Marked By Darkness

Chapter 78- A Looming Darkness

Anshi's POV...

The morning light streamed through the kitchen window, but it didn't quite lift the weight I felt in my chest. I sat at the table, trying to get through my breakfast, but my mind was elsewhere. I hadn't heard from Ruhi yet, and I couldn't help but worry about her. It wasn't just the upcoming wedding-it was everything she was facing. The curse. Hina. Ruhan. Everything was moving too fast.

"Anshi," my mom's voice broke through my thoughts as she set down a plate of toast. "How's Ruhi? Is she doing okay?"

I looked up at her, forcing a smile, though I could see the concern in her eyes. "She's okay, Mom. She's handling things... better than I expected. But she's going to marry in four days."

My mom froze for a moment, her hand resting on the edge of the counter. The surprise was clear on her face. "What? She's going to marry? After everything that's happened with her mother?"

I nodded, my heart heavy. "I know. It's a lot to take in, but... Ruhi's alone now. Her mom's gone, and maybe she just needs someone. She needs support. I think that's what this marriage is about."

My mom sighed, looking out the window for a moment. "Poor girl. She's been through so much already. I can't imagine how she must feel."

I nodded in agreement, understanding her unspoken concern. "Yeah. I think that's why she agreed to this, even if it's not what she really wants."

There was a brief silence before my mom asked, her voice quieter now, "Who is she marrying? Who is the guy?"

"Ruhan," I answered softly. "You know, our neighbor."

Her eyes widened, clearly surprised by the answer. "Ruhan? The one who's been helping her with everything?"

I nodded again. "Yeah. He's been there for her, and he's the only one who can really protect her."

My mom didn't say anything for a moment, taking it all in. Finally, she gave a slow nod, her gaze softening. "I hope he's the right one for her. She needs someone good right now."

"I think he is," I said, more to reassure myself than to convince her. "He cares about her."

She gave me a final look of understanding. "Well, I hope everything works out. It's a lot for her to handle."

---

Ruhan's POV...

The next day, I stood outside Ruhi's door, feeling a strange heaviness in my chest. I had been avoiding this moment, but I couldn't keep putting it off. She was my responsibility now, and I needed to make sure she was okay-physically, emotionally, everything.

I slowly pushed the door open, hearing the soft sound of crying from inside. My heart twisted.

Ruhi was sitting by the window, her back to me, clutching a photo frame to her chest. Her body shook with quiet sobs. The room was dim, the only light coming from the morning haze outside.

I cleared my throat gently. "Ruhi?" I called softly, not wanting to startle her.

She immediately wiped her tears away and straightened up, as if she hadn't been crying at all. But I could see the red around her eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly. She hadn't been able to hide everything.

"Ruhan," she said in a soft voice, turning to face me. "I didn't hear you."

I stepped inside slowly, trying not to intrude. My gaze flickered to the photo frame in her hands, the one she had been holding so tightly. It was a picture of her and her mom, both of them smiling, happy. A stark contrast to the pain I saw in her eyes now.

"I'm sorry," I said softly, sitting down across from her. "I didn't mean to intrude. But I wanted to check on you."

She nodded, looking down at the photo in her hands. "It's okay, Ruhan. I'm fine."

I didn't believe her, but I didn't push it. Instead, I asked, "What's on your mind? Is there anything I can do for you?"

She shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No. I'm just... thinking about my mom. I never thought it would be like this. I never thought I'd have to live without her."

I swallowed hard, understanding the depth of her pain. "I can't imagine what you're going through. I wish there was more I could do."

Ruhi didn't respond, her gaze drifting to the window again. After a moment, she spoke, her voice quieter than before. "Ruhan, in four days... I'll be married to you. I don't know if I'm ready for it, but I have to do it. I can't keep living like this. I need to do something to stop all of this."

I blinked, caught off guard by her words. "Ruhi... I-"

She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and something else I couldn't place. "Please, Ruhan. Don't ask me why. Just... understand that this is the only way. For me."

I could feel a lump form in my throat. "I'm not doing this to hurt you, Ruhi. I swear. I just want to help you. I want to save you."

She looked at me then, really looked at me, and for a moment, I could see the walls she had built around herself. "I know you do," she whispered. "But I can't do this alone."

I stood up, walking over to her, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone. I won't let you be."

---

Later That Night...

As night fell, I tried to settle into my bed, but sleep wouldn't come. My thoughts kept racing, circling back to Ruhi, to her decision, to everything that had happened. I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't ready to be her protector. I wasn't ready to marry her, to take on the curse, to face whatever lay ahead.

The darkness around me seemed to grow thicker, suffocating me. I closed my eyes, hoping for some rest. But that's when it came-the nightmare.

I found myself standing in the middle of a dark, foggy landscape. The air was thick with a strange, heavy weight, and a low, ominous sound echoed in the distance. The only light came from tiny, flickering spots scattered around, like stars in the pitch black.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fog-Ruhi's mother. Her face was twisted with anger, her eyes wild with fury. "So you think you can protect my daughter from the curse?" she yelled, her voice sharp and venomous. "You, the one who comes from the same bloodline as the woman who created this nightmare? You think you can undo the damage your grandmother did?"

I took a step back, fear seizing my chest. "No, I don't want to hurt her," I said, my voice trembling. "I just want to save her. I swear it."

Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward. "You'll never protect her. You and your family are just as cursed as mine. You've already ruined her life."

The ground beneath me seemed to tremble as she stepped closer, her figure growing more menacing. The fog thickened, and shadows began to twist and swirl around me.

"No!" I shouted, but my voice was drowned out by the swirling darkness.

Suddenly, I woke up, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest. The nightmare was still lingering, the fear still gripping me. I sat up in bed, trying to steady my breath, but all I could hear was the echo of her words: "You'll never protect her."

I looked around my dark room, the silence around me only adding to the tension. The night felt endless, and sleep wouldn't come again. I spent the rest of the night in a haze of uncertainty, unable to shake the feeling that something worse was coming.