📅 Mid-December — Nandanpur, Night
The winter fog wrapped the fields in a thick, ghostly blanket.
Meera's small form crouched near the frost-covered grass. Her teeth chattered. Every sound — a bird, a rustle — made her jump.
I can't stay here… someone will find me…
---
Abhay and Ishanvi Close In
Abhay paused near the canal, eyes narrowing.
The water rippled subtly, currents bending toward one point. His heartbeat synced with the movement, the pull undeniable.
Ishanvi followed a faint warmth, her palms tingling. Her fingertips glowed softly in the dim moonlight — a fire that guided them.
"They're here," Abhay murmured.
Ishanvi nodded. "She's close. I can feel it."
---
The Moment of Connection
Meera whispered again, shivering:
"Raghav… Vaidehi… someone… help…"
Abhay's water surged slightly, forming arcs that glimmered like liquid threads leading toward her.
Ishanvi's hand glowed brighter, warmth brushing the mist around Meera, subtle but comforting.
The field seemed to part in slow motion — snow and frost shifting as if the earth itself guided them.
Meera gasped. Someone is here. I can feel them…
---
The Rescue
Abhay sprinted forward, water at his heels rippling unnaturally, brushing over frost and leaves without disturbing them.
Ishanvi followed, her warmth enveloping the path like a soft, guiding glow.
Meera saw them emerge through the fog. Her small voice trembled:
"Raghav… no… not him… anyone else…"
Abhay reached her first. "Meera! It's okay, you're safe." His voice steady, yet full of urgency.
Ishanvi knelt beside her, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We've got you. You're safe now."
The warmth and the rippling currents around them pulsed faintly, almost alive, shielding her from the cold.
---
Siblings Witness Something Strange
Vaidehi, Aariv, Vivaan, Vrinda, and Raghav ran toward them.
Raghav stopped short. His eyes widened.
The water… it's moving on its own…
Vaidehi whispered, pointing.
"The frost… the mist… it's clearing around them!"
Even Vivaan noticed the subtle warmth around Ishanvi.
"It's like… magic," he breathed.
Raghav clenched his jaw, guilt and awe colliding. "I… I don't understand… what's happening?"
Abhay and Ishanvi stood, Meera safe between them, and the fog seemed to slowly retreat. The river murmured softly in the distance, undisturbed yet aware.
---
A Quiet Resolution
Meera clung to her siblings, trembling, but calmer.
"I… I was so scared…" she whispered.
Raghav, still shaken, swallowed hard. "I… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have snapped…"
Ishanvi smiled faintly. "You're here now. That's what matters."
Abhay's gaze swept the field. The water pulsed softly, almost like a heartbeat, as if acknowledging the fear, the relief, and the bond that held them together.
For the first time that night, the fear eased slightly.
The river, the frost, the mist — everything paused.
And in that frozen winter night, the siblings began to understand — Abhay and Ishanvi were not ordinary. Something more flowed within them.