I rode through familiar streets, each corner seemed to confront the shadows lurking within. I couldn't shake off the burden no matter how fast I rode. Finally reaching home, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. I dismounted my bike, my heart hammered against my ribcage with a fervor that matched the rhythm of a war drum. I pushed open the front door, bracing for the storm that awaited me.

"Oh, thank goodness you're home!" Mom exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "What happened to you?"

I swallowed hard, the events of the past night still fresh in my mind. "On my way back from the party, a stranger attacked."

Mom gasped, her hand instinctively flying to cover her mouth in shock. I could see her hands trembling as she reached up to gently touch the bandages wrapped around my head. Dad's silence was deafening, his eyes locked onto mine. The weight of their worry and the gravity of the situation settled heavily in the room, creating a tense atmosphere that seemed to suffocate us all.

"I fainted, but luckily a newspaper delivery boy found me and helped me get admitted to the hospital," I continued, trying to downplay the severity of my injuries.

Mom's eyes widened in alarm. "You fainted! What did the doctor say?"

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for worrying her. "Yeah, they ran some tests and checked me over. They said I had a mild concussion and some minor injuries, but nothing serious. They kept me overnight for observation just to be safe."

Mom wrapped her arms around me softly. "We are just glad you're safe, Jai."

I managed to put on a weak smile. "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I'll be okay, I promise!"

Dad inquired, "Do you have any information about the boy who saved you?"

"Yes, Dad! His name is Mukul."

Mom squeezed my hand, her eyes shimmering with tears. "We'll have to find a way to thank him somehow."

I smiled a swell of warmth in my chest. "Yeah, I'll never forget what he did for me."

After our discussion about showing appreciation, I felt immensely grateful for my caring parents. Exhausted from the day's events, both physically and emotionally, I sought solace in the quiet of my room. Just as I was beginning to drift off to sleep, breaking the silence, my phone rang, it was Ritu for the very first time. Did she find out that it was me who texted her?

"Good morning, Ritu. Did you sleep well?"

"Sleep well? How could I sleep after what you did!" Ritu's voice exploded with anger.

"I don't understand. What did I do?"

"Rahul came all the way just to meet me," Ritu began, her voice tense. "And you brutally assaulted him, with your dog!"

I stammered, my mind racing to comprehend. "I -I thought he was-"

"You thought he was a threat?" Ritu's harsh voice carried a sharp tone of disbelief.

"But he's the one who attacked me," I clarified, frustration seeping into my tone.

"Stop it, Jaikar! I'm not blind. First, you saved my father, and now you hit my cousin." Ritu's irritation was palpable, her disappointment cutting through the air.

"I saved your father because I care about you, not because I have some ulterior motive. As for Rahul, I didn't lay a finger on him. You are misunderstanding me..."

Ritu scoffed. "A misunderstanding? He's in the hospital because of you! How am I supposed to believe anything you say?"

My heart sank at her words, the weight of accusations crushing me. "Ritu, I'm not making this up. He attacked me angrily, and my friend's dog reacted to defend me."

There was a tense silence on the other end of the line, and I could practically feel Ritu wrestling with her emotions. "I don't know what to believe anymore. This is too much for me to process. Just don't call me again!"

The line went dead, leaving me alone with the weight of her words and the realization that our love had slipped away. With a heavy heart, I whispered a final farewell into the emptiness of the phone before letting it slip from my trembling hands.

I collapsed onto my bed. The softness of the mattress offered little comfort against the storm raging within me. Tears streamed down my face, leaving trails of sorrow in their wake as they marked their territory on my cheeks. With each sob that wracked my body, it felt as though my heart was being torn apart into a thousand pieces.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame me, and I drifted into a fitful sleep, the darkness enveloping me like a suffocating shroud. The sound of my mother's voice pierced through the haze, shattering the fragile barrier between dreams and reality. With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself out of bed, my limbs aching with the weight of fatigue.

I stumbled through the hallway, the world around me seemed to blur into insignificance. As I sat down to eat, the food before me seemed to mock my lack of appetite, its vibrant colors and enticing aromas failing to stir even the faintest spark of hunger within me. With each reluctant bite, I could taste the bitterness of my despair. After forcing down a few mouthfuls, I pushed my plate away.

Feeling heavy-hearted, I sought solace in the embrace of darkness on my bed. Lost in the silence of my thoughts, a faint scratching sound from the hallway startled me. I froze, my heart pounding, straining to listen for any sign of subtle movements.

The scratching grew louder, more insistent, like the gnashing of claws against wood. Panic welled up inside me, threatening to consume me. The floorboards groaned beneath my weight as I made my way through the hallway, each step echoing loudly in the silence of our old house.

Silence greeted me, amplifying the dread coiling in the pit of my stomach. Slowly, I made my way through the dimly lit hallway, my senses heightened to every creak and whisper of the house.
My parents were nowhere to be seen. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as I frantically searched the room, but there was no sign of them. "Where are you, Mom?" I called out, my voice barely a whisper, but there was no response.

The scratching seemed to emanate from the closet at the end of the corridor, its door shut tight. With a deep breath, I reached out and twisted the knob, the door creaking open with a rusty groan that set my nerves on edge. What I found inside sent a chill coursing through my veins, freezing me in place as I stared in disbelief at the scene.

Curled up in the corner of the closet was a small, emaciated figure, its limbs contorted at unnatural angles as it huddled in the darkness. The figure let out a guttural growl, its lips curling back in a snarl as it bared its teeth. Suddenly, it lunged forward with startling speed, its bony fingers outstretched with primal hunger. I reacted instinctively, slamming the closet door shut with a resounding thud. I stood there scared, my breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Turning slowly, my heart pounded as I came face to face with the creature. Its eyes gleamed with a malevolent light, its twisted form contorted into a grotesque parody of humanity. "I will hunt you down, Jaikar!" Its dark unsettling voice dripped with malice, sending shivers down my spine.

I stumbled backward, my mind reeling with horror as I realized the truth. The creature before me was none other than Rahul, transformed into a monstrous abomination that hungered for vengeance. As I thought all hope was lost, a familiar voice pierced through the darkness.

"Wake up! You're having a nightmare."

I woke up suddenly, soaked in sweat, gasping for air. Blinking against the harsh glare of the afternoon light, I realized I was lying in my bed. Pushing aside the tangled sheets, I swung my legs over the edge of the cozy bed and rose unsteadily to my feet.

"How are you feeling?" Mom greeted me.

"I'm okay, Mom," I replied, forcing a smile.

Dad walked into the room with his newspaper, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I chuckled in response. "Just a bad dream, Dad. But you were right about the ghost."

Dad raised an eyebrow, feigning seriousness. "Well, if you've seen a ghost, make sure it pays rent. We don't want any freeloaders haunting our house."

Our laughter filled the room, dispersing the tension from my bad dream. After a few moments, I headed upstairs with a smile, eager to share the news with Kiran. I picked up the phone and dialed his number, my anticipation with every ring like the rising notes of a crescendo.

"Hey, Kiran. How's it going for you?"

"I'm hanging in there, man. The interview results are still on hold. How about you?"

I let out a heavy sigh before admitting, "Honestly, not great. Ritu and I got into a fight today, and things are pretty rough."

"I'm sorry to hear that! What happened?"

"Rahul, who is Ritu's overprotective cousin, attacked me yesterday. Fortunately, I managed to get away safely. But now, Ritu is accusing me of something I did not do, and she won't even talk to me anymore."

"Damn, that sounds intense!" Kiran remarked sympathetically. "You need to give her some space for now. Emotions tend to run high after a fight, you know?"

"Yeah, you're right. I'll give her some space and then try to talk things through again."

"Good plan! What's your deal with Rahul?"

"He doesn't want me to be around Ritu. So he got physical, and things got ugly," I confessed, words tumbling out in a rush.

"That's messed up! I feel sorry for you."

"Yeah, it's been tough. I just hope things get better soon," I sighed, feeling a bit tensed.

"You'll get through this, Jai," he said encouragingly before we ended the call.

After ending the call, I took a moment to collect my thoughts. His words had injected a small dose of optimism into my otherwise troubled mind. As the day unfolded, I found myself immersed in books, trying to keep my mind occupied and my thoughts at bay.