WITH YOU!

39. COME TO ME!

VIVAAN

I was having the most peaceful sleep of my life, holding her closer to my heart, feeling complete & contented, when suddenly I felt her trembling. I held her closer in half-sleep, when I heard her mumbling something, & then her tears fell down on my bare chest, as I woke up, & looked at her, switching on the side lamp.

She was crying, breathing heavily, mumbling things like, 'NO', 'Don't do this Uncle', 'I beg you Uncle', 'please', as she sobbed again. Huh? Uncle? I thought it was that fucker! What does she mean by uncle?

She started shivering, as sweat shone up her forehead & neck. She teared more rapidly, as I decided to wake her up. She was having a nightmare, maybe the trauma was too much for her, but it felt like she was remembering some bad memories, her terror felt real.

"Baby, wake up! It's just a dream! Hey, wake up! It's ok!" I kept on mumbling to comfort her, but I felt she wasn't listening at all!

Her breathings rose, & so did her blabbering, tears & trembling. She was sobbing, whimpering, as if someone was hitting her, & she was in pain!

She kept on moving her head here-&-there.

I didn't know what to do, as I never comforted anyone, rather I took their comfort away, that's what I'm best at doing.

Her hold on me increased & tightened.

"Aisha?" I called, as she woke up with a jerk, breathing audibly, placing her palm on her chest, tearing yet, yelling a "NO!"

I was shocked at her reaction. I too got up, & placed my hand on her shoulder, to which she flinched.

"It's ok, it's just a dream, you're safe!" I spoke, as softly as I could manage, in my harsh voice.

"I wish it was..." she spoke looking outside the glass window, which showed the glittering half-moon, under the dim lights of the room, as her teary eyes & tears glittered under the mild moonlight.

"Have some." I gave her a glass of water.

She eyed it, & then me.

"You-you wanted to know it all, right?" she spoke.

"It's ok if..." she cut me off, with determination shining in her eyes, wiping her tears.

"No! I'll tell you, now! You want to know, fine, I'll tell you all of it, even if I-I l-loose you after that..." she spoke the last sentence in a low tone, looking down, taking a minute's pause, & breathing deeply, she begun.

"Three years ago from now, I-I was preparing for my last board exam of 12th standard, when Aunty, & I-Ishu went out of the mansion, for some work, as Ishu's exams were over..." she paused, drank some water, & continued.

"I-I was in my room, preparing as the next day was my l-last exam, of History... It was already e-eight in the evening, I went to the k-kitchen to have s-something, to find n-nobody in the mansion....I made some t-tea for myself, but as I was g-going back to my room..." she stopped as tears dropped down her eyes, while she kept on looking at the moon.

I held her hands, to support, as I literally had no idea what else to do.

She continued sniffing, after taking a deep breathing, she spoke again.

"As I climbed the stairs, s-someone held me by my w-waist, &-& my heart was gripped by an unknown t-terror. My h-heartbeat slowed down, as I felt a thousand small mosquitoes c-crawling on my skin...." she sobbed.