*She was running as fast as she could, her feet pounding on the marble floor as she ran across the ever familiar row of doors. All the doors were open, she could dart inside any of them but she chose to run to the staircase for the monster was closer than ever. She could feel his shadow growing longer, hear his chilling laughter coming closer.

At the bottom of the staircase, as usual was the door. But this time she refused to run down the stairs. She had killed her parents' murderer, he should not be able to scare her anymore. But as the monster came closer, his outline rippling in the darkness, Bhairavi was struck with fear so intense that she could barely breathe.

She tried to climb down the stairs but waves of fear seemed to radiate from the monster and she could not move, her muscles were locked in place. She closed her eyes, scared to see the monster for she knew it was something much more monstrous than Jaragarbha.

"Ah, Bhairavi, don't you remember what I have been telling you all this while? No matter how hard you try to run away, you will always reach me. And that's what you exactly did. This is your destiny, death by fear."

Bhairavi had never had a panic attack but she knew this was the closest she had ever been to one. She tried hard to control her breathing and think. This was her dream, she was in control. She tried to calm down but that worsened the situation. Then, she changed tactics by trying to accept it, and tried imagining an opening under her feet right where she stood.

"Trying your little mind games, Bhairavi? You can escape me here, but what will you do in real life? Be ready to meet me, I am coming for you." As the trap door finally materialised under her, she slipped through it into consciousness while the monster laughed. She had not been able to catch a glimpse of his appearance but had a very good idea about his identity.*

Gasping, Bhairavi woke up. She was drenched in sweat and was quivering. Never before had she felt such intense fear. She checked the time, it was five in the morning. She knew Namma would not be up till half past six.

She slipped out of bed, Summer was already awake and mewling but Bhairavi kissed her and scratched her till she fell asleep again. Tiptoeing so as to not make a sound, she crossed the living room before making her way to the guest room where Samanya was sleeping. Thankfully he slept without bolting the door.

Slipping into his room, she watched him lay in bed, fast asleep and felt the fear intensify. The monster had multiplied all her fears, which included losing him as well. Walking up to him, she softly touched his face and sighed. She could not imagine caring so much for someone so soon, but it was the truth.

'Samanya' she whispered into his mind, 'Samanya, wake up. Samanya.' To her surprise he stirred and immediately woke up. "Who...what...Bhairavi? What's wrong?"

'I...had a nightmare.' she confessed while sitting beside him.

"You are drenched in sweat! And quivering even! What happened?"

Bhairavi did not feel judged by him for her strange visit and wild appearance and while he held her she narrated the entire dream to him. Troubled, Samanya rubbed her back and dared not voice the name crossing his mind.

"Bhairavi....are you sure it was not my father? I know it doesn't sound like him but..." he knew he was making excuses and so did she. 'Samanya. We both know it was not your father, I killed him in broad daylight. And from your hesitation I think our guesses are similar. But who do we confirm with? Have you ever seen him?'

Samanya shook his head, "I never saw him as far as I can remember. But....I have an idea. We can contact my mother. She might...no she definitely knows him." Bhairavi nodded, 'Tomorrow?' Samanya confirmed, "Tomorrow." He added, "Go and get some more sleep, Bhairavi. I think you are going to be needing it." She shook her head, 'I can't fall asleep even if I want to. It's alright. Go back to bed, Samanya. I'll do the dishes and get ready for the cafe since Namma has the day off.'

Samanya gave her a look before mussing up her hair and standing quickly to be out of her reach, "If you think I will let you work while I sleep, you are daft. Come on, let's wash some dishes. What...why are you looking at me like that?"

'Go and brush your teeth so that I can kiss you properly for being so adorable.' Samanya smiled shyly, his dimples showing prominently, "Yes, ma'am!" While he went to the attached bathroom to freshen up, Bhairavi went to hers. But it took her longer to go to the kitchen and by the time she arrived Samanya was pouring coffee into her cup.

"Black as your soul with no sugar, did I get that right?" Bhairavi grinned before kissing his cheek, 'Absolutely.'

"Only on the cheek? Damn, should I have made breakfast along with it to get one on the lips?"

Bhairavi shook her head at his goofiness before kissing him long and hard till they both were panting for breath. Refusing to let her go, Samanya pecked her lips and tempted her further. Finally she had to use his weakness against him. Tickling him to let go, Bhairavi breathed in relief as he released her, Samanya was impossible to resist at times. "You are so cruel. Using my greatest weakness against me" grumbled Samanya, while squeezing liquid detergent into a sponge. 'Yeah yeah, but you love me for it.' Bhairavi retorted before realising what she said.

She turned to look at him, he replied a second late, "Nah, I hate you." But his pause and the intense look in his eyes said otherwise. Blushing and knowing not what to say, she turned her attention to the dishes and together they ploughed through them in no time.

After that, she left to take a shower but not before hugging Samanya. She tried to put her unsaid feelings into it, and maybe he understood and felt them, for he tightened his hold and dropped a kiss on her head before releasing her, "Off you go to shower, you stink."

Sticking her tongue at him, she smiled as she went to her bathroom. Samanya always knew when to cheer her up with playful banter and when to distract her with his addictive kisses. But then she grew serious as she remembered the nightmare, she told herself to not overreact, Samanya was going to contact his mother for information and she would correct their assumptions. She hoped at least it was so, for if their guesses were right, she was doomed.

Namma was surprised to see all the dishes done and intact. She was even more surprised to see breakfast served, along with Bhairavi in this case.

Samanya proved to be a decent cook, for he made savory French toast for all of them along with scrambled eggs. Both the ladies were impressed and Summer mewed her appreciation while licking off her portion of the scrambled eggs.

After packing the ginormous picnic basket for ten people, Bhairavi and Samanya dropped Namma off at the park where she was supposed to picnic with her friends. She had packed kachoris, spicy aloo sabzi and jalebi for breakfast, and fish fry, yellow pulao, chicken ghee roast, pineapple chutney, and mishti doi for lunch.

With each of the food packed in respective insulated containers and the desserts kept in a portable cooler, the misnomer picnic basket comprised of three big and heavy food bags along with the dessert cooler. Samanya insisted on carrying two and was concerned as to how Bhairavi would carry the other two when she concentrated and the baskets merely touched her fingers for show, they were being carried by her mind. That satisfied him and amused Namma, and they set off for the park.

After dropping Namma, Samanya accompanied her to the cafe before promising to join her there for lunch. Time flew while she was working and by the time she glanced at the clock it was two in the afternoon. While waiting for Samanya, she got two plates of their special of the day ready, Peri Peri grilled paneer paratha-dilla with crinkle cut bread fries, which was a quirky, Indian take on quesadillas and French fries.

Samanya came ten minutes later, apologizing for the delay, "Caught a young boy shoplifting, took time to deal with him." She nodded before picking the two plates and taking them to their favorite table. Samanya insisted on ordering two Cranberritinis and as they sipped on it Bhairavi asked him curiously, 'What did you do to him?'

"To the boy? Oh he was hardly thirteen. I tried to get answers from him for a long time. Finally tempting him with ice cream and not the police worked. He comes from a really poor family and has an exam tomorrow, but he has no money for stationaries. So, I made him promise that he would never shoplift again and gave him all that he had wanted to steal. I gave him my number and told him to call me whenever he was hungry or needed books and stationaries. It's the least I could do."

Bhairavi stared at him. "What?" he asked self consciously. 'Nothing. Just thinking how you are more humane than any human I have ever seen, in spite of being a Rakshasa.' Samanya blushed at that, pleased with her compliment, "Ahem well, it was nothing much. Thank you. By the way, I called my mother. She said she would video call us at around...three. Is that okay with you?"

'Yeah, absolutely. Eat quickly before the food gets cold.' Samanya nodded before biting into the paratha-dilla and moaning in delight, "I swear, Bhairavi, every day I become more and more addicted to the food of your cafe. This is fantastic!"

Smiling at his reaction, she took a bite and almost had a similar reaction. The paneer was grilled perfectly in ghee with spicy Peri Peri spices, which was brought into sharp contrast with the sweet saltiness of the oozing cheese, and the final nail in the coffin of pleasure was the paratha which was absolutely crispy and flaky, which made the paratha-dilla go crunch...and well the rest was history.

No more words were exchanged as they ate with gusto, with Bhairavi occasionally sipping on the Cranberritini to ward off the spiciness from becoming too intense. While they were munching on the crinkle cut bread fries after dipping them in coriander sauce, Bhairavi asked, 'Samanya, did you tell her?'

"About what?"

'About...what happened with your father...your brothers...and the role I played in it?'

Samanya paused at that before answering, "Yes. I did. She was....upset when I mentioned their death but after I explained what happened she agreed that it was unavoidable and that she supported it."

'Do you think she said that because you played a part in it? Do you think she hates me?' Bhairavi asked, anxiously.

"Bhairavi. Relax. She doesn't hate you...at least I don't think so."

'That's reassuring,' Bhairavi scowled.

"Bhairavi...she agreed to help you. I don't think that counts as hate since I didn't tell her the dream, I just said you needed help, and she agreed. Breathe, Bhairavi."

Bhairavi nodded at that, realizing he was right and that she was overreacting. 'Okay. Where do we talk to her? It's ten to three and the restaurant is crowded.'

"Well....does the restaurant have a store room or something, one which preferably is not completely closed off? We need internet connection and strong network for a video call"

'Yeah, there is a small one, but it will be a tight fit...thankfully there is a small window there. We can get proper network connection, hopefully. Let's go.'

Quietly, pretending to use the men's washroom, Samanya walked to the back of the Cafe where it was situated and waited for Bhairavi. She came a few minutes later with the key to the storeroom and they sneaked into it, hoping that nobody saw them. 'Quick, call her up.'

A/N
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Love,
Kaushiki.