but drew his sword.
Venkatesh caught his wrist, kicked him hard, disarmed him, and began cutting down enemies one by one.
Mannkarnika fought beside him with astonishing precision.
Within minutes—
The outpost fell silent.
Tatya was freed.
The disguised revolutionaries stared in disbelief.
One whispered,
"Who is he? Why is an Englishman helping us?"
Mannkarnika answered firmly,
"He is our secret spy."
"An English spy?"
"Don't think too much. You saw him fight."
She stepped forward and faced the remaining trembling soldiers.
"The real Kranti Guru is a fire. A fire that will burn your empire to ashes. If you have courage… stop me."
For the first time—
The British realized.
Kranti Guru was a woman.
And they had just heard her voice.
Tatya looked at her with surprise—but not disbelief.
Soon, they mounted horses and fled.
After some distance, everyone separated—
Except three.
Venkatesh (still in Michael's body), Tatya, and Mannkarnika.
Mannkarnika glanced at him.
"Will you remain in that body?"
Venkatesh blinked.
"Oh."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"I forgot."
He exited the body.
The corpse immediately fell from the horse.
Tatya dismounted quickly, checked the pulse, and frowned.
"He is dead."
"He was already dead," Mannkarnika replied calmly. "I will explain later. Let us leave."
They changed disguises along the way.
As they rode, she told Tatya everything about Venkatesh.
Tatya listened carefully.
Finally, he asked,
"What is Aarav's true story?"
Mannkarnika could only shrug.
Far away—
Aarav stood alone under the night sky.
The mission echoed in his mind.
Change the fate of Mannkarnika.
But history…
Was not so easily rewritten.