Vidhi was standing at the cliff of a mountain... She could see the orange sun, setting behind the horizon, leaving a purplish golden hue across the sky... It was beautiful! But, Vidhi felt uneasy. There was a something amiss... She looked around, there was no one within her sight! Suddenly, a sharp pain arose in her heart as she clutched her breasts with her hands, feeling a warm liquid gushing from inside her. She looked at her hands... Her hands, tainted in deep scarlet!
'Am I bleeding...' Vidhi thought as she strained her eyes up to see a hazy misty figure standing infront of her... That same misty figure from her dreams!
"Bondita... No, Bondita... Please don't... Please don't leave me.."
The man was eager... He spoke in between sobs, as if mourning for her eminent ending.
'But, who is Bondita?' Vidhi thought...
'Who is this man...why does he look so familiar!'
Vidhi collapsed down on the man's arms, her head was rested on his lap... She tried to strain her heavy eyelids one last time to look at the man's face...
But, alas! She couldn't. Darkness had enveloped her entire being as her fading brain registered a few final words...
"I'll find you Bondita... I'll find you! You have to come back to me... You have tooo...."
The voice faded into oblivion as Vidhi slowly opened her dreamy eyes.
"How are you feeling now?" She heard a soft calming voice as white silk crochet curtains fluttered infront of her eyes.
She slowed turned her head, registering the direction of the voice as the overwhelming warmth of her present reality enveloped her senses.
"Hey... Barrister... I'm so sorry... I just..."
Vidhi uttered the words slowly in confusion as her eyes fell on the standing figure infront of her, looking at her with those bewitching eyes.
"Ahan.. don't try to get up." Anirudh spoke softly as his hands brushed against her hands carelessly. It was an unintentional touch, but it was enough to seer Vidhi's hands, as an effervescent electric current ran through her body.
She shuddered, drawing her hand away from him, as her entire body craved for his attention.
She looked up and saw him smiling.
"Why are you smiling?" Vidhi asked abruptly.
"Nothing." Anirudh nodded his head.
"Tell me what happened you to all of a sudden?"
Vidhi withdrew her eyes from him as a forlorn expression overcast her lovely face.
"It's a dream... A strange one.." she paused to take a deep breath.
"It started six months ago... And since then, It's getting worse. I pass out, at random hours of the day... And, I... I don't have any control."
"May I?" Anirudh sat beside her on the soft bed.
"What do you see in these dreams?"
Vidhi looked at his face again.
"It's the same thing... A shadow is calling me." She paused to think. "But today was worst. I saw the dream thrice. And all different versions."
She recalled the pain and sadness that she felt in the recent one.
"I was dying in my dream... It was painful."
Vidhi looked down again, as a sharp pain pierced her lonely heart. She felt cold and tired as she crossed her arms close to her breasts to comfort her own self.
"Do you want me to hug you?"
Anirudh's sudden words made her heart jump. It was difficult for her to deny his magnetic presence... It was difficult to say no.
She nodded her head slowly, as in the next moment, Anirudh came forward, leaning his body towards her. Her heartbeat increased as she felt his strong hands touching her shoulders, shooting electric pulses through her body, as they slowly glide further back, encircling her into a soft embrace.
Vidhi's breath hitched as she felt him pulling her closer to his chest, giving her the much needed warmth and comfort.
There was no hint of sexuality in it... But, it was sensuous!
"Are you feeling good?" Anirudh hushed into her ears as Vidhi hummed an yes in response, showing no signs of relieving herself from his embrace.
They sat there in silence, as Anirudh opened his mouth to speak first.
"We have two options Miss Sengupta. Either we can sit like this the whole night, or I can get you some food to eat."
Vidhi was intelligent. She immediately realised the pun in his words as she quickly sat upright in embarrassment, detaching herself from his body.
'He was so comfortable... The most comfortable I've felt in a long time...' Vidhi thought as she let out a sigh.
"I don't mind you getting used to this comfort." Anirudh smirked.
'Darn! How does he know my thoughts everytime.' Vidhi thought as she smiled at him bashfully.
"You are quite a mind reader."
"I've had a little lessons of psychology. So yea, I guess I know things." Anirudh smirked again as he got up from the bed.
"Come with me... Dining hall is on the left. Let me fix you a dinner."
Vidhi got down from the bed, as she started following his trail like a possessed soul. She had hardly known him for a few hours, but somehow it feels like ages! She had not a bit of inhibitions or apprehensions about his presence or intention.
She slowly walked into the lavish dimly lit dining hall as she pulled a chair to sit.
"Allow me..."
Anirudh suddenly came behind her, holding the chair for her.
"You were standing by the refrigerator over there." Vidhi furrowed her eyebrows. "So, how did you come near me so fast?"
Anirudh smiled again, that same infectious smile as he shrugged his shoulders.
"I ran."
There was an air of ease and comfort as Vidhi started to eat the club sandwich that Anirudh had warmed for her, as he fixed a drink for himself. They sat on either side of the long rectangular mahogany dining table as Vidhi took a bite of the bread.
"It's good." She hummed. "Where is your food? Won't you eat?"
"No... I don't eat at night." Anirudh smiled again. "But, I'll sit as your company every night."
"What do you mean by you don't eat at night? When do you eat then?" Vidhi asked taking another bite from the sandwich as she munched the words at him.
"I eat only when I'm hungry." Anirudh spoke reflectively, sipping from his glass.
"And, I intend never to get hungry whenever with you...."
Vidhi sat there in silence, her eyes trying to draw a hypothetical outline of Anirudh's chiseled face as she matched the outcome with the shadowed man in her dreams."
She picked up a glass to drink as her reflection fell on calm clear water.
Vidhi's hands quivered, muddling the reflection with tiny ripples of confusion.
She looked up straight at the charismatic silhouette sitting infront of her at a distance, as her mouth opened slightly, uttering one question from her quivering rosy lips.
"Who is Bondita?"