Chapter 02
Shimla
Snow fell gently from the sky, as if the heavens themselves were celebrating.
A girl twirled in the middle of it—laughing, spinning, alive with joy. Her lehenga moved with her, flowing like poetry in motion. Moonlight wrapped her in silver, making her look almost unreal, untouched by the cruelty of the world.
She was happiness personified.
Nandini Murthy.
Her laughter echoed softly as she danced, her eyes closed, arms stretched wide as if she could embrace the universe. There was no fear in her heart, no doubt in her soul—only dreams.
Pure. Innocent. Unaware.
“Nandini!”
The voice broke her trance.
She stopped and turned, her smile widening as she ran toward the sound. Her mother stood there, arms crossed, worry etched deeply into her face.
“I told you not to play in the snow,” her mother scolded gently but firmly. “You’ll fall sick.”
Nandini grinned, her eyes sparkling. “Mama, I’m so happy today. I got selected for the Space Academy.”
Her mother froze.
“I’m going to fulfill my dreams,” Nandini continued breathlessly. “I’ll touch the sky. Papa won’t have to work so hard anymore. We’ll be happy, Mama. I promise I’ll study harder than ever.”
Her voice cracked as tears spilled from her eyes. She hugged her mother tightly, crying into her shoulder—not from fear, but from overwhelming hope.
Her mother held her back, silently crying too.
At that moment, Nandini’s father walked in from work.
“My Nandu looks like she’s floating,” he said warmly. “What’s the reason?”
Nandini rushed to him and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, Papa. I got in. No one can stop me now.”
Her parents laughed softly, watching her jump around like a child who had just discovered magic.
That night, the small family ate together, shared laughter, and went to sleep—unaware that this happiness was fragile.
Painfully fragile.
The Nightmare
Darkness.
Nandini stood alone.
The air felt heavy, crushing her chest. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Shadows moved around her, closing in, tightening like invisible chains.
She felt trapped.
Helpless.
A presence loomed nearby—faceless, silent, suffocating. Her heart pounded violently as fear crawled through her veins. She tried to run, but her feet wouldn’t move.
Tears streamed down her face as panic consumed her.
“Mama… Papa…” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Please help me.”
The darkness swallowed her scream.
Nandini’s mother woke up with a violent gasp.
“NANDINII!”
She sat upright, shaking uncontrollably, tears pouring down her face. Her husband woke instantly and held her, handing her water.
“What happened?” he asked urgently. “Was it a nightmare?”
At the word nightmare, her body trembled even more.
“I saw her,” she whispered brokenly. “I saw Nandu… scared… alone… suffering.”
She clutched his arm tightly.
“Since we decided to send her to Mumbai, my heart hasn’t been at peace. I feel like something terrible is waiting for her there. Please… don’t send her.”
Her husband sighed deeply.
“Navya will be with her,” he said
We can see a girl is twirling happily in the snow. The falling snow is also witnessing her happiness and celebrating it with her by falling. She is wearing a beautiful lehenga. It is twirling with her making her look even more beautiful in moon light. Her milky white skin is shining in moonlight. Her slim milky white waist is shown and then her eyes which are chocolate brown and then her lips which are pulpy and kissable. Gradually we can see her full face and she is none other than our own innocent Nandini Murthy.
She is twirling and dancing happily. Then only someone called her or we should say someone shouted her name. After listening to the voice she stopped dancing and went to the source. There stood her mom angrily and said sternly
Nan mom: I asked you not to play in snow but you never listen to me. You have to play. You will get a cold baby.
Nandu smiled happily and said
Nan:Mom I am very very happy. can you believe I got admission in space academy. I will fulfill all my dreams. I will touch the sky. There will be no need for Dad to work anymore. We will live happily mom. I am very happy mom, I am very happy. I will not let you and papa down. Papa took a loan to send me to space. I will study hard mom. I promise! She promised with tears in her eyes hugging her mom cryingly. Her mom's eyes were also filled with tears.
The time when their emotions were at its peak, her dad came from office. Her baby brother Risabh was not at home due to a study tour.
Nan dad: My nandu looks very happy today. What's the matter?
"Dad, thank you I am very happy. I got admission in space. Now no one can stop me from fulfilling my dreams" Nandini said jumping happily and hugged her dad. While her parents laughed seeing her childishness.
After their little family moment they had their dinner and went to sleep in their respective rooms.
Somewhere in the room a woman is crying in pain. She is naked and tears are falling from her eyes like rainfall. Blood is oozing out of her private body parts. Everything is blurred making her face unclear. Beside her a guy is sleeping peacefully naked with a tattoo on his back. The woman's sobs are irritating him too much. Then the starts crying even more loudly because the guy suddenly entered her with a swift. He is pounding over her. The woman is crying and begging him to stop but he didn't stop. He is so much into his pleasure. Then only the girl's face is shown and she is none other than Nandini. She is cryingly calling for help
Nan:Dad,mom help me. I can't take this anymore. I will die. Mumma please help me.
Nandini's mom sat with a jerk. Yes guys it is a horrible nightmare
Nan Mom:Nanduuuuuuu.... Shouted on top of her lungs and started shivering and crying. Her husband also sat with a jerk listening to her shout and saw her crying and shivering and gave her water. She drank the water and relaxed a bit but didn't stop crying. Seeing her like this Nandu's dad asked
Nan dad:what happened? Why did you shout like that? Why are you crying? Did you see any nightmare? Listening the word nightmare she shivered even more and told about her nightmare and said
Nan Mom: Since the time you have decided to send her to Mumbai and Space, i feel like something bad is gonna happen and then today's nightmare! My whole body is shivering. Please I don't want to send her to Mumbai. I am scared. She is still a child and she can't live there alone please. Nandu's dad sighed
Nan dad:Navya is there with her. She will take care of our nandu. Don't spoil my daughter's happiness. She is very happy. I want to fulfill all her dreams.You are scared because our daughter is going to live far away from us for the first time. She is mature enough to take care of herself. Promise me you will not stop my daughter from going to Mumbai. Please I want her happiness. Promise me?
After lots of arguments and pleadings finally she agreed to let Nandu go to Mumbai and promised him but still her heart didn't agree as a mother.
"Now sleep, I am tired. Don't think too much about the nightmare. Everything will be fine." saying this he slept. While sleep was away from her mom's eyes laying there thinking
"I don't know why but I am feeling very scared. I am getting negative thoughts from the time we have decided to send my nandu Mumbai. I have a feeling that Mumbai is not for us. My heart beats so fast with the thoughts and now I have started getting nightmares also. After today's dangerous and horrible nightmare I don't want to send her to Mumbai. Other's can think that I am a fool letting my fears take over my daughter's happiness but all I am is a mother who loves her children. We might not have money but my love for my children is so much. A mother in me didn't want to send my nandu to Mumbai. But now as I have promised my husband I will not stop her. My sixth sense is warning me not to send my nandu but I am so helpless that I want to cry. I don't know why. Keeping a rock on my heart I have agreed to it. I am scared, vey scared to send my nandu." Thinking a
ll this sleep took over her
