NITARA
A tale of his unbreakable vows

Prologue

In the dimly lit jail cell, the cold, unforgiving bars casted long shadows across my rugged face. I was sitting on the rickety cot, lost in the depths of my thoughts. There was a pin drop silence which was broken only by the occasional sighs of my fellow inmates.

I closed my eyes and my mind has turned into a turbulent sea, the waving memories of a life I once lived, and the dreams I had to fulfil shattered like glass. The weight of my past actions bore down on me like a grey shroud on a dead body, leaving me with nothing but regrets and a bitter taste of despair.

As I stay here, the pitter-patter of rain began to serenade the world outside. The soothing aroma of moist soil, newly kissed by the raindrops, a type of fragrance that could only be born of life, a promise of renewal, wafted through the barred window.

It reminded me of her, my one and only love. I closed my eyes again, this time with a smile on my face. For a brief moment, I felt free of these cold and heavy iron bars, I felt free from the weight of my past.

I saw her again in my mind, radiant and smiling, her laughter, her touch, and the way her eyes sparkled in the rain—all memories of her taking me back to our happier days. I inhaled deeply, trying to lose myself in that ephemeral scent, to escape this hell, even if only for a fleeting moment.

But,
Just as quickly as the memories of her washed over me, a chilling dread began to creep in. I knew that when it rained, there was a sinister presence waiting for me. And just then my tranquillity was shattered by a mocking voice of my inmate, "Don't get too comfortable, Veer," he sneered and I could feel her memories slipping away from my mind.

"You might get some solace in the scent and go back to your memory lane. But it's raining outside and you know what that means."

My heart sank and his thoughts began to unravel.

"Let me remind you of the storm that follows. He is coming for you. Tera dost!" ( trans: your friend! )

"HE IS NOT MY FRIEND!" He laughed at my outrage, my eyes stuck on the iron bars, my anxiety creeping up to my veins.

The thoughts of him started creating a home in my mind and I clenched my fists, struggling to maintain my grasp on the image of my beloved, Nitara.
With every drop, I fought to hold onto the image of her.

No no no no no no…I have to protect our memory. I cannot let him take you away from my mind, Nitara. I can't—

And he was here. Maan Sabharwal.

A tormentor, A monster, My only nightmare.

The guard called out my name.

"Oye! Aa Gaya tera shubh chintak"
(trans: hey! Here comes your well wisher )

Walking out of my cell his words started tormenting me, ready to poison my cherished memories. His words exposed my deepest scars and regrets and turned each memory of her into my torment.

'The moment you will think about her, I'll be behind you, like your worst nightmare.
The rain reminds you of her, I'll change it.
You'll think about me, you'll beg me to leave your mind, you'll ask for my mercy and the only thing I'll grant you is a life full of nightmares of me.
Nitara was your most beautiful dream,
I'll be your worst nightmare'

I was getting closer to face him, to face him again as he came back to keep his promise. His promise to destroy every beautiful memory of her that was keeping me alive. Like a venomous serpent, coiled around my mind, he was pulling me deeper into the abyss of my own sins, guilt and shame.

The gate of the visiting room opened and showcased his figure, sitting comfortably in the dimly lit visiting area, on the other side of the glass wall. His eyes locked with mine as I walked towards the chair and took a seat in front of him.The glass wall separating my struggles from his sinister presence.

With heavy pouring outside, the only sound of the room was the drumming of raindrops tearing the eerie silence between us. His gaze was like a predator, feeding on my good memories. Maan's eyes bore into mine, a twisted satisfaction gleam into them as he saw me, saw my misery.

No words exchanged. Just his malevolent eyes mocking at me. Reminding me of my sins. Minutes passed, and the satisfaction in his eyes grew with every drop of rain. He knew what he had done to me.

A wicked smirk twisted his lips, which nearly got hidden behind his grown beard. He was looking miserable, maybe more than me. Dark circles under those sinister eyes, lips dried, long hairs as if he had stopped living his life outside this jail just like I had done here.

When slowly the pouring sound started fading, his smile widened. He didn't say a word yet I heard him, completely.

'You see, Veer. I made you a promise and I always keep my promises.'

My heart pounded in my chest and mind began to blur. I clenched my fist, tried to focus on summoning the image of her, I wanted to see her face, hear her laugh but nothing worked. Maan's presence was like a heavy fog, suffocating my thoughts.

His eyes shined, as he saw me.
'What's the matter,Veer? Can't you remember her smile? The way she laughed? Let me help you forget. Let me help you erase her from your mind'

As Mann's eyes screamed at me, I felt trapped in this room. I struggled to grasp her into my vision, everything was slipping away like water through my fingers. The only source of my comfort, the rain outside had become the harbinger of his torment. A reminder that I was at his mercy of a vengeful ghost from my past.

I walked on my own into this room, knowing he was waiting for me. Maan was my nightmare but maybe I deserve this.
No. I really deserve this. For ruining everything, him, me and her.
Maybe this was not my hell but my only way to get away from my sins and guilt.

Because I destroyed…everything.