Meanwhile—
the darkness itself seemed to be screaming.
Somewhere far beyond human reach, the fury of that unseen being continued to erupt like a storm consuming everything around it.
Too many mysteries still remained unresolved.
Had Siya truly changed?
Who was the entity hiding behind that dark silhouette?
Was the world moving toward a new beginning…
or toward its final end?
At times, it felt as though every secret… every hidden truth… stood just beyond our reach, watching us struggle while laughing silently.
As if the universe itself whispered—
"No matter how hard you try… you will never reach the final answer."
And perhaps the most terrifying thought of all was this—
Could this journey never truly be completed without Siya?
---
No matter how many questions surrounded us…
there had always been one answer.
Siya.
She was the certainty that existed within chaos.
The light that guided us whenever darkness consumed the path ahead.
But this time—
even with two powerful Chiranjivis standing beside us…
everything still felt incomplete without her.
Impossible, even.
---
I slowly looked toward Hanuman.
To my surprise—
He was already looking at me.
A faint smile rested upon His face.
Calm.
Knowing.
Almost as if He could see thoughts I myself could not understand.
I folded my hands respectfully.
"Prabhu… is something troubling You?"
Hanuman smiled gently.
"No, Sajjan."
"I am merely trying to understand you."
His answer caught me off guard.
I smiled faintly.
"But Prabhu… You are omniscient. You can see my past… my future… everything."
Hanuman's eyes rested upon me with unusual warmth.
"A person's aura speaks long before words do," He said calmly.
"The radiance upon your face already tells Me who you are."
He paused briefly.
"Devi Siya trusted you deeply."
The moment He spoke her name—
something tightened within my chest.
Hanuman continued,
"You already knew what was going to happen, didn't you?"
"You had sensed that Siya was going to leave."
For a moment—
I couldn't speak.
Then slowly, I nodded.
"Yes, Prabhu…"
"I knew."
The words felt heavier than ever before.
"I had already realized she was leaving us."
A painful silence followed.
"And I also knew…" I continued quietly,
"…that she was erasing my memories."
Hanuman remained silent.
"Every time I came close to learning the truth behind her departure…"
"…those memories disappeared."
My eyes lowered.
"But she was my leader…"
"My protector."
"My family."
A faint smile appeared on my face despite the pain.
"And going against her decisions was beyond my limits."
What right did I have to stop her?
So I said nothing.
I simply watched her walk away from us…
little by little…
until one day—
she disappeared completely.
And when she did—
it felt as though our souls had been ripped from our bodies.
---
The silence around us deepened.
"But before leaving…" I said softly,
"she entrusted me with responsibilities."
"Maan."
"Andy."
"And the unfinished mission she left behind."
A bitter helplessness filled my voice.
"I couldn't stop her…"
His eyes met Hanuman's again.
"But the final responsibility Siya gave me…"
"…I will fulfill it until my very last breath."
---
For several moments—
Hanuman simply looked at me.
Then He smiled.
"You are courageous, Sajjan."
"And deeply responsible."
There was genuine admiration in His voice now.
"Looking at you…"
"…reminds Me of Brother Lakshman."
My breath stopped for a moment.
Before I could react—
Hanuman continued.
"But I do not believe this war belongs only to you."
His gaze deepened.
"This war is also Devi Siya's."
The air around me suddenly felt lighter.
Hope.
After so long—
I felt it again.
Hanuman's next words shook me completely.
"She herself will complete it."
---
My eyes widened instantly.
I stepped forward unconsciously.
"Prabhu…!"
My voice trembled.
"Does that mean… Siya will return?"
For the first time since her disappearance—
my heart feared the answer.
Hanuman looked at me quietly.
And smiled.
But He did not answer.
And somehow—
that smile alone felt more powerful than certainty itself.