Chapter 1 – A Lonely Girl
"Every soul that wanders in search of true love ends up standing alone in the quiet abyss of darkness. Yet what if, in that very darkness, love itself rises to meet us - the same love we chased endlessly in the brightness of day?"
Winter had arrived.
It was close to one - thirty in the morning. A half-moon glimmered faintly in the sky, casting pale light over the land. Far from the city, deep within a forested region, something felt disturbingly alive. From the heart of the dense jungle came the echoes of wild beasts - howls of wolves drifting through the cold night air.
Along a narrow dirt path leading into the forest, a tall, powerfully built man named Rasad moved forward, shoving a captive boy ahead of him. The young man’s body was bound tightly with rope. His head was completely covered with a black cloth, his hands tied behind his back. Rasad, dressed in a long black coat, looked terrifying, his presence alone carried menace. There was something deeply dangerous about him.
After a while, they reached a river.
On its bank stood a massive, ancient tree, its roots thick, twisted, and clawing out of the earth like the fingers of some buried giant. Near the tree stood another man, also dressed in black. His name was Vidresh. Beside him waited an old woman, her figure bent with age, yet unsettlingly alert.
Vidresh’s voice cut through the silence, sharp with anger.
“Why are you so late?”
Rasad replied calmly,
“There was light rain here yesterday. My van got stuck in the mud.”
Vidresh ordered Rasad to bring the captive closer.
Rasad dragged the boy forward and shoved him violently to the ground near the tree. Then he yanked the cloth from the boy’s head.
The captive was young. Fresh wounds and bruises marked his face, it was clear he had been beaten badly. His eyes struggled to stay open. Confusion clouded his expression. He had no idea why he had been brought here… or what fate awaited him.
Vidresh seized the boy by the hair and dragged him toward one of the massive roots protruding from the ancient tree. He forced him down onto his knees and slammed his head against the root. The boy was utterly helpless now. His body was weak. There was no strength left in him to resist, no voice left to plead.
The old woman stepped forward, holding a large knife. Gripping it tightly, she began chanting in an unknown tongue, her words low, rhythmic, and unnatural, as if they did not belong to this world.
Moments later, she handed the knife to the man in black.
He took it slowly. Carefully.
Without hesitation, he slit the young man’s throat, offering him as a sacrifice.
Blood spilled freely, flowing across the gnarled roots of the ancient tree, soaking into the earth as if the forest itself were drinking it.
On the opposite bank of the river stood a girl.
Her head was covered with a red cloth. In the darkness of the night, her face could not be seen, she appeared no more than a silent shadow. From a distance, she watched everything unfold. Tears filled her eyes. She looked troubled… broken… yet frozen in place.
Who is this girl?
And why is she only watching all of this from afar?
Three Years Later
On the outskirts of the city lay a place rich in natural beauty. A large zoo stood there, surrounded by greenery, and nearby... along the seashore... was a vast and beautiful garden.
Built during the British era, this garden was known as Elphinstone Park.
The far end of the park opened directly toward the sea, offering a breathtaking view of the endless waves. At night, the sight of the ocean from that point felt almost magical.
It was nearly nine o’clock in the evening.
Food stalls lined the front of the park, glowing with lights and activity. People moved around in large numbers, laughing, eating, talking. The area was alive with energy.
A car pulled up and came to a stop near the entrance.
Inside sat Vivek, twenty seven years old.
He carefully parked the car and stepped out, glancing toward the park gate. There, he spotted his friend Rohan
age twenty-five
standing and waiting though Rohan’s eyes seemed fixed elsewhere.
Vivek walked toward him.
Vivek, teasingly:
“Who are you waiting for, my friend? I’m the only one coming tonight.”
Rohan:
“Oh... I was waiting for you, of course. Who else would I wait for?”
Vivek:
“For a moment, I thought you were waiting for some girl. Too bad, looks like that lucky day will never come in your miserable life.”
laughs
Rohan:
“One day, everything will happen. You’ll see.”
Vivek:
“So, what’s going on around here?”
Rohan:
“Everything’s the same as always. But you, wearing formal clothes, you look pretty sharp.”
Vivek:
“Well, I work at a big company now. Honestly, apart from this zoo and garden, there’s nothing here that feels like a city.”
Rohan:
“Come on, man. This place is natural. You won’t find this kind of beauty in the city.”
Vivek:
“Alright, tell me how’s your two-bit job going?”
Rohan:
“Watch your tone. I earn 1.5 thousand $ a month.”
Vivek:
“That’s less than what I spend on my car in three months.”
Rohan:
“I’m not rich like you. I got this job through my own hard work.”
Vivek:
“Oh please. I bought this car on a huge loan. Don’t get offended, I’m just joking. You know me.”
Rohan:
“Alright, fine. Shall we go inside? People are already leaving.”
Vivek:
“Yeah, let’s go.”
They entered the park.
Lights were installed everywhere. Flowers and trees glowed under soft illumination, creating a mesmerizing view. Night was settling in, and since the park was scheduled to close at ten, most visitors were heading toward the exit.
However, several couples still sat together, lost in their own worlds.
Vivek and Rohan sat on an empty bench near a water fountain.
Rohan:
“Look behind you. That couple - how tightly they’re clinging to each other.”
Vivek:
“Feeling jealous?”
Rohan:
“No. Just pointing it out.”
Vivek:
“There’s so much work. These private companies make you work like a donkey.”
Rohan:
“Yeah, but you get paid well.”
Vivek:
“True, but I want to travel the world. With this workload, that won’t happen.”
Rohan:
“The world will still be here ten years later. So what about marriage?”
Vivek:
“Not now. I want to live freely.”
Rohan:
“Alright. How’s your girlfriend?”
Vivek:
“She’s fine, but expensive. Sometimes her intentions don’t feel right.”
Rohan:
“Let’s walk inside for a bit and see the sea. Then we’ll leave.”
Vivek:
“Yeah. It’s been a long time since I saw the ocean from the park at night.”
They walked deeper into the park.
The inner area was almost deserted. Only a few people remained, mostly near the outer section. The deeper they went, the quieter it became.
A little further ahead, near the far end of the park, they noticed a girl sitting completely alone on a bench.
She stared toward the sea with hopeful eyes.
Vivek:
“Look there. A girl is sitting alone.”
Rohan:
“What’s a girl doing alone there at this hour?”
Vivek:
“We’ll know only if we ask. Maybe she’s troubled.”
Rohan:
“What if she’s a ghost?”
Vivek:
“Don’t be stupid. There’s no such thing.”
Rohan:
“What do you want to talk to her about?”
Vivek:
“Many things. If she seems nice, I might make her my girlfriend.”
Rohan:
“And your old girlfriend?”
Vivek:
“Which book says a man can’t have two girlfriends? In ancient times, brave men had four or five wives. Can’t I have just two girlfriends?”
Rohan laughed.
Just then, Rohan’s phone rang. He answered, it was his father. After a brief but serious conversation, Rohan ended the call.
Rohan:
“My father called. I have to go home immediately. Something urgent. Let’s leave.”
Vivek:
“No. You go. I’m going to talk to that girl.”
Rohan:
“Alright. Just be careful she doesn’t accuse you of harassment. If that happens, don’t call me.”
Vivek:
Get lost. I’m an experienced player. I can handle it.”
Rohan left.
It was almost nine-thirty.
Vivek slowly walked toward the girl. She sat silently, gazing at the sea. As he approached, a strange uneasiness crept into his heart. Questions flooded his mind.
Who was she?
Why was she here?
Why was she alone at night?
What did she look like?
He reached her.
She was still looking toward the sea.
Vivek leaned slightly closer and saw her face.
Beautiful. Innocent.
Golden, flowing hair. A white-and-red dress with a unique design. A white dupatta draped over her head.
The moment Vivek saw her,
He fell for her.
Next Chapter…