I opened my eyes slowly internally hoping for a miracle, but reality hit me on my face as soon as I opened them. I was standing, once again, in an almost empty space, deprived of any natural lights, with computer screens floating at various places.

It was Aakav's lab. I cried hysterically. My knees getting weaker, unable to support my erect body. I collapsed exactly in that red circle, that once took me there.

There was no one in the lab. And the emptiness hit my guts harder than fear of going to 1441 had ever did.

Neel. I want him. Just once. Let me just say a proper goodbye. Let him not see me disappear like that.

I cried even harder, uncontrollably, hyperventilating but not wanting to breathe even one percent of this air of 2070. I didn't know how long must I have been like that, before I passed out, in the lab.

---

I opened my eyes to bright artificial lights, blinding me. It took me a while to figure out where I was. But as soon as I realized that it was not 1441, not Neel's kingdom, a world without Neel; panic and distress triggered my nerves. I started fidgeting around like a maniac, getting the modified, medical equipment out of my skin and body.

I wanted to get out of this hospital. I wanted to run away from here. As if running anywhere will lead me back in time.

"Jiera!" I heard a voice call me out.

It was Aakav standing ahead at the door.

He looked different from what I had last remembered.

He looked ugly.

He did not look attractive to me anymore.

His voice had made me sit and stop pulling the tubes out of my system. His eyes looked concerned, worried. He came to stand closer.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, whether it was out of worry or guilt I don't know.

"Send me back." I looked at him hopefully. Hoping he will listen to me. Hoping that he would have mercy on my desperate voice, my desperate attempts.

"What?" his voice pointed out my how ridiculous my demand sounded.

"Send me back" I screamed at his face.

"Jiera, what's wrong with you? You're here now, in your world." He tried pulling me out of my head which was already getting concerned about Neel.

"He has seen me disappear. He must have been devastated, shocked. I can't imagine his plight." I was starting to get restless again. My voice getting heavy, pushing me on the verge of breaking down again.

"Who?" he was downright confused. I don't know what he expected me to be like when I return. But I am sure he must not have expected me to ask him, rather beg him to send me back.

"Yug... I did not even get to see him after he returned from the war. How must he have been? What if he is badly injured or something?" I was practically sobbing and talking to myself.

"What are you talking about Jiera?" Aakav was starting to get annoyed by the way I had been speaking without context.

"My Q.." another bad realization dawned upon me. I looked up at him, and I am sure he could see the horror in my eyes.

"I left my Q there." My voice filled the empty room. I was frantic, scared, heart broken.

I need to see him. My Q tab was the last string I was holding on to. How the fuck can I leave it there.

"How will I ever see Neel again?" I questioned Aakav and it, as always, made no sense to him.

"Now who is Neel?" he asked.

And his question made me break down once again.

Neel.

How will I explain anyone who is Neel to me.

It just has been few hours, and I miss him already terribly bad. How will I even survive here anymore?

"Jiera!" he tried moving closer to me, rubbing my back to calm me down. but I just flinched at his touch. I want those hands around me, the one that had bruises and calluses, the one that won wars, the one that held swords. How will I ever get to touch them again?

"My sir wants to see you." Aakav said once I managed to stop myself somehow, and saving the tears for late at night.

"What sir?"

"My professor Darsh. Under whom I was-" he trailed off. But I wanted him to continue, so I looked intently at him, waiting. "..under whom I was doing that project." He sounded guilty.

I did not say anything . I didn't know what to.

This professor must have been the one who entered late in the lab, making Aakav aware of what mess he had created. I remember his loud, dramatic footsteps and him screaming at Aakav, telling him that the system was set for a year.

"Look Jiera, I am sorry. I know it must have been scary and-" I gave no reaction to his apology. "your family has been compensated heftily and.. and I am being punished about it."

I looked at him and he appeared sorry, regretting all that he had done.

"Your family has sued me. My matter is in the court under the legal scientists, only those who were aware about the project since this project couldn't be disclosed to a larger population. I might have my license discarded, and I might not be able to practice as a scientist anymore." He gave me the details.

So again, he cannot send me back.

I was not sorry about it to be honest. I was numb. I did not feel anything. I don't know if he deserved it or no, but I was not bothered by his situation.

"It's evil to be honest. I had recently gotten my license and-" I flashed a glance at him, raising my eyebrows, making him realize how stupid he sounds.

"yaa whatever." He concluded.

"What does your professor need me for?" I asked coldly.

"umm" he was hesitant. "your family has been informed about your arrival, but before they come, sir was wondering if you're down for a confidential personal interview since you were the first human model to try his machine." He said.

What the fuck?

I scoffed at him. "Aren't you guys being downright evil and selfish right now?"

"Ya look I am sorry but, if we have done this, let's finish it all the way."

"Does it have to be done now?" I was in disbelief. How inconsiderate, self-centered can someone be.

"Yaa.. uhh he is afraid, you might lose your memories."

"What! No." his words had me agitated once again.

"sh sh.. we... we are just assuming, we don't know for sure." Aakav tried to calm me down.

I somehow controlled myself, thinking hard of ways I can try to remember him, now that I don't even have my Q to remind me of his existence.

I don't want to be left with an aching heart, unable to recollect, what this heart is aching for.

I should write about him, or maybe ask someone to draw his sketch based on the description I give them. But it was not just his face, it was all the memories I would want to preserve for the rest of my life. Despite the fact that I am going to get hurt because of it.

Aakav left the room to call his professor, who was supposedly waiting outside for me.

Once the room was empty I pulled out the remaining tubes off my system, unbothered that I had been bleeding from my veins because of it.

He fought a battle and I couldn't even tell him how proud I was because he was so brave.

I was sure the rest of my days will be filled with random break downs. I will be zoning out on multiple occasions. Maybe I'd go down to self injury. I don't know. All of it makes sense right now and all of it doesn't.

The door silently opened and the presence of the man, from the corner of my eyes had my attention towards him.

His professor.

It was him.

The face was exactly like his. I did not know I'll meet a look alike from that world, here, this early.

"You look like him." I was staring blankly at his face, but he stood there, unbothered, unfazed, not confused at my words.

This rung a bell.

"Hold on... are you him?" I carefully spat my words out. He stood giving me a faint smile.

"Him? who?" It seemed like he knew the answer to his question. His smiled like he was having fun.

But I answered anyway. Leaving no space for any doubt.

My heart had been thumping loud in my chest. It was the adrenaline rush, the uncertainty that came with my judgment hence forth.

"You're him, aren't you? The royal doctor!"

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