UNIVERSITY ARC
It was midnight. Large thunderstorms are forming as a result of the heavy rain.
Suddenly, death screams rang around me, bursting through the sounds of thunder. Fear consumed everyone in the area.
Suddenly, the door opened and a girl entered.
|"Don't be afraid; it's nothing. "I'm here now."|
She was in tears from dread. In the flash of an eye, her torso separated from her body with a sharp sword.
She tried to cover me like she was protecting me even though her head was separated from her body.
A voice raised. "There is no one to protect you in this world from me."
....
I jolted awake, gasping in terror. Oh! It was just a dream, but my heart felt like it had nearly stopped. Oh God, what a horrifying dream! It was as if I had been living those moments—they felt so real, so vivid.
I shook my head, trying to clear the lingering dread. I had too much to do today to dwell on nightmares. First, I needed to freshen up. Alright, Manoj, time to focus. I need to convince Kusuma.
Just then, my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. Who could it be? I hesitated, then answered.
|"Hello? Who is this?"|
There was no response, just a faint sound—a quiet sobbing. My heart clenched as one thought filled my mind.
|"Mom… is that you?"|
The person on the other end couldn't hold back any longer. The sobbing grew louder, and tears welled up in my eyes before I even realized it.
After ten long years, I was finally hearing her voice again.
|"Mom! Is it really you? Please, say something!"|
She tried to speak through her tears, her voice trembling with emotion.
|"Manoj, my dear son. How have you been? I can't hold back anymore—I need to see you. I've missed you so much."|
|"Mom, how can you even ask? Do you know the hell I've been through, not seeing you all these years? Can I really see you now?"|
|"Yes, my dear. We can finally be together. There's nothing keeping us apart anymore. Where are you?"|
|"I'm studying at Oakridge University, Mom. I'm living in the hostel."|
|"Thank goodness! What a coincidence—I'm already in your city. I had a business meeting here two days ago."|
|"What? Mom, please… don't lie to me. You already knew where I was, didn't you?"|
She laughed softly, and I could hear the longing in her voice.
|"Oh, you caught me. You've grown so much, my dear. I'm already getting everything ready to see you. I can't wait any longer."|
|"Mom, wait. I… I don't know if I'm ready for this. I'm not sure I can handle what comes next. Please, try to understand."|
|"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I'm just so eager to see you."|
|"Send me your location, Mom. I'll come as fast as I can."|
I knew how much she had missed me—probably a thousand times more than I had missed her.
After our call ended, I hailed a taxi and started my journey, my heart pounding with a mix of emotions.
After a few minutes of travel, I finally arrived at the location my mother had sent me. It was a small, quiet restaurant tucked away from the bustle of the city. My mother always thought ahead—this place was perfect. Here, no one would find us.
As I stepped inside, there was only one person wearing a traditional dress, looking as graceful as ever, with that familiar warm smile that had comforted me throughout my childhood—my mother. The moment I saw her, all the fear and loneliness I had been carrying vanished like a bad dream.
Our eyes met, and in that instant, tears filled both our eyes. We didn't need words; the years of separation, the pain, the longing—all of it was shared in that single glance. I rushed to her, and as we embraced, I felt a profound sense of belonging and love that I had been missing for so long. For the first time in years, I felt whole again.
|"Mother,"|
I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.
|"Manoj, my son,"|
Her voice filled with warmth.
|"I'm so proud of you. You've finally broken free from our family's restrictions. Your father would be proud too."|
I couldn't hold back my tears any longer.
|"Mother… is it really you?"|
I asked, my voice choked with disbelief.
Her voice broke with emotion.
|"Yes, dear. it's really me. We've finally met again. I've missed you so much. You can't imagine the pain I've carried."|
She stood there, radiant like a bright star, her beautiful face glowing with the love only a mother could have.
|"How are you, my dear son? Is the canteen food and the other facilities good? If not, I'll take care of everything for you. I'm no longer bound by the family's rules. They kept me silent for far too long."|
I wiped my tears with my palms, trying to reassure her.
|"Yes, Mother, I'm fine. Everything is good enough here. You don't need to worry about me."|
She smiled, her happiness evident in her eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at her childish excitement.
|"Mom, look at you! You're like a little crying baby. Stop crying, Mom."|
She blushed, embarrassed, and tried to hide her face from me. Despite everything, she still had that childlike innocence.
|"Okay, Manoj, you can finally come home. There are so many of our family members who want to see you. Come, let's go,"|
But I wasn't entirely happy. The thought of leaving my friends, who had stood by me through every struggle, weighed heavily on my heart. I struggled to explain my feelings.
|"I'm sorry, Mom. I can't just leave this life behind and go back,"|
My voice is filled with uncertainty.
Her expression shifted from joy to a mix of anger and fear.
|"Why? The family elders set these rules to teach you about responsibility, relationships, and to protect you from a life driven by greed. I don't want you to struggle anymore, Manoj. Not like this."|
Her words were not a plea; they were a command, fueled by the intense emotion of a mother afraid of losing her child again.
|"I don't intend to live my life in denial, Mom. I just need some time to grow, to become someone even greater than you can imagine."|
|"But… you are…"|
she began, but I interrupted.
|"Please, Mom. Try to understand me."|
She wasn't happy, but she sighed deeply, her concern etched across her face.
|"Dear son, I can't allow you to stay here."|
I felt a surge of irritation but restrained myself.
|"Why? I'm not a child anymore, Mom. I'm twenty years old. Don't I have the right to live my life as I choose?"|
Her tone softened, turning serious.
|"Manoj, my son, you're right. You're not a child anymore. Fine, that's why it's time you know the truth. I've kept it from you for too long."|
I was taken aback.
|"What truth? I don't understand, Mom. I'm confused."|
She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with sorrow.
|"On the day you turned five, we were all celebrating your birthday. But that night… that night changed everything for us."|
She hesitated, searching my eyes as if seeking permission to continue.
|"Mom, please don't stop. I need to know. Tell me."|
I urged, my heart pounding.
|"Alright, dear. When we cut the cake that night, we found a piece of paper inside. It was a note, scrawled in what looked like blood. It said, 'I found you. There is no one who can protect you in this world.' Those were the exact words."|
A chill ran down my spine. Those words… I had heard them before. The same words had echoed in my dream today. No, it couldn't be a coincidence. My mind reeled as she continued.
|"At first, we thought it was a cruel prank. But later that night, mysterious men attacked us. Our guards managed to protect us, but many lost their lives in the process. It was only then that we realized the truth—they were after you."|
My mother's voice trembled as she relived the terror.
|"They came for you, Manoj. Over and over, they tried to kill you. We have no idea why they were trying to kill you. Why? You are just a five years old little kid. And then, one day, they succeeded in taking you. You were missing for nearly twenty days. We thought we had lost you forever."|
My heart raced as I listened, disbelief and fear mingling.
|"But then, one day, you were found on our balcony, safe but silent. We knew then that keeping you with us would only bring more danger. That's when the family decided to hide you, to send you away for your own safety."|
I stared at her in shock, trying to process everything. Then, I laughed bitterly, shaking my head.
|"Mom, please stop this nonsense. You don't need to make up stories just to bring me home."|
Her face crumpled, her voice breaking.
|"No, dear, it's the truth. Think about it—why were you the only one restricted, the only one forced to live apart from the family?"|
|"To teach me the value of money, the importance of relationships"|
I said, repeating the explanation I had heard countless times.
She shook her head trying to pretend.
|"No, that was just a cover page. If it was true, why wasn't your brother restricted? We all lied to you, Manoj, to protect you. The test wasn't real—it was created to keep you safe, my dear son."|
I was stunned. My entire life had been shaped by that test, by the struggle to prove myself. And now she was telling me it was all a lie? Yet, despite everything, it was that lie that had brought me close to my friends, the people who had become my family.
|"Mom, can you tell me more about that first attack? The one on my fifth birthday"|
I want a clue for needing to piece it all together.
She nodded slowly.
|"It was so long ago… but I remember it was late at night, just past midnight. And it was raining heavily. Yes, it was pouring."|
My heart stopped. Yes! I was right. This wasn't just a dream. It was real. But, why did they after me? This makes no sense at all.