Naina pov

As I turned around to face the window, my eyes were forced to squint as the golden lights descended on my face, tickling me with its appearance. I stirred lazily on the bed, my head still pounded a little bit. And I was forced to get up and start the day ahead. I quickly stood up and scrubbed the bed clean feeling annoyed with the messy appearance.

The moment I came outside the room, the air became as thick as the stone when the realisation had started settling in my mind and it all hit me like a hurricane.

I got married.

To him.

Naina. What have you done?

Suddenly, my hands had started feeling heavy, as if I was bound with heavy metal chains and I  looked down only to see the epitome of marriage for all girls, the red bangles.

The clouds of fear and darkness started surrounding me, not giving me enough space to breathe properly and the next second, a loud bang echoed in the background.

The apartment was strangely quiet.

Too quiet.

Thud.

Thud.

Fuck.

The electricity. There was no humming of the fridge, nor the blinking light of the Wi-Fi router. A sudden gush of wind rattled the windows and I jumped from my position. The curtains-fluttered like the haunted ghosts lingering in the dark shadows.

Another bang erupted and the electricity as gone even before I slept.

It was still dark.

Something was off.

And then, my back shuddered as I felt a pair of prying eyes on me.

But how is this possible? Nobody is there expect me?

I should just close the window. My feet was just about to touch the ground, when I felt a pair of fingers slowly holding my foot, so slow that I just stood there lifeless.

I froze on my spot.

A hand.

Curling around my ankle. Too cold, but firm, slowly and deliberately squeezing the life out of me. My brain screamed for me to run the hell away, but my body won't cooperate. The hand wouldn't let go. Finally, I moved my foot forward only to get stumbled on the rug, yanking off my balance.

"No." I cried out as my body fell like a rag doll on the hard floor, a painful thud as my elbow hit the ground violently. For a moment, my vision had blurred but I tried to focus. I looked down to see the intruder as my breathing shallowed and a painful sob echoed in the room.

There was darkness all over the room when I heard a chuckle.

It was a familiar chuckle.

"Naina darling."

My eyes widened as my body shuddered with dread.

A shadow appeared in the mist of darkness.

A black hoodie.

A black cloth covering his mouth.

Blood shot eyes.

He was here.

To take me.

Panic and fear gripped my heart as I struggled to let go of him and his grip kept tightening more and more. The pain was unbearable as my natural instincts kicked in and I threw my foot hard on his chest. He stumbled back with force and I stood up running for my dear life.

I dragged my foot to the nearest room and locked it as soon as possible.

What should I do?

Why did I  come here in the first place.

"I know you're in there love, I am coming for you."

He sounds like a serial killer as I put a hand on my mouth to muffle my scream.

Damn what do I do?

Where the fuck is my phone.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Where the fuck is it?

Thud.

"I can break the door honey. Do you really want me to get this angry? You know I despise when you get me angry? Open the door like a good girl."

Shit shit.

Thud

I must have kept it in the kitchen. Fuck, I can’t even remember the most important thing. He will kill me today.

Tears started streaming down uncontrollably as I...

"Darling I missed you."

My body froze. His breathing coming faintly just on my back as a hand gripped my waist harshly.

"I told you I don't like it when you don't obey me." His hand around my waist became more harsh as a knife shot on my neck, ripping my skin.

"Get the fuck..away from me. Leave me."

I whispered as his chuckled echoed loudly in the room. I know.

None of my pleading would work.

He won't spare me now. The feeling of giving up when you know there is not even a single person who would be able to help. The ups and downs that my life has seen, never in my wildest dreams I had thought that I would loose hope like this.

The hope to live fiercely.

But today, I give up. My body ached with pain because of the exhaustation.

And the next second..a gunshot echoed too loud that I pierced my ears.

And everything became blurry.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

3 months earlier.

The freshly brewed smell of coffee beans surrounded the environment as I was working in the cafe.

I need to get an internship after my college graduation. It's been three years since I have been working with Ms. Ayesha. My college senior. She liked my work in college and immediately hired me as a part of her father's business.

But now, I needed more exposure and needed to build a strong resume.

"Here is your order mam."

The waitress appeared with a tray of fresh croissants and freshly brewed coffee.

It was pretty sunny as the chill air was flowing through the windows, the dark clouds forming around the corners promising rain. I looked towards my laptop and a list appeared. I had listed all the companies that I need to send my resume to, which includes, Singhania industries, Mindgod technology, technogeek companies and RJS innovations Pvt Ltd.

My phone started beeping breaking my chain of thoughts.

"Hanji, yaad aa hi gayi aapko hamari." I sang while picking up my phone.

(Yes, so you finally remembered us.)

"You know na how busy we are these days." The voice came and I chuckled.

"Hanji Han why not." The chitter chapter and bickering had started echoing in the background as I understood that it would definelty be abhimaan. Kiara and abhimaan had been planning a child for a long time and I am genuinely happy for them as she finally got the love of her life.

"Okay tell me?whats up." I asked picking up the coffee and sipping the goodness.

"How is your job hunting going on?." Kiara asked.

"Still no answers in my emails."

PING

Just then my laptop sent a notification of my new mail. My eyes widened upon realising that it was from some company. They replied me back.

"Ki, you are so lucky, I just got an email, oh my god, i am gonna read it."

"Subject- offer of employment.

"Dear Naina,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the position of Junior software developer- at  RJS Innovations.

The start date would be 12th July.

The official letter, along with the terms and conditions of employment will be shared with you shortly via email. We request you to review the document and confirm your acceptance.

Please feel free to reach out to HRrjsinnovations@gmail.com .Or you may also contact the undersigned.

We are excited to welcome you to our company and look forward to you contributions.

Warm regards,

Priya Menon.

Hr manager.

Omkar industries. Pvt limited.

Email- HRrjsinnovations@gmail.com

Phone- +91XXXXXXXXXXX"

"Congratulations honey! I am so proud of you." Kiara shouted on top of her lungs.

"The niebhour must have also heard that Naina got the job ki, stop shouting and congratulations Naina." Abhimaan bickered over the phone and I chuckled.

"I don't care. Naina, RJs Innovations are not ready for you."

"Thankyou." I beamed as she continued shouting.

"But isn't that company.." Abhimaan muttered but before he could complete, the phone cut off.

Finally. I got the job.

I quickly packed all my things and ran towards my home in order to share the news with kanishka. She is currently working as a content creator and calls herself the goddess of social media.

Such a drama queen.

As soon as I reached towards my floor and unlocked the apartment. I was greeted with a fresh scent of food cooking in the kitchen. And the next second what I saw shocked the core out of me.

Veer and kanishka were standing to close to each other and they quickly knocked out seeing me standing like a ghost.