Unharmed Flames

Prologue- The Nightmare

A sharp banging noise echoed from the kitchen. He ran, as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran past the gaze of his Di and Nani. He couldn't stop. He just knew he couldn't. He had to catch her, catch her before she was gone… again. As soon as he reached the opening of the kitchen, he felt a sharp pain on his heart. He looked around, just to see Khushi standing next a giant hole. There was a huge gust of wind, followed by another and another. Khushi just looked at him, eyes full of despair. "Arnavji, Arnavji… I… I… I just wanted to say that---" Khushi started but never got to finish as another huge gust of wind came out of the hole and took Khushi with it.

Arnav started forward, startled. He couldn't see anything now that he was so close to the hole. "Khu…" the name just died up in his lips. The pit completely swallowed her. Suddenly, Arnav wasn't in his kitchen anymore. He was somewhere else, 10 years ago. He was at his sister's broken wedding in Sheesh Mahal. To his utter dismay, images flashed before his eyes and sent him reeling. Festive atmosphere, His beautiful Di and her gorgeous smile, the music, the guests, the red flowers and saris… and the gunshot, the yell, the scream, the moving, the pain, the crying, the noise, the movement and the heartbreak all flashed before him and he slumped down. The next time he looked up, he saw the dead body of his precious Ma and next to that, the ghostly smile of Khushi.

"MAA! KHUSHI!" He yelled and woke up with a start.

~~~~~

A loud slap thundered over the resounding hall of the Raizada living room. She felt a sharp pain in her hot cheeks. She slowly placed her hands on the reddened area before it was jerked out and another sting was bestowed upon it. She closed her eyes. The pain was just too strong and her eyes welled up. She didn't want anyone to witness her breakdown. Then she felt a tug at her hair, which slowly turned into a pull and then an assault. Yet, she couldn't do anything except cry out in pain. She realised that she was being dragged, out by her hair.

She tried to pull the hands out but they had an iron grip on her hair. She looked up, her vision blurred from the ocean of tears on the verge of her eyes. Everything had started to fade – everything, except a face. A face of a man she loved to the end of world, with every fibre of her being. He was there, watching -- not doing anything to help her -- just watching. He didn't even stop the cruel hands the slapped her twice or the painful arm that kept on jerking her hair. His face faded, until everything blacked out.

"ARNAVJI! ARNAVJI!" she yelled and woke up with sweat all over her smooth skin.

Hey guys! I just started a new FF! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE COMMENT OR AT LEAST LIKE! I posted my OS few days ago and didn't receive any comments at all! It wasn't very encouraging at all and I am now no so sure if I should start this FF. If I don't receive any comments for this as well, I will probably give up on writing this FF. So, PLEASE COMMENT AND/OR LIKE! 😆 THANKYOU SO MUCH!