I See The Light

The Mission

Janvi approached the house with determination, her heart pounding. She pushed the door open, surprised to find it already ajar. Holding her phone as a flashlight, she stepped inside, retracing her steps to the secret tile she had discovered before. The hidden door opened once again, revealing the dimly lit room where Shiv lay asleep.

As she cautiously moved forward, she accidentally stepped on a wrapper, creating a sharp noise. Shiv jolted awake, his wild eyes scanning the room. Rising abruptly, he let out a deep, intimidating roar and lunged at her. Fear gripped Janvi as he grabbed her arm, shouting for her to leave. In her panic, she scratched him, leaving deep marks on his arm that began to bleed.

Shiv froze when he saw her tears. Something in her vulnerability stopped him in his tracks, and he stepped back, unsure of his actions. Janvi, trying to mask her fear, quickly called out to the local villagers, threatening to accuse him of harassment if he didn’t leave the house with her. Her screams echoed through the air, forcing Shiv to relent.

Reluctantly, he stepped outside, the sensation of grass beneath his feet foreign after so many years. His movements were hesitant, almost childlike, as he felt the breeze and the ground beneath him. Janvi dragged him to a bench by the beach, handing him a cream latte. At first, Shiv hesitated, suspicious of the gesture, but after a cautious sip, his eyes lit up—a flicker of humanity breaking through his guarded shell.

Janvi seized the moment to ask him about his past, pressing him for answers. Despite her repeated questions, Shiv only replied, "I’m here by my own will. Leave me alone." Frustrated but determined, Janvi returned to her room, her mind racing with unanswered questions.

The following day, Shiv’s guard delivered his usual meal. Unbeknownst to them, the food contained mushrooms, to which Shiv was severely allergic. After eating, Shiv’s condition deteriorated rapidly. His breathing became labored, his skin flushed red, and he collapsed to the floor. In his unconscious state, he dreamed of his parents, who appeared beside him, urging him to stop struggling and come with them. His breath slowed dangerously.

At that moment, Janvi arrived to check on him. She found Shiv lying motionless on the floor and panicked, desperately trying to wake him. Realizing the severity of the situation, she summoned all her strength to drag him out of the house and called for an ambulance. After a harrowing struggle, she managed to get him to the hospital.

Six hours later, Shiv opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. He felt a weight on his hand and turned to see Janvi sleeping beside him, her hand holding his tightly. Overwhelmed, Shiv pretended to sleep when she stirred, but Janvi saw through his act.

"You’re a terrible actor," she teased gently. Shiv tried to hide his face, but Janvi’s kindness broke through his defenses. She cared for him, feeding him and tending to the allergic reactions that had caused rashes all over his body. Though Shiv resisted her efforts at first, her patience eventually softened him.

The next morning, Janvi woke to find Shiv missing from his bed. Panicked, she searched everywhere and finally found him sitting hopelessly on the roadside, staring into the distance. She approached him carefully and touched his shoulder. Startled, Shiv looked up, his eyes empty.

Janvi knelt beside him and wrapped him in a tight hug, holding him until he stopped resisting. Gently, she whispered, "Come with me. Leave this place. Let’s go to the city where you can start fresh."

For the first time, Shiv felt a glimmer of hope. He realized the painful truth: his family didn’t care if he lived or died. After a long pause, he whispered, "Yes."