Chapter 19
"Like the King or Vansh, I had also discovered what happens when you say something powerful that makes people think. They become afraid of you, and they neutralize your message by giving you a label that is not open to interpretation-- as a fascist, a devil worshipper or an advocate of violence," thinks Ridhima while seeing everyone eyes are on her and hearing their whispers.
She chuckled and turned away from them, while enjoying the sea breeze, thinking, "If I was the old Ridhima, I would have thought the same."
“I know just what it's like to feel different from everyone else. And you know what? Being different can be pretty spectacular!”
says King making Ridhima jump from her place while others look at her as "What's wrong with her?"
"How did you do this?"
asks Ridhima
"Remember the chain which Sher gave you being part of my team, that makes me connect with you, no matter where you are"
replies King
"I mean, how did you hear my thoughts?"
asks Ridhima
King smirks,
"Ridhima isn't obvious! Seeing your expressions anyone can say what you're thinking,"
says King while watching on her the screen
"Sometimes I feel you know me too much, like no one else in the world and sometimes you hurt me to the core. What is it with you?"
asks Ridhima
"Of course I’ll hurt you. Of course, you’ll hurt me. Of course, we will hurt each other. But this is the very condition of our existence. To become spring means accepting the risk of winter. To become a presence means accepting the risk of absence"
says King making Ridhima question,
"What do you mean by I will hurt you and we hurt each other?"
"Leave it, but yes remember you have another match to fight. This time it will be emotional quotient. Once you again you will enter the realm of mind. Where you will face the person. Remember this Ridhima, fighting in the reality is far different in the mind because, in mind, the other person also doesn't feel pain"
says King seriously making her sigh.
"Caretaker, there is nothing to hide from you. You know right, these mind games, I don't know. Why should I play the game where I know I would lose? Besides, my mind always showcases me like a victim. I don't want the world to see my mind and most importantly my vulnerability."
asks Ridhima
“You are not a victim. No matter what you have been through, you're still here. You may have been challenged, hurt, betrayed, beaten, and discouraged, but nothing has defeated you. You are still here! You have been delayed but not denied. You are not a victim, you are a victor. You have a history of victory"
says King proudly and Ridhima can sense the pride in his voice.
"No one ever spoke to me in this way. Ever anyone has taken pride in me, caretaker"
says Ridhima while trying to cover her emotions from rest who are looking at her, "to whom she is speaking with?"
King looks at her from the screen and touches the screen gently,
"Riddhu, home and family isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark."
"Who are you, caretaker? How can you know me so much as if you see through me?"
asks Ridhima
“There are people in the world, who are just wrong, and then there are the masses of population that are right, or at the very least they lie in the veil of between. I, on the other hand, do not belong to any group. I don’t exist. It’s not that I don’t have substance; I have a body like everyone else. I can feel the fire when it burns against my skin, the rain when it caresses my face and the breeze as it fingers my hair. I have all the senses that other people do. I am just empty, inside"
says King while Ridhima can feel his pain and says,
"I want to meet you, caretaker."
"Very soon baby doll. I will come to you"
says the caretaker while disconnecting the call and turning away from her towards the image which he is holding in his hands and says,
"My heart is burning a hole in my chest and every time I speak with your image, it keeps sinking, and I'm left with nothing but ashes. I wish Riddhu were talking to me, because the more she speaks to me, the more my heart flutters like a rising phoenix"
says the Debt Collector burning another picture of that woman.
*****************
Everyone once again came to the ring to see how Ridhima will perform in the mind game. While the person is bothered is VR who is seeing a very different version of Ridhima. To know more he needs to understand her, whereas this place he cannot own, that's what makes him feel vulnerable. While Aryan and Ishani along with Angre reach to the place to how she will play in the mind games while taking seats next to VR.
Richie is the first one to enter the ring followed by Ridhima who can sense people's more attention on her which is making her disturbed while Richie senses her discomfort and hugs her making Vansh burn in jealousy.
"Riddhi, I know what you are afraid of, but I would only say remember those past lessons. How you have defeated your fears. Now, you will be entering into the same phase. So, don't worry okay"
says Richie coming out the hug
"I just don't want people to see my vulnerability. Most importantly, Vansh..."
"Shh,"
says Richie placing his index finger on her lips making Vansh fist his fingers into a fistball.
"Benjamin Joseph is the Chile leader use 'mind control' techniques. This is known as psychological warfare in their country"
says Richie scaring Ridhima to the core
"I don't want to do this,"
says Ridhima moving to get away from the ring while Sher catches her and glares at Richie. Sher pulls Ridhima to aside and says,
"Listen Riddhi, belief is the death of intelligence. No matter whatever you see or face in the mind game, believe that it is false, then you can win Benjamin's game. Belief is important"
says Sher making her seat in the chair and injecting the serum to her while Aliza does for Benjamin.
***********************
In Mind: -
Ridhima has entered into the realm of the mind. The whole set up is the same. However, she doesn't see anyone else apart from her. She is scared to be all alone on the cruise yet she doesn't want to show her fears because she remembers what Sher said,
'Belief that everything is false.'
"Welcome, Ridhima,"
says Benjamin standing in front on her with a wicked smile on his face.
"I have no idea why you are here? I mean I'm the famous Benjamin who is the best manipulator in the world. Best mind gamer yet standing in front of such a fragile person"
says Benjamin while bringing Kabir to stand beside
"Kabir,"
says Ridhima
"You didn't expect him to be right?"
asks Benjamin
"How come Kabir is here? No, it just my imagination. Yes, Benjamin didn't bring Kabir, it is my mind"
says Ridhima to herself while Benjamin takes a step forward with Kabir.
"How are you going to play this game? Whom you are going to erase first? I or Benjamin"
asks Kabir while Ridhima sighs and locks her eyes with Kabir and takes her knife from her back and stab him making Kabir vanish and shocking Benjamin
"I know where I stand Benjamin. I know my mind tricks as well as yours. So let's begin"
says Ridhima while Ridhima is stuck in the water tank with Benjamin.
"Ridhima, you are here in the glass tank, now, you might be thinking why nothing is going the way you want - that's because I can control your mind. Now, how you are going to come out of this water tank?"
asks Benjamin while Ridhima checks everything and says,
"This is my imagination. Everything is false"
making the glass to break into pieces while Benjamin is more furious than before.
In nick of time, they both shifted to the place where small children were covered with blood while Ridhima doesn't know where is she but she unable to find Benjamin. There she sees Benjamin standing all alone and looking at the dead bodies of the children while Ridhima stands near him.
"Where we are?"
asks Ridhiam meekly
"How did you do this?"
asks Benjamin
"Do what?"
asks Ridhima
"You entered into my mind,"
says Benjamin
"What? I have no idea"
says Ridhima while stammering a little
Benjamin turns towards her with anger evident in his eyes,
"I controlled your mind Ridhima, I can't enter into your subconscious mind. But you are in memories"
says Benjamin shocking Ridhima to the core.
**************
In reality: -
Vansh is the first one to be shocked to see Kabir in Ridhima's mind, however, the way she has killed him made him feel so proud. While Ishani, Aryan and Angre are looking at the Ridhima they have never seen before.
What they missed is, Kabir himself came to watch the match after hearing so much from Aryan today morning and he got shocked to see himself in Ridhima's mind. Though he felt happy that he can control her mind, but the way she had stabbed him - it felt as if she stabbed him.
"Richie, I think you need to get them back,"
says Aliza worriedly
"Yes, Richie. Ridhima has entered into someone's memories. That cannot be done. Only King can do this and if she is doing the same thing, then here people will try to hurt her. Just make sure to do something and come out of it"
says Sher dragging Richie from the attending crowd.
"No, Sher. I cannot"
says Richie
"Sher: Why?"
"Only Ridhi can try to come out of someone's memories. Controlling the mind is entirely different apart entering into someone's mind. Ridhima has entered into the mind, so she needs to get out. Until unless she cannot, she should see all the memories of Benjamin and ..."
says Richie while Sher continues,
"She can see anything. Does Benjamin also have no control over it? right?"
asks Sher while Richie nods to it.
Sher turns away from Richie and stands at the corner dejectedly and watches the screen while he is not sure what to do now.
*******************
In Mind: -
"Let's return from here,"
says Benjamin
"I don't know how to do it"
replies Ridhima to furious Benjamin
"If you don't know, how the hell we are here?"
shouts Benjamin on Ridhima making her lose her confidence
"Ridhima, we are in my memories. The truth is it is being displayed. Do you like if it happens with you?"
says Benjamin while Ridhima nods No.
"Then do something,"
says Benjamin while Ridhima looks around and doesn't know how she entered into someone's mind.
The moment Ridhima sighs, the location shifted to Benjamin has a boy being badly beaten by the goons while Benjamin sees this and throw daggers at Ridhima. Ridhima goes near Benjamin and kneels surprising him.
"I'm sorry. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm showcasing your worst memories to everyone. I know it's because of me. I don't know what more we will see here. But please remember one thing, there are memories that time does not erase... Forever does not make loss forgettable, only bearable"
says Ridhima moving away from Benjamin who starts walking with her making her smile a little.
Ridhima and Benjamin are standing near a pond where the little Benjamin is being accused of theft which he didn't commit. While Benjamin sighs,
"Memories are bullets. Some whiz by and only spook you. Others tear you open and leave you in pieces"
says while walking away from the place followed by Ridhima.
"Benjamin, I ...."
says Ridhima but he cuts in the middle and says,
"Lady, we have heard it said that we need to ‘stand up and fight’. I would suggest that the most powerful way to do that is to ‘kneel and pray’. The former might win the battle, but the latter will win the war. You don't kneel before me, but you did. You have won this"
says Benjamin while continuing,
"It's fine if we don't know the way. When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the way. I trust you lady Ridhima"
says Benjamin bowing his head before her while Ridhima smiles and says,
"I will find a way."
************************
In reality: -
Anywhere in the world, showing emotions or vulnerability to others means, they will find a way to use that weakness against you. However, here Benjamin weakness is being shown to everyone, while none can do anything.
What none expected is Ridhima kneeling. When Ridhima knelt the first person to approach Richie, however, he controlled himself.
While the rest are shocked to see the great Benjamin, the mind-killer is bowing before a petite girl. Indeed,
"Ridhima has won the war,"
says Cuba leaders by applauding her strength making others follow it while King is the one who is beaming with pride.
"How much more time we have, Richie,"
asks Sher
"Sher, I repeat they are in mind control game. Ridhima and Benjamin are in Benjamin memories and for the first time I don't know what to do"
says Richie loud enough to make the team alert.
"Hey guys, be cool. Ridhima will come out of this"
says Lizy, however being worried for her deep down in the heart
*******************
In Mind: -
Ridhima and Benjamin are not looking at into Benjamin memories anymore. They both are simply walking the road while the memories are being faded away with each step.
"Benjamin, you said I won the war and now that makes you?"
says Ridhima with pain evident in her voice while Benjamin smiles,
"Lady, Life should not be a journey to the grave to arrive safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
says Benjamin while making Ridhima hug him.
Benjamin didn't expect this from her, but then understanding her, he hugs her back,
"I never thought I would see such a pure lady in King's team,"
says Benjamin
"Ridhima: Ah?
Benjamin: My lady, I have seen the way you punished Abilo and won the fight today. You are a beautiful mixture of purity and evil. Don't mistake my words, but you know where to bow down and when to take off someone's head. That's a very rare sight in the Mafia. I'm glad we met.
Ridhima: I'm sorry. I might not help you.
Benjamin: Lady, I know what I'm doing"
While Ridhima hugs him once again while Benjamin does, both are back to the reality while gasping for the air getting up from their chairs.
*******************
In Reality: -
The moment they are back, everyone stands and started applauding with claps like never before. Ridhima has got up from the seat while Benjamin bows before her making others do the same. Yes, every MAFIA leader now bows before leaving only Vansh and his family.
The sight itself is such so magnificent that Aliza, Sher, Richie and Tarzan are so proud of Ridhima while King says to himself,
"How could you Ridhima?"
and he switches on the speaker.
"Everyone,"
says the King while all are rooted in their places. This is first-ever they are listening to the voice of the Debt Collector. Until now, whoever heard were dead.
"Sher, Kill Benjamin,"
says the judge with the tone which can even any man feel submissive.
"Yes, my Lord,"
says Sher while he takes his sword and cuts his head making everyone shout and scared of the moment.
Ridhima knows Benjamin should die but then this again? How? She is feeling weak in legs however Aliza catches her and walkway with her while Vansh is the only one standing with a smirk on his face. Ishani looks at him and asks,
"What's so strange about it?"
"Do you know why King killed Benjamin?"
asks Vansh
"Ishani: No
Vansh: Benjamin cheated"
says Vansh walking away while thinking, "You're still an emotional fool Ridhima."
Until next update - be safe, healthy, kind and courageous; Do share your reviews too :)
Chapter 20 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5196200?pn=102#155459368
Edited by Abhyudaya - 5 years ago