I turned to Aunt, my voice hoarse with fear.

"Aunt, what is Shaku talking about?"

Aunt’s expression darkened.

"Nothing."

A lie.

I sat up, my pulse racing.

"No, Aunt. I saw a ghost. A man with red eyes and symbols on his face. I thought it was a nightmare, but you and Shaku think otherwise!"

The room fell into stunned silence.

Aunt’s face turned white.

Shaku and the old woman paled.

"Say that again," Aunt demanded, her voice sharp.

I swallowed.

"A man came to my window. His eyes were red, and he had symbols covering his face. He was laughing."

I didn’t tell them that he knew who I was.

That he knew I came from the future.

A choked sob burst from Shaku’s throat.

She bolted from the room, tears streaming down her face.

"Get out, Shaku!" Aunt ordered, her voice trembling.

Shaku fled.

Aunt hugged me tightly, her grip almost desperate.

"I am with you."

Then, she turned to the old woman.

"Bhundi, help us."

The old woman Bhundi, pressed her hands together, her expression unreadable.

"Let me meditate. We have a couple of months."

Aunt nodded.

Bhundi hesitated, then murmured, "Fourteen years ago, Kala saw that man..."

"Shut up and go," Aunt cut her off, her voice like a whip.

Bhundi scowled, her anger palpable, but she left without another word.

After Bhundi was gone, the maids entered, carrying a tray of breakfast.

The tension in the room was thick, but Aunt brushed my hair back gently.

"Eat first," she said.

Then, her voice turned firm.

"We will stay with Tatya Saheb. And you will see the district doctor."

I blinked, trying to recall who Tatya Saheb was.

A faint memory surfaced.

Tatya Saheb.

The younger brother of Vallabh Rao.

He lived in Guhagar, a coastal town far from here.

Aunt was planning to take me away.

To get me out of this house.

My heart pounded.

Was she protecting me?

Or was she hiding something even worse?

Either way

I knew one thing for certain.

This house was no longer safe.

------
The Burning Man

I found myself back in my childhood home.

The scent of freshly brewed tea and warm toast filled the air. Papa sat at the breakfast table, reading his newspaper.
Mummy sipping her tea.

And beside me.

Snowy.

My dear old pomeranian, long gone from this world, wagging his tail as if nothing has changed.

I reached out to touch him.

A sudden chill crept into the air.

The warmth vanished.

In an instant, Mummy - Papa were gonna, disappeared.

Snowy stiffened, his fur bristling as he growled at the door.

Then

The door creaked open.

And he stepped inside.

A man or what was left of one.

His skin charred, his face twisted into a gruesome tapestry of burned flesh and blood.

His clothes were stained with dark crimson, as if he had crawled out of a nightmare.

"Come with me."

His voice rumbled through the air, a sound that shook my soul.

The room cracked apart, flames erupting from the floor.

The fire swallowed everything.

His icy fingers gripped my throat , pulling me towards the dance of fire.

"Go Away." , I screamed fighting his hold.

I turned, running towards the garden door.

But I didn't move.

No matter how hard i ran, my feet remained glued to the ground.

"This must be a nightmare."

Taking a deep breath, I faced him.

"Who are you?", I demanded, my voice shaking.

"It is me."

His laugh was slow, cruel and dripping with malice.

"I will kill you again."

Again?

Tears blurred my vision.

"Crocodile tears.", he mocked. His grip tightening around my neck.

I couldn't breathe.

"Saudamini, Damin, Damini."

Aunt's voice pierced through the nightmare, shattering the illusion.