Blackness
Zain's eyes opened wide. He looked around confused. This wasn't his house. How did he get here?
Zain: "Ahh, my brain hurts. I was with someone, and now I'm in an unfamiliar house? Was I kidnapped?" Tries to move forward, Slips
"Ah? What happened to my body? I feel really light and weak." He murmured, shocked as he gazed at his hands and feet. "WHAATTT??!!! Why are my hands and feet the size of a toddler?" As flashes of memory flooded his mind, panic set in. "I recall being somewhere with someone, and the next thing I know, I saw my blood. Was I murdered? Did someone killed me? How did I become a child? And why can't I remember anything about myself?"
Sees the sunlight coming from an open door, "Maybe going out of the house will help." Starts walking cutely, "Ahh, man this is such a struggle. How old am I anyway? The fact that I know how to walk definitely means I'm around 18 months."
As he sees the outside world, shock courses through him, "WOW! This place is magnificent. It looks like a village built in the middle of the forest. Where is this place? I had never seen a village like this, hidden away in a forest. Not like anything in India." In an instant flashbacks flood his mind, he muttered. "I remember! I remember who I am..." He starts getting flashbacks of his core memories.
Zain: PTSD kicks in "Why this? Why does this memory flood back first? The trauma I endured that day, why is it still haunting me? Why must I relive it all again?"
He slowly began to remember his memories from few years ago.
Narrator: Zain was 9 years old at that time, getting ready to go to a party with his mom (Neha), older sister (Nisha) (12 years old), and his dad (Revansh). The party was hosted by his dad's co-worker to celebrate the huge growth of his company, thanks to research done by Zain's dad.
Zain's dad was one of the smartest people in India. He had made important discoveries in many different fields of science. One of his research projects had really helped his friend's company become really successful. Many important people were invited to this party. But Zain's dad could not attend because of an urgent reason.
Zain: "Dad, why can't you come to the party with us? You're always working and don't spend time with us."
Neha: "Your son is right. You promised to go to this party, but now you're leaving town again. It's hosted by your friend, so you should really be there."
Revansh: "I know I promised family time, and I know this party is important. But an amazing scientific discovery just happened that I need to look at. The royal science community needs me to examine a particle that traveled back in time! That doesn't happen every day isn't it?"
Neha: "I know you're the head of the royal community, but haven't you done enough already? 99% of their success is because of your research. Can't you take a step back and spend time with us instead?"
Revansh: "Okay, okay, I'm so sorry for not spending enough family time. To make it up, how about after this meeting, I take all of us on a vacation to Switzerland?"
Neha moves closer to Revansh
Neha: Smirking "Nice try, but I know you too well. You just want to go to Switzerland for more research on this time travel thing, don't you?"
Revansh: "Busted! But I promise to spend more time with family than research on this trip."
Neha: "Alright, I'll trust you on this one!"
As the family reaches the exit of their house, the evening sky paints a canvas of soft hues, hinting at the approaching night. Zain and his family step out, their excitement Clear in the air. The distant murmur of traffic blends with the rustle of leaves, creating a tranquil backdrop.
As they approach the car, the sounds of his father's footsteps grew softer. Zain steals a glance at his father, their faces alight with soft smiles. In this moment, amidst the urban bustle, a feeling of familial closeness surrounded them as they embarked together on their separate paths for the evening.
The journey to the party venue was filled with a mix of excitement and underlying tension. As their car wound through the bustling streets of Bangalore, the cityscape gradually gave way to more exclusive neighborhoods. Zain pressed his face against the window, watching as ornate gates and sprawling estates replaced the familiar sights of their home district.
"Mom, where exactly is this party?" Nisha asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.
Neha's eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, meeting her daughter's gaze. "It's at Mr. Hitesh's private estate, dear. It's quite private – a real hidden gem in the city."
As they turned onto a isolated road, the streetlights became scarcer, plunging the car into intermittent darkness. The trees lining the road seemed to close in, their branches creating eerie shadows that danced across the windshield.
Zain felt a shiver run down his spine. "It's really dark out here," he mumbled, instinctively reaching for his sister's hand.
Nisha squeezed his hand reassuringly, but Zain could feel a slight tremor in her touch. She was nervous too. But her brother wasn't just nervous, he was unhappy as well.
Nisha: Concern evident in her eyes "Are you sad Dad couldn't come?"
Zain: "Yeah, I really wanted to spend some time with him."
Nisha: "Don't you like spending time with me, then?"
Zain: "Of course, I do! You're a really loving sister." Leans his head on her shoulder "Sometimes, you love me so much I forget who my actual mother is."
Neha: Neha chimed in, a playful tone in her voice "Zain, come on! I used to change your diapers, and now you're saying you love your sister more?" She chuckled softly, teasing her son with affectionate banter
Zain: "Mom, I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH! And I didn't say I loved you more than my sister! I just said she loves me so much that I forget who loves me more!"
Neha: "Awww, I have such sweet kids! Anyways, we are close to our destination, so get ready to see the spectacular mansion we are about to visit."
As they rounded a final bend, the Hitesh estate came into view. The mansion loomed before them, a beacon of light amid the surrounding darkness. Its grand façade was adorned with twinkling lights, giving it an almost ethereal quality.
But as they drew closer, something else caught Zain's attention. Figures clad in dark, imposing uniforms stood at regular intervals along the property's perimeter. Their rigid postures sent a chill through Zain's young heart. "Mom," he whispered, leaning forward in his seat, "why are there so many guards?"
Neha's brow furrowed slightly as she steered the car towards the valet station. "I'm not sure, sweetheart. Mr. Hitesh must have some very important guests tonight."
As they exited the car, the cool night air carried with it an undercurrent of tension. The muffled sounds of music and laughter drifted from the mansion, a stark contrast to the gloomy atmosphere created by the heavy security presence.
Nisha's grip on Zain's hand tightened as they approached the entrance. The guards' eyes, hidden behind dark shade, seemed to follow their every move.
"I don't like this," Nisha murmured, her voice barely audible. "Something feels... off."
Zain wanted to reassure his sister, to be the brave little brother he always strived to be. But as they stepped over the threshold into the dazzling lobby of the Hitesh mansion, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far beyond their understanding.
The lavishness of the interior momentarily distracted them from their unease. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the gathering of India's elite, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, an undercurrent of tension remained – visible in the tight smiles of some guests, the furtive glances towards the exits.
As they made their way deeper into the party, Zain couldn't help but feel they had crossed an invisible line. Whatever awaited them in this glittering gathering, there would be no easy return to the simple family life they had left behind.