(A/N: Italics=Nightmare)

Avni's POV

Have you ever seen a maniac? A crazy psycho madman. NO? God forbids you do.

You're lucky because this ridiculous son of a bachelor was making me feel utterly eerie.

"Uff my love.", he said and chuckled. The nerve of this lunatic. "You know I always wanted to feel your touch. Be it in the form of a slap but at least I got to feel your soft hand."

Creep!

'Avni make sure you wash your hands with acid today.'

"Shut up with your nonsense and tell me why did you kidnap me?", I screamed at him. Already this headache and fever and on top of all, this lunatic.

"No love.", he said very calmly. You know, I-am-going-to-make-your-life-hell-just-wait, yep that calmness. He sat on the edge of the mattress and I moved to the furthest corner of it. "I told you, I just wanted to have a little talk with you, that's all."

"Haa and for just a little talk, you abducted me, how mature.", I scoffed air quoting the words 'little talk'.

"See love, I told you I'd never hurt you not physically, anyway yes I took you here because I wanted to talk to my queen in privacy."

'Oh, Mr, Hold your horses, whose queen, what the hell are you rambling.'

"Fir vahi baat, are you out of your senses, I told you once, I don't belong to you, how can I, when I don't even know you. Few days before I even didn't know that you existed.", I said softly, hoping he gets a piece of mind.

"What do you want to know, tell me love. I'm not saying you to marry me. I'll wait for you as long as you want me to. I just want you to remember that you are mine."

"See Mr..", I was cut off by him.

"Vidyut, it's Vidyut love."

"See I don't even know your name, how can I love you, hell I don't even like you.", I said but regretted the next moment, life-threatening rage pooled in his eyes.

'Avni why the hell don't you think before saying. Do you have some ridiculous desire to die or what?'

'You see me and you, we are one.'

'Exactly my point, so think before talking damn it.'

"Love, listen to me, I am ready to give you all the time you want.", he said and got up and pulled me by my ankle, fear and anxiety overwhelmed my senses. Oh, my stars! What have I done?

I tried to pull away but no he had to be this buff and tall. He was a lunatic, I could see the happiness he was getting by seeing my fear.

"No, please, please stay away from me.", I almost wept. At this moment I could see him. The monster. Him.

I don't want history to repeat itself. He pulled me towards his chest, I thrashed and wiggled but all my efforts failed.

"Shh love, relax. I won't do anything, I promise.", he cooed in my ear. Were these words ought to make me relax or calm because they were not helping at all.

He gripped my chin with his fingers and forcefully made me look into his eyes. I'm not weak. I'm not weak. I'm not weak.

"Beautiful.", he whispered."I've always longed to have you in my arms, to see you this close, to love you, to cherish you and when you finally are, you don't want me to treat you the way I want, my Queen."

He brought his face closer to mine and me being me, of course, I tried to move my face to the other side, but his grip tightened more and I'm definitely sure it'll leave bruises later, his fingerprints will be visible. But that didn't mean I stopped my efforts, no I doubled them. 

At one point, his grip became so firm that a whimper escaped my mouth. Curse this psycho to hell.

His eyes which held anger turned gentle and he left my chin immediately.

'Bipolar son of a bachelor.'

He stroked my chin with his thumb, which I suppose in his eyes was a gentle touch but to me it was disgusting.

"I'm so sorry love, I didn't mean to hurt you, am so sorry.", he muttered to me in a low voice.

"For what you're sorry? Ha? Tell me, you're sorry for physically hurting me, or abducting me, or for constantly threatening me, for mentally torturing me, for what are you sorry goddammit."

"Those threats were just warnings to stay away from any other man but me and especially from Neil Khanna. That man is.."

"You don't get to tell me whom I should talk with, I'm an independent woman and this is a free country and what you're doing is illegal. You'll pay for it."

"My sweet, naïve, beautiful love, you really think I give two sh..", he stopped," I won't curse in front of you, I know you hate it, where was I, yah! do you think I care what's legal and whatnot. Police, law these things are in my pocket. I'm the richest billionaire of this country."

"But I heard Mr Khanna is the richest billionaire.", I argued but cursed myself. His eyes which were soft before turned to two mini volcanoes ready to flow lava. 

"I told you not to take any man's name but mine, didn't I?", he said tightening his grip on my wrist.

'Is he a werewolf or what, Mine, Mine, Mine.", my conscience scoffed in annoyance and imitated the way he says 'mine.'

"You're a sick psychopath, you need treatment goddammit.", I yelled at him.

"Now now, those curse words don't look good from your pretty little cute mouth, love."

"Leave me I'm telling you."

Before I could retract my hand back, he leaned forward and his eyes flickered to my lips, My eyes widened with fear, and tears formed in them. Icy horror grabbed my heart. No way in hell was I going to lose my first kiss to a sick-obsessed psychopath.

"Please leave me, please.", I sobbed.

Maybe he had some humanity or decency left, hence he averted his eyes and pulled me more towards him, "Shh.. shh I told you I won't do anything to you, didn't I? I'd never break my words.", he said hugging me and all I could do was sob. Why was I so weak?

I was getting dizzy, my skin felt like it was on fire, my head throbbed and sheer panic overwhelmed my senses. Sheer terror seized me, terror, that knows no understanding, terror that knows no control, a terror that no one can understand who had not experienced it.  My eyes were closing but I won't let them.

Mr Khanna is right, I'm a weak woman, a pathetic weak woman. 

"As much as I want to spend more time with you, I'm afraid your health is worsening. Let's get you home.", he said and before he could carry me, I jumped away. He blew out a puff of air and unlocked the door.

Just when I was about to step out of the room, he caught my wrist and came dangerously close to me, goosebumps formed on the skin of my neck and back," Don't try to act smart love, I have eyes on every damn step of yours."

He inhaled near my skin and my eyes closed in utter disgust. At this moment I hated every single cell in my body. I felt disgusted with my own skin. All due to this beast.

"You're a beast.", I stated.

And what he did?

The nerve of this creep.

~

He laughed.

"I'm a beast, but I'm your beast, love.", he said with pride.

'Maniac'

"Come on, let's go.", he said grabbing my wrist and pulled me out of the room. He blindfolded me and again, again a grimy cloth was shoved on my mouth.

Again an intoxicating smell overpowered my senses.

And everything blacked out.

Again!

"We'll be seeing each other soon, my love.", his words reverberated in my ears before I passed out.

__________________________

"Avni! My sweet darling Avni, come out here and lemme see you sweetheart.", his voice echoed in the room. My heart was beating so fast, I was feeling nauseous, I grew panicky. Icy horror grabbed my heart.

The closet where I was hiding was making me claustrophobic. I felt I'll die of fear. I tried to bring my legs up to my chest, but they seemed paralysed and rigid. I kept a hand on my mouth to lower my sobs, but a soft whimper left my mouth.

Terror engulfed me.

I knew it was the end. It's the end of my life, my dreams and my existence.

The closet's door opened and I shrivelled like a leaf in my place.

His tall, dark figure came into my view.

"Found you.", he stated with a wicked, sinister smile.

~~~~~~

"NO!", I shrieked.

My forehead was drenched in sweat. I looked at my surroundings, my room?

Nightmare!

Just a nightmare.

I walked to my bathroom and splashed water on my face. It's okay, he's not here Avni. It was just a nightmare. But I didn't have these nightmares for years now.

Then why all of a sudden?

Tears streamed down my cheeks mixed with the water. I was panicking again. No, no, no.

I tried to yell but no voice came from my mouth. I dropped to the floor, my eyes stung with uncontrollable tears. The door to my bathroom flung open and came in maa. Her eyes widened with horror, worry and fear clouded her eyes.

"Avni? Avni, you're getting a panic attack, where are the medicines?", she asked, her voice panicky.

She held my shoulders to make me sit upright, "Avni don't you dare close your eyes, keep them open, where are the meds?", her voice was fading slowly, my gaze was becoming blurry. With all the strength I had, I gestured to her for the cabinet.

"T...The ca.. cab...inet..", I spoke with struggle.

I didn't know when she got up and how she found the medicines, but I know that few pills were shoved inside my mouth after few moments.

Moments later, I became calm. I took a deep breath and looked at maa. She had that fear in her eyes, she knew the reason behind my panic attack, she knew after all she's a mother. She knows everything.

She made me stand and walked me to the bed.

"Maa..", I whispered. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know what was running in her mind.

"Child sleep, I'm here.", she murmured kissing my forehead. I sighed, I knew she won't talk right now. She sat beside me and patted her lap, I laid my head and closed my eyes. 

I felt something I wanted to feel the whole day.

I felt protected.

I felt loved.

I felt safe.

______________________________

My dear readers, I hope you liked the chapter. I hope you could feel the terror Avni felt, I hope you could imagine the madness of the lunatic, Vidyut. 

A slight peek into Avni's past was shown today. Do tell me your views on it.

And Hey! Congratulations to everyone, the story has finally reached its first milestone. The book has completed 1K votes. This is crazy! 

P.S. that's the reason I gave you this chapter so early, I hope you found it worth reading.

Much love.

Qs of the day: What practice or what thing makes you feel safe?

I love you all.

Until then, stay safe and stay blessed.

Apki seva mein sadev tatpar