PreeRan Ff: Kashmakash

20~Aneeta Karan Luthra

Nalini closed the door and locked the car. She stared at the closed rusty door of the house and walked towards it hurriedly. She saw the latch because of which the door was locked from outside and she knew if she entered inside by the door, Arjun would know about it. But she had to take the risk and so she held the latch and unlocked the door in one swift movement and entered inside and saw many empty wine bottles lying here and there. She coughed due to the dust and several spiderwebs here and there, almost at every corner. She heard someone moaning and followed the sound and walked towards it cautiously and finally found the person who was tied to a chair and had a cloth over his face. She removed the cloth from his face and got shocked. It was none other than Dev, her beloved boyfriend who she loved dearly and who also loved her very dearly. The old scars left after wounds on her face made her eyes pool up with tears. She gasped looking at him after such a long time and when she least expected to see him. She couldn't help but cry seeing him.

He was somewhat conscious but too weak to speak. She cupped his face kneeling in front of him. "Dev? Baby? Where were you darling? Who was it who did this to you meri jaan? What were you and what has he made you my dear? I won't spare the person who did this to you Dev, no worries, I would take you safely with me, don't worry, don't be scared, I am here for you, I won't leave you alone no matter what," she said and sobbed and looked down. He opened his mouth to say something and muttered something under his breathe.

She looked up at him and stood up and bent over to him trying to listen what he wants to say. "Tell me? I am here, I am listening," she said and once again he said something. "Nalini, save me, I don't want to die, I want to see my mother and my sister, I can't die like this," he said by difficulty and she nodded. "Yes, I will save you, your Nalini will surely save you," she said and just as she was about to untie him, she heard a car halting outside.

She startled and froze for a mere second. "Shhh, don't speak anything, you're safe, okay," she said and then put her phone on silent with vibration, he looked at her fearfully and shook his head. "Don't go...," he was cut in between. "I am here only," she whispered and turned to the door and heard footsteps, she hid behind his chair fearfully, her heart pounded as if it would come out any second. The footsteps stopped coming as the person had finally entered the room where the lovers were. Nalini peeped a little from behind the chair and saw a silhouette probably of a man who had his arms folded on his chest.

Dev opened his eyes as his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness in the house though the moonlight did reach there. The man approached Dev and lifted his fists in the air and then suddenly placed them on his face loosening his fists and touching his face slightly and somewhat laughed. His laughter deeply scared him and her both. Dev was startled and scared, the man placed his finger on his lips. "Shhh," he said. Dev tried to control his fear but could hardly control himself.

Even Nalini's breathes were uneven because of the fear but then she remembered that she wasn't here to save herself but Dev. She widened her eyes and was about to stand holding his chair but then the chair creaked and she stopped. The man got alert. "Do I hear something? Is someone else also here besides the both of us? But where could the person be possibly hidden?" said the man in his robotic voice and then went behind Dev but found no one as Nalini was now near Dev's feet and assured Dev from her eyes that today none can stop him from being saved and escaping the monster's clutches.

Then the man came to the front again and once again Nalini hid behind Dev's chair. Keeping the phone's brightness low, she dialed police's number and placed it on her ear covering her mouth. "Hallo, I am here at this strange house," she said in a whisper and told the address and disconnected the call. The man heard her whispers and approached her slowly. Her phone vibrated but just as she was about to pick it, her phone was snatched from her hand and thrown away and it also switched off. Pragati got worried for her.