Everyone received their mobiles back and they were on their way to leave when so many parents came running from outside. They were mostly the parents of the older students, who didn't need to be picked up everyday.

Payal was also among the parents. Running, she straight away went to Ayaan and took him in her arms, hugging him tightly. This action of hers caused Ayaan to leave Avan's hand.

Ahana immediately clasped Avan's palm as soon as she saw the hurt on his face.

Avan couldn't understand what happened. Why did his mom only hug Ayaan? He was there too. She always hugged both of them together if they were standing side by side today. As his mom had never done something like this before, he gave her the benefit of the doubt and waited for his turn.

One second passed, then two; Avan's hold on Ahana's hand tightened with every passing second, desperately waiting for his hug, waiting for his mother to ask whether he was hurt anywhere. But his turn never came.

Payal looked around, before speaking loudly to Ayaan, as if making sure that everyone heard her.

"I am so sorry dear that I never believed you. You told me your best friend Avan and the people around him have powers, but I always thought it was your imagination. Thank God, I asked Avan's aunt Sameera for help today as I was busy. Although unknowingly, I brought a superhero to the school."

Turning towards the other elements, while ignoring her son, she said in a polite tone, "I didn't know that the person my son made his friend was a superhero. I am sorry if he caused any inconvenience to you all. Please forgive us. We shall never bother you all," saying that she immediately left the school premises.

"Mom, mom," Ayaan yelled, as she dragged him outside.

He forcefully pulled his hand out of hers and sat down on the road, folding his hands with a huff. He wouldn't leave without his brother.

"This isn't the time to throw a tantrum Ayaan," she kneeled down in front of him, "You are just Avan's friend, not his brother. The truth cannot come out. Promise me, Ayaan. Promise me."

"But Mom—"

"Avan could get into danger if you don't lie."

That one sentence, that was the only thing she needed to say for Ayaan to comply. Ayaan was protective of his brother but he was also little stupid. He immediately believed his mother's words and promised to not let anyone know that Avan was his brother. Ayaan thought he was protecting Avan. But in truth, Payal was doing this to protect Ayaan.

In his innocence, Ayaan had blurted out so many things in front of people. So much that it was clear that he personally knew the elements. As much as it hurt her, she had to separate Ayaan and Avan. Everyone now knew Avan was an element. The secret she tried to hide for so long was now out. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't help Avan. However, she had the power to save her other kid. Hence, with a heavy heart she chose her one kid instead of losing both.

★★★★★

"What the hell just happened?" Neer spoke loudly in disbelief.

Ahana had picked up Avan in her arms, even though her body ached. She caressed the back of the child, who had fallen silent. Avan hadn't uttered a single word from the moment his mother came, but at least he was responsive. But now, that also stopped. He wasn't responding. Avan just stared ahead blankly.

Gyaan could put some dots together. The over the top way, Payal had spoken, it was clear that she was trying to break all ties with elements. It was already clear that she didn't want the outside world to know that she had another child. The one who was with powers. That was the reason why Avan wasn't sent to school. All this was clear, but the thing that was troubling him was,

"How did she find out what happened at the school? How did she know that the secret of elements was out?"

Gyaan looked at the parents that had come barging inside. "Excuse me, can you all please tell me how you knew that school was attacked?" He asked. Seeing that most of them were the parents of older children, it didn't make sense that they had just come to pick them and found out coincidentally.

The parents glanced at each other worriedly. Did they make a mistake? Would these powerful people punish them?

"Please don't worry. He is just a curious person. You don't have to tell us anything," Neer said with a gentle smile, when he saw the panicked glances.

"Let's just go," Ahana muttered, as she was worried about Avan's mental state.

Gyaan sighed but agreed nonetheless. They all were about to step out of the playground when Gyaan received a call from Tej, a researcher who had become his friend.

"Hello, how are—" Before Gyaan could exchange pleasantries, Tej cut him off.

"Not the time for all this politeness. Don't go straight towards your home. The media would be stalking you."

"Media?" Gyaan's eyes widened in fear.

Elements got alerted as they heard his scared voice.

"What is it?" Ahana asked in a guarded tone.

"One minute," Gyaan whispered to Ahana, before giving all his attention to Tej.

"Why the media? How would they—" He stopped short as he realized the reason why Payal knew about what happened at school.

"There was a live telecast of what happened in school. The entire country knows," Tej informed, before saying, "Please be safe. We are trying our best to find a solution, but don't get caught first."

Gyaan hummed and cut the call, before facing the elements.

"Gyaan?" Sameera called out hesitantly.

"Tej called. Our powers have been exposed. They might stalk us and find our address if we go directly home."

"Dammit! I won't leave these people," Ahana cursed. She gave Avan to Sameera, and was about to stomp towards the teachers and parents, but Neer pulled her back.

"Why are you stopping me? Don't you understand what they have done? We tried to save them, but they put us in danger. For what? Just to get some stupid likes," Ahana bursted out.

Neer put his hands on both of her shoulders, "Angry bird, calm down and think for one second. Everyone's phone was taken away by the attackers. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't shoot the video."

Ahana took a huge breath as she nodded in understanding. Just as Neer sighed in relief, thinking she was calmed down, her nose flared in anger. "The police," she muttered with gritted teeth, "they were the only ones with mobile phones."

Her fists curled up as she thought of the ungrateful people. Before she could burn the whole ground in fury, Avan held her hand.

Ahana was shocked, but immediately calmed down to reduce the heat in her hands. "Avan, you could have gotten hurt. Don't come near me when I am angry," Ahana said, while hugging him tight.

Avan was the only person who made Ahana afraid of herself. The fact she could hurt him unknowingly always kept her on her toes.

With a small smile on his face, he reassured her, "That would never happen. You can never hurt me," he said with confidence.

He trusted Ahana. She could never hurt him, not even by mistake. And even if she did hurt him, that hurt wouldn't ever compare to the pain his mother gave him today.

Ahana was the one who held him tightly when his own mother turned back on him.

For everyone else, she might have been the fierce, scary fire girl. But for him, Ahana was the bestest person alive. The one who never thought twice when it came to protecting him.

However, she needed to be protected right now. Hence, Avan decided to leave his pain behind for his Didi. He had to stop Ahana from doing something she would regret. Her anger was going to land her in trouble, especially when someone was recording them.

Avan had come to his senses when the tree, which took the bullet had informed him that if Ahana's angry image went out to the world, it would cause her problem. They all might come to harm her.

As it is, everyone saw her as someone who didn't really care about anything or anyone. But Avan always knew that behind that hard exterior there was a lovely person inside. And he had to protect that lovely person at any cost. Even if that meant to gulp down his pain for the time being.