Raah-e-ishq

CHAPTER 2

ZIMAL'S POV:

I found myself seated beneath the protective canopy of a grand tree, its sprawling branches reaching out like the arms of an old friend. The gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, stirring them into a delicate dance, while the dappled sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting a warm, golden glow upon the scene.

Wrapped in a shawl of soft, flowing fabric, I sat amidst a sea of white petals scattered upon the ground, their delicate fragrance mingling with the earthy scent of the forest. My gaze was drawn to the house that loomed before me, its weathered facade standing as a silent sentinel against the passage of time. It was a place of mystery and intrigue, its crumbling walls shrouded in the secrets of centuries past.

As I surveyed the scene before me, a sense of unease settled over me like a heavy fog. The house seemed to pulsate with a dark energy, its windows like eyes peering out from the shadows, watching, waiting. Yet despite the foreboding atmosphere, there was a strange allure to the place, a pull that drew me closer even as my instincts urged me to flee.

But try as I might, I found myself unable to move, as if rooted to the spot by some unseen force. Panic fluttered in my chest like a trapped bird, my heart pounding against my ribs in a frantic rhythm. I longed to break free from the invisible chains that bound me, to escape the clutches of this eerie dreamscape and return to the safety of wakefulness.

And then, as if conjured from the depths of my subconscious, I saw him standing before me, a shadowy figure silhouetted against the backdrop of the haunted house. His features were obscured, his form shrouded in darkness, yet I knew instinctively that it was him, the mysterious presence that haunted my dreams.

A surge of emotion welled up inside me, a mixture of fear and longing that left me trembling in its wake. I yearned to see his face, to know the truth behind the enigmatic figure that had haunted my thoughts for so long. But before I could reach out to him, a blinding light enveloped me, swallowing me whole and plunging me into darkness, my head throbbing with pain.

As I regained consciousness, I found myself lying on the floor of my room, the duvet draped over my head like a shroud. Gasping for breath, I pushed the covers aside, my heart racing with adrenaline. My body was slick with sweat, the remnants of the dream still clinging to my senses.

For a moment, I feared that I had slipped into the realm of the dead, but as I surveyed my surroundings, I realized that I was still very much alive. Frustration welled up inside me, a torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm my senses.

"Why can't I see his face?" I lamented, burying my face in the pillow in a futile attempt to block out the maddening thoughts that plagued me.

As I stood up, I reached for my device, the screen blaring with notifications – a relentless barrage from my impatient colleagues. Each missed call felt like a dagger to the heart, a reminder of the looming deadline and the chaos that awaited me. My eyes widened with the realization. There's no way, I'm going to miss the flight.

With a sense of urgency clawing at my chest, I dashed towards the bathroom, the cold tiles biting into my bare feet as I shed my pajamas with frantic haste.

My fingers fumbled with the buttons of my jeans, my heart racing as I struggled to dress myself in the dim light of dawn. Finally, I managed to slip into a pair of flare jeans and a warm brown hoodie, their familiar embrace a comforting shield against the chill of the morning air.

With my pulse pounding in my ears, I snatched up my passport, handbag, and luggage, their weight heavy in my trembling hands. Every step felt like a marathon, the hallway stretching out before me like an endless abyss as I made my way towards the door.