🎶Dekha tenu pehli- pehli baar ve Hone laga dil beqaraar ve Rabba mainu ki hogaya Dil janiye Haye mainu ki hogaya 🎶
(AN: You can start the song after you see '❤️' sign for the effects 😉.)
'Kya maal hai bhai, moti rakam milegi iski toh'
'W-who are you?'
'Where am I?'
'Kon ho tum log?'
'Aree, jaaneman, darti kyun ho, we'll enjoy a lot.'
'Please, please leave me, maine aapka kya bigaada hai?'
'Chhod dijiye mujhe, please. NOOOOO!'
"NO!"
I jolted upright, drenched in sweat, my heart pounding like a drum. The nightmare had ripped me from my sleep again. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, the images from my dream still vivid and horrifyingly real.
I reached for my phone on the nightstand, the screen illuminating the darkness of my room. 2:00 AM. Again. It had become a grim routine, waking up at this ungodly hour, haunted by the same relentless nightmare. My fingers trembled as I put the phone back down.
My eyes darted around the room, seeking comfort in the familiar surroundings, but the shadows seemed to be lurking, watching me, ready to pounce. I felt their presence, a cold, unsettling sensation that made my skin crawl.
"Get a grip, Prati. They are not real. You're home. You're safe." I muttered to myself, though my voice sounded weak and unconvincing in the stillness of the night. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and tried to steady my breathing.
Every night, the eerie silence was shattered by the haunting whispers, the chilling laughter without a face, and the overwhelming feeling of being utterly powerless. It felt as though I was being pulled back into those terrifying moments, with fear and despair enveloping me like an inescapable cloak.
I glanced at the corner of my room, where the shadows seemed to deepen and twist. I knew it was just my mind playing tricks on me, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something was there, watching, waiting.
I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to find some semblance of safety in the fetal position. "It's just a dream," I whispered, repeating the mantra that had become my nightly ritual. "It's just a dream."
The fear gripped me like icy claws. Its tendrils crept through my mind, weaving a web of terror that seemed all too real. The shadows loomed, oppressive and menacing, as if they held a life of their own. Whispers echoed in the darkness, and a chill slithered down my spine as if the shadows themselves breathed down my neck.
I knew I had to steady my racing heart, to find a way to dispel these haunting visions and the sinister shadows that birthed them. But how? How does one confront an enemy that only exists within the recesses of their own mind and deepest fears?
I reached for the lamp on my nightstand and switched it on, flooding the room with warm light. The shadows retreated, but the sense of dread remained, lingering just beyond the reach of the light.
I sighed, knowing sleep would not come easily, if at all. The clock ticked on, each second a reminder of the restless hours ahead. I lay back down, keeping the light on, and stared at the ceiling, hoping to. But who am I kidding?
I spent the next 3 hours tossing and turning on the bed, after which I finally decided to give up since struggling was of no use now, the Sun had already decided to show its presence, peeking through the curtains of the window near my bed.
I tossed the blanket aside and put on my fuzzy slippers while making my way towards the walk-in closet. From there, I picked up a fresh towel and a full-sleeved black gym suit before making my way towards the bathroom. It took me half an hour to freshen up and by the time I came out, it was already 6 a.m.
I went towards the door and opened it, careful enough not to wake anybody up, and then I started going towards the indoor gym of my house. As I entered the gym, the soft glow of the morning light filtered through the windows, casting a warm hue over the equipment. I could hear the faint hum of the treadmill and the gentle whir of the elliptical machine in the corner. Taking a deep breath, I began my morning workout routine, feeling the familiar burn in my muscles as I pushed myself through each set.
For the next 45 minutes, I kept myself busy in the gym, and then I decided to return to my room to get ready for the day since I had an important meeting with the CEO of the Oberoi Vigilance Vanguard in their company. Well, I have heard a lot about Mr. Oberoi's son, Abhimanyu Oberoi. People say he is the perfect gentleman – smart, charming, and exceptionally talented. In other words, he is the best definition of men written by a woman.
Stop it, Prati. There is nothing which is perfect. All XY chromosomes are the same. Don't you remember what happened in the past?
My mind screamed at me as I made my way back to my room, thoughts of the upcoming meeting racing through my mind, shifting my attention from the 'boys'' topic. The opportunity to sit down with such prominent figures in the security industry was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
As I made my way into the washroom, I couldn't help but notice the stickiness of my gym wear, damp from my recent workout. I carefully peeled off the wet clothes, feeling a wave of relief as I finally stepped under the warm shower. The sensation of the water flowing through my body was incredibly soothing, gradually relaxing my tired muscles. I spent a good 20 minutes indulging in the warmth of the shower, making sure to thoroughly cleanse my body and hair before finally emerging, feeling refreshed, and wrapping myself in my cosy bathrobe.
Next, I went to my closet and picked up a pair of black high-waist pants and paired it with a white full-sleeved blouse. I chose a pair of black heels and completed my outfit with a pair of small black studs. Then, I went towards the dressing table and sat on the stool to style my hair. Just then, I got a call from my best friend/secretary, Ananya Goenka.
O.T.P 📞☎️
Ananya:- Good Morning Miss Birla
Pratishtha:- Ana, kitni baar kaha hai tum se ki mujhe Miss Birla sirf employees ke saamne hi bulaya karo.
(TRANSLATION:- How many times have I told you to call me Miss Birla only in front of employees.)
Ananya:- Forget it Prati, I am coming to pick you up in 15 minutes for the meeting... Hope you'll be ready by then. Kyuki jitni der mein aap apni shakal dekhti aur sawarti hain utni der mein to koi kashmir se kanya kumari pahoonch jaye.
(TRANSLATION:- Because you take a lot of time to get ready.)
Pratishtha:- Whatever ( rolls her eyes). Don't worry, I'll be ready ...Byee.
Call Ended
Huff! Ek meeting ke liye itni bhaagam-bhaag.
(TRANSLATION:- Huff! So much for a single meeting.)
Time Skip
I and Ananya were the first ones to enter the Conference room along with our employees. We noticed that the arrangements for the meeting were still going on. Everyone seemed to be in a rush, setting up chairs, adjusting the projector, and arranging the documents on the table. Ananya and I decided to lend a hand and quickly joined in to help with the preparations.
"No, no, no, Ms. Birla and Ms. Goenka. Please leave it to us. You please have a seat."
We nodded our heads and took our seats. I glared at Ananya who gave me a sheepish smile.
"See! They're not even here till now. What kind of a hurry were you in? For the whole two and a half hours, you drove the car like we had to win some kind of race. I didn't even expect to make it here alive" I whispered yelled. She slightly flinched and was about to say something when the doors of the room opened and Mr. Oberoi entered the room with his colleagues and boy, did I get mesmerized by this man at just the first sight.
❤️
Nevertheless, I collected myself and stood up to greet them out of respect. Behind him, entered senior Mr. Oberoi. We both shook our hands and then, it was time for me to shake hands with Mr. Oberoi. As soon as our hands touched, I felt a tingling sensation running through my veins and flowing through my body like sparks of electricity.
I quickly left his hand and took my seat, after which we commenced our meeting. Throughout the conference, I felt Mr. Oberoi glancing at me from time to time and tried my best to ignore the nervousness seeping within me.
After about an hour, the meeting ended on a positive note. We were finally collaborating with the Oberois.
This is the best day of my life.
I collected all my belongings and was about to leave with Ananya when Mr Kabir Oberoi called me from behind. It was only me, Senior and Junior Mr. Oberoi and Ananya. I gestured for Ananya to wait for me in the car and made my way towards Mr. Oberoi.
"Ms Birla, I liked the presentation explained by your employee, and in honour of our collaboration, I would like to invite you to a small dinner at our house, along with your family." Kabir Sir said with a smile.
I gave him a small smile. "Thank you so much sir, It would be an honour to collaborate our business with yours. We shall surely come to your house."
With that, I finally shook my hands with him and turned on my heels to leave the room, trying my best to ignore the intense gaze of a particular person, which seemed to linger on my body and mind long after I had distanced myself by miles.
Heya lovely readers
So I'm finally on Scrollstack too. Here, the first few chapters of the story will be edited.
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