The Last Note [ON HOLD]

33. THE FIRE WHICH BURNT ALL.

*24 hours ago*

-"Come back soon...goodnight."
This was the last thing Gayatri spoke as Akhil gently kissed her hand before leaving, and she dozed off on the comfortable mattress of the bed.

A few hours later, around 3 in the morning, Gayatri woke up hearing sobs and cries of her little daughter in a messed up state.

-"Mumma, papa, bhai, dadi, dadu! No...I'll pray and I know Kanhaji will not let anything happen to us! He will protect us, I know. I am a strong girl. But all this is very s-
Scary. I'm scared. This is not where this fire belongs-"
Trishika cried in her sleep.

Gayatri got it. She was having a nightmare.

-"Trish, mere bache, Kanhaji didn't let anything happen to us, see we are safe. Your prayers did magic, bacha! Open your eyes and look around, you are in Mumma's arms."
Gayatri said as she engulfed Trishika into a warm hug, trying to comfort her daughter.

Hearing his sister crying and having a nightmare, Aakash too woke up and moved towards the bed where is mom and sister were.

-"Trish, stop crying! Look around, Kanhaji didn't let you down. He heard your prayers. You are just having a nightmare."
Aakash spoke like the big brother to Trishika that he was.

Her sobs were getting louder and louder and it became harder for Trishika to even breathe now. Due to the lack of oxygen, she gasped loudly. Aakash slid the wide glass door of the room's balcony open, to let more air inside as told by his mother.

-"Trish, c'mon open your eyes! We are safe. It's just a bad dream, child."
Gayatri spoke to her amidst her continuous sobbing.

Trishika opened her eyes with a sudden jerk and found herself on the bed of her father's penthouse, all drenched in her own sweat.

She had a nightmare. A terrible one.

She hurriedly hugged her mother followed my her brother. She sobbed loudly and explained whatever she saw in her dream as Gayatri gave her a glass of water and told her to take a few deep breaths first.

-"Where is Papa, Maa?"
A little later, she asked anxiously.

-"He's out for some work. Don't worry he's safe."
Replied Gayatri.

-"Can we call him once?"
Trishika asked her timidly as a mere whisper in her meeky voice.

-"Hmm.."
Gayatri agreed to her daughter as she searched for her phone on the side table.

Seconds later, a loud thud was heard from outside. Precisely, the balcony. As if someone just jumped there, trying to get inside.

Aakash moved forward to check who it was but Gayatri stopped him by holding his wrist.

-"Maa, atleast let me see who it is-"
Aakash tried to complain.

-"Shh."
His mother sushed him, cutting him off in the middle.

A glimpse of somebody's shadow was seen under the moonlight, confirming a stranger had broke in.

But. It was not a stranger.

How is it possible? There are guards all around the penthouse to ensure their safety, especially at such crucial times.

-"W-
Who are you people??"
Trishika screamed in reflex, making it harder for the elder ones to comprehend their surroundings.

And with that said, a man, probably in his mid-fourties broke inside the room with his face covered in a mask, wearing a literal rag. Gayatri easily recognised him.