Ash Mistry and the World of Darkness. Sarwat Chadda

director.”

      “All perks of being on the Savage payroll,” said Ashoka. “Anyway, Dad designed the security system. And, like all software, it needs upgrading on a regular basis.” He skimmed over another page and logged in. “You’d think Dad would have a better password than—”

      “AshandLucky?” said Ash.

      “AshokaandLucky,” corrected Ashoka. “And … open sesame.”

      A 3D wire diagram of a large four-storey townhouse appeared. Ashoka spun it around using the mouse so they could see the outline of every room. It was drawn in immense detail. Zooming in, Ash could inspect the doors, the windows and even the chimneys which were, sadly, blocked. “That’s pretty cool.”

      “I helped design it,” said Ashoka. “The model, that is. Got me the science prize at school last year.”

      “All very lovely,” said Parvati, “but what about the security?”

      Ashoka scrolled down to a series of reference numbers. “These are temporary PINs. If we needed to upgrade the system, we’d need to disable it first. These numbers here give us access. Then the PIN returns to whatever code Savage has been using. It’s just a manufacturer’s reset really, like on most electronic items. A security system’s not much different.”

      Parvati grinned at them both. “Then what are we waiting for?”

      While Ashoka went to get ready, Ash and Parvati stacked the plates and bowls in the kitchen sink. Ash got the tap running and the sink filling with steaming water. He glanced over his shoulder. “Ashoka is such a smart-arse.”

      “Ha!” replied Parvati as she passed him dirty cutlery.

      “What do you mean, ‘ha’?”

      “He’s so like you it’s just bizarre.”

      Ash frowned. “I am nothing like Ashoka. His mouth is on constant overdrive and he thinks he knows everything.”

      “Sooo different from you.”

      “Y’know, Parvati, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”

      Parvati glanced slyly sideways at him. “What was that you said about being a smart-arse?”

      The mobile on the table rang. Ashoka must have left it. Where was he? Ash picked it up. Then he saw the name on the display.

       Gemma.

      “Ashoka?” Ash heard Gemma’s voice coming from the phone. He hadn’t even realised he’d answered it.

      “… Yes?”

      “It’s me, Gemma.”

      Ash could only listen. In his timeline Gemma had died in his arms. Just a few months ago he’d watched her eyes fade and heard her last sigh.

      Ash had been friends with Gemma since primary school. They had played together every day as kids, but had gone their separate ways at secondary school. Gemma had gone off to join the cool kids while he’d become a founding member of the Nerd Herd. It was only after he’d become the Kali-aastra and defeated Ravana that he had found the courage to ask her out. Funny that he wasn’t afraid of a demon king, but was terrified to ask a girl out on a date.

      He hadn’t realised that when he came back from India his troubles would follow him to his front door and the people he cared about would suffer, would die, because of him.

      He’d wanted things to get back to normal. But they would never be normal again.

      This was a second chance. His heart quickened. In this timeline Gemma was alive! Like Savage’s, his mistakes had been fixed.

      “Say something, Ashoka.”

      “It’s good to hear your voice again, Gemma.” She had no idea how good.

      “You weren’t at school today. What’s up?”

      “Family emergency. Sorry.”

      “Oh … all right. Everything OK?” asked Gemma, sounding concerned.

      “Fine, fine,” said Ash, wishing it was.

      “Anyway …” she paused, “… last night was great, wasn’t it?”

      The world was too weird. In this timeline Gemma hung out with Ashoka! Unbelievable.

      Parvati was looking at him with a funny expression that Ash couldn’t read. But it could have been her ‘Are you totally and utterly mental?’ face. He turned away and tried to ignore her.

      “There’s something I wanted to say to you, Gemma.” He couldn’t help it. “I think about you a lot, as a matter of fact.”

      “Oh yes …?” He could almost see the dimples in her cheeks as she smiled.

      “You mean a lot to me, Gemma. I just want you to know that. There’ve been so many times I wanted to tell you that, but I always chickened out. Stupid really.”

      “Ashoka, are you all right?” Gemma said. “This isn’t like you.”

      “It is, but you just don’t know it. Sometimes I don’t know what I am either.”

      “Maybe we can talk tomorrow. I’d like to.”

      “Really?”

      “Of course. Why do you think I come to Josh’s to play Dungeons & Dragons every Tuesday?”

      “Er … because you’re a geek?”

      Gemma laughed. “That too.”

      Gemma was interested in Ashoka? The world had gone officially loony.

      “You’ll call me?” she asked. “So we can meet up? Just you and me?”

      Totally loony. “That would be great. I’ve got some family business to sort out first. Might take a few days. But, yeah, I’ll call you.”

      “All right. Listen, the bell’s about to go. Take care of yourself, Ashoka.”

      “You too.”

      He clicked off the phone just as Ashoka came back in. They looked at each other. “Was that for me?”

      Ash gave him his most casual look. “Oh, just someone checking up. On stuff. You know. And, you know, Gemma.”

      “You spoke to Gemma?”

      Parvati sighed. “He asked her out. As you.”

      Ashoka’s mouth dropped open. “A date? Why? What? Seriously? What did she say?”

      “She said yes,” said Ash, grinning. “As unbelievable as it might seem.”

      “She said yes?” echoed Ashoka. “Aw, excellent! Thanks!”

      “This is too, too insane,” said Parvati, shaking her head.

       Chapter Six

      Ash couldn’t get it out of his mind. Gemma was alive. Of course he’d known she would be, but it was different actually speaking to her.

      She lived. His uncle and aunt lived. All the trauma he’d been through had never happened to Ashoka.

      Was that why he found his other self so irritating?

      Admit it, you’re jealous.

      Ash was the Kali-aastra. He’d saved the world a couple of times. He was the Eternal Warrior, the reincarnation of some of the greatest heroes the world had ever known, and he was jealous of a podgy, lazy kid who’d achieved absolutely zero with his life.

      And he was still going to get the girl.

      “Get with the programme,”