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Neil's POV

As we walked towards the exit and was passing through the hallway, suddenly all the lights went off, embracing the entire surroundings into a dark world.

I heard Karan bhaiyya and dad talking while I was also about to join them when I felt a tug at the lower end of the sleeve of my blazer and heard someone desperately trying to catch hold of the breath.

Before I could understand, the power was restored immediately when I felt the grip loosening from the sleeve and in a second I turned around only to hear a loud thud and see Tiasha, collapsing on the ground.

Before I could catch her she was on the ground

"Tiashaaaaaaa" I screamed and immediately fell on my knees and placing her head on my lap, I patted her cheeks when I felt them wet and her forehead was full of sweat beads.

"Tiasha, Tiasha, Tiasha wake up. Tiasha" I called her only to get no response from her side when I saw everyone gathering around her.

"Tiasha, Tiasha wake up" I saw bhabi rubbing her palms.

"Neil how did that happen??" mom asked followed by many other questions.

I could hear everyone's scream and all calling her name but my mouth betrayed me as words denied to escape through them.

For a moment I felt my entire world was in a standstill

My trance broke when I felt a touch on my shoulder and I looked up to find Karan bhaiyya looking at me.

"Neil first we need to go back home. I already called the doctor. You take her and follow me. We need to reach home" his words hit my ears and then after a moment, I realised what he said as I nodded.

Anamika bhabi stood up and was about to help me when I nodded in a no as one by one all walked towards the exit, leaving bhaiyya and bhabi there.

Without thinking much and wasting even a single milliseconds, I scooped her in my arm, as she lied there more like a lifeless soul as I followed bhaiyya.

And after ages, for the first time, I ever got so much panicked because of that person, who literally nothing matters to me

"Or maybe that's what you think and maybe because of that only you are still trying to find and gather information about that college incident" my heart spoke, mocking at me.

I immediately shrugged off all the thoughts at that moment and as we walked out of the hotel, I got into the car and seated at the back seat, resting her head on my lap, with bhabi taking the passenger seat as Karan bhaiyya drove back home.
......

Within no time, we reached back home and I gently placed her on the bed while Anamika bhabi splashed water on her face.

Yet there was no response

"Karan bhaiyya why isn't bhabi opening her eyes?? Won't she wake up??" Naina looked at Karan with teary eyes as I shot her a glare while he hugged her.

"Sorry bhaiyya" Naina apologised looking at me and left the room, immediately.

"Neil don't worry and get angry. Tiasha will be fine. Neil I don't know whether you know or not but Tia is Claustrophobic as well as Nyctophobic" Karan bhaiyya said as I looked at him in a shock.

"I knew this. But I didn't tell you there because seeing you like that I didn't want to tense you more. Moreover after that power issue, everything was so sudden that this slipped my mind. I am sorry" he said bowing his head down as I held his shoulders and pulled him in a hug.

"It's ok bhaiyya. It's even not your fault. You please don't be sorry. That power issue was so sudden that even after feeling a grip on my blazer, I didn't bother to turn"

"No Neil. It's not your fault too then. Don't worry I called the doctor and he will be here soon. Believe me she will be fine" he assured as I said nothing and walked towards the bed.

Standing at a distance, yet close to the bed, I kept looking at her pale, frightened face when I heard someone's footsteps.

I turned around and found the doctor entering the room as Naman guided him.

He quickly went and took a seat near Tiasha and after examining her for few minutes, pushed an injection and scribbled something on a paper.

"Can anyone call her husband??" he said as all looked at me as I walked towards him.

"Doctor she is ok right??? Nothing serious I guess" mom asked as I was still being ditched by my mouth.

Idiot

I can scold her anytime you want and now can't even ask whether she is fine or not

"Don't worry Mrs. Khurrana. This all happened because of her phobia of darkness. I heard from your younger son about what happened. Don't worry she will regain her consciousness in some time" he said and looked at me and continued, "Also Mr. Khurrana these are few medicines I am prescribing incase she feels uneasy or nausea or something"

He handed me the prescription as I took it while giving a smile and I thanking him, he left the place as Karan bhaiyya guided him.

Keeping the prescription aside on the table, I silently left the room and walked up the stairs, towards the terrace.

As soon as I stepped in, I further strolled towards the end of the way and stood there leaning against the wall.

"In what a maze, I am stuck in. No matter how much I try not to involve others into my life, in return all what happens is with me. Yet again, I am in a helpless situation" I said looking at the sky, as the entire surrounding was dark all around.

Darkness,
The one which gives me peace is the reason for Tiasha's fear

I mentally laughed with my eyes fixed on the sky as something flashed in my mind as I closed my eyes.

"Neil" I felt a touch on my shoulder, breaking my trance as I turned around to find mom standing there.

"Mom?? You didn't sleep yet??" I asked as she shook her head, caressing my face.

"When my one child is not well while other one is standing here like this, you think being a mother, sleep will greet me??"

"But mom, it's quite late. You go and sleep. Moreover daadi is also tensed for Tiasha. You go and check her"

"And you??? You aren't???" she asked raising her eyebrow and chuckled as her eyes brimmed with tears.

"Neil do you even realise after how many years, you felt some else's pain as yours??? Tiasha when fainted there seemed like someone sucked out air from your lungs. Thank god that it's nothing serious. Though she is still unconscious it seems"

"Mom please it's nothing like that. See, I am not someone who will turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to someone who is in pain. Afterall, my mom didn't teach me that. Anyways, you go and sleep. I will also return to the room"

"Yeah go. Afterall she needs you there when she wakes up. And don't go there with this sulking face and yeah Anamika was telling that she was blabbering something. I think she is still scared. You go and be there" mom said caressing my face.

"What?? Ok I am going. Good night mom"

"Good night Neil" she wished as I immediately left the terrace and ran down to my room.

I stood at the door and was about to enter the room when I saw bhabi walking towards me.

"Neil where were you??"

"Terrace. Why bhabi?? And mom was telling Tiasha is blabbering something?? What happened?? Did she wake up???"

"No Neil she didn't. But I and Naina changed her attire as she was breathing heavily wearing that heavy wardrobe and she is murmuring something. Though we didn't understand. Anyways, you go" she said in a go while it took me a minute to register everything and I went inside the room while she left from the place.

I ran towards the bed when I found her shivering and her forehead was full with beads of sweat as it travelled through her side face while her lips moved a bit.

I still stood there, at a distance while trying to figure what to do when thousands of thoughts revolved inside my mind.

Yet shrugging off all the thoughts, I took a deep breath and walked towards the bed only to find her speaking something, though it was not very clear.

"Open---open-----door---bhai----bhaiyya-----door----open" she kept on mumbling the same shaking her head slowly as I looked at her confused.

Probably she gained her consciousness

"Tiasha, Tiasha" I called her, softly while she gave no reply except repeating the same words as I caressed her forehead.

I myself was shocked of my reaction

Then gradually her mumbling stopped and she again drifted into slumber while when sleep engulfed me, I had no idea.
.......

As the bright rays of the sun fell on my eyes, I stirred a bit, turning around only to bump my head which was floating in the air, since last night, into a pillow.

Thank God I didn't bump my head into the floor

I immediately opened my eyes only to see me covered in a quilt while I stretched my hands on the other side of the bed to find it empty. I shot back a glance at the side.

Where did she go now???

I looked at the wall clock which was ticking close to 8:30, as my eyes popped out.

"Yesterday I think someone was talk about staring and stuff" I heard a voice as I turned my face, looking back only to find Tiasha, smiling at me.

"Don't worry. It's 8:30 in the morning not at night. So chill. Moreover, you better go off to sleep. Last night hardly you all slept" she said in a go and walked towards the mirror with her wet hair tightly wrapped with a towel as few drops of water trailed down its way from the side of her face.

"Ok what's wrong with you very early morning Mr. Neil Khurrana" my mind questioned as I looked away.

"When did you get up??" I asked, stepping down the bed.

"When you were sleeping" she replied coolly as I rolled my eyes.

Wowww such an amazing answer, absolutely an award winning one

"Listen that I also know when I was sleeping you woke up. I mean why you also woke up----" my voice got stuck in my throat as my mouth shut on it's own.

I looked at her as she unwrapped the towel from her hair as her bun untied and then she smashed it on her hair, drying them.

Her thick, long black hair that was falling freely from the side as she tilted her head was almost touching her knees as she kept drying it.

"Are you planning to have something else in breakfast today???" I snapped at her direction as she stood in front of me.

"What???"

"Close your mouth Mr. Khurrana, else you know you will end up having mosquitoes for breakfast. You know tasty tasty" she said laughing while I was burning with anger.

"Anyways leave all these, come downstairs fast. Aunty already prepared the breakfast. After that I have to leave"

"Leave??? Where are you going???"

"Somewhere which you won't like to listen I suppose and it doesn't concerns you also" she replied and was about to walk away when I ran and blocked her way.

"Well listen you are not going anywhere got it. I would like to listen or not, whether it will matter to me or not, I don't care. I am saying you aren't going that means you are going"

"Well may I know why??" she asked, crossing her hands across her chest, waiting for my answer.

"That doesn't concern you"

"Well then I suppose someone is forgetting rule no. 3 which clearly stated that no one will interfere into each other's matter"

Oh god, why she always drag the contract in between

"Moreover----"

Before she could complete her sentence, I shushed her as my index finger landed on her lips while her eyes grew wide like a saucer.

"You really talk so much and yesterday, my princess got a scolding" I said as she immediately shrugged off my hand.

"Anyways, I said that you aren't going anywhere Tiasha and it's final. I will tell mom. Yesterday you fainted. Do you realise??"

"Exactly I just fainted because that time the power went off so abruptly. I mean before I could understand and I ---I---being----"

"Nyctophobic. I know. So why didn't you tell me before???"

"As if you ever asked and wanted to know about her" my inner self mocked at me.

"Because I believe me being alive or dead nothing concerns you. After all, after one year, you won't be there. So rather than now talking it out and later being alone again, it's better not to tell ever" she said in a go as her eyes brimmed with tears.

"Moreover, it's just because of yesterday's incident. I am completely ok now. See, there is lightness all around. I can manage. It's really important for me to go. Actually the assignment is very important and the due date is on this Monday and Rudy alone cannot manage it" she looked worried as I looked at her surprised.

"You are going to the Chopra's then??"

"No. I am going to Sneha's house. Rudy and she got the same topic and is working as a team so both need my help" she said and pausing for a minute, continued,"So if this interrogation is done, may I leave the CBI office" sarcasm dripped down her words as I nodded while she smiled.

Then she turned around and was about to leave the room when I called her again.

"Tiasha"

"Yes???" she turned around and looked at me.

"Ummmm....if you have no problem, you may work here and complete whatever presentation or assignment you have" I said as she looked at me, without uttering a single word.

"No I mean, here no one will have any objection. I will talk to mom personally"

"No Neil it's fine. Thank you for that. Actually-----"

"Yesterday all were very tensed Tiasha. I know you are absolutely fine now and you also doing well but the world won't turn upside down if you work from here"

Okay why am I even insisting her so much???

I don't know

I looked at her waiting for her reply as she looked at me and then at the surroundings with her hands fidgety with the end of her kurti.

"Okay fine. I will talk to them and to aunty too" she replied as a smile automatically crept into my face while she looked at me as if seen a ghost.

"I guess you aren't well Neil. No issues. Go off to sleep. Take a nap, you will feel good. I am going downstairs" she said as she walked towards me and touched my forehead while with the same shocked expression and turned around to leave the room

"Tiasha care---" I said as she stumbled upon the end of the bed and was falling on her face.

Before she could hit her face on the ground and swim there, I ran and encircled my hand around her waist from back as a support as she grabbed my arms, tightly.

"Thank God I didn't fall" she panted and lifting her face looked at me as my eyes met hers.

It was a few seconds of eyelock which broke when she stood up as I withdrew my hand while she looked back at the bed.

"Bad bed" she mumbled, complaining like a kid while it was audible enough for me as I chuckled.

"Indeed a bad one" I replied stifling my laughter as she looked at me blankly.

Then giving a look she passed by my side yet again stumbling on the floor but somehow managed to save herself as I rolled my eyes.

"Stumbling monkey" I said as she stopped on her tracks and shot me a glare.

"Monkey??? You called me a monkey???" she marched towards me and stood in front pointing a finger at me, close to my face as she curled up her feets, raising them to match my height.

"If I am a monkey. Then you are Porcupine. Remember??"

"Hey don't call me that. That name is given by my princess" I blurted only to realise what I said.

Like really Neil??? You like being called a Porcupine???

"Okay fine. Then if I am a monkey then you....you......you are a Chimpanzee. A grumpy Chimpanzee" she said as her cute little nose turned red due to anger and eyes shot daggers at me.

Before I could reply, she took a step back and immediately left the room, banging the door behind me while I sat on the bed with a thud, trying to register what happened as a hearty laughter escaped my mouth.

"Hahaha, indeed she is crazy" I chuckled when realisation hit me hard.

Okay so for the first time, I didn't give a reply to her who called me a Chimpanzee. That too,

A grumpy Chimpanzee

My laughter gradually subdued as I was lost in my thoughts yet not wanting to understand anything, I simply shrugged off the thoughts from my mind and after freshening myself up, left the room and went downstairs to have the breakfast.
.......

I was in my study, working on a presentation when I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in" I replied as kaka entered the room with a cup of coffee.

"Neil beta, your coffee. Shalini madam has sent" he said as I gave him a nod with a smile while he left the room.

Typing a mail, I got hold of the mug and took a sip from it when suddenly my phone rang as I received a call from Arun.

"Hello" I answered as I plucked in the bluetooth earbuds into my ears.

"Sir, I have done with the assignment and also mailed you a detail report regarding the same"

"Yeah I can very well see how detailed it is" my voice was cold enough as it send shivers down his spine as I heard him gulp down a lump which was probably stuck on his throat.

"Sir actually----"

"Arun, the report is nullified. I am not accepting it. Either you give me a proper one within thirty minutes else you are welcome to leave the job"

"Thir---thirty minutes???"

"Yes thirty minutes. Not a single millisecond more. Got it??" I asked as he replied a okay in his shivering voice while I disconnected the call.

One work if they can handle. Just one work

I got back to work and was going through some important documents when again my phone rang and this time it was a call from my P.A, Soham.

I picked up the call and no sooner did it started than his nervous voice was heard.

"Sir........"

"You just stay in the office Soham. I am coming"

I immediately ended the call and stood up as my eyes raged with anger and I was literally fuming.

I slammed the laptop and barged out of the room and grabbing my car keys, I quickly drove off to the office.
.......

Time passed and it was evening when I returned back home and silently left for my room.

Though I met mom, daadi, bhaiyya and bhabi on my way who greeted me as well as asked me about my whereabouts while I just turned a deaf ear and walked straightaway to my room.

As I climbed up the stairs and passed through the corridor, I could hear laughter echoed in the room which was audible till the corridor.

While for me, it felt something oblivious

I stood right infront of the door and was wondering whether to knock or not but without thinking much, I twisted the knob and barged into the room when four pair of eyes turned towards me, as their laughter gradually fade away and looked at me.

I looked around the room only to find, Rudra, Sneha and Priya looking at me with a horror in their face while Tiasha looked confused and before anyone could say anything, Rudra spoke up.

"Tiasha, thank you so much for the help. The remaining part we can manage. I think we should leave" Rudra said as Sneha and Priya agreed and three of them quietly left the room,