Chapter 7: The Shadow Returns
Rohan's smile had a chill that sent shivers down Ishani's spine. He walked straight up to Aarav and extended his hand. "Congratulations, Aarav. You'll have to compete with me for that scholarship. And I'm not one to give up."
Aarav didn't shake her hand; his eyes were red. Ishani felt the soldier inside Aarav, who had been treacherously killed centuries ago, awakening. As soon as Rohan left, Aarav grabbed Ishani's shoulder. "Ishani, this isn't a coincidence. Rohan's appearance and tone are exactly like the commander who betrayed me in my previous life."
Ishani tried to calm him down. "Aarav, that was the past. Today we're in a different world. Rohan is just a rich, spoiled brat, not a murderer."
But that night, Ishani received a call from the museum. The manager informed her that the painting she had seen had mysteriously burned to ashes. When Ishani arrived at the museum, all that remained was black smoke and a charred wall. A single word was written on the charred wall in charcoal: "Incomplete."
Ishani realized that Rohan wasn't just a human being; he was part of her unfulfilled hatred from her past life. She ran to the college rooftop to find Aarav, where Aarav often sat alone. Arriving there, she saw Rohan and Aarav standing near the railing. Rohan held the same old dagger that had disappeared from the museum painting.
"This time, there will be no forgiveness, soldier," Rohan said coldly.
Chapter 8: A Changed End (The Final Choice)
Ishani burst into their midst, screaming. "Stop! This 200-year-old hatred will end today."
Rohan laughed, "Ishani, you're still as naive. You couldn't stop us last time, and you won't stop us this time either." As Rohan picked up the dagger, Ishani pulled out the locket her grandmother had given her. The locket suddenly glowed with a bright golden light.
In that light, Aarav remembered everything—not just his death, but the promise he had made to Ishani: "I will return to end hatred, not to repeat it."
Aarav grabbed Rohan's hand, but didn't hit him. He snatched the dagger and threw it from the roof. "Death isn't the end of hatred, Rohan. The end of hatred is letting it go. You've lost in this life too, because all you have is hatred, and we have each other."
Rohan's face turned pale, as if the old spirit within him had left him. He ran away without a word. As the first rays of dawn appeared in the sky, Aarav and Ishani felt a centuries-old burden lift from their hearts.
"Now we are truly free," Ishani rested her head on Aarav's shoulder.