*Warning: Some disturbing contents/ Violence*

Sonakshi stood while her breathing suspended as she saw the shadow of the mystery person moving through the darkness in her room.

She didn't even have time to reach for the lights as the intruder ran towards her and quickly covered her mouth. The next minute, she felt a sharp blade on her neck and her eyes widened.

"Hi.... Sooooonakshi. Missed me?" the intruder spoke as Sonakshi gasped.

Nisha?

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Sona's POV

Numb....

My heart was going wild inside my chest and at that moment, I knew it. I was going to be dead. I slightly tilted my head to get a clearer image of her face. But the moment I saw her, I regretted.

I had never seen Nisha looking at anyone that way. Her eyes held deadness. The woman who destroyed me, who tried to destroy my family, is now after my life? Why? A final glance at her furious eyes confirmed the possibility of outcomes that could happen to me.

The piercing shatter of the photo frame across the floor, filled the eerie silence of the room as I jumped in fright. I just hoped someone would hear that and come to my rescue. But what if she harms them too? Oh god no...

The blade was piercing on the side of my neck while I stood still in my place. My eyes blurred with tears. But if I moved my hands to wipe them, I was sure she would pierce the blade right through my skin, cutting all the nerves that carried blood across my body. If I was going to die, then I am not going to go without a fight. The possible thoughts of escaping from her clutches were running on my mind as I looked into the devilish eyes that stared back at me like they had found what they wanted for years.

"Nisha?" I spoke softly as I heard a menacing laughter erupting from her throat.

It was a cruel mocking laughter which caused chills through my spine. She leisurely took her time, and moved the blade up to my lips.

"So, you remembered me? How nice of you Sonakshi...." She whispered and slightly applied pressure near my lips thus cutting it successfully.

I felt the blood oozing over her hands and under her fingers. That's when the tears came fast as my entire body shuddered in pain.

My legs were shaking while my palms started sweating heavily. My lips trembled and alarming shivers crawled upon my body. I couldn't open my mouth as my tongue felt like it was stuck to the roof of my mouth. I couldn't bring myself to speak. My lungs were giving out and I felt lightheaded because of the lack of air.

"Scared?" she asked and pulled off her hoody of her head slowly.

"Nisha please...." I tried to plead as my lips started bleeding heavily.

"I love the way you are begging.......Beg as much as you can Sonakshi....because you may not be alive in a few more minutes... You wouldn't be so lucky to survive like the last time.... This time, I will make sure I finish my task completely!" Nisha spat as her hands gripped my throat tightly and choked it.

A startled scream escaped past my lips as she slowly kept the blade aside and removed a larger weapon from her jacket. My eyes widened as I saw a sharp silver knife, shining brightly even in the darkness. I tried fighting her but the moment I saw that knife, I stopped. Nisha held the knife proudly and placed it exactly on top of my stomach. Her face split into a grin that arced in a sickly way, never making it to her almost sunken eyes.

I didn't know what happened to her. She was behaving so differently, like a psycho. She was once the girl who helped Dev recover his company, the one who loved him, his best friend, the star of their family, Ishwari's favourite bahu-material...... is she the same person? She was completely different from the person whom I saw a few months back. There was still a bit of humanity left in that person.....but this devil here had nothing.

"Stop it please..........Nisha why are you doing this? Why?" I spoke even though it was difficult to utter those words when her knife was drawing patterns across my stomach. I struggled and started trashing while screams and sobs left my mouth. My hands collided with her hands and I managed to make her stumble a few steps back, but that didn't stop her from continuing her mission.

She collided her foot with my back as I fell on the floor with my head clashing with the dresser. The thick burgundy drops that tipped on the ground didn't make me panic. The only thought that roamed through my head was my survival. I had to survive through this madness! Her hand tangled in my hair as she pulled my head and made me face her. I closed my eyes as the whole world started spinning.

"What did you think slut? That I was just a rambling fool, when I said I would ruin you?" she said slapping my face as I held her hands and tried to push her away.

The next minute she quickly held her knife and pressed the sharp blade on my forearm causing a loud scream to erupt from my throat. My throat clogged up as bile rose up within it as I felt her knife digging harder on my skin.

Please god....please help me.

"If you scream one more time, I would pierce this knife on your throat instead! SHUT UP!" she spat as I muffled my tears and sobbed silently.

"What do you want now? If Dev is what you want, then go to him..... I have already given him the divorce! You should have known by now....he hates me already. Please leave me..... I swear I won't tell anyone what happened.....please" I sobbed as her expressions changed.

Maybe she was really thinking about leaving me. Please god.... I started praying silently when I saw her eyes lit up dangerously again.

"You have ruined me bitch! Your idiotic ass had always been a hindrance to my love. You took away Dev from me. I am jobless and thrown into the streets because of you. I am going to the jail in a few more days......all because of you! If only you hadn't returned back into our lives, we would have been so happy!" she paused as she moved her knife slowly to my leg and lifted up my skirt slowly.

"This............this body is what attracted him so much right?" she spoke as her face lifted from a frown to a menacing grin. "This...." She traced my inner thighs as I shivered, "have to be destroyed...." She said as I felt my heart pounding against my chest.

The scream tore through me like a great shard of glass. I felt my eyes widen and pulse quickening. My heart thudding like a rock rattling in a box, when she cut the flesh deep inside my thighs. I felt the blood move over my skin, as the thick fluid was no warmer or cooler than my own skin. After a few moments more blood was leaving my rapidly, paling the flesh while my pulses went slower and weaker.

Suddenly a loud phone call distracted our thoughts as Nisha immediately turned around. It was my handphone which was ringing loudly on the bedside table.... I tried to move but the pain in my limbs made it impossible to even shift in my place. Nisha slowly got up and took my phone. In the meantime, I tried to grab something nearby, but she was too fast. She immediately came back and sat infront me.

The minute she saw the caller ID, her face changed to an evil grin. She shifted her gaze to me, like a wolf observing its prey and her smile widened.

She quickly answered the call and placed it loudspeaker mode.

"Speak!........but dare you say anything, I swear I will cut your head and hang it outside Dixit mansion!" she whispered as the bloody knife was now placed back on my neck.

"H-h....hello" I said softly trying to control my ragged breathing. My mind was blank as everything around me was getting blur.

"Sona.....are you there?" I heard Dev's voice and my eyes immediately widened. Oh god.....no! I felt like every single hope I had was crushing. I wanted to scream and ask him for help but I couldn't. Even without speaking much, I felt tears continuously wetting my cheeks. I wanted to say too many things but the feeling of the knife pressing harder on my skin, distracted me from thinking of what to say. Silent tears left my eyes as I covered my mouth to hide my cries.

"D....dev. why........?" I choked as I heard him inhale sharply. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't make my voice sound normal.

"Sonakshi? Are you ok?" he asked as I felt the knife pressing harder to my throat.

"Yes I am. Yes!" I answered quickly as I felt Nisha smiling behind me.

Wincing In pain I started to cover my open wounds with my hand to ease the pain while I stared at the phone. I had to somehow convey to Dev that I am in trouble.....but I just didn't know how to do that! One wrong move could kill me permanently. In the end, it isn't death that scares me but pain. Pain of what will happen to Dev if something happens to me. He will end up blaming himself. No..... I can't let this happen.

"Sonakshi.....you sound sick.....anyway I wanted to tell you that I talked to my lawyer todays and-" my eyes widened as I quickly cut him off. Because I somewhat knew what he wanted to say.

"Dev.......why are you wasting my time? Didn't I clearly say that I want my divorce? Why aren't you signing it? Why Dev.....can you make my life easy........just sign it and submit it to your lawyer please! I am suffering again like how I suffered in your file room!" I said as Nisha's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She eyed me curiously while I just pretended to be in pain due to the cuts.

"......................." there was no reply from him for him for some time. All I heard was heavy breathing. Was he really thinking?

God please provide dumb Dev with some brains......at least this time!

"Sona......." He said as his voice was serious. God..... I hope he doesn't spoil anything here.

"Um......ok..........do you want me to sign it and give it to you now......at your house?" he asked hesitantly as I found a slight ray of hope. I breathed harder and gathered myself to answer him.

But before I could do anything, Nisha pierced the knife on my lower back.

"Ahhhhhhhh" I yelled. My eyes widened and I quickly clamped my mouth shut with my palms, whimpering helplessly. Nisha laughed silently, throwing her head back as if she just heard the funniest joke. Then her malicious eyes turned towards me and she hissed.

"Better ask him to stay there.....or else there is no guarantee for your life by the time he reaches here!" she sneered softly so that only I could hear.

"Sonakshi? SONA?" Dev's voice panicked as I quickly replied him.

"I am f.....f....fine. I just fell from my bed." I struggled as I swallowed my acidic saliva. "Dev...........don't come to my house anymore. Just call your lawyer Mr......Evas Em! I am sure you will find his number in your phone and-" before I completed Nisha cut the phone.

With great effort, I opened my eyes to catch a glimpse of the devil sitting next to me. The minute I turned, she gripped my jaw and pushed me against the floor.

"FUCK YOU SONAKSHI! NO MATTER HOW MUCH I WANT TO LEAVE YOU, I CAN'T." She breathed as her eyes burned in rage.

"Everytime I see your face, you remind me of the slut who snatched away my happiness!" she yelled and came forward with the knife.

But the next moment, someone started banging the room door and I flinched from the loud sound. My face went pale from losing all the blood.

"SONAA OPEN THE DOOR..." I heard my mother screaming as I noticed Nisha's face scrunching in fury. My breathing stopped when I saw her hands coming towards my neck.

I quickly shifted away and the knife met the flesh, near my shoulder.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh" I screamed as my shoulders felt like they had been dislocated.

"Sona beta open the door please...." This time it was my father's voice.

"Please leave me! I will give you whatever you want...." I cried as she dug the knife deeper and deeper into my flesh. My skin was tearing to shreds as the knife rotated. The sounds of my muscles and nerves being gouged grew louder.

I brought all the strength in me to push her away when the door barged open. My breathing quickened as I saw the people standing at the door.

My mother, father and.....................Dev? They had horrifying expressions plastered on their face as they looked around the room. Dev quickly made his way towards me.

I didn't know what I was feeling at that moment. Relieved or confused? But I knew that they would somehow save me from Nisha. Before I could squeal for help, I felt the knife being pulled out harshly from my shoulders and being placed back near my throat.

"ONE MORE STEP AHEAD........." Nisha screamed as Dev stopped in his tracks. His face burned with rage as he looked at me helplessly.

"One more step.........and she will be dead!" she laughed and tore my sleeves like an insane person.

"Nisha please don't..........please........Devvvvvv help me!!!" I screamed as I couldn't bear the pain she was inflicting on me.

She knew that her plan failed.........so is she going to kill me? God please don't!

"Leave her Nisha...........please! I am your culprit right? KILL ME.....do anything to me but leave her. Please......" he struggled and came forward slowly. His eyes never left me all the time while I saw the pain and helplessness in them. I managed to give him a small smile telling him that I was okay but he closed his eyes refusing to believe anything that was happening in front of him.

"Ouh really Dev? Then will you withdraw my case?" she smiled as Bijoy and Asha stood shocked.

"Look........please leave my daughter..... Dev please give her whatever she wants! Please I want my daughter alive!" my mother screamed as I looked at them through my tears. I knew I was already losing lots of blood and I didn't know whether I was going to make it alive out of here. But before I die, I just wanted to tell Dev, how much I loved him. I wanted to tell him, that he was never at fault. I just wanted to say my last sorry.......

Dev kept talking to that insane lady while I focused on breathing harder. The veins in his neck were prominent while his whole face was red, as he snarled continuously.

"I will withdraw your case, transfer my properties to you...........do whatever you want. Please don't do anything to her! Please.......she don't have anything to do with this..... It was me who was after her.....it's me who loved her....I am the one who forced her into this marriage! Please.............please leave her!!!!!" Dev kneeled down and sobbed. A salty fluid dripped over my small, cracked lips as my shoulders shook with grief.

We can never truly feel another person's pain, but that scream of Dev's came close. I wanted to do anything that could give him his happiness back!

God.........how badly I judged Nisha? She was worse than a poisonous snake! I had never expected her to behave in such a way. My mind went dizzy as everything they were talking didn't go through my mind. The crying images of my parents and Dev were slowly getting blurred.

Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see life with a clearer view again.

"Dev..... Remember I had cried the same way when you tortured me?" Nisha spoke with a coldness that I had never heard before. "But guess what.........I don't just want to torture her Dev! I want her to die with unbearable pain! It's because of her, I lost you............because of her, you ditched me! Everything IS BECAUSE OF HERRR" she screamed and cut my other hand.

"DEVVVVVVVVV" A scream pierced through the air like raid sirens did. It was the loudest most piercing scream that had ever left my lips. My cries sounded like a scream of wild panic and terror. My bloodshot eyes stared pleadingly at the woman who lacked any sort of humanity before another excruciating shot of pain went up my leg.

"STOP...............Please don't.........please" my mother's knees gave up as my father stood there helplessly.

"NISHA PLEASE.............Stop just stop! I will marry you if you leave her! I swear!" Dev screamed as I felt Nisha's rigid frame behind me.

His holler reverberated in my ears like a clap of thunder, as he was burning in rage. It was a roar of pure anger and agony, but thankfully, Nisha decided to listen to him.

"You would?" she asked hopefully as he looked at her and nodded.

He slowly came closer to us but the next minute, Nisha's knife sharply cut my wrists as I screamed in pain.

"ONE MORE STEP! One more step towards her, you will see her dead Dev!" Nisha warned as he quickly raised his hands in surrender and stepped back.

"Ok.....I am not coming.....I am not coming there.............I am not....please don't do anything!" he trembled as his voice choked everytime he spoke.

There was a sudden silence that lingered in the air for a moment. She immediately pulled the knife from my skin harshly and looked at Dev. He clenched his fist as I could see him gritting his teeth in anger. But Nisha's face was in deep thoughts. She slowly loosened her grip from my hair as I fell down completely on the wet floor. It was all blood.

The minute I looked down, my eyes widened.

Blood.....Blood everywhere.

The sight of blood made black dots to appear in front of my vision. The pain shot my head, making me see stars and galaxies while my eyes rolled to the back of my head. I heard screams, pleading yells and begging sobs around me. My breathing was heavy as I focused my eyes on the wall across, trying to avoid looking at the others for a moment. I just didn't want to die, with my last sight being this frightening.

My eyes welled up with tears as I heard Dev begging for my life. I didn't make any eye contact with him as the mere image of his distraught state would be enough to push me closer to death. I was trying hard not to pass out and listen to his words. He was ready to give away his life for me. But what had I done for him?

Hot tears tipped down my cheeks, leaving behind a trail of hot sensation as I pressed my lips together to stop myself from crying.

"I am sorry Devvv...Oh wait, you are still alive aren't you? Oh.. That's sad! Let me end your sufferings forever Sonakshi!" Nisha said as she bent down, gripped my chin and chuckled menacingly. I was still hoping like a fool that she had some humanity left inside her but everything died the moment I saw that inhuman look in her eyes.

My eyes instantly flickered to Dev as his face displayed of pure shock. I could see his shoulders shaking and as he refused to open his eyes.

"Let me end this for you Sonakshi! Goodbye!" she said and quickly raised her knife, aiming my throat.

If you give up now, you will die Sonakshi! Get up please.........

I gathered all the energy left inside me and rolled aside, kicking her legs in the process. She immediately missed her aim and the knife pierced my back harshly. Before she could pull that knife away, she was slapped harshly.

The slap was as loud as a clap as she flew and hit the headboard of the bed. It had been an open-handed smack that had left a red welt on her cheek. Just below her eye, there was a small cut as Dev was stood there with a murderous look. He quickly held her hands and hovered her as an angry growl left her lips.

"Get away you bastard! I will kill you!" she screamed as Dev kept slapping her face till her head started bleeding from hitting the floor hard.

Suddenly the noise of sirens broke through the window, as another hope bloomed inside me. I looked around and saw my mother who was now near me. She was a crying mess while my father was nowhere to be seen. Probably, he was the one who called the police...

God....these policemen take an entire day to reach here!

Dev's POV

The sirens jolted Nisha out of her daydream. She panicked as she started kicking and struggling under my hold. Soon I heard the noise of the cops running inside the house and before I killed Nisha by choking her, one of the cop pulled me away and handcuffed her. She was still struggling but now, she was trapped between the officers.

With bloodied hands, bloodshot eyes and a burning animosity in her black orbs, I could see how angry and vengeful her look was. I looked at the person, who wretched my family and she was now walking out peacefully?

Soon the paramedics were there. They lifted Sonakshi in the stretcher and rushed towards the ambulance, followed by her parents. I tilted my head up and looked at the ceiling with my eyes closed. Pleading and begging words left my lips as I begged infront of god for her to be okay. I wanted to open my eyes and believe that it was all a dream and Sona was still fine, sleeping soundly in her room.

My vocals had stopped working due to all those screams that left my mouth. Never had I ever felt so much of anguish and pain in my life as I quickly ran down the stairs and rushed towards the ambulance. Sonakshi's parents were already seated inside. I felt the hot trail of salty water on my cheeks as I looked at them helplessly.

"Sir....please get inside quickly. We have to get to the hospital as fast as possible" the nurse said as I dragged myself inside and sat next to Sonakshi who was lying lifelessly in the stretcher.

I knelt down closer to her as all the stamina left my body. My stomach churned and head spun as my eyes took in every feature of hers'. My hands trembled when I touched her face. I lifted her lifeless body towards my chest and rocked her softly. Half of her face was covered in blood.

Damn....why Nisha! Why?

"Devvvv" I heard a soft whisper as my eyes widened. I moved her brown locks out of her face as she opened her eyes weakly. I could see her struggles to keep herself conscious. I just couldn't take it... it was so painful, thanks to my wonderful family. It was my fault..... I should have killed that wicked lady the minute I found the truth........... I kept a murderer with me for so long! Why did I do that?

"Patient is conscious...hurry........." I heard the nurses shout but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I stared at Sona while my eyes were solely fixed on her beautiful face as our memories started flooding in my mind.

"Dev.....you won't go away right?" she asked as I cried and nodded. The tears burst forth like water from a waterfall, spilling down my face continuously. I felt the muscles of my chin tremble like a small child while I looked at her helplessly.

"I am with you....will be with you always Sona! Nothing will happen to you....nothing" I said between my cries as I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.

"Don't cry......I am fine" she breathed as the whole bed was filled by her blood. I wanted to be strong for her but I just couldn't. The more I controlled, the more I cried.

"God! Sonakshi..............I am sooooo sorry..... I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to you! I......I..............I can't see you like this. I can't believe I allowed this to happen to you......again" I cried as clear watery tears streaked from her eyes down her red mottled skin to her quivering lips. Her hands opened and closed rhythmically, clenching as if there could be some violent solution to her pain.

"I thought you were supposed....................to .........be in .................Japan" she coughed as more blood gushed from the side of her shoulder.

"I couldn't leave you.............. how could I?" I cried as a pair of tears raced down my cheeks and wetted my stumbles. "After all............you decided to propose to the divorce papers" I joked but the pain in my voice was dominating everything.

"Dev.............I want to tell you something...."

"Yes..." I answered as she winced when the doctor injected her.

"I am so.....sorry.....I really love you" she said as one of her hand held my biceps like her life depended upon them. The pain was killing her slowly and I couldn't even do something to help her.

"You don't have to be sorry Sonakshi..... Please don't increase my guilt.....please" I cried as Asha maa buried her hands in her head and cried silently. Her parents didn't even the heart to see her in this condition. Three quarter of her body was covered in blood while her face was turning pale due to the amount of blood she was losing.

"No...Dev....it isn't your fault.....don't blame y-yourself" she said softly as I cried harder. My eyes dripped with tears. My walls, the walls that held me up just... collapsed. I pressed my hands against the wall as it trembled vigorously. It was raw. Everything. Raw tears, raw emotions. I am anything but innocent here. I could have done anything to save her. But that bloody bitch was holding a knife close to her throat.

Just one cut..............one cut.....and I could have lost Sonakshi forever!

"Sonakshi......look at me sweetheart. Nothing will happen to you.....you are a strong lady na? You are the one who made me believe that strong woman exists..... Please don't give up! I can't go through this anymore please......" I said as her eyes were halfway closed.

Her clutches on my shirt was loosening as a small painful chuckle left her lips.

"Str.....strong lady?" she sobbed as her tears soaked my chest. "You expect too much Dev..... I can't" she coughed as her face twisted in pain. The doctors quickly bandaged her wrists and cuts. But there were more bruises inside her thighs.

"Dev....I am scared.....don't leave me.....stay with me" Sonakshi said as her breathing became heavy. She could barely open her eyes but she was forcing herself to speak. I kept caressing her hair as her mom tried talking to her.

"I am with you baby....just relax. Don't lose hope..... I am with you. Nothing is going to happen.... It's just small wounds....it will be alright-" I said as I placed a kiss on her forehead but she kept crying bitterly.

"It's not Dev.......I don't want to die.....like this.......Dev" she cried as I inhaled sharply. "Please take care of my parents Dev..... Don't leave them...." She whimpered as her eyes clenched painfully.

"Sona?? ......Sonakshi! Please open your eyes darling..... nothing will happen to you!" I screamed and tapped her cheeks as Asha and Bijoy's face lost all its colour.

She inhaled heavily as her eyes opened again.....

"I am glad that I hit my bike with yours.........................and y...you found me. Thanks..........for.....loving me" she said as her dark lashes brimmed heavily with tears.

"Don't say that.....please! Stop talking like that! I love you too much Sonakshi. I will never let you go.......even if you want me to!" I yelled wiping away the tears from her face.

"How....did.....you.......find....Mr....Evas Em number.....in.....your....phone?" she joked as a small smile formed on her face. I couldn't bring myself to return that smile as I cried bitterly, resting my head in her neck. I remembered how smartly she created a fake name for the word 'Save me'

She was slowly losing conscious while I stared at her, watching the life being drain out from my love. She clutched my hands tightly with every touch on her wounds applied by the nurses.

I refused to look away, even when her lips trembled and her shoulders heaved with pain. She was not willing to back down from failures so why should I? I looked outside only to see that we had reached the hospital but Sonakshi's condition became serious. She was slipping into unconsciousness again.

"I am.....going to.....miss your hair.....b-babluuu..." her voice faded as a loud cry left my lips.

"Noooo Sonakshi no..." I whimpered painfully and covered my face with my palms.

"Get the stretcher out.....quickly!" the guards shouted as everything was happening quickly. But before they pulled her out, her voice just broke the rest of the life inside me.

"You are the best...........h-husband one could ever have Dev.......... And I will miss you" she breathed as her eyes shut closed.

"SOONAKSHIII" Bijoy and Asha's shouts echoed across the silent ambulance as I stood frozen at my place.

***************

I did not start writing the next chapter yet. This was the longest chapter in Dark Passion so far! Thank you for reading and supporting me. I read every single comment in my chapter. Sometimes, I don't get the time to reply to some....so do not think that I don't read it!👍😘

**For those who couldn't find out:
Evas em (flip the words) = save me

*Message to all* - I didn't edit this chapter at all because I did not want to lose my inline comments from my old readers. So if you see lots of grammatical errors, I am sorry. This was freshly written in year 2017.

If I don't see lots of comments, I am not gonna update next chapter soon 😎