ღ Obsession Behind the Mask ღ

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Welcome, everyone, to our new chapter. Please do tell me how you liked the last chapter... Without further ado, let's begin.

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A faint morning chill was in the air outside. Shards of sunlight, filtering through the booth's broken roof, were now spread across the floor. Jodha's eyes opened slowly—tired, but alert.

For a moment,she just stared at the ceiling, as if her mind was still trying to emerge from the ocean of last night's events. Then, suddenly, she realized her lap was empty.

She sat up with a jolt.

Her eyes darted around—the booth's walls,the broken glass, the blood that had now dried... but the man was not there.

Jodha's heart grew anxious.

"Where did he go..."

She said softly to herself, as if expecting an answer.

She stepped outside.The morning air on the street was different, carrying a slight dampness, feeling somewhat empty. A few shops nearby were beginning to open, but no one knew anything. No one knew a life had been saved here last night.

Jodha began to walk slowly down the street.Her steps were faltering, her mind still tangled in the hazy glimpse of that face.......

She wanted to see him again...fully, clearly.

At every turn,in every shadow, she kept looking for him. But there was nothing.

Only the wind remained,which still carried the scent of that night.

Tired,she finally sat down by the roadside.

Her eyes didn't carry the weight of sleep,but a restlessness...

...that restlessness which remains after an unfinished meeting.

She looked at her palm........

The faint stain of blood was still there, where the stranger had held her hand.

The mark was on her skin,but its effect had settled deep within her heart.

Slowly,she lifted her head.

A police jeep was driving away somewhere in the distance,its siren faintly sounding.

A thought crossed Jodha's mind for a moment.......are they out looking for him?

Or was he part of a world where returning was now his only option?

Suddenly,there was a slight stir in the air.

She turned to look..............

A folded piece of paper lay on the ground near the booth door.

She walked over,and with trembling hands, opened the paper.

Only two words were written on it.....

......

.....

"Don't be afraid."

The ink was still fresh.

Jodha's heartbeat quickened again.

She didn't smile,but something new sparkled in her eyes—curiosity, fear, and perhaps... the hint of a story about to begin.

She quietly folded the paper,tucked it into her scarf, and started walking home.

Behind her,the booth was completely silent.

But within that silence,an untold tale still echoed,

whose next page was perhaps meant to open on some other morning.

............

Utterly exhausted, Jodha finally returned home. The journey was long and her feet felt heavy. Her mind kept drifting back to that night... the stranger's blood-smeared face, and that strong grip.........

A few hours later, when she reached home, her younger sister was already standing at the door. The worry in her eyes was clear.

"Didi, where were you all night......?" her sister asked in a frightened tone.

Her mother came inside as well. Her face was even more troubled.

......Jodha,where were you so late at night,,,,,,,,, we called so many times,,,,

Jodha tried to keep her expression normal. She quickly said,

"Oh,it's nothing. I had such urgent work that my boss asked me and some others to stay back and work at the restaurant. So I went back there. Before that, Sona had called me, I was telling her I'm on my way, but then the boss called, so I went back to the restaurant. Mom, don't worry because of me... there was a lot of preparation, and on top of that, there was no network there, so I probably missed your call,,,,,, Sorry."Mom,,,,

Her sister tried to ask again..."Are you sure, nothing happened.......?"

Jodha gently stroked her head,"Relax, I'm fine. I'm just tired....."

Her mother watched her for a few moments, then said,

"Go get freshened up quickly,.. and come have breakfast fast or it will get cold,,,,,,,,,

Jodha nodded and went to her room.

As soon as she entered the room,she sat down on the bed. The events of that night started swirling in her mind again.. and that small piece of paper was still hidden in her fist....

Jodha entered her room... which was small in appearance but decorated with great love and beauty. There was a large framed photo of the two sisters, and many flower vases and flowerpots were placed around, along with many other things.

Closing the door, she took a deep breath. The familiar scent and comfort of her room now felt strange to her.

She went to the washroom,washed her face with cold water. She looked at herself in the mirror.

Her face looked tired, but there was a different spark in her eyes. As if the story of that night wasn't over yet.

As she combed her hair,she thought to herself,

Why do I keep remembering those same moments?That stranger's face… those silent eyes…

Her hands automatically went to the spot where he had gripped her wrist.

The slight pain was still there,but the strange thing was that within that pain, there was a strange sense of familiarity.

Then her gaze in the mirror fell upon her lips.

A faint mark was still there—like a silent memory of something profound.

She stood before the mirror for a moment,and her heart began to beat fast again.

.....Why am I thinking about him again....

She whispered to herself.

But there was no answer.

Her phone was lying in the corner of the room—when she picked it up,she saw several missed calls still glowing on the screen.

She quietly turned off the phone,went to the window, and moved the curtain aside.

A gentle breeze was blowing outside,sunlight was descending from the sky.......

But the darkness of the night still remained within Jodha.

She sat on the bed and took out that small,folded piece of paper.

The same two words on the paper..........

..

..Mat darna(Don't be afraid)

..

She read them over and over,as if a new meaning emerged each time.

She couldn't smile,but her eyes held both moisture and restlessness......

Wait, wait...🙂🙂🙂😂😂😂 Let's end the chapter here, how much more will you read....

So,see you in the next chapter... And yes, don't forget to comment and do the other formalities,,,,,, I'm keeping an eye on everyone....🧐🧐🧐

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