Nyra pov

I woke up early, the sunlight streaming through the curtain and falling on my face. I sat on my bed and rubbed my hands and touched my hands to my eyes.

Then I opened my eyes and looked towards Mahadev’s photo and sighed. As soon as I remember yesterday’s events my cheeks redden. I scrambled from my bed and searched for my phone.

It was on my table. I had it plugged in for charging. But me being me had forgotten to switch it on. Hmph.

With an excitement I didn’t know I could muster up, I turned on my phone. Even though there was only a 2 percent charge. As I turned on his name lay on top of the notification followed by notifications from swiggy.

I unlocked it and read his message.

Good morning ❤️ - A

Hope you are excited to meet me. Cause I am. Very much.

I was blushing and dancing standing in the same place. I was about to reply to the message when my phone switched off.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and plugged my phone. And double checked for the switch and went to take a bath. Reluctantly I left my phone and went or else I will be late.

I took a shower using my sandalwood and Jasmine flavoured body wash. The warm water soothes my skin. After taking a shower I came out and wrapped the towel around my body and stood in front of the mirror.

It was covered with steam, I wiped it with my hands and stared at my face. I had a warm glow on my cheeks. And my eyes were shining brightly. I blushed thinking about everything and got ready. First I did skin care and did simple makeup.

Then I came out and opened my wardrobe to take out my clothes. I was humming and dancing for a random tune. I picked out a red short kurti with white flowers on it. Then I paired it with blue flared jeans.

I tied half my hair with a clip and left the other half. I wore oxidised jhumkas and completed my look with a small black bindi and went out with my things.

As I stepped I felt the familiar agarbatti smell missing in the air. Then I remembered that my parents had gone for the wedding. I went to check if there was anything to eat. The aroma of pongal hit my nose and along with it my mother had prepared my favourite gravy using tamarind and tomato. My stomach grumbled in eagerness.

I came and sat on the sofa and ate alone as my brother had gone to tuition. I turned on my phone with anticipation to check if there was any message from Adyanth. But there was none. I deflated a bit then I remembered that I haven’t replied to his message yet. And I was about to click his chat when a message popped up from an unknown number.

Curiosity sparked in me but my stomach dipped in unease for some reason. I opened this message and what I read made me freeze in my place.

I said don’t get the attention of the devil. But you did. Get ready to be ruined.

I tried to come back to reality. Then I looked down to see that the plate had fallen down from my hands and all the contents from it had spread out on the ground like a random painting. My legs and hands were shaking and my breath fell in short pants. And I realized I was hyperventilating and was on the verge of having a panic attack.

I gripped the edge of the sofa and tried to control my breathing. But I was unable to do so. Then my phone slipped out of my grasp and fell down cluttering and making a noise in the silent house.

Then with shaky legs I stood up and tried to go to the backyard to get air. I then tried to focus on my breathing.

In and out. In and out.

Then slowly very slowly, my breathing became normal and the tightness in my chest loosened. I went to the kitchen then with shaky hands I poured the water into a glass and gulped it slowly.

I came out and sat with a thud. I eyed the phone as if it was a snake and it would bite me. Then I took the phone with shaky hands and turned on the phone.

For a second, I didn’t know who to call. I don’t know if it was my stupidity or something else, I dialed Adyanth’s number and brought the phone near my ear.

In the midst of this, annoyance passed through me as I listened to the automated voice warning about cyber scam. Then it started ringing. I was biting my nails and waited for him to pick up. I felt my heart sink as he didn’t pick up.

The call got disconnected and I dialed again hoping he would pick up. But he didn’t.

Frustration built in me mixed with fear. I again tried a few more times hoping he would be picked up. But he didn’t. I contemplated again to try then I thought if I am crossing an invisible line asking for help too soon.

Then my thumb hovered over other contacts thinking whom to call. My parents ? No, they are attending the wedding and I didn’t want to marry them. My friends? I didn’t feel like asking them for help. Police? What would I even say? That I got a few threatening messages from an unknown number. Will they trust me?

Feeling miserable and pathetic about my situation, I stood up and paced around the room. Even the slightest sound like a rustle of wind or a creak of the wood made me jump in my place. I tried taking deep breaths to calm myself, when my phone started ringing.

I saw and was hoping it would be Adyanth. But to my horror it was from the same unknown number. I became a statue and eyed the phone like it was poison. It stopped ringing. After a few seconds, again it started.

I received the call and brought it near my ear. I kept quiet and waited for the other person to speak. I could hear my breathing loudly in the midst of silence.

Then it got disconnected. With a low, almost inaudible voice the person spoke causing a chill to run through my spine.

I warned you.

I fell down with a thud and my knees were met with the granite tiles. I heard a crack sound along with my thud. I didn’t feel an ounce of pain because I was busy trying to just breathe.

For a few minutes, I just sat staring at the wall blankly not feeling any emotions, feeling a disconnection with the sensory world.

My heart skipped a beat when my phone started ringing again. I slowly crawled towards it and saw the caller ID. It was Adyanth.

I scrambled towards it fast and cried in relief. I received his call and started sobbing.

“Ad–dya-anth I-I …” I tried to speak but it was difficult to get the words out of my mouth.

“Nyra, calm down. Take deep breaths. Inhale. Exhale. Do it with me.” He spoke calmly and guided me breath properly and my sobs slowed down and it turned into sniffles. I was able to see my surroundings properly and able to hear his voice properly.

When he sensed I had calmed down he spoke slowly as though I would break down again. Maybe I may if I remember that again.

“What happened, Nyra? I had an early meeting. It just ended now. I checked my phone to see so many missed calls from you. And now you are crying like anything. What happened? Can you speak now?” He spoke so softly as though he was handling a fragile thing.

“If you don’t mind, can we meet now? I have to say it in person.” My voice trembled as I spoke.

“You don’t have to ask. I will be there. Where are you now? Can you share with me your location?” I could hear some rustling sound in the background.

Then I shared with him my house’s location. I sat down and tried to think of other things to distract myself. As my logical part of the brain started working, I contemplated my decision to call Adyanth to my house.

I pushed into the back of my mind not giving much thought and just sat. Then one of my colleagues messaged asking if I would attend the work or not. Then I applied for an emergency leave and sat thinking about anything else to avoid myself getting a panic state.

I observed the thin layer of dust formed on the tv stand. I saw the fishes in the fish tank as they moved randomly around the small box. The wall hanging swayed along with the breeze as it made a soft bell noise. I turned towards the left to see the door to the pooja room was closed but I could see the smoke of the agarbatti diffusing into air inside.

The clock’s hands moved, not stopping it’s work for anyone. I could hear two ladies fighting for vegetables and a dog barking. Along with a bike sped through making a loud noise.

A knock on the door made me jump on my seat. And I got scared thinking he came searching for me and I was thinking that today is my last date. And I regretted not going to the party Eraya suggested or not getting a boyfriend sooner so that I could have enjoyed it.

Then I started thinking how devastating my parents would feel about all of this. Maybe they would be guilty that they didn’t know sooner. As I went on thinking, I heard a deep voice.

“Nyra, it’s me, Adyanth.” As soon as I heard his voice, I stood up and ran towards the door as though my legs had its own mind.

I opened the door which took longer than normally.

As he saw me he checked me from head to toe searching for any injuries and came inside.

I threw myself on him, as I felt calm wash over me. He caught me stumbling a bit with my unexpected weight. Slowly, my fear melted away as I breathed in his sandalwood scent. Maybe my kajal and mascara got smeared on his shirt. But I couldn’t care less.

He rubbed my back in a comforting gesture and I started calming down. I stayed there for a while and reluctantly pulled myself from his embrace.

He held my face with his warm hands and looked into my eyes. He was looking, no, staring at my eyes searching for something. I don’t know what he found to clench his jaw in anger. And he saw something behind me. As I turned back, I saw him eyeing the food which had made a mess on the ground.

He slowly made me walk towards the sofa and made me sit on it. As soon as I sat down, he went near the tv stand where a jug was kept. He poured the water into a glass and offered it to me. And gestured to me to drink.

After I completed it. He took the glass back and kept it on the table and sat near me.

Then slowly he asked in a gentle tone,

“Who did this to you?”