Coz ZDMN hit 100. I know, I know I've posted this on IF. But to those who did not read, here you go. Also story takes place before #Ghargharmesoldier began.
Also, at the end of it, tell me how you felt. Did it pump up your adrenaline?
(Yes. I'm a robot who functions on your adrenaline.)
••••••••
He was on a mission. He felt ready. Yet, at the back of his mind, something bothered him, a strange dread. He had felt it before, just....refused to acknowledge it.
He was in a dark, dank room..his trusted comrades, his team by his side. They gave him a sense of assurance, reliability.
He could hardly make out anything beyond the walls of the room, just feel Faizi and Sanjana's presence beside him. He took a step forward, weapon in hand, and he tripped, a strange feeling of falling. The world around him became blurry, jumbled. A cacophony of sounds around him, muffled. For an instance, he could hear him, Param. He shut his eyes, fear taking over him.
Suddenly, he had a strange, strong urge to open his eyes. He did. He had fallen, but strangely he was still upright. The room had become a bit brighter, but the corners were still difficult to make out. His vision was still alternating between blurred and clear, the voices around him muffled. All he could make out was a person shaking him, trying to say something. Faizi. His voice did not reach him. He was now
His vision became increasingly clear, the voices almost inaudible.
'Kara--'
A sharp, loud sound suddenly rang through the room. Loud, clear. Gunshot. A sudden chill ran down his spine. He looked at Faizi, his eyes staring at him, frozen in fear. Karan's eyes widened. He couldn't breathe. His throat constricted.
Faizi slowly raised a shaking hand to his neck, dripping red. He fell back, he tried to hold him, but his arms wouldn't obey. He wanted to scream, but no sound came.
He couldn't make a sound, he couldn't move. His senses suddenly heightened. He could hear it....Faizi's heart slowly giving in...Sanjana's shaking breathing.....he could see the person standing in the shadows, the one with the gun. He came forward. The man's face....it was covered...as if by the shadows themselves.
He felt a silent gush of wind pass by him. Sanjana. He wanted to stop her, he couldn't lose any more of his family. He was frozen in place, unable to move, or speak...
She tackled the man down on the ground, she was on him, grabbing him by the neck. He gave in easily. It did not feel right to Karan.
Her hands balled in a fist, her eyes clouded by the anger of loss. She raised it above the man's face.
He watched as her fist suddenly stopped midway, she let out a shaky breath. Her face changing from anger to confusion to horror.
She looked at him, in the eye, regretful, guilty..A strange pallor on her face. Her fist lowered to the ground, as if supporting her. He looked at the man under her, he was holding something against her middle. A knife's handle, which meant the knife....
The man's fist was covered in crimson. Karan felt a lump in his throat...a sinking feeling in his chest. His fingered curled up, his nails digging into his palms.
A lone tear escaped her eye. The man twisted the knife sharply, not a look on regret or mercy on his face.
A pained cry tore through the room. It made him sick to his core.
He wanted to scream, so bad. He could hear her struggling to breathe, dying....he could feel his blood pooling around his feet.... He felt something wet run down his face....tears.
He opened his eyes. That man was still there....standing over them.
But..beside him, he saw a familiar face. Param. A look of betrayal on his face.
'Karan...'
He blinked, looked at the man from the shadows. He was not there. The room around him jumbled again, the walls turning to mirrors.
And....he saw himself. Loading the gun, holding the bloodied knife, standing over them.
'Chachu...'
He felt his blood run cold. Why was she here....
He willed himself to move. He had to...he just couldn't....he had already lost too much.
He turned. And there she was. Soumya stood hugging Barkha, both of them looking at him in fear.
'NO!...GO! PLEASE!'
The man who took their lives, him...aimed his gun...
'Chachu....' the worry in her tone increased.
'NAHI! PLEASE!'
And he fired.
The shot rang. The room was filled with sudden light, the mirrors suddenly smashed to pieces, their screams, the sounds of gunshots filling the room.
~~~~
Karan jolted awake in bed. He was breathing hard, covered in sweat. He looked around, he was in his room in the academy. It was dark.
He looked towards Faizi's bed. He hastily got out of his own bed. Grabbing Faizi's duvet, he pulled it aside, waking Faizi.
"Karan...kya kar--"
"Chup." Karan immediately checked his neck. There was no mark. He hugged him, momentary relief taking over him.
He broke the hug and ignoring Faizi's questions, fumbled to find the right number.
"Hello? Koi hai? Sanju?"
"Sirji...ka hogo..." the groggy voice on the other side answered.
"Tu theek hai?"
"Haan...hume ka--"
"Okay...okay...tu theek hai. Good night..." he said ending the call, he said it more as a statement than a question, almost trying to convince himself.
He searched another number....'Bhabhi'
Before he could dial it, Faizi grabbed his arm.
"Karan...tum theek ho..?" He asked, concerned.
Karan just stared at him.
