#MaAn: A flight of fate

||14|| Her Panic Attack

That night, the house was quiet. The events of the day had left everyone emotionally drained, and as they retreated to their respective rooms, a heavy silence settled over the home. Anupama and Anuj lay in bed, side by side, though neither of them was truly asleep. The weight of the proposal hung between them, unspoken, but present in the soft breaths and gentle rustle of the sheets.

Anupama stared at the ceiling, her mind unable to quiet itself. The love she felt for Anuj was undeniable, but the fear of another failed marriage gripped her heart like a vise. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw flashes of their past—the divorce, the heartbreak, the loneliness. The memories mixed with the more recent images of their reunion, the joy of finding each other again, the comfort of their new family. It was a whirlwind of emotions, and it was tearing her apart.

Anuj, sensing her unrest, reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm here, Anupama," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the darkness. "You're not alone."

She turned to look at him, her eyes full of unshed tears. "I know, Anuj," she replied softly, trying to offer a reassuring smile. But it didn't reach her eyes, and Anuj could see the turmoil still swirling within her.

They lay like that for a while, holding hands, their breathing synchronized as they tried to find peace in each other's presence. Slowly, exhaustion began to overtake Anupama, her eyelids growing heavy. Anuj watched her drift off, his heart aching with the knowledge that she was still struggling. He wished he could take her pain away, but all he could do was be there for her, to love her through it all.

Finally, sleep claimed them both, and the room fell into a deep, quiet stillness. Outside, the world continued its slow, steady march through the night, unaware of the storm brewing within Anupama's subconscious.

---

It was sometime in the early hours of the morning when Anupama's sleep turned restless. Her body began to twitch, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. Her dreams had taken a dark turn, filled with shadows and echoes of past hurts. In her dream, she was lost, surrounded by the fragments of her failed marriage, the fear of losing Anuj, and the terror of being alone again.

Her mind couldn't distinguish between the dream and reality. The fear was all-consuming, and she felt trapped, unable to escape the spiraling thoughts. In her sleep, she began to thrash, her hands clutching at the sheets, her nails digging into her palms.

Anuj, lying beside her, was abruptly awakened by her movements. At first, he was disoriented, unsure of what was happening. But as he blinked away the remnants of sleep, he saw Anupama struggling beside him, her face contorted in fear, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"Anupama!" he called out, his voice laced with panic. He reached out to touch her, to wake her up, but as soon as his hand made contact with her shoulder, she recoiled violently, her arm flinging out in a desperate attempt to push him away.

"Anupama, it's me! It's Anuj!" he tried again, his voice louder, more urgent. But she was too far gone, lost in the grip of her panic attack. Her body jerked again, and this time, her hand connected with Anuj's chest, her nails raking across his skin in a frantic, unintentional swipe.

Anuj winced, feeling the sting of the scratches, but his concern for Anupama far outweighed any pain he felt. He reached out again, this time more carefully, trying to avoid any sudden movements that might scare her further. "Anupama, wake up! Please, wake up!"

Her eyes flew open, wild and unseeing, as she sat up abruptly, her breaths coming in harsh, uneven bursts. She was trembling, her heart racing, her mind still caught in the throes of her nightmare. Anuj could see the terror in her eyes, and his heart broke for her.