The Inked Hourglass

CHAPTER SEVEN:  “What happened, Achilles? All good? You haven’t been talking much since a few days.?” Dom asked Achilles when he came along me and Natalia to meet him at the hospital post college.  The question was asked by Dom but has been roaming in mind also for long days. It was only 2 days since he got discharged but it didn’t matter. He was just discharged from one ward to another. But the spark was kind of missing from him. And instead of the number of bandages reducing from his body, they had increased. Why were bandages around his right wrist and arm area? No needles were loaded there. Why is his whole head covered in a bunch of bundles? Has anything happened?  Once Dom and Natalia left after meeting him, I decided to stay back and talk to him.  “You didn’t leave with them?”  “Umm, no. I…actually. I want to spend some time with you.”  I try to go and kiss him on the neck but he pulls away, and looks onto the other side. He has never done so. I try...

CHAPTER FIVE:  As my world crumbled in front of me, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Just moments ago, we were kissing hand in hand, laughing, sharing dreams of the future. But today, as I saw the unfathomable, my heart broke. The love of my life, Achilles, clenched his chest in misery while his face twisted from pain. Panic rushed through my veins as fear engulfed every fibre of my body. The world around me grew smaller and seemed to move more slowly. He—the man I cherished, the one whose heart I was holding in my hands—was all that mattered. Thoughts raced through my mind, a jumble of memories and hopes intertwined with the cruel reality of the situation. Would we ever hold hands again, share kisses under the moonlight, or laugh until our sides hurt? Would he ever read his poetries to me? The uncertainty gnawed at my soul, threatening to drown me in despair. With every update from the doctors, my heart clenched in anticipation. Each word became a lifeline, a glimmer of hope ...

CHAPTER THREE:  Three days passed since the incident took place at Lara’s house. And today, at 11 am, was the final verdict. I believe no other person was as interested as me in this case. Rumours were there that they are going to declare Lara guilty as no one else was there to suspect. They said, a teenager killed her parents as they did not allow her to party. And I knew that this was as stupid as a bag of rocks. I did not believe them. I did not want to believe them. The time was here. It was 11.30 and I was waiting for the verdict.  And here it was. Lara was declared to be innocent. That moment felt like my own victory. Maybe it was. My victory. My instinct’s victory. I was really happy for her. I was expecting her to come out with an infinite grin on her face. But, She came out as expressionless as that day when I saw her in the prison. I was confused. She was proven innocent from a murder case. Why wasn’t she happy?  I further tried to know what happened to her pare...

CHAPTER ONE:  I am feeling like my heart is going to fall out when I hear her saying, “He is going to kill her. I do not know how but I know he will. He will kill her today. I need to rush home. Or else…or else…I will never be able to see my mom again…He will…kill my mom…” She starts sobbing softly while saying…I mean, while thinking this. “Why is this queue so long today than usual days?” She screams again. In her head . I know she is in trouble. I need to help her. I pull Natalia and Dom by their elbows away from the queue to let that girl go ahead of us.  “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING SAPPHIRA!!!???” They both scream literally to me in unison.  “We will get late for the movie if we miss this train.” Dom huffs.  “That girl has something way more important going on than a fucking movie.” I reply.  “Not again, what did you hear this time?” Natalia sneers. “Not hearing, ask her what she assumed to hear this time.” Dom tried to correct her.  “Guys, you ...