Nivan stood frozen outside Dr. Bhargav's clinic, his courage wavering like a flickering candle in the wind. The waiting area was crowded with patients, each lost in their own struggles, and the sight sent a fresh wave of doubt crashing over him.
Is it right to come here today? Should I go in or just turn back and leave? What should I do? I'm so confused.
The fear of what he might discover gnawed at him, a persistent, gnawing anxiety in the pit of his stomach. What if I learn something that will shatter me? What if the doctor tells someone else about my problems? His mind was a tangled mess of fear and curiosity. I don't even know who those two boys in my dreams are. They look like they're from an ancient era, like kings or princes. What should I do?
The questions swirled in an endless, terrifying loop. Who are they? Why are they being burned in front of a village? Who is burning them? And why do these nightmares haunt my dreams? What is their secret? What is my connection to these visions, to those two boys?
A violent shiver ran down his spine. The pain I see in their eyes... it creates a strange, cold sensation throughout my body. And their screams... the blood-curdling screams that echo in my dreams... why can I hear them? What is the secret behind all of this?
He was torn apart from the inside. Should I go to Dr. Bhargav or not? A part of him screamed to run, to preserve the fragile normalcy of his life. But a deeper, more insistent voice pushed him forward. I have to go. If I want to uncover the truth about my dreams, I have to. I've been afraid of them since childhood. But to learn their secret, I first need to calm myself down.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath, giving himself a mental pep talk. You can do this, Nivan. You can. Besides, you're hiding all this from your friends so they won't worry. The thought of Ruhan's concerned face flashed in his mind. And today, I left the hostel early without telling anyone. Who knows what they must be thinking about me? I need to finish this before they call and things get complicated. I need to get back to the hostel on time.
Mustering every ounce of his courage, Nivan stepped towards Dr. Bhargav's cabin. As if by some strange design, by the time he approached, the last of the other patients had left. The waiting area was empty and silent. Only Dr. Bhargav remained, sitting inside, as if waiting just for him.
Taking a final, steadying breath that did little to calm the storm within, Nivan opened the door and walked into the cabin.
At Dr. Bhargav's Office
Dr. Bhargav: (Looking up from his notes with a calm, professional smile) "Come, Nivan. How are you feeling now?"
Nivan: (His voice tighter than he intended) "Doctor, I'm fine."
Dr. Bhargav: His eyes lingered on the faint bruise on Nivan's forehead, a souvenir from his fight with Atharv. "And how did you get this injury?"
Nivan: "It's a small injury… I slipped on the college ground." The lie came easily, a protective shield.
Dr. Bhargav: He nodded, not pushing further. "Okay, then let's start the session. Are you ready?"
Nivan nodded silently and lay down on the familiar reclining chair. The doctor began the now-familiar process, using a swinging pendulum and his steady, hypnotic voice to guide Nivan into a trance. The world slowly faded away, replaced by the swirling mists of his subconscious.
Dr. Bhargav: "Speak, Nivan. What do you see in your dream?"
Nivan: (His voice a flat, distant monotone) "I… I see two boys in my dream… they seem like friends when I look at them."
Dr. Bhargav: "Tell me more, Nivan. How did they meet? What is their past?"
Nivan was silent for a long while, his hands on the armrests beginning to tremble slightly. Nivan: "Doctor… I can't see anything… It's all dark."
Dr. Bhargav: "Try, Nivan… concentrate… push through the darkness. Tell me their secret."
Nivan: "I… can't see their beginning. There's a wall…"
Just then, unseen by the doctor, a figure materialized in the corner of the room—the Masked Man. His presence was like a drop of ink in clear water, dark and spreading. He raised a hand, and a faint, malevolent light, visible only in the psychic realm Nivan was traversing, shot from his fingertips and straight into Nivan's forehead.
Nivan's body jolted on the chair as if electrocuted. Nivan: (Screaming, a raw, torn sound) "Rudra… Rudra!"
Dr. Bhargav: (Leaning forward, his voice urgent) "Rudra? Who is Rudra? Tell me, Nivan!"
Nivan: (His voice trembling, images flooding his mind) "I… am seeing… two people… in a Gurukul… and…"
Dr. Bhargav: "And? Tell me more, Nivan!"
Nivan: "Doctor… there is a boy… wearing green and black clothes… he looks like the heir of a wealthy, powerful family."
Dr. Bhargav: "What else do you see?"
The Masked Man, displeased with the slow pace, again raised his hand. Another pulse of energy slammed into Nivan's psyche, forcing the memories to the surface with violent intensity.
Nivan: (Stammering, his body seizing up) "Na…vagadh…!"
Upon hearing the name "Navgarh," a name spoken aloud after centuries, the Masked Man smiled behind his mask, his purpose seemingly achieved. He dissolved into the shadows, vanishing as silently as he had arrived.
Dr. Bhargav: "Navgarh? What was this Navgarh? Speak, Nivan!"
Nivan: (His voice gaining a strange, narrative quality, as if reciting a forgotten history) "Navgarh… was a prosperous kingdom… nestled between mighty mountains and a flowing river. Everyone was happy there… King Prabhakar and Queen Malini ruled with justice and compassion."
Dr. Bhargav: "And tell me, Nivan, what do you see now?"
Nivan: "The Queen… Malini… she is holding a baby. King Prabhakar names him… Rudrapratap." A soft smile touched Nivan's hypnotized lips. "He grows up… very handsome… tall and broad… often wearing white and golden clothes. A prince."
Dr. Bhargav: "And? Is there another?"
Nivan: "Another boy is visible now… younger. He wears simple but fine black clothes. He seems like he's from a merchant's family. They are playing together near the royal stables."
Dr. Bhargav: "Concentrate, Nivan, who is he?"
Nivan: "He… his name… Pratham! Yes, Pratham! His mother's name is Rajni… father Vikrant… a happy, wealthy merchant family. They are the king's most trusted traders."
Suddenly, Nivan's body started shaking violently, the chair rattling beneath him. He was gasping for air, trapped in the intensity of the vision.
Dr. Bhargav: "Nivan! Nivan! Come back! Wake up!" He quickly began the process to bring him out of the trance, finally splashing cold water on his face.
Nivan sat up with a jolt, gasping, his clothes drenched in cold sweat. He looked around the room wildly, disoriented.
Dr. Bhargav: (His face grave) "Nivan, this is becoming very dangerous. The physical reactions are getting stronger."
Nivan: (Panicked, clutching his head) "Doctor… what did I see? What did I say?"
Dr. Bhargav: "You mentioned a kingdom called Navgarh. Its king and queen, and their son, Prince Rudrapratap. And a merchant family, whose son was named Pratham. They were friends."
Nivan's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Nivan: "What? Rudra and Pratham? These are the same two who come in my dreams! The one who burns and the one in chains!" His voice rose in pitch, edged with hysteria. "Doctor, what is the secret behind all this? Why do these people appear in my dreams? Who are they? From which era are they, with what kind of clothes and what language did they speak? Ultimately, why do these two specifically come in my dreams, Doctor? Who are this Rudra and Pratham? And what, ultimately, is my connection to them?"
Dr. Bhargav: "Calm down, Nivan. Breathe. You only told that much. Then you started panicking, so I had to wake you up. We cannot force it."
Nivan: "Okay, but why did I feel so scared, Doctor? It felt like I was drowning."
Doctor Bhargav: "This is common, Nivan. When the subconscious mind unlocks memories from a past life—events and truths that the conscious mind has buried deep—it creates a psychic shock. The mind struggles to accept a reality that defies logic. That's why you felt such terror. Don't worry, this is a known part of the process."
Nivan: "Alright, Doctor. But when will I get to know more? When will I see what happened to them? When should I come again? And please, Doctor," his voice dropped to a desperate whisper, "keep this matter confidential. No one can know."
Doctor Bhargav: "Certainly, Nivan. Patient confidentiality is my sacred duty. This will remain strictly between us—between you and me. You have my word. Be assured."
Nivan: "Okay, Doctor… I'm leaving." He stood up, his legs still unsteady.
Dr. Bhargav: "Yes… take care. We'll do the next session when you feel stronger."
Nivan nodded, a thousand new questions screaming in his mind, and stumbled out of the clinic. The bright sunlight felt alien and harsh. He needed the comfort of his friends, the normalcy of his hostel room.
But when Nivan finally reached the hostel, his mind still reeling from the revelations of Navgarh, Pratham, and Rudra, he stopped dead in his tracks at the entrance to the common room. His blood ran cold.
He was shocked to see everyone gathered there, but it was the scene that made his heart stop.
Ruhan was standing in the center of the room, holding the very same photograph from Ishika's room. But now, in the clear light of day, the image was unmistakable. The masked man in the background was no longer a blur. The mask was off.
And the face staring back from the photograph, the face of the mysterious puppeteer, was identical to his own.
It was Nivan's face.
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