Hum Deewane Hogaye Hain Aapke!

Chapter: 5

The midnight darkness enveloped the house, a serene oasis amidst the bustling city. The mansion's sleek architecture gleamed under the soft moonlight, its manicured lawns and towering trees casting long shadows that stretched across the grounds. The sound of crickets provided a soothing background melody, punctuated by the distant hum of traffic.

Inside, the room exuded tranquility. Soft, silken curtains draped the windows, filtering the moon's gentle glow and casting a silver sheen on the floor. The spacious room was minimalist elegance, with a king-size bed at its center, adorned with plush pillows and a velvety comforter. Ekansh lay on the bed, his chest rising and falling with each breath, his dark hair spread across the pillow.

But despite the peaceful surroundings, Ekansh's expression was etched with anxiety. His brow furrowed, and his lips were pursed, as if holding back unspoken words. His eyes darted beneath closed eyelids, as if chasing nightmares that refused to release him.

In his dream, shadows danced across his mind. Faint outlines of figures emerged, their features indistinct. A woman's pleading voice echoed, growing desperate, but her words were indistinguishable. A man's face remained obscured, but his grip on the woman's hair was unmistakable, cruel. A small kid's cries pierced the air, heart-wrenching.

Ekansh's face contorted, his body tensing. The woman's voice grew louder, her desperation palpable. The man's shadow loomed, a dark silhouette that seemed to engulf everything.

A faint gunshot cracked through the dream, shattering the illusion. Ekansh's eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a jolt. "Maa!" he screamed, his voice shaking, ripping through the silence.

Sweat drenched his face, his heart racing like a marathon runner. Fear filled his eyes, and his chest heaved as if he'd run a thousand miles. He gasped for air, as if drowning in an ocean of terror. If someone else had seen him in this condition, they would not have believed that he was the same Ekansh Raichand whom everyone scared to deal with.

"No...no...it can't be," Ekansh whispered, his voice trembling. His gaze darted around the room, dispelling the lingering shadows, searching for solace. His eyes pleaded for reassurance, but the darkness outside seemed to closing in.

He threw off the covers and rushed to the nearby drawer, his movements frantic. His hands shook as he grabbed a bottle of pills and popped the cap, the clicking sound echoing through the room. He swallowed two tablets hastily, washing them down with water from a nearby glass, the liquid soothing his parched throat.

Ekansh collapsed back onto the bed, his eyes closing. His chest still heaved, but slowly, his breathing steadied. The anxiety pills began to take effect, numbing the pain, dulling the fear.

His face transformed, turning cold and emotionless, a mask shielding his inner turmoil. The tension in his body eased, replaced by a numbness that seeped into his pores. Ekansh's expression smoothed, his eyes emptying of fear, their sparkle dimming.

The room fell silent once more, the only sound Ekansh's steady breathing, a soothing rhythm. The shadows that had haunted his dream receded, banished by the artificial calm. But in the darkness, Ekansh's heart still whispered a single word: "Maa," a plea, a prayer, a haunting memory.

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In the Morning ( At Urvi's Home)