The crackle of the radio and cat like screeching awoke Rishabh from one of the worst night's sleep he'd ever had. Prerna had plagued his every breath, intoxicating him in a shade of darkness he knew too well while she danced beneath the moonlight that offered him no protection from the black of her heart.

He knew better than to fall on his knees for her again, but the familiar tinkle of anklets made him yearn for nothing more than to bathe in the sweet music only her feet could make as she walked circles around him. Opening one eye, he released a groan, threw his legs over the edge of the bed and made his way toward the noise.

"Good morning!" She chirped happily, "I made us breakfast".

The ocean blue of his eyes turned to a midnight sky swarming with specks of stars as he eyed the radio thumping a beat her hips swayed to then before he could stop himself, he was reaching for her waist, arm tight around her as she fell messily into his chest.

Looking up slowly, she gasped "Mr Bajaj? What are you doing?"

Yanking her closer, his nails dug into her skin "This song" he growled, "Why?"

"What do you mean why? I don't control the radio" her eyes rolled back in annoyance. Was he always this irritating when he'd just woken up or was it only with her?

He'd learnt long ago that coincidences were few and far between and two in the space of twenty four hours couldn't be left to chance. "Don't toy with me, Prerna" he warned.

Allowing her brows to join, she sighed. "It's far too early for me to understand you, please let go of me" her shoulders slacked.

"I made the mistake of releasing you long ago, mistakes are not something I repeat".

Frowning, Prerna blinked fast "What?"

Suddenly realising his mistake, he flung her back causing her to twirl before she knocked into the side then it was all coming back to him as if it'd never left him before.

As if she'd never left him before.

Running a hand down his cheek, she trailed around him slowly "Kyun dooriyannnn hain darmiyaan, badh jaane deee nazdeekiyan". Lining his bottom lip with her nail, she leant in "Har saans meinnnn mehsoos kar, in saanson ki madhoshiyan". The second her hand rested on his shoulder, she was spinning around him dizzyingly then falling back into his awaiting arms. Caressing his cheek, she stood up "Tera nasha aise chadhe, tera nasha zidd pe ade" snatching his glass, she sipped from it then threw it into the corner. "Tera nasha aise naa jaaye, jhoom jhoom jhoomta hoon".

Snapping himself out of it, he blinked away tears at the bomb like sound echoing in his ears ever since that night. Flinching away, he ran a hand down his face then flipped the plate from her hand viciously. "I'm not hungry".

Sniffing the alcohol lingering on his skin, her head shook in disappointment. "Tera nasha mujhko hua, tera nasha hai khwab sa, tera nasha aise naa jaaye" waiting for him to face her again, she laughed sadly. "Jhoom jhoom jhoomta hoon main" in that moment she was nothing more than his puppet, she had to dance to his every tune and ask how high when he told her to jump, something in his eyes told her that her death was an imminent truth he would never deny and that alone turned her blood to ice.

"SHUT UP!" Rishabh bellowed, jaw ticking and a vein in his neck pulsing rapidly as his fists clenched.

"That's all this is about, isn't it? Shutting me up" looking down at the smashed plate, she swiped away her tears. "Once something is broken the cracks can never be sealed, nothing broken ever goes back to what it used to be after it's been destroyed" raising her eyes to meet his, she shuddered, "And you've destroyed my life".

"I've destroyed your life?" He exlaimed, shock so vibrant in his system that it shook his core. "Have you ever considered that maybe you did all of that perfectly fine by yourself?"

Prerna lowered to her knees before him as she tidied the mess he'd made. "It's ever so easy to blame others for the mistakes we make, the messes we create, but it is harder to look in the mirror and see that the devil isn't across from us, rather it is within us". Throwing it into the trash, she ignored the red line down her palm and brushed her hair away from her face.

Noting the sindoor like colour in her hairline, he looked away, unable to see the dreams dressed in nightmares that came with every breath she took. "Lies only suffice for a while, the truth will set you free" and all he wanted in that moment was her honesty, even if brutal it may be. He'd spent far too long entwined in her lies to live in them any longer.

"Truth is subjective, Bajaji-Baji, my truth may not be yours and your truth may not be mine" grabbing the cup that teetered over the edge in breakneck speed, she placed it back safely.

"You've always been a quick mover" he chuckled, far too quick for him.

"What's that meant to mean?" Creases lined her forehead at his words.

"It means" he stepped closer, "That nothing has changed, nothing ever does, you were always too quick to be caught but just in time to catch those that fell" and she'd caught him only to let him go when holding his hand mattered the most.

"Honestly" Prerna rubbed her face, "You speak in so many double meanings that it makes me question if I'm coming or going, living or seconds from dying and it's far too early to even try to work out the deeper meaning behind your mysteries, so I'm going back to bed". Sliding past him, she yawned loudly, suddenly halting at the sound of someone barging through the door, she faced him again. "Hey, I thought this place was super safe or someth-".

"Prerna" Rishabh gulped, hands up and eyes watery, "Whatever you do, don't move".

"Oh, are we playing Simon says? But you didn't say Simon says, so that means I should move".

"Prerna, no!" But it was too late, her foot rose from the ground and the ceiling above her shattered, crashing down around them when his body knocked her painfully into the wall.

Falling back into the wall, she covered her mouth "Oh my God, Mr Bajaj? Mr Bajaj, are you okay?" She was a mere few seconds from touching him when footsteps stole her attention.

A masked figure rose his gun, pointed it towards her and rested his foot on the plaster. "Not a damn word, put your hands up and walk towards me, we need to have a little chat".

It's been too long, I know! Im sorry for that! Updates will be Monday/Wednesday/Saturday, either of those and more if I have time!