The night was eerily silent as the taxi pulled up in front of my house's main gate. The dim glow of the streetlamp cast elongated shadows, making everything appear unsettlingly still. I sighed, paid the fare, and stepped out, my tired limbs protesting with every movement. The iron gate creaked as I pushed it open, the sound cutting through the silence like a blade.
The house was dark, except for the lone orange light above the television, flickering softly like a dying ember. Mom, Dad, and Sanjay must already be asleep. I exhaled, shaking off the eerie feeling creeping up my spine, and headed to my room.
Once inside, I peeled off my day's exhaustion along with my clothes, letting the warm water wash away the weight of the day. Wrapped in comfort, I slipped into my pink pajamas, feeling an odd sense of peace. I turned off the lamp, my body begging for rest.
"No more waiting, Vidya."I whispered to myself before jumping onto the bed.
The plush mattress welcomed me like an old friend, and the second my head hit the pillow, sleep dragged me under like a powerful tide.
A chill crept over me. My eyes fluttered open, but I wasn't in my room anymore.
I stood in the heart of a dense mysterious jungle, enveloped in shadows that danced under the silver moonlight. The distant hum of crickets mixed with the rustling of leaves, creating a haunting melody. My skin prickled. Something felt off.
I turned, seeking a way out, but every direction seemed to lead deeper into the unknown. Where am I? How did I get here?
I looked down, my breath hitching. My pink pajamas were gone—replaced by a flowing red dress that clung to my skin like it belonged there. My heartbeat quickened, my senses alert.
Then—a roar.
A deep, guttural lion's roar sliced through the night. My hands flew to my ears, my body frozen in fear. The ground vibrated beneath me, as if something powerful was approaching.
Before I could react, a hand slid around my waist.
I gasped. My pulse skyrocketed as I whipped around, only to be met with light brown eyes burning into mine.
"Kathir Rathore?" My voice barely came out as a whisper.
His grip on my waist tightened, pulling me against him. My body stiffened, my mind screaming for me to run, escape, fight—but I couldn't move.
My lips parted to shout for help, but before I could make a sound, his hand covered my mouth.
I struggled, twisting in his grasp, panic clawing at my chest. Why is he here? Why is he doing this?
No… No way—
I jolted awake.
A sharp gasp tore through my throat as I sat up, panting, my chest rising and falling rapidly. My fingers gripped the bedsheet, sweat dampening my forehead. My heart was still hammering as if I had truly been trapped in that jungle, truly felt his hand on me.
I blinked, slowly realizing—I was in my room. Safe.
It was just a dream.
A relieved sigh slipped from my lips, but before I could fully calm down, my phone rang. The sudden sound sent a shiver down my spine. I grabbed my phone, glancing at the screen.
Kathir Rathore.
My blood ran cold.
I swallowed, my hands tightening around the phone. 3 AM. Why is he calling me now?
My overthinking mind instantly spiraled. Should I answer? What if my dream was a warning? What if—
The phone rang again, jolting me from my thoughts. My pulse throbbed in my ears as I inhaled sharply and pressed the answer button.
"Hello?" My voice was hesitant, my emotions still raw from the nightmare.
"Hello? Can't you answer the call at the first ring?" His tone was laced with irritation.
I rolled my eyes. Even at 3 AM, this man finds a way to be annoying.
"I was sleeping, Kathir. You do realize it's the middle of the night, right? What is it?"
His heavy sigh came through the speaker. "Where did you keep my mom's flu medicine? She needs it right now, she's struggling to sleep."
His mom? Of course, this would be about something important.
I bit my lip, my mind racing. Where did I keep the medicine?
The room drawer? Or… Winston's room?
"Hello?" His voice dropped into that cold, sharp tone, making me instinctively rub my forehead.
I hesitated, swallowing hard. I forgot. But telling Kathir that? That was like stepping into a lion's den.
Still, honesty was my only option. "Actually, Kathir… I don't remember where I kept it—"
"What?"
I flinched at the frustration in his voice.
I scrambled to recall the last time I handled the medicine. Think, Vidya. Think.
"I want it now. Be ready in two minutes."
I blinked. Be ready in two minutes?
My brows furrowed. "Wait… you're not coming here, are you—"
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone screen, frustration bubbling inside me. That man just hung up on me!
Panic kicked in as I realized—I needed to change.
I threw off my pajamas, pulling on a green shirt before reaching for my trousers—
A car engine rumbled outside.
I froze.
Dashing to the window, I pushed the curtain aside. My breath hitched.
His black McLaren stood outside my house, the headlights glaring through the darkness.
Damn it. I need to get down before he wakes up my family.
I rushed to the mirror, catching sight of my messy hair. No time to fix it. I ran my fingers through it, trying to make it look somewhat presentable before grabbing my keys and heading downstairs.
I unlocked the gate and climbed into his car. His gaze met mine for a second before I quickly looked away, but I felt his eyes still on me.
A strange tension thickened in the air.
"Wear your seatbelt," his voice came neutral as he pulled the handbrake and drove off.
I nodded, fastening my seatbelt. Calm down, Vidya.
Yet, as I glanced at him again, I found myself staring.
His long lashes, his sharp jawline, the way the night lights reflected in his light brown eyes—he looked different tonight. Almost… unreal.
A chill ran down my spine.
What if this isn't the real Kathir Rathore?
My hands clenched on my lap. What if I'm in the car with… something else?
Something inhuman?
My mind spiraled. What if his beautiful face suddenly morphs into something terrifying? What if he turns his head and—
His gaze flickered to me.
Panic surged. I squeezed my eyes shut, covering my ears.
"No… this must be a dream."
The car abruptly stopped.
"What's your problem?" His voice was sharp, demanding.
I hesitated, my heartbeat deafening. I peeked at him. His jaw clenched, his eyes burning with irritation.
"Answer me. Do you want to jump out of the car, or should I do it for you?"
I swallowed hard, forcing a nervous smile. Vidya, stop embarrassing yourself.
"Sorry… bad dream," I muttered.
He narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you already awake?"
I nodded. "Yeah, but… sometimes I dream while awake?"
His brows furrowed in disbelief before he shook his head and drove off.
I exhaled, turning toward the window.
What the hell is wrong with me tonight?
The car rolled to a stop in front of his house, and before I could even process my exhaustion, Kathir Rathore was already stepping out.
"We've arrived. Come," he said, his voice neutral yet carrying that unspoken authority he always had.
Suppressing a sigh, I unbuckled my seatbelt and followed him inside. As soon as we crossed the threshold, he shut the door behind us and lifted a long finger to his lips.
"Don't make a noise," he whispered.
I furrowed my brows but didn't argue. Winston, his ever-loyal dog, wasn't just a pet—he was like a brother to him. At this ungodly hour, any unfamiliar noise would make Winston assume an intruder had entered, and he'd attack on instinct. I wasn't in the mood for that kind of chaos.
Silently, we climbed up to the first floor. Kathir pushed the bedroom door open without making a sound. Under the dim glow of the bedside lamp, Renuka Aunty lay in deep sleep, her breathing slow and steady. Her wheelchair was parked right beside her bed, untouched.
I froze.
My jaw clenched, heat rising up my spine as realization dawned.
You have got to be kidding me.
I crossed my arms, shifting my weight to one side. "You must be kidding me, right, Mr. Kathir Rathore?" I hissed under my breath.
Kathir's head snapped toward me, his light brown eyes darkening. His jaw ticked as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the room before quietly shutting the door behind him. Once we were in the hallway, his glare was sharp enough to cut through steel.
I rolled my eyes. "What's the point of glaring at me? You ruined my peaceful sleep!"
"Shut up," he growled, stepping closer. The tension in his body was evident. "I brought you here to find her flu medicine."
I scoffed. "Yeah? And look at her!" I gestured toward the closed door. "She's sleeping so peacefully! We could've found it tomorrow, but no, you had to drag me here in the middle of the night!"
He exhaled sharply, as if trying to hold back his temper.
"Drop me back home," I demanded. "You ruined my sleep, so fix it."
Kathir's lips curled slightly—his version of an irritated smirk. "What do you think I am? Your personal driver?" He let out a low chuckle, but there was no amusement in it. "There's already a room available for you. Go and sleep there."
"Excuse me?"
"And if you dare say I ruined your sleep again…" He leaned in just enough that his warmth brushed against me, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I'll make sure that wish comes true."
I blinked. Processing. Did he just—
Before I could react, he shot me a final glance and walked away, his strides confident, his back straight. A moment later, a door slammed somewhere down the hall, making me flinch.
Annoyance bubbled in my chest.
"Such an annoying bastard," I muttered under my breath.
I kicked the stair railing in frustration before stomping toward to my room. Once inside, I shut the door, letting out a deep breath.