11 You must be dreaming

Mei Wei was trying to hear their conversation. Aman was still kneeling, the man grabbed Aman's shoulders and helped him to stand up. Then the man snapped his fingers. Suddenly everything went silent.

Mei Wei tried to listen, but he couldn't hear anything though he could see the man's lips moving. He felt it was truly strange.

Mei Wei couldn't hear anything so he thought about just seeing what was happening here. It was close to full moon today so he could see the scene clearly. He looked at the man. The man had an imposing aura, he was very much handsome and looked around 25 in age. He was wearing a black suit and he was full of muscles. His handsomeness was extraordinary.

Although the man's aura shouted greatness, coldness and aloofness, he was still smiling a little at Aman. Mei Wei was really confused with this so he decided to wait and see what was happening there.

~On the other side with Aman~

Aman knelt on the ground, when he saw him. He was really nervous. It was all fixed all of the sudden. He just got the news yesterday. He couldn't believe that Nagraj would come here.

 He looked down. He touched Nagraj's feet and greeted, "greetings, Nagraj." 

Nagraj put his right hand on Aman's head and said, "Ayushman Bhava". Then Nagraj helped Aman to get up.

He snapped his fingers and everything went silent around them. Nagraj smiled, "it's never bad to take precautions Aman." Aman nodded his head understanding.

Nagraj asked, "how are you, Aman?"

Aman answered, "I am fine, Nagraj, thanks for asking." 

Nagraj smiled, "look at you, you have lost weight and your complexion is also not good." Aman was a little embarrassed, "I....I...." Nagraj smiled and rubbed Aman's head, "you should take care of yourself, no matter what, okay?"

Aman nodded again but he still didn't look at Nagraj. He was still nervous and a little afraid. Nagraj thought that it was because of another reason.

Nagraj sighed and spoke, "Aman my parents and all of my Gurus have taught me that accepting one's wrongdoings never makes them low. Thus today, this Nagraj of the entire Vasuki clan, apologize to you and ask for your forgiveness.I overreacted at that time. It's all because of me that you are in this situation alone. I became angry at you for no reason…...After that I calmed down myself, but you know about all the matters there. It took a lot of time for me to come and see you. I hope you may forgive me."

Aman quickly looked up and said, "no, no, I don't have the right to forgive you because I was not angry at you to begin with….... Father. 

Everything you have done always turned out to be good for me. This time is also really good for me. Trust me, I am good here. And some humans are really good here."

Nagraj smiled elegantly, "oh! yeah I was getting the reports. It seems that the human is really good to you. What's his name, Mei Wei right? A human, not that bad. Not the first time in our world."

Hearing this Aman became anxious, "no, no it's not like that Nagraj. I dare not. He is truly the best person but you know about 'that.' How can I after that...."

Nagraj persuaded, "Aman.... you can't live your life always like that." 

Aman was still shaking his head. Nagraj sighed, "at the end it's all up to you. Remember all the family members will support you, no matter what decision you make." Aman nodded. Nagraj continued, "speaking about the family, they have told me to tell you that all of them are badly missing you. Here, they have sent this for you." 

As he said this he handed Aman a red velvet scroll with golden handles, it was binded with a silver thread.

Aman collected the scroll, very much eager to read it. Naagraj said, "I have been keeping record of your progress about your revenge. Aman I don't believe it but all the people there are saying that you are not taking it seriously. Because you are taking too long." 

Aman tried to explain, "Nagraj I know and I am really sorry about that. But all the remaining culprits are out of this country and only that Mei Wang knows where they went. And I am sure he won't tell anyone about it." 

"I know Aman, you are doing your best. I am not dissatisfied with you but I have arranged someone to help you." 

"Who is that, Nagraj?" Aman was eager to meet the person. He couldn't find the remaining two of them, if there was a person who could help him in this matter he would be really grateful to that person. And if Nagraj had found him or her, he believed that he could trust them. 

"Come out", Nagraj ordered. 

A beautiful girl with long black hair came out from the trees. Her beauty was really breathtaking. She looked around twenty years old. She had big brown eyes with vertical black pupils, with high cheekbones and full red lips. She was wearing a golden dress. Her beautiful ornaments were enhancing her beauty. She was walking gracefully under the moonlight.

Aman could hear faint sounds from her anklets when she entered their soundproof area. Her waist length hair was curled at the end. All in all she was looking like a goddess. From her eyes Aman could ascertain that she was also an Ichadhari Nagin. With the help of the colour of her clothes he ascertained that she was a golden snake.

However, Aman frowned at seeing her because she was dragging a person behind her.

 Aman tried to look who this person was, he looked closely and saw it was Mei Wei. Rage filled his entire body, he grabbed the girl and pinned her to the nearest tree, he asked coldly, "what have you done to my prince?"

Although she was pinned to a tree, she still spoke confidently, "you are living in the enemy's house and should be more careful. I found him eavesdropping on you."

Aman grabbed her throat, "so you killed him. Nobody in this world can harm him. If they do, the only punishment is death."

 Aman heard Nagraj's voice behind him, "Aman! leave her. She didn't kill him, just gave him sleeping venom."

Aman let go of her, the girl started coughing. Aman sat on the ground and put Mei Wei's head on his lap. The girl also knelt before him and said, "forgive me for doing this, but he might get suspicious. Naagraj already told me everything so I dare not cause him any harm." 

Aman answered, "no, no forgive me, I overreacted. I can't see him in pain that's all. And you are right I should have been more vigilant." 

Aman put Mei Wei on the ground and stood up. Naagraj began to talk, "Aman let me introduce you to her. This is Luo Li. Although she is an Ichadhari Nagin, she is not from our world. She is born and raised in this world." 

Aman was astonished. He had never met an ichadhari naag, who was born and raised in this human world. He asked curiously, "May I ask why? I have never seen a nag raised in the human world." 

Luo Li spoke, "because I am not full ichadhari naagin. My father is a human whereas my birth father is an ichadhari naag." 

After this Nagraj spoke, "in our world there is a rule that you can love anyone you want. It doesn't matter if they are a human. But there is a strict rule that if you marry a human you have to leave the Naaglok. Her father fell in love with a human so he left our world for him."

Aman thought how beautiful their story is. Then he remembered the question he was eager to ask from her, "how are you going to help me, may I call you sister Li?"

Luo Li answered, "of course you can. And as for this matter, I think living in this Mei family you have probably heard the name of Luo Xi Ying." 

Aman answered, "yes, he is the diamond king of this country. But he doesn't interact with people too much." 

Luo Li smiled, "he is my dad. As for why he doesn't interact with people he prefers to spend time with my mother. My mother can't go outside, people will realise that he hasn't aged. So he remains at home and my father who is sadly getting old doesn't want people to think that he is his son. Poor soul. So both of them remain at home and be lovey - dovey."

Both of them laughed, "As for how can I help you, I am connected to both of the worlds. My mother taught me everything about our heritage and my father taught me how to handle these humans. He had taught me how to do the business quite well."

"So here is the plan if fear can't get them out of their holes, their greed will. Tomorrow my cousin sister will come to your house and request for you to take care of me as they are going abroad for an urgent piece of work. At your house I will contact Mei Wang and will tell him that I want to do a collaboration with him in the business and also want another party. If my father's guess is right, he won't let anyone have that deal except his worthless friends. He will call them here and all of them will fall in our trap."

Aman was ecstatic after hearing this plan, "This plan is really good. Thank you sister Li, this servant thanks Nagraj also for their great help." 

"It's not a problem. You are just like my little brother. Now I should take my leave. I will see you tomorrow." After she said that she changed into her snake form and went away.

Naagraj spoke after that and pointed at Mei Wei, "her parents are really good. They agreed at once. You should go too, before he wakes up." Aman nodded and touched his feet, he patted Aman's head and blessed him.

 When Aman stood up he held Aman's face with one hand, "be careful, Aman. We all miss you very much. I wish that, may you take your revenge soon and come back to us." Aman nodded, his eyes watered.

He wiped his eyes, bent to the ground and carried the still unconscious Mei Wei bridal style. 

While he was walking towards the house he looked towards Nagraj and muttered, 'I very badly miss all of you.' 

Then he looked at Mei Wei, he touched his arm and sure enough there was a mark of snake bite on it. He touched it and healed it completely. He then said to Mei Wei, "I won't let anyone harm you, no matter who they are, my prince."

*****

The next morning, Mei Wei woke up in his bed. He remembered all the details of the last night clearly. He has seen Aman meeting some strange man. He tried to listen to their conversation but couldn't. Then he felt pain in his arm and then.....Then nothing. After that he couldn't remember anything. He looked at his arm but there was nothing. He frowned. 

He was further confused when he found an empty jug outside of his room. If he remembered correctly, he had left this jug last night here. He thought of asking Aman about it. He did his usual daily routine and went for breakfast.

When he went to the dining table he was still confused, "Aman have you gone anywhere last night?" 

Aman stopped eating and replied, "me? No my prince. Where would I go last night? I was sleeping in my room." 

Mei Wei replied, "but I have seen you myself." 

Aman enquired, "are you sure that wasn't a dream?" 

Mei Wei answered after thinking for a moment, "that....I am not so sure." 

Aman smiled, "that must be a dream then." Mei Wei thought it was reasonable enough.

But there was still some doubt in his heart because he had found the empty jug outside of his room…

Author's note:- Some words that you might not have understood-

My lessons of Indian mythology and history-

Touching someone's feet for blessings is very old tradition of India.

Ayushman Bhava - One of the many traditional blessings of India which means May you live long.

Nag/Nagin - Male snake/ Female snake

Nagraj - The Serpent King. It's not his real name.

Naaglok - The realm of Ichadhari Nags. It's real name is 'Rastala' which means the land of desires.

An Ichadhari Naag/Nagin doesn't have the same skin colour they have in their snake form. When they are in the human form their attire is of that colour.

Luo Li just released a little venom in Mei Wei. Because of that he didn't die, just lost his consciousness. This is called sleeping venom or Nidra Vish.

As Nagraj is Serpent King of Vasuki clan he can't refer to himself with pronouns like I or me as common folk. In India all the royal family members use 'Hum' which literally translates into We or Us. But it would be too confusing in English. Thus I left it as I. But remember each time any royal members are referring to them with pronouns like that it is in a very very respectful and formal way. Also if you have better suggestions please comment and tell me. Also remember Luo Li's mother is actually a man.

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