Mr. Imperfectionist 2

1 - Four Years Later....

Saanj's P.O.V

I feel dizzy as I hear heavy footsteps approaching me. It was a dark spooky open field. I increase my speed and run. I hear the heavy footsteps behind me slowly pick up it's pace. Despite my accelerated heartbeat and panting, I continue to run. Suddenly, I felt a heavy metal chain around my waist. I've been stopped frantically. I had to fight for breath because the chain was so tight. I get abruptly pulled behind.
My feet are being dragged backward in the pitch-black mud, and all I can do is scream as I gasp and grip the chain around my waist to attempt to stop. A giant hand catches the back of my neck, making me unable to move my head.

A husky voice whispers in my ears, "So nice to see you again, Saanj." I feel a shiver running up my spine. My eyes enlarge as I notice the bright steel knife in front of them. He touched the cold blade on my neck, and all I could think of was just one name. "Sabillll..." I screamed, and the next moment, the blade has cut through my skin.

I experience excruciating pain and a fountain of blood pours out of my neck. Everything was suddenly dark.

I force my eyes open and look around. I sigh in relief when I realise I am in my dark room. It was 4.35 a.m. It had been two years since I had a dream that involved Sabil. I pull the duvet over my chest and try to calm down. My chest was heavy, and my breathing was frantic.

Even though the air conditioner was on, I was perspiring. Why did I have such an awful dream? When I was in Portugal for a shoot two years ago, that was the last time I experienced a nightmare. The mere thought of being so near to Spain had always made me uneasy and given me nightmares. I didn't fear that I would perish.
I feared that I would run into Sabil.

I was in a relationship with a model name Mike for a year, that ended two months ago. Honestly, I never had feelings for Mike. I suppose I was just lonely. Things were good with him. We liked each other, but there was no chemistry. I ended things with him over coffee. He wasn't happy about it, but I could not pretend anymore. Of course, we had breakup sex because there was chemistry in bed.

I think it was Mike who kept me occupied. My work too always keeps me occupied, but Mike had filled my loneliness.

Anubhav and his wife Esha recently moved into a new apartment after getting married. Mom accompanied him. She didn't want to leave me alone. But I suggested she move in with Anubhav because I often came home late at night and sometimes, I didn't come for weeks.

Mike was so upset with the breakup that he didn't return my calls or replied to my texts. I don't blame him, though. But now that Mike is out of my life, Sabil has come back to torment me. I've had dreams in which Sabil gets killed by his enemies in front of my eyes or has reconciled with his wife. But I never had a dream of my death. I've heard that dreams in the morning have significance, but I didn't want to overthink it.

I couldn't sleep any longer. I spend some time rolling around in bed before getting up to wash my face. It was five in the morning. I usually go for a jog around six, but today I'm planning to go early since my sleep is broken.
I open the blue drapes on the window and witness the first flush. The cold breeze hits my face, making me smile. The chirping of the birds made the morning look more beautiful. I tried to block out the nightmare and enjoy the lovely morning. I brush my teeth, put on my jogging shoes and my black tracksuit, and leave the house.

At the park, I see several familiar faces and smile as I walk by. Today, I added three miles to my run. I have gained some weight in the past couple of years. There's a plumpness in my cheeks and waist. Not that it has affected my contract, but I want to get back in shape. Arman, my best friend and also my agent, keeps reminding me that I have started to look better with some extra pounds, but who listens to him?
I simply roll my eyes and leave every time he tries to praise my plumpness. I have another justification for running more kilometres today. The nightmare. It has terrified me.

Why did I have a Sabil-related dream after two years? I didn't see the person who killed me; I didn't see him. But I took Sabil's name. I had goosebumps all over my body as I recalled screaming his name in my dream. Somewhere deep in my heart, I still cared for him. It's impossible to take him out of the roots of my heart and memories.