Lost in the Moment

Sophia’s sarcastic voice cut through the darkness, mocking me. “No, Saira, we’re just having fun in here, obviously! What do you think?”

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore her mocking tone. But the truth was, the dark, enclosed space was suffocating. My chest tightened, and I felt an all-too-familiar fear creeping in—a fear rooted in a nightmarish memory I’d tried so hard to forget.

Flashback…

That day had been nothing short of disastrous. I’d poured my heart into a project, sacrificing sleep and giving it my all for the past four months. But just as success felt within reach, everything came crashing down. I found out another department had stolen my work, and my own manager accused me of plagiarism. The humiliation, the anger—it took hours to clear my name, hours of watching my hard work crumble in front of me.

By the time everything was resolved, I was drained. There were no cabs in sight, so I ended up walking home, each step weighed down with frustration and exhaustion. I eventually stopped at a bench to rest, dropping down with a sigh. The world felt heavy, as if mocking me.

Then, out of nowhere, I felt hands grab me from behind. Before I could scream, a cloth was pressed over my face, and a strange, sweet smell filled my senses. My vision blurred, and everything faded to black.

When I woke, I was lying in a pitch-dark room, my wrists tied, and my mouth gagged. Panic rose in my throat as I realized I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. And then I felt it—someone’s hand, cold and rough, tracing down my neck. I jolted, struggling against my bonds, but it was useless. My captor’s voice, low and menacing, echoed in my ear.

“Stay still, sweetheart. Don’t make a fuss. Our boss will be here soon, and we’ll make sure you enjoy yourself.”

A shiver ran through me, a cold, sinking fear settling in my stomach. I twisted, desperate to free myself, but his hands moved down, grazing over my chest, sending chills of terror through my body.

“You don’t want to listen?” he taunted. “Guess I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”

Just then, there was a loud crash outside, followed by the blare of sirens and a voice over a loudspeaker. “This is the police. The building is surrounded. Surrender now!”

A door burst open, and light flooded in as a man rushed over to me, his face calm and reassuring. He untied me quickly, his hands gentle, and led me out of the darkness. I was safe.

Flashback End…

Back in the present, I forced myself to breathe, trying to shake off the lingering terror. But my heart was still pounding, my hands trembling slightly. Just then, the elevator shuddered and the doors began to part, allowing a sliver of light to seep in.

Through the gap, I saw Raj standing there, his expression tense, focused, and alert. He was surrounded by a few helpers, all of them working to pry the doors open completely. His gaze landed on me, and his eyes softened for a moment, as if he could see the fear etched on my face.

He reached out a hand, his touch steady and grounding. Without a second thought, I took it, letting him guide me out of the darkness. As I stepped out, the tightness in my chest began to ease, and I felt a deep wave of relief wash over me.

Raj’s hand never left mine as he guided me away from the chaotic scene by the elevator. The noise and commotion faded as we moved down the hallway, and I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me just from being near him. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sophia glaring at us, her expression filled with a mix of confusion and anger, but I couldn’t focus on her right now.

Raj led me into a small, empty meeting room, far enough from the noise outside that it felt like we’d stepped into a different world. He closed the door behind us, locking it to ensure we wouldn’t be disturbed, and then turned to me, his expression softened with concern.

“Sit,” he said gently, guiding me to perch on the edge of the table. As I settled, he crouched down to my level, his hands warm and steady as they cupped my face. His thumb brushed over my cheek, his gaze searching my face with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft, laced with genuine worry. He reached for a glass of water on the nearby counter and handed it to me, watching closely as I took a few sips, trying to steady my nerves.

I nodded, murmuring a quiet “Thank you,” after finishing the water. But before I could process what was happening, he gently took the glass from my hands, setting it aside. His eyes lingered on mine, dark and intent, and in the next heartbeat, his lips met mine.He kissed me with complete passion.