Kill The Beast

Confronting the Shadows

Aayaan had returned to his sprawling, lonely castle, his physical wounds now fully healed. The castle was far too vast for just one occupant, but he had made the deliberate choice to live here alone. It was a grand, eerie structure that once bustled with life when his father was the lord of the manor. In those days, servants hustled about, preparing for grand feasts and extravagant parties that hosted a multitude of guests. His father was known far and wide for his notorious revelries.

However, with Aayaan now at the helm, the castle had transformed into a desolate and solitary place. Its grand halls echoed with emptiness, and its long corridors remained untouched for days. The local inhabitants had grown to fear the castle and its sordid history. It had become a place associated with tragedy and misfortune. Too many unsettling tales of death had emerged from its shadowed recesses, and it was only natural for people to deem it cursed.

The locals whispered about the sinister happenings within its walls, but they dared not speak too loudly. They still revered the patrons of the castle as gods who, in their darkest hours, had lent a helping hand. Their fear was particularly directed toward Aayaan, whom many believed to be the accursed child of the Gautam lineage. However, respect lingered when it came to Meera, the sibling whose hands had yet to be stained by the castle's dark history.

The news of Aayaan's inheritance had sent shockwaves through the local community. Traditionally, the Gautam family properties were to be inherited by the firstborn, a tradition that had stood for generations. Kailash Gautam's death had led everyone to assume that Meera would naturally become the inheritor of his wealth and the imposing castle.

However, their expectations were turned upside down when Aayaan, the son from Kailash's first marriage, resurfaced from obscurity. Believed to be dead, he emerged from the shadows and claimed his birthright. His enigmatic and somber disposition only fueled the rumors circulating among the local populace. Servants whispered sinister tales about his peculiar dietary habits, suggesting that he consumed the blood of animals rather than partaking in conventional feasts.

The eerie stories and Aayaan's unconventional behavior had a chilling effect on the community. The castle, once known for its extravagant gatherings, had now become an eerie and desolate place. Fear and uncertainty prompted the locals to steer clear of the castle, believing it to be cursed or inhabited by dark forces.

In a surprising twist, Aayaan decided to pass his inheritance on to Meera, retaining only the castle and the northern lands for himself. This unexpected gesture only added to the enigma surrounding Aayaan, leaving the people of the region bewildered and curious about his intentions.

Aayaan's decision to retain the castle and the northern land had deeper roots than mere choice. It was bound by a long-standing family tradition that dictated the inheritance of these properties. According to this tradition, only the first blood of the Gautam lineage could lay claim to the castle, and this rule couldn't be bypassed.

Despite his strong desire to gave everything with Meera, Aayaan found himself bound by the unyielding family legacy. Meera, although beloved and cherished, was not connected by blood to the Gautam family's lineage. This technicality made it impossible for Aayaan to pass on the castle and the northern lands to her, leaving him with no option but to hold on to these ancestral properties.

Aayaan stood in the dimly lit hallway of the lonely castle, his thoughts consumed by Akanksha. Meera had informed him that she had spoken to Akanksha and that she had agreed to meet him. It filled him with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

In his heart, he still held on to the cherished memories of their time together, even though it was evident that Akanksha had moved on and built a new life without him. The weight of their past weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he was unsure of how to approach their meeting. The castle's eerie silence seemed to reflect the uncertainty that clouded his mind.

As Akanksha finally arrived at his doorstep, Aayaan's heart raced with anticipation. He rushed out to greet her, and in that moment, he transformed into a version of himself that had long remained dormant. His face lit up with a radiant smile, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"I knew you would come," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of joy and relief. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you." His words were a heartfelt expression of the emotions that had welled up inside him, years of longing and memories flooding back as he stood before her.

Akanksha, in a composed manner, responded, "Meera mentioned that you wished to speak with me. Well, here I am. What's on your mind?"

Aayaan was momentarily taken aback by her indifference. He had hoped for a warmer reception, but he quickly regained his composure and inquired, "I've heard that you're getting married."

Akanksha became visibly annoyed, anticipating the direction of the conversation. She cut him off, saying, "Please, Aayaan, don't start with this again. I can't handle it anymore."

Aayaan's voice quivered as he poured out his feelings. "I know you've moved on, and you're happy with that man. Right now, I would give anything to make you change your decision, but I understand it's futile. I want you to be happy, and you are happy. I had my chance, but destiny and fate have different plans. It feels like I'm fighting against my destiny every day and losing. I wanted to beg you to change your decision, but I know you won't. I don't think I'm done suffering yet. I love you, and I can't seem to love anyone else."

Akanksha's voice quivered as tears welled up in her eyes. "Just stop it, Aayaan. You can't possibly comprehend the pain I've endured. Do you have any idea how excruciating it was for me to rebuild my life after that day when I held our child in my arms? She was so small and fragile, her tiny smile etched in my memory. Then, just hours later, the doctor told me she had stopped breathing. You can't fathom the depth of that agony. And you weren't even there."

Aayaan was taken aback by her revelation. He stammered, "No, that child never even took a breath."

"No, Aayaan, she was alive. I still remember her laughter," Akanksha replied, her voice heavy with emotion.

"No, it can't be," Aayaan seethed, his anger boiling within him. He began pummeling the walls, each punch echoing his frustration. He shouted, "No, it's impossible," his voice strained with disbelief.

Akanksha stepped back, alarmed by Aayaan's sudden outburst. She had not expected this reaction, and fear coursed through her as she watched him lose control. "Why do you care? You didn't even want her to be born," she implored, trying to make herself heard over his shouts.

"How can you say such things? I wanted you to have an abortion because I was told the child might kill you," he shouted at her.

Akanksha's anger flared, and she retorted, "You didn't trust me, Aayaan. You didn't trust that I could go through it, that we could face it together. You made that decision on your own, without even considering what I wanted. I needed you, but you weren't there."

Akanksha's anger flared, and she retorted, "You made that up, no doctor advised me against it, but you. You fabricated that decision on your own to hide your cowardice, without even considering what I wanted. I needed you, but you weren't there."

Aayaan's voice wavered as he attempted to explain, "Please, don't say that. I believed I was protecting you, Akanksha. I was terrified of losing you, and I didn't want anything to happen to you. I held that lifeless baby in my arms as well. I knew it hurt you more than it did me, but I only just discovered today that it was actually alive."

"It doesn't matter now. Everything is gone. Sebastian has been a great support during those difficult nights. I still have dreams about my baby, you know. He helps me sleep better. I'm going to marry him. It might sound harsh, but you should also try to forget and move on. We have a tragic past, and there's no changing what happened," Akanksha said with a heavy heart.

"I don't think I can ever get over this. Personally, I don't want to. I'm done with destiny dictating my terms. I couldn't care less about this world now. I will dictate my terms," Aayaan resigned and went inside, leaving Akanksha alone.

Alone in the hallway, Akanksha's emotions churned. She had anticipated this meeting would bring some closure, but instead, it had opened old wounds. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Aayaan, who seemed so lost and tormented. However, she was determined to move forward with her own life and the man who had been her rock during those dark days. She knew that Aayaan's path was his alone to walk.