FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 7:THE PAST...IN THE PRESENT

Abhay drove his car, his jaws clenched as he tried to calm down. He was driving back to office, planning to work from there. Right now he wanted to stay far away from his home, he didn't want his father to remind him again of HER. His fists clenched around his steering wheel. Ever since he had met her, she constantly occupied his thoughts. Damn her, he cursed silently. Damn the whole stupid world. The rain had started to fall as he drove, and as he saw the wipers wiping off the water, he wished they could just as easily wipe out the dark horrors of his past.

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"You want me to meet ur mom?" Arjun asked. "But'"

"I know she died" Alisha said sadly. "But I want u to see her. I have a photo of her, and I want to show u what my mom was like. It's the only thing I have to link me to her, that photo. Dad won't even talk about her. And my brother doesn't remember her, he was just three, when, u know'"

Arjun kissed her forehead. "I understand, love. I'm sorry for what happened. But I'm there for u, always."

Alisha looked up at him smiling and linked her hands with his. "I know Arjun, and that is why I love u. After u've met mom, I'll take u to meet Dad. Okay?"

"As u wish, love." Said Arjun, pulling her into a hug.

Another scene:

They were on the narrow bridge on the creek. The night was deep and silent, the half-moon shone through as Alisha stared at Arjun. "Why did u tell me to meet u here? And u're drunk? U never drink, Arjun."

"There's always a first" Arjun slurred. "And the disgust I feel for u is a first now."

"What--?"

"Stay away" Arjun spoke, his words slurring again. "I told u to meet me so I could tell u this." He pulled out a knife from his pocket. Alisha's eyes widened in horror. "Don't come near me,u '"

Alisha's eyes had widened in horror. "Arjun'is that a knife? Arjun,dear, why r u behaving so weird?Listen, U r not in ur mind now, we'll talk la'"

"Don't come near!"Arjun shouted, stumbling backwards, the knife still held before him, as Alisha tried to advance towards her. "Don't touch me. We're over. This is over."

"Arjun, no" Alisha whispered brokenly. "Don't do this. Okay, I'm not coming near u. But tell me what I have done? Why r u acting like this, Arjun. Please'"

"U-u'"Arjun slurred. "U-are- u betrayed'how can u be her'no'"

He stumbled on the railings and almost fell over.

"Careful, Arjun!" Alisha cried. She rushed forward, trying to steady him. Arjun struggled to get away from her. "Let's go home. We'll talk about this tomorrow'"

"There's no tomorrow for us" said Arjun, blinking his eyes to see properly. He stumbled on his feet, as Alisha tried to help him, trying to evade the knife. "Don't come near'"

"Arjun, let me help u stand, U'll fa'"

"NO!" they struggled against each other, Alisha sobbing and trying to help him and Arjun trying to move away from her. In the scuffle, neither realized when the Knife stabbed Alisha, until she screamed'.

Arjun jolted awake. He had dozed off while making a presentation for a meeting tomorrow and his worst memory had come back to haunt him. He pushed himself out of his chair and walked away towards the window, not dark with rain and his heart hammered painfully in his chest. Ten years it had been, and he could still remember everything, as if it was yesterday. He closed his eyes for a moment. This was the monster inside him, the monster that had resided in the charming Arjun Dobriyal ever since he had been kidnapped. The monster which he knew could still control him if wounded, if hit at the raw places. And Arjun was afraid of this monster in him. Because he could never control that monster.