Everything changed.
The man who was once trusted became a man of lies and deception.
We often rely on our senses to perceive reality, trusting what we see before us.
But do we ever truly examine what lies beneath the surface? Humans, though seemingly simple creatures possess a complexity that avoids our understanding.
In certain parts of the world, societies exist in peace and harmony, while simultaneously, in other corners of the same globe, societies crumble and descend into violence.
They fight and kill for possessions they claim as their own.
Does this mean we are incapable of comprehending such simple truths? Or perhaps we simply choose not to believe?
How do we transform from inherently kind beings into sources of rampant madness and cruelty, inflicting harm upon one another?
Here, Arun sitting on his couch, his gaze fixed upon the mirror, desperately seeking answers within his consciousness.
His shoulders droop, his eyes betray timidity, and his body feels like a confining cage, trapping him for the remainder of his days.
In truth, this is the reality he has always detested yet oddly embraced.
One's mind can only experience true freedom when there is nothing left to lose.
Arun finds himself at this moment in life where he desires nothing at all.
He has gradually accepted his reality, not out of weakness, but because he has been strong for an extended period.
He wanted this existence, or lack thereof, in the truest sense.
His hatred of everything stemmed not from any particular reason but from the mere fact of being a part of this life.
A knock at the door stirred Arun from his thoughts, but initially, he paid it no mind.
However, as the knocking grew louder and more insistent, he found himself unable to ignore it any longer.
His eyes shifted towards the door, a glimmer of curiosity replacing his previous preoccupation.
With a resigned sigh, he rose from his seat and took measured steps toward the entrance.
As he reached the door, a gentle gust of wind brushed against him, as if carrying a whisper of anticipation.
Opening the door, he was taken aback to find an unexpected figure standing before him.
A wave of relief washed over him, evident in his exclamation, "Doctor Lavanya, you're here!"
With a faint smile, she asked, "May I come in?"
"Of course," Arun replied, stepping aside to allow her entry.
unapprehended by Arun, two police officers sat in a car stationed near his home, their presence becoming a constant feature.
Doctor Lavanya had arrived to visit him, apparently to discuss the situation at hand, but her appearance betrayed a deeper concern.
The weight of her worry was etched onto her face, as her eyes had lost their usual sparkle and her body exuded a sense of weariness.
The doctor's arrival marked a turning point in the atmosphere within Arun's home.
The air seemed to grow heavier, filled with unspoken tension.
Shadows danced upon the walls, adding to the sense of unease that pervaded the space.
Arun sensed that something significant was about to unfold, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Taking a seat in the living room, Doctor Lavanya looked at Arun with a mixture of compassion and fear.
Her voice, usually vibrant and comforting, now carried a hint of fragility as she spoke. "Arun, there's something I need to discuss with you. It's important."
Arun's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding settling upon him.
He braced himself, prepared for whatever news awaited him.
As the doctor began to explain the details, her words hung in the air, each one sinking into Arun's consciousness like an anchor dragging him down into murky depths.
The room seemed to close in on him, suffocating him with a mixture of anxiety and disbelief.
The gravity of the situation slowly unfolded before Arun's eyes, like a dark tapestry woven with threads of despair and uncertainty.
Doctor Lavanya's presence, once a beacon of cheer, now cast a somber shadow over the room.
Arun couldn't help but wonder how the world had shifted so dramatically in such a short period.
As the doctor finished her explanation, silence enveloped the room, punctuated only by the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Arun's mind raced, desperately searching for answers, for a glimmer of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.
Together, Arun and Doctor Lavanya sat in the hushed stillness of the room, their thoughts entwined in a labyrinth of uncertainties.
"What happened?" Arun asked with compassion, but Lavanya seemed to be in a different state, completely unaware of his words.
"What happened, Doc?" he asked again, growing concerned. "Are you all right? You don't seem normal. Please say something."
Lavanya appeared to be gripped by an unexplainable fear, rendering her unable to articulate her thoughts clearly.
Her words struggled to escape her lips, emerging in a barely audible, muffled voice.
"While I was working in my ward, a man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He specifically asked to speak with you and insisted that I bring him to this place."
Despite the tension in the room, Arun remained composed, realizing the gravity of the situation. He gently approached Lavanya, his voice filled with reassurance.
"Lavanya, take a deep breath. You must remain calm. We'll figure this out together. Can you provide any details about the man? Anything you remember could be crucial."
Lavanya nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "He was tall, dressed in a dark suit, with piercing eyes that seemed to carry a weight of secrets. His voice... it had an air of authority, yet something was unsettling about it."
Arun listened attentively, pondering the mysterious visitor's intentions. "Did he mention anything specific about me?
"Did he have long hair and brown eyes"
"yes, You know him!"
"That motherf*cker!, I'll kill him, Where did he tell us to meet?"
"There is an abandoned cafeteria right behind my hospital, he said he's been waiting there for you"
"Very well then, I'll go right now"
The odds were stacked against Arun, with two officers keeping a constant watch over him.
Wherever he went, they trailed him like unwavering shadows, dutifully assigned to their surveillance duty.
Arun was well aware of their presence, and he couldn't afford to let them continue tailing him.
After racking his brain for a solid five minutes, an idea finally materialized in Arun's mind—a way to bypass the watchful officers.
He meticulously explained his plan to Lavanya, and with a nonchalant air, she casually left the house just two minutes later, heading towards her parked car as if on any ordinary day.
As Lavanya drove a short distance away from Arun's residence, she made her move.
Instead of following the usual route, she wheels off into a different lane, one that turns discreetly behind Arun's house.
Meanwhile, the officers maintained their post, stationed in their car with an unobstructed view of Arun's dwelling.
Seizing the opportune moment, Arun swiftly and noiselessly broke his kitchen window, careful to leave no trace of his entry.
Concealed within the confines of his home, he patiently awaited Lavanya's arrival via this route.
Seconds later, he spotted her approaching.
Seizing the chance, Arun propelled himself through the open window and maneuvered with utmost agility.
Within mere moments, he reached Lavanya's car and slipped inside undetected.
Not a single clue was left behind to suggest that Arun was still hiding within the confines of his house.
Arun seethed with anger and frustration, the recent events with Rudra weighing heavily on his mind.
The desire to confront Rudra face-to-face burned within him, offering a golden opportunity to bring him down once and for all, to prove his innocence before the eyes of the world.
Yet, deep down, Arun acknowledged that Rudra was no ordinary adversary.
There was something extraordinary about him, an inexplicable power that allowed him to vanish into thin air at will.
If Rudra were to employ his abilities again, Arun knew he would stand no chance of apprehending him on his own.
Nevertheless, his determination to capture Rudra remained unyielding, fueled by an unwavering resolve.
The prospect of a confrontation both thrilled and daunted Arun.
He understood the risks involved in engaging with someone of Rudra's caliber, someone who possessed a mysterious and formidable power.
But Arun was undeterred.
He harnessed every ounce of courage within him, steeling himself for the ultimate showdown.
He knew that capturing Rudra would require more than just physical prowess—it would demand strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and a deep understanding of his elusive opponent.
With every passing moment, Arun's determination grew stronger.
He was ready to face the enigma that was Rudra, to challenge the boundaries of his limitations.
The prospect of proving his innocence and exposing Rudra's true nature fueled a fire within him, igniting a relentless pursuit.
And they finally arrived….