Sacred Games Of Twisted Fate {18+}

*NIGHTMARES*

***author's pov***

Arjun pulled his mother's saree close, feeling the softness of the fabric against his face as he held it tightly, his body racked with silent sobs. The faint scent that lingered brought a flood of memories he'd kept buried, moments that felt like they belonged to another life.

"I told you to go," he whispered, his voice breaking, "and you listened. I was so damn arrogant... so sure you'd be back." He clutched the saree tighter, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him as he let out a bitter, trembling breath. "I didn't know that night would be the last time... I was so stupid. I pushed you away, and you never came back. Maa, I'm sorry. I failed you."

The tears kept coming as he sank deeper into his regrets, his voice dropping to a barely audible murmur. "And now Aayara... I'm doing it again. I'm pushing her away, ruining her innocence, just like I ruined yours."

After a while, Arjun stood up, wiping the remnants of tears from his face. He took one last look at the room before carefully gathering the saree in his arms, holding it close as he began walking back to his bedroom. His footsteps echoed through the quiet halls, and with each step, he felt the familiar coldness settle over him again, steeling his resolve.

When he finally reached his room, he paused, staring down at the delicate fabric in his hands-a piece of his past he could never let go of. Taking a deep breath, he gently set the saree down, the softness contrasting with the turmoil that raged silently within him.

Arjun walked toward the bed, the weight of the night heavy on his mind. Slowly, he slipped under the covers, lying back with a silent sigh. His gaze drifted to the ceiling as shadows danced across it, memories and regrets swirling within him. The ache he'd managed to bury so deeply now felt closer than ever, tugging at emotions he couldn't afford to show.

Beside him, Aayara lay peacefully unaware of his silent turmoil, her presence a strange source of both comfort and vulnerability. As he closed his eyes, he tried to quiet his mind, but the lingering weight of his mother's memory and Aayara's innocence refused to fade.

As Arjun slipped under the covers, the weight of the past pressed down on him, suffocating and relentless. Soon, the haunted memories enveloped him, dragging him into a restless sleep. His brow furrowed, and his body shivered as he was plunged into nightmares that replayed the darkest moments of his life. He tossed and turned, sweat glistening on his skin as shadows danced in his mind, whispering regrets and fears he couldn't escape.

"Maa! Don't go!" he mumbled, his voice thick with desperation as he fought against the invisible chains of his dreams. The echo of loss clawed at his chest, squeezing tighter with each anguished cry.

Aayara stirred awake beside him, her heart racing at the sound of his distress. She blinked in the dim light, confusion giving way to alarm as she saw him trapped in the throes of a nightmare. Without thinking, she reached out, gently shaking his shoulder, her voice a soft anchor in the storm of his mind. "Arjun... wake up."

As her fingers brushed against him, he stirred, a gasp escaping his lips. Aayara leaned closer, her thumb stroking his temple soothingly, desperate to pull him back from the edge of his torment.

"It's my fault!" Arjun mumbled again, tears spilling from his closed eyes as he shivered uncontrollably. Aayara's heart ached at the sound of his pain, her mind racing to understand what he was experiencing. She wanted to comfort him, to erase the anguish that gripped him so tightly.

Ignoring the words that tumbled from his lips, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into her embrace against her chest. His warmth seeped into her, and she could feel the tension in his body slowly begin to ease as he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, seeking solace.

"It's okay, Arjun," she whispered softly, her voice steady and calming. "I'm here. You're safe." She held him tighter, her fingers running through his hair, trying to soothe the chaos swirling in his mind.

Arjun's breathing began to steady, but the remnants of fear still lingered in the air. Aayara could feel the rapid beat of his heart against her, matching her own as she tried to offer him a sense of peace. "You don't have to go through this alone," she murmured, burying her face in his hair, her heart yearning to take away his pain.

Slowly, he relaxed into her, the shivering subsiding as he drew strength from her presence. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope amidst the shadows of his memories, a silent promise that perhaps, just perhaps, he could let go of the guilt that weighed so heavily on him.

Arjun's hands slipped under her nightgown, his touch full of desperation as he clung to her warmth, as though grounding himself from his nightmare. She felt his grip tighten, his breathing uneven and heavy. As his nails digged in her back. Aayara bit her lip, her heart aching as she sensed his inner turmoil , and the pain emerged from his actions..

His grip was firm and possesive, leaving some nail marks on her back , as if he was holding her for his dear life , drawing strength from her very presence .

Softly, she closed her eyes and brought one hand up to smooth his hair, her touch gentle, a silent assurance that he wasn't alone. In her quiet embrace, he gradually began to relax, his hold easing, though he still stayed close, as if drawing strength from her presence.

In that moment, all his guarded walls seemed to fade, leaving him vulnerable. Aayara felt an unspoken understanding form between them, a bond beyond words, as she offered him comfort in his most fragile state.