Captivated By Him

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Anurag returned to the room with an eerie, calculated calm, carrying the tray. He knelt before Nandini, who was huddled on the floor.

​"Shh... ro mat, baby. Dekho, tumhari halat dekho. Tumhare rone se hamare bachche par asar pad raha hai. Kya tum chahti ho usey kuch ho?
(Shh... don't cry, baby. Look at your condition. Your crying is affecting our child. Do you want something to happen to him?)"

​Nandini recoiled, her voice trembling.
"Please... mujhe jaane do
(Please... let me go)."

​Anurag gently took her wrist and locked the heavy diamond bracelet onto it.

"Main tumhe kabhi nahi jaane doonga. Tum meri Mannat ho, aur main tumhara sab kuch hoon. Tumhe kya lagta hai, woh Manik tumhara khayal rakhta tha?
(I will never let you go. You are my Mannat, and I am your everything. What do you think, did that Manik take care of you?)"

​He stood up, pacing the room with a manic intensity.

"Maine sab intizam kar liya hai. Staff sirf meri sunega. Unhe lagta hai tum accident ke baad apni yaadein kho chuki ho. Vishal aa raha hai? Aane do. Usey wahi dikhega jo main dikhaunga
(I have made all the arrangements. The staff will only listen to me. They think you lost your memories after the accident. Vishal is coming? Let him come. He will only see what I want to show him)."

​He walked over and forced her to sit on the bed, his fingers lingering on her face.

"Manik kabhi tumhari choti-choti zarooraton ka khayal nahi rakhta tha. Par main? Main tumhari saanson ki raftar tak janta hoon. Main tumhare liye duniya jala sakta hoon, aur tum ho ki ek ghost ke liye ro rahi ho?
(Manik never cared for your small needs. But me? I know the rhythm of your breaths. I can burn the world for you, and here you are, crying for a ghost?)"

​He leaned in, his voice a dangerous whisper.

"Yeh phal khao, Nandu. Ya kahoon... Mannat? Maine khud apne haathon se taiyaar kiya hai. Jab tak main zinda hoon, tumhe kuch nahi hone doonga
(Eat these fruits, Nandu. Or should I say... Mannat? I prepared this with my own hands. As long as I am alive, I won't let anything happen to you)."

​He moved toward the door, turning back one last time.

"Mujhe jaana hoga, us warehouse mein hamare 'Manik' ko sambhalna hai. Yaad rakhna, door lock karne ki koshish mat karna. Aur agar chillaane ki sochi... toh yaad rakhna ki tumhare apne kis haal mein honge. Khamosh raho aur intezaar karo
(I have to go, I need to look after our 'Manik' at the warehouse. Remember, don't try to lock the door. And if you think of screaming... then remember what will happen to your loved ones. Stay quiet and wait)."

​He blew her a kiss, his smile devoid of any humanity.

Nandini looked at the silver tray, her stomach churning with a mixture of fear and revulsion. She looked up at Anurag, her eyes wide with desperation.

​"Anurag... please, meri baat suno (Anurag... please, listen to me),"

she begged, her voice trembling.

"Tum keh rahe ho ki main tumhari Mannat hoon, par main nahi hoon! Main Nandini hoon. Yeh sab galat hai
(You are saying I am your Mannat, but I am not! I am Nandini. All of this is wrong)."

​Anurag's expression softened into a look of mock pity. He leaned down, his face inches from hers.

​"Shh... shona, tum abhi bohot confuse ho
(Shh... darling, you are very confused right now),"
he whispered, his voice dangerously smooth.

"Tumhara dimaag tumhare saath khel raha hai. Woh Manik tumhein barbaad kar raha tha, aur main... main tumhein bacha raha hoon (Your mind is playing games with you. That Manik was ruining you, and I... I am saving you)."

​"Nahi! Woh mujhse pyaar karta hai! Humari family hai (No! He loves me! We have a family),"

Nandini cried out, tears streaming down her face.

"Tumne usse wahan qaid kar rakha hai, usse chhod do!
(You have kept him imprisoned there, let him go!)"

​Anurag laughed a low, chilling sound that echoed in the small room. He reached out and gently, but firmly, pinched her chin, forcing her to look directly into his eyes.

​"Pyaar? Tumhein lagta hai woh tumse pyaar karta hai? (Love? You think he loves you?)"

he sneered, his tone turning venomous.

"Woh tumhein sirf ek khilona samajhta hai. Main tumhari pooja karta hoon, Mannat. Jab tak tumhein sab yaad nahi aata, tab tak tum meri nazar mein rahogi (He considers you just a toy. I worship you, Mannat. Until you remember everything, you will remain in my sight)."

​He stood up, his demeanor shifting back to an unsettling, fake warmth.

​"Ab chup-chaap yeh kha lo. Main nahi chahta ki meri Mannat kamzor pade
(Now, eat this quietly. I don't want my Mannat to become weak)."

​Nandini sobbed, clutching the bedsheets.
"Tum mujhse kya chahte ho? (What do you want from me?)"

​Anurag walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. He looked back at her with a look of terrifying obsession.

​"Sirf tumhari wafadari aur tumhara sukoon
(Only your loyalty and your peace)"

" Aur yaad rakhna... agar Vishal ya kisi aur ne tumhein mujhse door karne ki koshish ki, toh main unki duniya tabah kar dunga. Samajh gayi?
(And remember... if Vishal or anyone else tries to take you away from me, I will destroy their world. Understood?)"

​With that, he walked out.

​"Anurag! Ruko! Meri baat toh suno!
(Anurag! Stop! Listen to me!)"

Nandini screamed, running to the door and pounding on the wood.
​But all she heard was the final, heavy sound of the deadbolt sliding into place. She slid down the door, burying her face in her hands, trapped in a nightmare from which there seemed to be no waking up.

Screen freeze at nandini
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