Nine years back, little Dhun was handed this wretched ominous thing and given the responsibility of doing the most tiring, most horrible impossible task. Saving her mother.

On the first attempt, she was happy. She just ran into the bathroom and removed the bar of soap that was on the floor. But yet her mother was carried away on a stretcher later. On the second attempt, she did the same again, and yet there was no change to the situation. Her mother was yet again carried away on a stretcher. But little Dhun did not lose hope. She again turned time back. This time she took the bar of soap and flushed it down the toilet. But then again, her mother still slipped and fell. She slipped on the water it seems.

When the fourth and fifth attempts failed, on the sixth attempt Dhun tried to stop her mother from going to bathe that day. She hung on her mother's hands and asked her not to go for a bath at that time. "Mamma, I am hungry..." she chanted. Her mother thought she will cook something for Dhun and then go for a bath. In the kitchen, she tried to get something from the cupboard, and the bottle of oil spilt on the floor. She was about to wipe it when she slipped on the oil and her head hit the kitchen counter. And in front of little Dhun, her mother passed away.

But Dhun tried again and again. She tried stopping her mother from bathing or cooking. Yet she somehow slipped and fell and died.

Dhun tried to bring her out of the house for a walk. But this time, she slipped on mear rocks on the floor and fell to hit her head. Dhun was getting scared.

As an adult, she knew that her life did not have a bigger nightmare than those moments. Minutes stretched into hours to days. She doesn't remember how many hours, how many days she spent. How many thousand times she went back. Going and seeing her mother die in front of her eyes. Again and again... Again and again...Multiple times. Each time, dying herself a little inside.

She grew exhausted, physically and mentally. She wanted to give up. She was just a nine-year-old after all. Even when her life would never be the same again without her mother, eventually the kid wanted to let go of her. She accepted the fact that there was no way that she could save her mother. She could not manipulate life and death. That was one thing the time turner could not do. She cannot save her mother, or bring back anyone who was already dead. No matter what she does. She just had to accept that fact.

So she stopped turning back the time. She put the time turner away, stored it deep among her belongings. And never slaught it again... Never wanted to turn the time back...

Until...

Dhun got up from the floor near the wardrobe where she sat and went to her bed. Rithvik's photo still lay there, and he still smiled in that photo. She took it in her hands, To think that she would have to relive that nightmare was horrific. Yet... he had left her no choice.

*

THE MORNING OF THE DAY RITHVIK DIED

Dhun ran out of her apartment building. Rithvik was standing near his bike, fixing his hair. He was whistling to a tune and there was that blotched 'D' on his wrist, marked by a permanent marker. Upon seeing him, Dhun paused for a moment. She drew in a breathe.

He was there. Alive and well.

He turned to her with a smile and waved his hand at her.

Dhun ran to him and hugged him tight, She was in tears. She refused to let go of him, Rithvik was confused. He held her close, but not sure. "Dhun, what is wrong?" He asked.

She shook her head, unable to bring herself to tell him the truth.

"Dhun... Look at me," He tried to separate her from the hug to see her eyes. But she refused to let go of him. "Baby, you are scaring me. What is wrong?" he asked again. Rithvik forcefully push her off from him and looked at her. "Look at me," she was avoiding his eyes. "Tell me what is wrong?"

She did not know what to tell him. She couldn't trust if she can manipulate death because she already has experience with her mother.

She dried her tears. "Nothing."

"Something is up. Tell me. I won't move from here until you tell me. I have never seen you like this. You know you are freaking me out. My Dhun is a total macho guy. Not like this." Dhun softly smiled. "So tell me what's wrong."

"Rith, will you listen to me properly?" She looked up at him.

He nodded. "Yeah... Of course. Tell me,"

"First of all, check our movie tickets. You have booked tickets for the movie wrongly. On the wrong date. You are supposed to book for today. You booked the tickets for yesterday's show, actually. Check."

He took out his mobile and checked. "Oh, yeah. Right. Crap. Wait a second." He looked up. "How did you know that? I had not sent it to you."

"I know that because I came from the future." She said calmly.

He looked at her, trying to figure out if she is joking or serious. There clearly were tears in her eyes. "You really came from the future?"

"Yeah."

"You mean to say, you turned back time on us? YOU? Wait... I am still the owner of the time turner. You are not supposed to have the memory of it. You did not remember about it till yesterday."

Dhun took the time turner out of her pocket and held it out for him to see and put it back in her pocket. Rithvik was a bit stunned now.

"Please listen to me today whole day. If I tell you not to do something, you should listen to me. Even if it's the most absurd thing in the world. Please listen to me."

Rithvik was confused. "What happened?"

"Something happened. Something bad. Something major. I want to change that." Rithvik looked uneasy. But he nodded. " Let's book the tickets for today's show now. And watch it." Dhun said. He nodded. He took out his mobile and booked the show.

Dhun did not leave Rithvik's hand the entire evening. She held his hand even while they were eating at the restaurant. She could not believe at times that he was alive in front of her. She cuddled close to him, silently.

This was making Rithvik puzzled, but there was such a seriousness to her that he decided not to ask. He did not want to make her further upset.

When they reached in front of the movie theatre, there was a crowd in front of the hall. "We are extremely sorry," A staff member was explaining. "The projector has an issue." Because of the projector issue, the show was cancelled.

Rithvik turned to Dhun, "Can't help it. Let's go home. I think you should go home and take some rest."

Dhun turned to him. "Don't go home."

"Huh?"

"Don't. Don't go home tonight. Or just...I can't feel assured if you are away from my eyes. So just stay with me."

"Are you suggesting that we spend the night together?" He was still worried about her, but he used a naughty tone.

"Yeah, whatever. Let's go to some hotel or something or anywhere. Don't go home." She hung on to his hand.

"Dhun, You are okay, right? You are being weird from the morning itself. What happened in the future for you to be like this?"But his mobile began to ring just then. "One second..." He took the call. "Yeah, mom..." he paused as he listened to his mom, "Okay mom..." He hung up and looked at Dhun. "Sorry, Dhun. I will have to go home. Roli is alone. Mom has surgery."

"Roli can stay alone for a night," Dhun said.

"Dhun, you know I don't like to leave Roli alone at late night. She is a kid. And a girl. Anything can happen, you know."

"Listen," Dhun stepped closer, "you promised me you will obey me today. Please..."

"I know. But I can't leave Roli alone. You understand please."

"Rithu, please..." She was almost crying.

"Dhun, don't be ridiculous..."

Her tears begin to fall. Now Rithvik pauses. He was worried sick, "Baby, what's wrong. Just tell me na."

"You will die."She managed to whisper.

"Huh?"

"You will die."

Rithvik went pale. "Pease don't go home, Rith. Please..." She looked at him with begging eyes. "Please... Please... PLEASE. I BEG OF YOU."

"Okay. Okay. I won't go."

Dhun was relieved. "Just let me call Roli to make sure she is okay and inform her okay?" Rithvik said. Dhun nodded. Rithvik took his mobile and called. And waited. But she did not pick up the call. " She is not picking up." He was concerned now. "I hope she is fine."

"She is." Dhun said, "Don't worry about her."

"Even then... I guess it can't be helped. I will have to go check on her."

"Rith, please... You promised just now."

"Look, I will be okay. You told me now. So I will be careful. I will be fine."

"No. You won't be."

"I will be trust me. If I won't be we can turn back time, right? Trust me, Dhun. I will be fine." Dhun wiped her tears. "Come, I will drop you home." He said. She refused to budge. "I am not going home." She said.

"Dhun, don't be like this. I said I will be fine. I WILL be. Trust me."

"Then go alone," She snapped at him angrily. "I will wait for you at the place you will die."

"I won't die." He turned around and walked out. Leaving, Dhun alone.

Dhun walked over to the spot where Rithvik's accident happened. She stayed on the roadside looking at the place. There was a street-side food stall on the roadside. They had a stove and a kadayi on it. The other side was just shrubs and stuff.

Dhun was standing there, and see Rithvik riding on his bike, really fast and angry and the truck that comes from the opposite side. "Not this nightmare again," She whispered to herself.

The truck was just about to hit Rithvik's bike, and the time pauses. Everything stood still. The bike, the truck, the people at the food stall, the flames in the stove and everything else included. Dhun stared at the paused face of Rithvik. She did not know what to do. She touched his face and stepped away to the other side of the road and then time un-pauses and the bike was hit with the truck. Dhun turned her eyes away on the hit and then took out the time turner.

A COUPLE OF HOURS EARLIER – THE MOVIE THEATRE.

Rithvik took his mobile and called Roli. And he waited. "She is not picking up. I hope she is fine."

Dhun was silent. Rithvik hung up the call. "I guess it can't be helped. I will have to go check on her."

"No. Don't go."

"Look, I will be okay. You told me now. So I will be careful. I will be fine."

"No. You won't be."

"I will be; trust me. If I won't be we can turn back time, right?" He asked,

"I already did. You already went from here. And you died twice. Do you need more explanation?" Rithvik went pale. "Don't go."

"How do I die? Does Roli die as well? Does someone attack us?"

"No. Only you die. Accident. I don't want to explain more. I had to see it with my eyes just now." She looked way too pale. "Don't go. Don't leave me. Do you have any idea what went through me?" Rithvik was conflicted. He did not want to believe that he will actually die, or that he actually died in some other timeline. "I will just check on Roli and come back to you." He said.

"No." Dhun insisted,

"Why are you so against it? I will be careful, I say. I have never been in an accident before, Dhun. I will be okay. Trust me, Dhun. I will be fine. You turned back time. Told me. So nothing can happen to me now anyway. You changed it. So I need to go home. Okay, I will be fine. Come, I will drop you home on the way. Take some rest and you will be fine." He tried to take her hand in his.

"Roli and Ansh will be kissing each other." Dhun suddenly said. Rithvik looked at her. "What? What are you saying?"

"Even I don't know the details yet. But don't be shocked to see that when you reach home. They will be kissing."

"Why would they be kissing?" He asked.

"Why do you even care? Can't you just think about us?"

"Is that what happened? Was that bastard kissing my sister?"

"Yeah, I guess..." But Rithvik was looking really pissed.

"I am going to go check on them."

"Do you have to risk your life to do that?" But Rithvik looked total pissed and angry. He turned around to go, ignoring Dhun. Dhun called after him, "You will die." But he ignored her.

*

Rithvik gets into the accident. Dhun ran to the spot and witnessed the accident. She closed her eyes in pain. She took out the time turner and turned it.

*

EARLIER THE SAME NIGHT

Rithvik was addressing Ansh and Roli "Since College fest? Seriously?"

"Rith, it's not like that, okay? Let me explain..." Ansh said.

"I don't want to hear a fucking explanation to this." He turned around in anger and walked out.

Rithvik walked out looking distressed. And he saw that Dhun was waiting outside the door. "Dhun?" He looked really really broken, as he just discovered the worst. He wanted to run away and drive his bike away. Dhun walked to him and took him into a hug. She rubbed his back, "It's okay."

"They...they were... They did this behind my back, Dhun... He betrayed me."

"Sssh...It's okay. I know. I understand. It's fine..."

Rithvik clutched onto her and cry. "And they are accusing me. They are disgusting..."

"Hm..."

But Rithvik pulled himself away from Dhun. She looked at him with concern. "I just need to clear my mind. I will see you later." He turned to go. She freaked out and held on to his hand. "Don't go." "Dhun, I really need some time," Rithvik said.

"Please..." Dhun begged with him.

"Dhun, please." He freed himself from her. "I can't deal with you right now."

"If you leave, it's over between us."

He stopped and looked back. "Why are you talking like that?" He was angry.

"Tell me how else can I stop you? I am willing to do anything."

"Go home, Dhun..."

He turned around and went. "You will die if you go," Dhun called after her. Rithvik looked back at her. " I already told you at the theatre."

"What theatre?"

"I had told you..."

"Dhun, you being absurd. And I can't deal with you right now." He walked away. Dhun stood there a bit too confused and shocked. And she checked her mobile. There was a message from Rithvik in it that says 'sorry for booking the movie tickets wrong. And a cute sticker, and a heart. She realised with a jolt that she had come back to the original timeline. She took the time turner out and turned it again. She already looked sick of it.

*

SUNDAY MORNING

Rithvik was waiting for Dhun and she walked out. She kind of looked exhausted. Rithvik waved at her with the blotched 'D' on his wrist. She walked to Rithvik. "Ansh and Roli are kind of together now. As in a couple."

"What?" He was confused.

"I just wanted you to know that. And want you to accept them."

"Are you mental? And why would they be together? They are not."

"Just accept it, Rithvik." She said, irritated, "What's the big deal."

"No. I won't. And are you serious? How do you know?"

"I know."

I will kill him. He turned around. Dhun tried to catch his hand, but he freed his hand and pushed her away and got on his bike and drove away in anger.

*

SUNDAY MORNING

Rithvik was waiting for Dhun and on seeing her he waved at her (with the 'D' on his wrist) She walked to him with a smile. He smiled at her. "I have planned a surprise for you." She told him.

"Hm?"

"Let's cancel today's original plan. Let's go somewhere else. Somewhere far away." She linked her arms with his. Rithvik was confused but he said, "Hm... Well, okay..."

This time Dhun was sure that she evaded the accident. She was so worried till the exact time of Rithvik's death arrived. But it passed without anything happening. She was so relieved. She watched Rithvik peacefully sleeping in her arms.

But the next day, however, when Rithvik went back home, he saw Roli kiss Ansh casually on his lips in the corridor. The same scenario repeated and Rithvik drove away in fury.

The same accident happened, just the time was different.

No matter how much Dhun turned time back, somehow or other, Rithvik was witnessing Ansh and Roli and having the same reaction. Dhun was growing tired. But she was understanding one thing. The triger was Ansh and Roli.

Whatever she did, that variable did not change. Rithvik was reacting to Ansh and Roli and going into the accident. Even when this was childishly absurd and did not really make much sense, it felt like this was destiny.

Dhun started to think everything is futile. She was watching Rithvik's death, again and again, going through it again and again. Seeing his blood drain on the side of the road. He even passed away once on her lap... His brain got scattered over the road in front of her eyes. Even with the helmet on, something pierced his head completely.

Horror she has never experienced was playing over and over in Dhun's life.

She wanted to give up. Like her mother's time... life and death could not be manipulated. But she could have given up if it was just her matter. She softly touched her tummy.

She needed to try one last time.