𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐞

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓

POV : AARAV

The days that followed were a blur. We arranged for the funeral, and people came to pay their respects. But I was numb, moving through the motions without truly processing anything. I spent hours in my room, surrounded by memories of my mother. Every little thing reminded me of her—the scent of her favorite perfume, the sound of her laughter echoing in the halls.

One evening, I found myself sitting by her bed, holding one of her old scarves. It still smelled like her. I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me. I remembered the way she used to read my bedtime stories when I was a child, her voice soothing and gentle. I remembered the countless times she had comforted me when I was scared or upset, her embrace making everything better.

"Mom, I don't know how to do this without you," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "You always knew what to say, how to make things right. I feel so lost."

In my heart, I knew she would want me to be strong, to keep going despite the pain. She had always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. I took a deep breath, trying to draw strength from her memory.

The next day, I decided to visit her favorite spot in the garden. It was a place she loved, where she spent hours tending to her flowers. As I walked through the garden, I felt a sense of peace, as if she was still with me. I sat down on the bench where she used to sit, closing my eyes and letting the sounds of nature surround me.

"Aarav, you have to find your own path," I could almost hear her say. "Life is full of challenges, but you are strong. You can overcome anything."

I took her words to heart. I knew the road ahead would be difficult, but I also knew that my mother's love and guidance would always be with me, even if she was no longer physically present.

Days later, as I sat in my room, I received another call. It was from the hospital. "Mr. Aarav, we have some documents related to your mother's treatment that you need to collect."

I drove to the hospital, the place that had become all too familiar over the past months. As I walked through the corridors, memories of my mother filled my mind. I reached the doctor's office, and he handed me a file. "These are your mother's medical records and some letters she wanted you to have."

I took the file, my hands shaking. "Thank you," I said softly.

Back home, I opened the file and found a stack of letters addressed to me. Each letter was filled with my mother's words of wisdom, love, and encouragement. She had known that her time was limited, and she had prepared these letters to guide me even after she was gone.

As I read through the letters, tears streamed down my face. She had thought of everything—her words were like a lifeline, helping me navigate through my grief. She wrote about the importance of following my dreams, about finding happiness and love, and about the strength that comes from within.

In one of the letters, she wrote, "Aarav, I know you are going through a difficult time. But remember, I will always be with you in spirit. You have the strength to overcome any challenge. Believe in yourself and keep moving forward."

Her words gave me the courage to start thinking about the future again. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that my mother's love would always be a part of me, guiding me through the darkest of times.

The same day, as I was going through my mother's belongings, I found a small box. Inside was a locket with a picture of our family—my mother, my father, and me. There was a note attached to it. "Wear this locket, Aarav. It will remind you that no matter where you are, we are always with you."

I put on the locket, feeling a sense of comfort. It was a tangible reminder of the love that surrounded me, even in my mother's absence. As I looked at the picture, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I knew that my mother's legacy would live on through me, and I was determined to make her proud.

A few days later, I received a call from my best friend, Arsh. His voice was tense as he said, "Aarav, we got a lead. Come to the Ekra Mansion." He mentioned an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

As I drove to the location, a mix of anticipation and dread churned in my stomach. The warehouse loomed large and foreboding as I parked my car and walked in. Inside, I saw a man tied to a chair, his face bruised and eyes full of fear. Arsh stood nearby, his expression grim.

"Arsh, who is he? And why did you call me here?" I demanded, my voice sharp with urgency.

Arsh looked at me, his eyes steady. "As you asked, I went through the recordings of the hospital's CCTV. This man was involved in your mother's murder."

Listening to Arsh's words, a wave of anger crashed over me, blinding and hot. Without thinking, I lunged at the man, fists flying. I punched and kicked him, my rage pouring out in a torrent. Arsh tried to pull me back, but I was unstoppable.

The man cried and begged, "Please, stop! I'll tell you who paid us to do this!"

I paused, my breath ragged, fists clenched. "Speak, you bastard!" I spat, my voice a growl.

He coughed, blood trickling from his mouth, and muttered, "It was Mr. Oberoi. He paid us to do it."

"Bhumika's father?"

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind flashed back to the threat Bhumika's father had made to kill my family and even my sick mother. The realization was a cold, hard truth that settled in my chest, fueling the fire of my anger and sorrow.

"You'll pay for this," I whispered, my voice trembling with fury and grief.

Arsh stepped in, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Aarav, we need to handle this carefully. There are bigger forces at play here."

"I don't care!", I spat. "He went too far with this."

"So, what are you going to do?", Arsh asked.

"You'll get to know soon!", saying this I walked towards that man, his eyes portrayed fear. I took a retractable knife out of my pocket and grazed it over his face before pushing it to that man's left eye.

He begged for mercy, but I felt completely numb doing it.

I took out that knife out of his skull, it was completely covered in blood. His other eye had the fear of death in it. I kind of liked it.

I said, "You'll are so f*cked up now!" while slicing his throat.