Raaz Aakhein Teri

Chapter 3

The storm outside intensified as the night wore on. The wind howled, rattling the windows of the mansion, and the thunder rumbled ominously, shaking the very foundations of the house. The rain pounded against the walls, each drop sounding like a drumbeat in the otherwise silent night. The storm's fury seemed to mirror the turmoil that lay just beneath the surface for Nisha.In her room, Nisha tried to sleep, but the memories of past storms haunted her.

Each flash of lightning seemed to bring with it a flood of emotions—fear, grief, and a profound sense of helplessness. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to block out the storm, but the sound was relentless, like a tidal wave crashing against her defenses. Her breathing grew shallow, and she felt her heart race uncontrollably. The familiar feeling of a panic attack began to set in, gripping her chest with an iron vice.

Nisha sat up in bed, her hands trembling. She tried to steady her breath, to remind herself that she was safe, but the fear was overpowering. The storm outside felt like a reflection of the storm within her, and she couldn't escape it. Her body felt weak, her limbs heavy, and as she reached out to steady herself on the bedside table, her hand slipped. A lamp and a few books toppled to the floor with a loud crash.

The noise startled her, and her panic deepened. Nisha pressed her hands to her ears, trying to block out the sound of the storm, but it was useless. She felt the walls closing in, the room spinning around her, and her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. She struggled to stand, to move, but her legs felt like they would give out at any moment. The memories of past losses and fears swirled in her mind, and she felt like she was drowning.

In the room down the hall, Nayan was jolted awake by the sound of something crashing to the floor. He sat up, disoriented for a moment, before realizing that the noise had come from Nisha's room. The storm outside was raging with a terrifying intensity, and something in the pit of his stomach told him that Nisha wasn't okay. He quickly threw on a robe and made his way to her door, his heart pounding with concern.

He knocked on the door softly at first. "Nisha? Are you alright?" There was no response, only the sound of the storm and a faint, distressed whimper from within. Nayan's concern deepened, and he knocked again, a bit louder this time. "Nisha? It's Nayan. Can I come in?" Still no response, but he heard the sound of something being knocked over again, followed by a muffled sob. Without waiting any longer, he pushed the door open. It was unlocked.

Nisha was on the floor, clutching her knees to her chest, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the floor, lost in the grip of her panic. The sight of her in such a state of distress sent a wave of empathy through Nayan, and he rushed to her side, kneeling down next to her.

"Nisha," he said gently, reaching out to her. "It's okay. You're safe. I'm here."Nisha's eyes flickered toward him, but she seemed almost unable to focus, as if she were trapped in her own mind. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, and she looked like she was struggling to find any sense of calm. Nayan hesitated for only a moment before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her gently into his embrace. "Shh... it's okay. I've got you," he murmured, his voice soothing and calm.

"You're safe, Nisha. I'm right here." Nisha tensed at first, her body stiff against his, but as he held her, gently rocking back and forth, she began to relax slightly. Her hands, which had been clenched into tight fists, slowly opened, and she grasped onto his shirt as if it were a lifeline.

"It's just a storm," Nayan whispered, his cheek resting against the top of her head. "It can't hurt you. I'm here, and I won't let anything happen to you." Her breathing began to slow, the shallow gasps easing into more regular breaths, but Nisha was still trembling. The warmth of his body against hers was comforting, and she tried to focus on that instead of the storm outside. She clung to him, her tears wetting his shirt, and Nayan held her closer, his hand gently stroking her back.

For a moment, it seemed like she was calming down, but then a particularly loud clap of thunder shook the house, and Nisha's body stiffened again, her breath catching in her throat. The panic surged once more, overwhelming her fragile control. She felt her strength draining away, her vision darkening at the edges, and before she could say anything, her body went limp in Nayan's arms.

"Nisha?" Nayan's voice was filled with alarm as he felt her go still. He pulled back slightly, his heart racing as he looked down at her. She had fainted, her face pale and her breathing shallow but steady.

"Nisha, it's okay," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I've got you." He carefully lifted her in his arms, cradling her against his chest as he carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, pulling the covers over her and making sure she was comfortable. His heart ached at the sight of her so vulnerable, and he felt an overwhelming protectiveness towards her.

Nayan stayed by her side, sitting on the edge of the bed and watching her closely, waiting for any sign that she was waking up. The storm outside continued to rage, but his focus was entirely on Nisha. He held her hand, hoping that his presence would bring her some comfort even in unconsciousness.

As he sat there, he realized how much he cared for her already. There was something about Nisha—her strength and vulnerability, her passion and fear—that drew him in, making him want to protect her, to be there for her in ways he hadn't anticipated. He didn't know what her past held, what had caused her so much pain, but he knew he wanted to help her heal.

Eventually, the storm began to die down, the thunder growing more distant and the rain softening to a gentle patter against the windows. Nayan stayed with Nisha, his hand holding hers, his presence a silent promise that he wouldn't leave her alone.

As the night wore on, Nisha's breathing became more even, and she seemed to relax into a deeper sleep. Nayan sighed with relief, knowing that she was finally at peace, at least for the moment.