"STOP IT!!!" An ungodly voice escaped Aahan's mouth as he tried biting anyone who dared to touch him.
However, it wasn't Aahan but someone else... something else was talking through him, trying to take control of him.
His body convulsed on the bed, pain coursing through every fibre of his being. He thrashed, caught in agony that seemed to pull him in different directions.
Consciousness danced just out of his reach, a fleeting visitor that he struggled to hold onto. His mind was a whirlwind of sensations, a storm of torment that raged within him like a constant battle between him and the thing trying to take over him. In moments of clarity, Aahan's thoughts emerged, disjointed and raw.
"Why... does it hurt so much?" he mumbled through clenched teeth, his voice a mere whisper in the clamour of pain.
His fingers clenched the sheets, his knuckles white from the force of his grip. Images flickered before his eyes – glimpses of a sterile room, masked figures hovering over him, their gloved hands moving all around him.
As his consciousness slipped away again, he saw himself lying on a bed, surrounded by machines that beeped and hummed in an alien rhythm. It was a place of white walls and sterile scents, a world that felt far removed from his own.
As the pain ebbed and flowed within his veins, Aahan's consciousness dipped in and out like a flickering flame. In moments of respite, he found himself pondering about the nature of suffering.
'This pain... but why am I suffering... again?' he wondered. His conscience was like a fragile thread connecting his fragmented thoughts. 'Does it... ever stop... or will I feel... like this forever?'
Time around him seemed to stretch and warp, each moment a struggle to hold onto reality. Faces blurred, and voices merged; his surroundings were a kaleidoscope of confusion.
Through the haze, Aahan remembered something. Vivaan, his brother, where was he? Was he safe? Was he alive? But the thoughts did not last long as pain knocked him out again.
And as he rocked on the edge of consciousness, Aahan's thoughts were a simple plea, a whispered mantra that echoed within him.
"Make it stop," he wanted to scream; he tried to yell with everything he had in himself. But the pain ensured not a syllable could escape from his mouth.
Amid his torment, a semblance of peace began to seep in, a softening of the edges of his agony. Darkness beckoned, a soothing balm that promised respite from the storm within.
Aahan's grip on consciousness loosened again, and he drifted, his thoughts hushed as he surrendered to the embrace of unconsciousness.
***
Aahan's eyelids fluttered open, the room around him coming into focus in a blur of unfamiliar sights and sounds.
He tried to move and sit up, but a sharp jolt of pain shot through his body, causing him to gasp and collapse onto the bed. His muscles protested, his limbs heavy and uncooperative.
'Damn it... what's wrong with me?'
Confusion clouded his thoughts as he took in his surroundings. Sterile white walls surrounded him, and strange machines with blinking lights hummed softly in the corners of the room.
Tubes and wires snaked their way from his body to the devices. These machines were probably the reason why he was alive.
"I need to get out of here... I need to find Vivaan..."
With a cautious breath, he attempted to push himself up again, this time more slowly. The pain was still there, a throbbing ache coursing from every inch of his body.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to sit upright, his breath coming in short, laboured gasps. But in the end, he was successful. His eyes scanned the room, and that's when he noticed the bandages.
They wrapped around his body, cocooning him in a tight embrace. His left arm, in particular, drew his attention. The bandages there were different, almost as if they were a barrier, a seal of some kind with mantras written over them.
'What is this?' he thought before slowly reaching out.
However, when he touched his left hand, a jolt of electricity passed through the bandages, forcing Aahan to retract his arm. The pain was immense, but curiosity and a rising sense of unease compelled him to reach for his left arm again.
His fingers brushed against the fabric of the bandages, and he felt a strange sensation as if something was stirring beneath them. A shiver ran down his spine. Something was moving within the dressing... within him!
"What... what happened?" he whispered aloud, his voice hoarse and weak.
His memories were fragmented, flashes of pain and struggle that seemed to belong to another world. He tried to piece them together to make sense of the disarray in his mind.
As he lay there, the pieces began to come together, forming a hazy picture of the battle with the Asura, of his desperation and determination. But there were gaps, moments that remained elusive, lost in the fog of his memory.
A soft creak of the door drew his attention, and he turned to see a figure entering the room. The person wore a white coat, their face covered by a mask. Aahan's heart raced, apprehension and relief rushing him.
He didn't know who the man was or where he was. But for some reason, Aahan felt like he could trust the stranger.
"You're awake," the figure said, their voice gentle and calming. They approached the bed, their gloved hands adjusting some of the equipment. "Take it easy. You've been through quite an ordeal."
Aahan nodded, his throat too dry to speak. He watched as the person checked the machines; their movements were practised and efficient.
"Where... where am I?" Aahan managed to ask, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"You're in a hospital of sorts. That's all I can tell you," the person replied, their tone soothing. "You sustained some injuries, but you're in good hands now."
Aahan's gaze drifted back to his left arm, to the peculiar bandages that covered it.
"What's... with my arm?" he ventured, his curiosity getting better.
The person followed his gaze, their expression thoughtful as if he was wondering if Aahan was ready for the truth.
"Ah, that's a special precaution," the man explained, his words measured yet reassuring. "Your left arm was injured quite heavily, and we've applied a unique bandage to help with the healing process. It's a specialised treatment we use in cases like yours."
Aahan's brow furrowed, his mind churning with questions. But before he could inquire further, the person continued, their tone taking on a more serious note.
"You're lucky to be alive, you know," the man said. "Your injuries were severe, but you fought through them. You don't get to see someone spend that long in the other world and be alive."
Aahan's thoughts drifted back to the battle, the clash with the Asura and the overwhelming pain that had consumed him.
"The Asura," he murmured, the name a whisper on his lips. "Where is he-"
The person nodded, a solemn expression on their face. "Yes, the Asura. You managed to repel its attack, but not without a cost."
"A cost?"
The man pointed towards his arm and said, "We almost had to sever it, you know?"
Aahan's gaze shifted from the person to the window, the world outside a glimpse of normalcy that felt distant and surreal. He wondered about the aftermath of the battle, about the impact of his actions.
"You're a fighter," the person said, their voice filled with admiration. "Not everyone has the strength to face such a formidable foe and come out alive."
As the man said that, Aahan was reminded of his brother and immediately asked the man about him.
"There was someone else with me-"
"Right, Vivaan. Don't worry. He is safe and will recover with time, though his injuries are much worse than yours." the man confidently smiled. "As for the rest of your questions, you'll get your answers soon enough. For now, take a break and let your body heal. Gurudev will be here soon."
"Gurudev?" Aahan asked because the man kept babbling things like Aahan was supposed to know everything.
"The person who saved you and your brother, our leader whom we call Gurudev."