The Visitor in Night

Late that night, the empty streets lay cloaked in silence, illuminated only by the soft, white glow of streetlights. The neighbourhood was lined with grand houses, each enclosed within its own walls and iron gates, standing like silent sentinels. Amidst these structures, Akshay stood outside a modest home, leaning on his elbow crutch under the dim spot-light cast by a streetlamp.

His sharp gaze was fixed on the second-floor balcony. Through the glass doors, a faint, warm glow seeped from behind drawn curtains, catching his attention. With a quiet determination, he gripped his crutch firmly before propelling himself upward in one swift motion. He landed silently on the balcony, ensuring not to disturb the stillness of the night.

Placing the crutch gently on the ground, Akshay tapped on the glass door with his knuckles—a soft, deliberate knock meant to signal his presence.

He waited, but no response came from within. His brows furrowed slightly. He tapped again, this time with a hint more force, but still, there was no answer.

Curiosity and concern flickered in his mind. He placed his hand on the glass door, trying to slide it cautiously, hoping the door might be locked. To his surprise, it glided open effortlessly. The unlocked door sent a wave of unease through him. Why wasn't the door lock? Was something wrong?

Sliding the curtain aside, Akshay peered into the room. It was dim, the faint glow coming from a low-powered zero-volt nightlight tucked into a corner. Shadows stretched across the room, the faint shapes of furniture casting indistinct outlines on the walls. His eyes scanned the space carefully from the threshold.

His gaze landed on the bed—its sheets tangled and disturbed, as if someone had left in a hurry. The faint impression on the mattress suggested recent presence, but the emptiness whispered otherwise. To the side, a dressing table came into view, cluttered with cosmetics arranged meticulously alongside delicate soft toys that seemed out of place in the stillness. Their lifeless eyes caught the faint glow, almost watching him.

On the opposite wall stood a study table, its books and copies neatly arranged, a stark contrast to the chaos of the bed. Slowly, Akshay stepped inside, his senses keenly alert. His gaze briefly flicked upward to the ceiling fan, its blades spinning at a slow pace, pushing a faint breeze that brushed against his skin.

Moving further into the room, his footsteps were inaudible against the floor. He scanned his surroundings with precision, his instincts whispering that all was not as it seemed. The stillness in the room felt unnerving, an unnatural quiet that seemed to hold its breath.

But suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared behind Akshay, holding a kitchen knife in hand, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. The assailant raised their arm, the motion was deliberate yet quick, aiming for his back—a strike meant to kill, silent and unseen.

The knife descended with deadly speed, cutting through the air like a whisper of death. But just as it neared its target. But at that precise moment, Akshay's instincts roared to life. A subtle shift in the air behind him was all it took for him to react. he sidestepped with fluid precision, the kind of motion that seemed almost preordained. The knife plunged downward but met only emptiness, slicing through the air with a menacing whoosh.

In a blur, Akshay spun, his hand snapping out to seize the attacker's wrist with an iron grip. The arm froze mid-swing, paralyzed by his unyielding strength. In one swift, he yanked the figure forward. His free hand shot up like lightning, gripping the throat with brutal force. With an almost primal growl, Akshay slammed the attacker to the ground.

A gasp of air escaped the person beneath him as the grip on the knife loosened, the blade clattering useless to the floor. Akshay's breath came steady, his movements calculated, as his eyes adjusted to the dimness, seeking the identity of his would-be killer.

The faint light fell across the face of his attacker, and recognition dawned. His lips pressed into a grim line as the shock registered—it was Nira. Dressed in casual pyjamas, her face wore a mix of surprise and amusement despite the position she was in.

A mischievous grin spread across her lips, as though she had orchestrated this entire scenario for fun.

"I knew you could dodge it," she teased, her voice light and casual, as if this was just a game.

Akshay's expression darkened further, the anger in his eyes flaring brighter than before. His grip on her throat tightened with a controlled fury, his strength a silent warning.

The grin wavered. Nira's face flushed red as her breaths turned shallow, her casual demeanor dissolving into discomfort. She clawed at his wrist, desperate for release, but his hold remained firm, merciless. The smirk that had once mocked him vanished entirely, replaced by a flicker of panic.

A guttural sound escaped her lips, a mix of drool and strained breath spilling from the corner of her mouth. Her movements grew sluggish, her strength draining fast. Yet her defiant eyes, now glossy with unshed tears, never left his face. Even in her struggle, her gaze held something unnervingly unyielding.

Through strained, labored breaths, she forced out a whisper, her words fractured yet deliberate. "If you… kill me… you'll fail." Her voice cracked as she pushed on, each word laced with urgency. "I'm… the only one… who can help you."

Akshay hesitated for a moment, her words slicing through his fury like a blade. His breath came heavy, the tension in his body coiled tight, but slowly, his grip on her throat slackened. With deliberate restraint, he withdrew his hand, the lingering rage evident in his shaking fingers.

Nira collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air as if she'd been dragged from the depths of drowning. Her chest heaved with each desperate breath, her hand instinctively clutching her bruised neck. A ragged cough escaped her lips, and she winced, running trembling fingers over the marks left by his grasp.

Akshay rose backed to his feet, towering over her, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her. His eyes burned with a restrained fury, a storm barely contained beneath his cold exterior.

Nira, despite her near brush with death, managed to smirk faintly, a forced bravado masking the lingering fear in her eyes. "You really know how to make a girl feel special," she croaked, her voice hoarse but defiant.

"You're coming to school tomorrow," Akshay commanded, his tone sharp and unyielding. The anger still simmered beneath his words, each syllable edged with menace.

"What?" Nira frowned, her smirk faltering. "Why? I have no business in a school."

Akshay's jaw clenched, his fists curling tightly at his sides. The air in the room seemed to thicken, a subtle tremor rippling through it as his fury began to resurface. His expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as a crimson glow flickered within them.

The very air around him cracked with the intensity of his anger, a tangible force that made Nira flinch. She stumbled back, her smirk replaced by sheer terror as his fiery gaze locked onto hers.

"You don't get to question me," he growled, his voice low and vibrating with barely restrained rage. The red glow in his eyes intensified, casting a faint, eerie light that made the shadows in the room dance.

Nira raised her hands in surrender, retreating further. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "O-okay, okay! I'll go! I'll go to school tomorrow! Just… please don't hurt me!"

Akshay's burning gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his expression unreadable but menacing. Then, with deliberate slowness, he turned toward the balcony door. Just as he was about to step out, he stopped, his head tilting slightly as he spoke again, his voice colder and more dangerous than before.

"Do as I say," he warned, each word filled with intense fury. He didn't fully turn back, but the crimson glow in his eyes cut through the dim light, intensifying the oppressive aura that hung around him. "If you defy me or try to run away, your fate will be worse than theirs."

Each word fell like a death sentence, chilling Nira to her core. She swallowed hard, her throat dry as sand, her pulse racing with fear. She couldn't even nod, her wide eyes fixed on him. She didn't dare to blink.

Without another word, Akshay grabbed his crutch and leaped over the balcony railing, disappearing into the night as silently as a shadow. His departure left the room unnervingly still, the faint ticking of the clock the only sound breaking the silence.

But for Nira, the quiet was suffocating. His words echoed in her mind, louder than the clock's ticks, searing themselves into her thoughts like a brand. The fear he'd left behind lingered, wrapping around her like a shroud. The room seemed darker, colder—and for the first time in her life, Nira felt truly powerless.

But a sudden soft knock came from behind, breaking the oppressive silence. It was on the door. Nira froze, her eyes widening in alarm as her breath hitched. The sound, though gentle, felt like thunder in the stillness of the room. She turned toward the door in a panic, her breathing heavy and uneven, her chest rising and falling like waves in a storm.

"Pihu, is everything okay?" A soft, gentle voice called out, its tone warm and familiar.

Nira's rigid body relaxed slightly, her breath steadied, and a flicker of relief washed over her face. It was her mother. The warmth in her voice was like a lullaby soothing the chaos in her mind.

"I heard some noises. Are you alright?" her mother asked, the concern in her tone unmistakable.

Nira stepped closer to the door, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out, steadying herself before responding. "Everything's fine, Maa," she said softly, her voice steady but carrying a faint tremor. "I just… fell off the bed. Sorry."

"Are you hurt?" Her mother's voice came again, gentle but filled with worry.

"No, I'm fine," Nira replied quickly, forcing a lightness into her tone.

There was a pause, a hesitation. "Maa…" Nira began, her voice faltering. She swallowed, her throat dry. "I'm sorry… for worrying you. Locking myself away like this… it must've been hard for you."

"It's okay, Pihu," her mother said, her voice even softer now, a balm to Nira's guilt. "You don't have to explain yourself."

"Thank you, Maa," Nira whispered, a flicker of vulnerability escaping in her voice. She hesitated again before adding, "I will see you tomorrow morning and I think I should go to school tomorrow."

"But, Pihu…." her mother began, concern slipping back into her tone, but Nira cut her off gently.

"Good night, Maa," she said, her voice firm yet kind. She stepped away from the door, her heart sinking as she listened to the faint rustle of her mother's saree as she walked away, her footsteps fading into the quiet of the night.

Nira sat back down on her bed, the silence once again wrapping around her like a suffocating shroud. Her eyes drifted shut as emotions churned within her. A sudden, sharp flicker of anger burned through her chest. Her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

When she opened her eyes, her gaze fell on a small photo frame on the dressing table beside her bed. It was a portrait of her—smiling radiantly, a version of herself that felt like a cruel mockery now. That smile, so full of life and innocence, seemed to mock her current state.

The rage inside her swelled, uncontainable, consuming. With a sharp intake of breath, she grabbed the frame. Her grip was so tight her knuckles whitened. Without a second thought, she hurled it through the open balcony door with all her might. The frame soared into the night, shattering somewhere in the darkness with a sharp, distant crash.

Her breathing was ragged, her chest heaving as she sat there, the echo of her own anger filling the room. Her face twisted with a fury. But as her anger simmered, a deeper question lingered in the air—whom was her hatred truly directed at? Akshay? Herself? Or something far darker, buried within her heart?

The night stretched on, heavy and unrelenting. Nira sat alone in the silence, the echoes of her turmoil louder than the stillness surrounding her.