Written by Writer Yoshita Kumar and Edited by Editor Mrinali Jadhav
It was
In the dark streets, a woman runs, gasping for breath and filled with both exhaustion and fear. An obsessed and controlling man relentlessly pursues her, but no one believes her. She moves from one place to another, desperately seeking refuge, only to find that he always tracks her down. Gradually, she starts having premonitions that he will be present at certain locations and avoids them instinctively.
Finally, the woman agrees to meet the man once and for all, but she receives a premonition that he intends to spike her drink. Though she goes out for dinner, she tactfully avoids consuming anything. The man attempts to coerce her, but she politely refuses. Realizing the situation is turning against her, she discreetly slips away through the backdoor.
However, the man catches up with her, growing increasingly agitated and grinding his teeth. She tries to escape, but he catches up, causing her to stumble and gaze at him in sheer horror.Suddenly, the woman awakens in bed, drenched in sweat. As she scans the room, she notices the clock hanging on the wall, its faint light blending with the glow of the night lamp.
Glancing at the time, she sees that it’s 3:40 AM. Wrapping herself up, she glances to her left, observing a solitary tree outside with leaves darker than the night sky. Letting out a sigh, she shuts her eyes.At 6 AM, the door swings open, accompanied by a cheerful voice exclaiming, “Honey, I’m home!” The woman, now in the kitchen near the espresso machine, holds a cup of Kopi Luwak coffee and smiles as she approaches him.
They share a loving kiss, and she returns to the kitchen, hearing the clinking sound as she fetches a cup for him.Bringing the coffee over, she settles next to him, and he pulls her onto his lap. “Did you sleep well?” he asks. She gazes at him and smiles, replying, “Yes.” Nuzzling her head against his chest, she realizes she no longer needs to fear the man from her nightmares or worry about encountering him unexpectedly. Snuggling closer to her partner, she lifts her head to admire his face—the very face of the man who haunted her dreams.
It is
A woman’s face blossoms with a warm smile as she gazes at the vibrant flowers before her. Delicately, she plucks a bouquet of lilies and gracefully proceeds towards the cash counter. As she does, a man’s eyes meet hers, captivated by her radiance. With an admiring smile, he proceeds to ring up the bill, and she departs. Meanwhile, the man remains frozen in place, engulfed in a wave of self-reproach and embarrassment.In the dimly lit confines of a dark room, someone abruptly awakens, their heart pounding and breaths heavy.
They glance around, the faint glow of a night lamp casting a soft illumination upon the wall clock, revealing the time to be 3:40 AM. Wide awake, a woman’s thoughts drift back to a period three years ago. “He’s gone, he won’t return. You needn’t fret, Ruby,” she repeatedly murmurs to herself.Driven by an inexplicable longing, the woman ventures down the street, towards her sole sanctuary: the flower shop. There, the kind-hearted man greets her with his customary warm smile, and she responds with a polite nod. Despite his amiable nature, she struggles to fully embrace his friendliness, mindful of her own caution around men.
Leaving the shop, she meanders through the streets until an unsettling sensation prickle at the back of her neck. She turns her head in dread, only to find herself confronted by a figure that sends shivers down her spine. Overwhelmed with shock, her body freezes in place. Fleeing from him is no longer an option; he has returned to seize her, forcing her to relive that tragic existence once more. “No! I fought for my freedom; I refuse to let you triumph this time,” she whispers, determination coursing through her veins.
Desperately, the woman sprints towards a bustling street, where she knows there will be a multitude of witnesses. Although she senses her pursuer closing in, she musters every ounce of strength to continue running, only to stumble and collapse.As she looks up in horror, she discovers that the man from the flower shop stands before her.
Still dazed and disoriented, she shuffles backward, while he regards her with genuine concern etched across his face. The surrounding crowd fixates their attention on the unfolding scene: compassionate women rush to console the distressed woman, while skeptical glances and doubtful murmurs are cast in the direction of the flower shop man.
Anxiously, he attempts to explain that he merely returned the excess money she had left behind.Eventually, after the woman’s emotions settle, she offers her apologies and quietly retreats. Making her way back home, she seeks solace in the living room, sinking into the couch and resting her head.
Within the attic, an old storage cooler lies dormant, its contents locked away with rusted chains, seemingly destined to remain untouched indefinitely.
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