30. Nightmares

New character

.・。.・゜✭・♡・✫・゜・。.

Amrita was in her cabin, working with sharp focus. Today marked the beginning of her return to the office after her wedding, and as usual, she was engrossed in reviewing files.

Her pen glided across the paper, pausing only for her to make annotations. The silence was interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open.

She looked up to find Ishika, Divya, and Ananya entering with wide grins.

"Hey. What are you guys doing here?" Amrita asked, raising a brow. Ishika and Divya rarely visited the office unless it was something important.

"We just came to chat," Ishika replied with a casual shrug, plopping down on the couch.

"Yeah, it's been ages since we hung out properly," Divya added, joining Ishika.

"Ananya dragged us here," Ishika teased, pointing to the youngest of the group.

Ananya made a face and sat beside them, playfully nudging Divya. "I missed my Amul baby and wanted to check if she’s alive under that mountain of work," she said dramatically.

Amrita sighed, shaking her head. "You know I don’t like that nickname, Anu."

"Exactly why I say it," Ananya replied with a mischievous grin.

"Anyone hungry?" Divya asked suddenly, pulling out an apple and a knife from the table. She began cutting it with practiced ease.

"Me! Me! Me!" Ananya exclaimed, raising her hand enthusiastically like a kid in school.

"Calm down, Anu," Ishika and Amrita said in unison.

Ananya pouted as Ishika and Divya burst into laughter. Amrita couldn’t help but smile faintly at their antics.

"By the way, where is our Vetra anyway?" Ishika asked after a moment, her tone curious.

"Yeah, where is she?" Ananya chimed in, her mouth stuffed with a piece of apple. Her puffed cheeks made her look comically adorable, and Divya and Ishika chuckled at the sight.

"Mahi went to Kolkata for work," Amrita explained. "She’s handling some client meetings for the company. She’ll be back in two days."

"But it’s been so long since she went! She didn’t even attend my wedding!" Ishika complained, crossing her arms dramatically.

"Mine neither!" Divya and Ananya echoed in unison.

"She was stuck with deadlines, as always," Amrita replied matter-of-factly, though a hint of fondness seeped into her voice.

"You know," Ishika began, leaning back into the couch, "Mahi is the busiest person I know, after Ritu ofcourse. Does she even take a day off?"

"Nope. She thrives on work," Divya replied, shaking her head.

"And here I am, thriving on chaos," Ananya quipped, popping another slice of apple into her mouth.

Amrita smirked. "Well, someone has to balance out the sanity of this group."

"Sanity? You? Please," Ananya teased, earning a glare from Amrita.

Divya cleared her throat, trying to diffuse the mock tension. "By the way, Amrita, how does it feel to be back at work?"

"It’s good," Amrita replied after a pause. "I needed the distraction. Plus, there’s so much pending work to catch up on."

"Workaholic," Ishika muttered, shaking her head with a knowing smile.

"Better than you two freeloaders showing up randomly," Amrita retorted with a rare playful tone.

"Freeloaders?" Ishika gasped in mock offense. "We’re here to boost your morale."

"Yes, consider us your emotional support squad," Divya added with a smirk.

"Or your annoyance squad," Ananya chimed in.

Amrita rolled her eyes, but her expression softened as she observed them. Moments like these were rare, and she couldn’t deny the warmth they brought.

"Alright, enough about work," Ishika said, sitting up straighter. "What’s the plan for Mahi’s return? We should do something fun."

"Like what?" Amrita asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Maybe a dinner or a movie night," Divya suggested.

"Or a road trip!" Ananya said enthusiastically, nearly jumping off the couch.

Amrita shook her head. "Let’s keep it simple. A dinner sounds fine."

"I agree," Ishika said. "But knowing Mahi, she’ll probably have her laptop with her even during dinner."

"True," Divya said with a laugh. "But that’s why we love her."

.・。.・゜✭・♡・✫・゜・。.

The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a pale glow on the room as Amrita slept soundly.

The gentle rhythm of her breathing was the only sound in the stillness of the night. Aaryansh quietly entered her room, his steps light as a whisper.

His sharp features softened as he gazed at her peaceful face. For a fleeting moment, he hesitated, unsure of his actions, but then he moved toward the bed and lay down beside her.

Closing his eyes, he let the silence envelop them both, as though being near her gave him the solace he didn’t know he craved.

But peace was fleeting.

Amrita’s dreams twisted into a suffocating nightmare, vivid and chaotic. She was surrounded by darkness when the shouts began.

“Ammu!”

The voice was warm, familiar, but panicked. Her heart twisted painfully.

“I will love you, my thalli. Always...”

A smile, a hand reaching for hers, but it was slipping away.

“I’m sorry... I am leaving too soon...”

Suddenly, the warmth faded, replaced by crashing sounds, glass shattering, and the metallic scent of blood filling the air.

She could see blood pooling, seeping into her skin as her hands trembled.

“No!” she gasped, her voice breaking as the scene dissolved into nothingness.

Aaryansh stirred at the sound, his eyes opening to see Amrita bolt upright in bed.

Her chest heaved as she clutched her blanket, her face pale and glistening with sweat.

She sat there, frozen for a moment, before shakily reaching for the glass of water on her bedside table.

He watched silently, his brows furrowing in concern.

What could have shaken her so deeply?

She wasn’t one to show weakness, not even in her most vulnerable moments.

Amrita drained the water in one go, the cool liquid soothing her throat but doing little for the storm raging in her mind.

She placed the glass down and glanced at the clock. Past midnight.

Aaryansh debated whether to speak, to ask her what had happened, but decided against it.

She was too guarded, too reluctant to let anyone into her world. Instead, he made a silent vow to find out later—whether by asking her or, if necessary, Ananya.

Amrita’s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She reached for it, her fingers trembling slightly, and saw Ananya’s name flashing on the screen. The message preview caught her attention.

A: “Hey. You awake?”

Amrita’s fingers moved almost automatically, replying without much thought.

R: “Yeah. But why are you awake?”

The response came almost instantly, as though Ananya had been waiting.

A: “Well, I got my monthly nightmare.”

A brief pause before another message followed.

A: “What about you?”

Amrita stared at the screen, the echo of her own nightmare still haunting her. But she hesitated to share. Instead, she typed quickly:

R:“I was just about to sleep. You should sleep too.”

Ananya read the message and rolled her eyes, muttering to herself, “Liar.” But instead of calling Amrita out, she replied teasingly.

A: “Yeah, good night, Amul baby.”

Amrita shook her head at the nickname, a faint smile ghosting her lips despite herself.

R: “Good night.”

Setting the phone down, Amrita rose from the bed and walked toward the balcony.

The cool night breeze kissed her skin as she stepped outside, the soft rustle of leaves blending with the distant hum of the city.

She stared at the moon, its glow casting a serene light over her face.

The silence around her was calming, but her mind remained restless.

Memories she fought hard to suppress crept to the surface, threatening to shatter the fragile calm she had built over the years.

She sensed someone behind her but didn’t turn back. Strangely, she didn’t feel alarmed—an unusual reaction for someone as guarded as her.

“Not able to sleep?” Aaryansh’s deep voice broke the silence as he stepped beside her.

Amrita glanced at him briefly. “Why are you awake?” she asked, her voice softer than usual.

“How could I sleep when my wife is awake?” he replied, a warm smile playing on his lips.

For a moment, his words caught her off guard. She searched his face for a hint of sarcasm or mockery but found none.

Instead, his eyes held a tenderness she rarely associated with him.

Under the moonlight, her usually stoic features softened as a rare smile graced her lips. “We should sleep then,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of warmth as she turned and walked back to the bed.

Aaryansh followed her, his gaze lingering on her as she settled into bed.

He lay down beside her, close enough to feel her presence but not intruding on her space.

Minutes passed, and the rhythmic sound of her breathing told him she had drifted off to sleep.

He watched her for a moment longer, the faint moonlight highlighting her serene expression.

Gently, he moved closer, wrapping an arm around her. Pulling her into his embrace, he rested his chin atop her head.

For the first time in what felt like ages, he felt a deep, unexplainable peace as sleep finally claimed him.

.・。.・゜✭・♡・✫・゜・。.

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