TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -3

It was a warm summer evening when five-year-old Hardik Pandya, was running around their backyard, his laughter echoing in the air. His mother, chasing him playfully, called out, "Harry, slow down! I'm going to catch you!"

But then, her cheerful voice turned into a sudden cry of pain. Hardik skidded to a stop and turned around, his heart pounding. He saw his mother being dragged towards the looming, eerie palace at the edge of their property by an unseen force. Her desperate eyes locked onto his as she screamed, "Harry, help me!"

Terrified, he ran towards her, but it was too late. The shadows swallowed her, and he was left alone, screaming for his mother as darkness enveloped him.

Hardik jolted awake, drenched in sweat, his heart racing. It took him a moment to realize he was back in his college dorm room. The nightmare had felt so real. He reached out to the empty bed beside him, but KL Rahul had already left for his early classes.

Feeling a profound sense of dread, Hardik grabbed his phone and called his mother. The phone rang once, twice, and then she answered, her voice warm and comforting.

"Hello, Hardik! What a surprise! Is everything okay?"

Hardik swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "Hi, Mom. Yeah, everything's fine. Just wanted to hear your voice."

His mother paused, sensing something off. "Are you sure, sweetheart? You sound a bit... off. Is something bothering you?"

He forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow to his own ears. "It's nothing, Mom. Just caught a bit of a cold. I'll be fine."

"If you're sure... You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"I know, Mom. Thanks. I love you."

"I love you too, Hardik. Take care of yourself."

After hanging up, Hardik tried to shake off the lingering unease. But the shadows in the room seemed to grow darker, pressing in on him. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead, and the edges of his vision began to blur. He felt the darkness consuming him, pulling him into its depths.

Unable to fight it, he fainted, collapsing onto the floor. The last thing he heard was the distant sound of his mother’s voice echoing in his mind, calling him back to the light.

💞💞💞

As Hardik slowly regained consciousness, he found himself in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Dormitary nursery, a place he had never been before. Confusion and disorientation clouded his mind momentarily until he heard footsteps approaching. A young man with a gentle demeanor entered the room, concern etched on his face.

"Hey, are you okay?" the newcomer asked softly, his voice carrying a hint of shyness.

Hardik blinked, trying to focus. "Uh, yeah... I think so. What happened?"

The young man stepped closer, offering a reassuring smile. "I'm Shubman. I'm Rahul's classmate. I found you unconscious in your dorm room, so I brought you here. Rahul isn't back yet from his classes."

Hardik nodded gratefully, sitting up slowly. "Thank you, Shubman. I appreciate it. I don't know what happened... I just felt... overwhelmed."

Shubman nodded sympathetically. "It's okay. Sometimes these things happen. Are you feeling any better now?"

"Yeah, I think so," Hardik replied, rubbing his temples. "Just a bit shaken up."

Shubman hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his shyness evident. "Um, I hope you don't mind me asking, but... are you sure you're okay? You seemed really out of it when I found you."

Hardik glanced at Shubman, touched by his genuine concern. "Honestly, I don't know. I had this... nightmare, and then everything felt so strange. It's like... like something dark is following me."

Shubman frowned slightly, his brow furrowing in worry. "That sounds scary. Do you want me to get Rahul ? He might know what to do."

Hardik shook his head slowly. "No, it's fine. I just need some time to clear my head. Thanks for bringing me here, Shubman."

Shubman nodded, a small but warm smile returning to his face. "Anytime, Hardik. If you need anything, just let me know. Rahul should be back soon. I hope you feel better."

"Thanks, Shubman," Hardik replied sincerely. "You're a good friend to Rahul."

Shubman blushed faintly at the compliment, clearly not used to such praise. "Oh, um, thanks. I'll go check if Rahul's back yet. Take care, okay?"

With that, Shubman quietly left the nursery, leaving Hardik alone with his thoughts. As he lay back on the bed, the memories of the nightmare and the strange events of the night flooded back. Despite Shubman's kindness, a lingering unease remained, a feeling that the darkness he had sensed earlier was not done with him yet.