[ ɪɴᴅɪᴀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ♬♩♪♩]
"It's okay, love. I won't hurt you," Raj tried to reassure me, his voice soft, but I couldn't believe him. I shakily stood up, trying to put more distance between us.
"Please, Lavanya, relax. You're not well," he said, steppin...
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✧ Author's POV ✧
Slowly, Lavanya moved toward the door, her legs trembling under the weight of her fear and exhaustion. The air inside felt thick, suffocating her with the terrifying memories of what she'd just witnessed. Her breath hitched as she turned to give one last warning, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Don’t follow me," she urged, her eyes filled with a mixture of desperation and resolve, though her heart ached with uncertainty. The urge to flee battled with the fear of what awaited outside, yet staying in that place was no longer an option.
With those final words, she pushed the door open, the creak of the hinges echoing in the stillness. The moment she stepped outside, the cool night air hit her, awakening her senses. Adrenaline surged through her veins, urging her to move. Without hesitation, she bolted, her bare feet slapping against the cold, unforgiving ground. The night was eerily silent except for the frantic pounding of her heart, which seemed to echo louder with each step. Her pulse thudded in her ears, drowning out every rational thought.
Each breath she took was shallow, the panic gnawing at her insides as her surroundings blurred into nothing. The sound of the wind, the distant hum of the city—everything faded away, leaving only the deafening noise of her fear. She ran without looking back, the image of Tanu's lifeless eyes and Raj's monstrous form burned into her mind, haunting her every second.
Don’t stop. Don’t think. Just run. It was the only thought that kept her going, pushing her beyond the limits of her body.
The sky above was dark and oppressive, but soon, without warning, it split open. Rain poured down, as if the heavens themselves mourned for her, for Tanu, for everything that was lost. The droplets stung her skin, cold and relentless, mixing with her tears until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. Lavanya's sobs were silent, swallowed by the storm. Every step became harder as the exhaustion weighed her down, her body threatening to give up. The rain, once refreshing, now felt like an added burden.
Keep going. She forced herself to continue, her feet slipping on the wet pavement, but the need to escape was stronger than the pain. The road stretched ahead of her like an endless abyss, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she would ever find peace again—or if she was doomed to be haunted by tonight’s horrors forever.
Suddenly, the screech of tires on wet asphalt shattered the oppressive silence, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. A car skidded to a halt just inches from her, its headlights blinding her. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as her heart raced with renewed fear. The rain blurred her vision, and she squinted, unable to make out who was behind the wheel. Panic rose within her—was it him? Had Raj come for her?
But then, through the downpour, a familiar voice called out, thick with concern. "Lavanya! What are you doing out here? And in this rain?"
Her vision cleared just enough to recognize Dhruv Mahajan, his face twisted in worry as he jumped out of the car, the rain immediately soaking through his clothes. Relief washed over her, though it was fleeting. She barely had time to process before her legs gave out, and she crumbled to the ground, her body shaking uncontrollably.
