Chapter 13
It's a Long Time
29 March 20XX
After several hours, Kriti regained consciousness.
She had a headache.
The TV in front of her was on… and she saw something.
On the news channels, there was only one headline — what happened in Pratap Vihar.
The entire news was showing the visuals of the blast caused by Kriti and Siddharth.
Everyone was trembling. Some people believed it was God's destruction, while others thought it was the work of terrorists.
Kriti's eyes slowly started losing focus.
Her head lowered… she felt a deep sadness.
She was not ready to believe that Siddharth was no longer with her.
Every day…
every time…
every moment…
She closed her eyes and opened them again, hoping Siddharth would be standing in front of her…
But it was just like a dream.
---
7 April 20XX
She was promoted to the next class and secured 1st rank, but there was no one to celebrate with her…
She still kept a fake smile on her face.
Suddenly, her eyes noticed someone… someone who had helped her many times.
She noticed that Alakh had taken admission in her school.
Alakh noticed her and said,
"What's up, sister?"
Kriti replied,
"How did you come here? It's been a long time since I saw you…"
Alakh replied with a happy tone,
"Nothing much, I just took admission in this school. How have you been feeling now?"
Kriti nodded,
"Now I'm fine."
Alakh said,
"That's good."
They started meeting regularly. Kriti helped Alakh in her studies and spent time with her.
Alakh and Kriti's friendship started to grow stronger,
but someone was still missing in her life.
---
After 1 year…
29 March 20X1
Kriti was sitting at the subway bridge, looking at the sky.
She was missing him and remembering the beautiful moments with Siddharth.
How he used to comb her hair…
She felt both disappointed and hopeful at the same time, wishing that Siddharth would come back…
---
29 March 20XX
001 sat on his throne, thinking about where Siddharth had gone.
In front of him were the heads of Raghav, 009, and Siddharth's teacher, along with the handle of the Ascalon sword.
001 thought,
"It's better if he's gone. He was such a nuisance."
He started gathering all his energy.
For two years, he continued to collect his power, sometimes taking breaks and then continuing again…
---
After 2 years
19 March 20X2
He gathered all his energy and performed a ritual.
Suddenly, near the Hindon River, a massive castle started to rise.
Everyone was shocked — from where did this castle appear?
It was a huge, beautiful castle covered in a blood-red aura.
The sky began to turn red.
Kriti looked at the sky and wondered,
"What is going to happen?"
The news channels made it a major headline.
People started believing that Doomsday had begun.
Many military soldiers were deployed in Pratap Vihar, and several operations were launched to enter the castle, but nothing worked.
There was an invisible barrier surrounding it.
People started panicking.
Crime rates increased rapidly — rising by 150% in Ghaziabad.
---
In the middle of all this chaos…
20 March 20X2
Suddenly, everyone saw a message in front of them:
"You have lived your life well till now… let me control your life."
Every person was confused while looking at it. Some were scared, while some took it as a joke.
In an instant, every person lost control over their body.
Within an hour, all the people of Pratap Vihar became prisoners of the system.
Everyone tried to resist, but nothing worked.
---
Kriti saw Alakh.
Alakh asked,
"What's going on?"
Kriti replied,
"Just come with me."
Her voice was tense. Her hands and legs were trembling.
Kriti and Alakh ran towards the Pratap Vihar subway bridge.
At that moment, a large crowd was behind them.
There, thousands of people started chasing them.
Now, both of them were in danger.
---
Kriti started remembering the happy moments with Siddharth…
And then, suddenly—
someone stepped forward.
Someone came out of nowhere.
He had a tall, muscular presence with a deadly aura.
Anyone who saw him could tell — he had changed completely.
From behind, Kriti hugged him and said,
"Siddharth… is that really you? You came back?"
Siddharth replied softly,
"It's been a long time… my love."