The Beginning

As we bid farewell to the chairman, Karun and I boarded the plane and settled into a comfortable double seat. We were greeted by a friendly hostess as we reached our seats. While Karun was busy stowing our luggage in the overhead compartment, I eagerly claimed the window seat. It may sound childish, but I wanted to take in the surroundings as the plane took off.

I scoffed when Karun argued with me, saying that I would feel nauseous if I looked out the window. We continued to banter until his phone rang, displaying "Priya" on the caller ID. Answering the call, Priya's voice boomed loudly from the other end, expressing her heartfelt plea for us to return safely. Karun smiled reassuringly and promised to do so, their affectionate exchange warming my heart.

To give them privacy, I deliberately put on my headphones, drowning out their conversation and the ambient noise of the plane. As they chatted, I could only observe Karun's expressions. Eventually, a flight attendant approached, and Karun nodded in response to something she said, signaling his agreement.

He ended the call and removed my earphones, catching me off guard. "What?" I asked, slightly annoyed. "She told you to be safe too," he replied, his tone softened. It was a side of Karun that I rarely saw—the responsible elder brother. It felt awkward, this version of him emerging only in Priya's presence. Must be from talking to his beloved, I mused. Despite his tough exterior, I could see that he had a soft side too.

I huffed and put my earphones back on. "Like I'll never be—humph—talk about yourself."

Soon, the announcement of the plane taking off was issued, prompting me to take off my earphones and peer through the window beside me. It made me nauseous—I wanted to jump out of my seat right then and there. My mind felt dizzy, and the sensation of nausea rose in my throat. Meanwhile, Karun was engrossed in reading the tablet provided by the chairman, which contained all the details about the mission.

"Let's exchange," I suggested, my voice tinged with urgency. My brother smirked lazily at my discomfort, but I begged, "Hurry up, please." Luckily, he agreed quickly, but not without a bargain—he would get to use my headphones for a day. I accepted the deal, feeling a sense of relief as I took the air sickness medicine. After a while, I rested in the newly exchanged seat while my brother put on my headphones as agreed earlier for the seat exchange.

It was a three-hour-long journey before we finally set foot on land. I stumbled upon standing up, prompting my brother to snicker and call me a chicken. Once we exited the airport of the 'Velandria' country, a black SUV was waiting for us, ready to take us straight to the assigned bungalow by the seaside. It was past 11 before we entered the bungalow.

Our black SUV had driven through an ornate main gate, passing a beautifully manicured garden and a grand fountain before arriving at the entrance. The sight of the lush greenery and the soothing sound of the fountain had briefly calmed my nerves after the long journey.

An old man, who must be the butler, was already waiting for us outside. He introduced himself as Narayana, the head butler of the bungalow. "I have been informed about your expedition and your names. You must be Kathy, miss. Nice to meet you," he said, leading us into the main hall.

Narayana was dressed impeccably in a traditional yet elegant white kurta-pajama, with a neatly tied waistcoat that added a touch of formality. His demeanor was calm and respectful, with an air of quiet authority that bespoke years of dedicated service.

"Welcome to Velandria," he said warmly. "I trust your journey was comfortable?"

"It was fine, thank you," Karun replied. "We appreciate all the arrangements."

As we stepped inside, the sheer opulence of the bungalow struck me. The main hall was adorned with luxurious furnishings, and every detail seemed meticulously chosen to reflect elegance and taste. Just walking from the front hall to our guest rooms took us several minutes. The aesthetic paintings hung on the walls spoke volumes about their value, each one a masterpiece in its own right.

"This place is incredible," I whispered to Karun, who nodded in agreement.

Narayana led us up a grand staircase, the polished wood gleaming under the soft lighting. "Your rooms are ready, and I have taken the liberty of preparing dinner for you. It will be served in your rooms shortly. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask."

He showed us to our rooms, which were located opposite each other. "Mr. Karun, this will be your room," he said, opening the door to a spacious suite. "And Miss Kathy, your room is right here."

Entering my room, I was greeted by an equally luxurious setup. The bed was massive, draped with plush bedding, and the room was decorated with more exquisite artwork. I took a quick shower and changed into a set of baggy pants and a hoodie, choosing comfort over style, especially since Narayana, who had been waiting for us at the front, informed that we would be departing for our next flight at 5 o'clock early in the morning. Waking up that early after the journey from home was too tiring. I decided to sleep in these clothes, knowing they would save me time when it was time to leave. 

After freshening up, I found a tray of dinner and snacks waiting for me. The food was delicious and exactly what I needed after the long day. Once I finished eating, a maid promptly arrived to clean up the table.

Before heading to bed, I took a moment to appreciate the serene view from my window. The garden and fountain were softly illuminated, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Despite the exhaustion, a sense of excitement bubbled within me. Our adventure was about to begin, and I felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

I crawled into the comfortable bed, pulling the covers over me. The evening flight loomed over my thoughts, but the comfort of the room soon lulled me into a deep sleep.

I had a dream in which I was running frantically, with wounds bleeding all over. I was gasping for breath, my legs feeling like lead, when I saw him—a man, handsome and fair, with an otherworldly presence. His blue eyes, orbs of intense, deep color, locked onto mine as he reached out his hand from the other side of a wall I was desperately running toward.

He pulled me up and over the wall, effortlessly lifting me despite my injuries. We scrambled to the top and then descended onto a terrace, where we sought shelter under a small, dilapidated roof. Everything around us was cold and abandoned, an eerie desolation stretching out in every direction. The rain poured down in relentless sheets, and thunder rumbled ominously overhead, shaking the ground beneath us.

My heart pounded so loudly that it almost drowned out the storm. The man, calm and composed, began to tend to my wounds. His touch was gentle, his hands warm despite the chill in the air. The warmth from his hands contrasted sharply with the cold, suppressive aura that surrounded him. It didn't hurt when he touched my injuries; instead, it was comforting, like a soothing balm.

I tried to see his face more clearly, but the darkness obscured most of his features. However, his blue eyes shone brightly, reflecting my image back at me. Deep within those eyes, I saw a vast, unending sea—a relentless loneliness that seemed to stretch on forever. His expression was calm, but his eyes told a different story, revealing a depth of sorrow and solitude that words could not convey.

"Wh-who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling. His blue eyes seemed to shine even more, and I thought I saw a hint of a smile.

But he didn't answer. Instead, he continued to treat my wounds, his focus unwavering. "Are-are you alone?" I asked again, my voice barely a whisper. This time, his eyes betrayed a flicker of sadness, a silvery line that cut through the blue depths. My question must have hit close to home.

I wanted to talk more, to ask him who he was, where we were, and what was happening. But the atmosphere around us grew increasingly chaotic. The distance between us seemed to stretch farther and farther, as if the horizon itself was pulling everything into its endless maw. The man, who seemed to belong to this desolate place, was being drawn away too.

As he was about to fade into the encroaching darkness, he leaned in and put a finger on my forehead gently. "Someday," he said, his voice calm and reassuring, a stark contrast to my own turmoil. Even as everything around him was being swept away, his blue eyes remained calm, a steady anchor in the storm.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the dream ended and I was jolted awake by a thump at the door and Karun shouting, "Wake up, Kathy!" The vivid memory of the man's blue eyes and the warmth of his touch lingered in my mind, a haunting echo of the strange encounter.