14— Talks and researching! (Part-1)

14— Talks and beseeching! (Part-1)

“Now, I totally don't believe in: the ‘eyes' are the souls of human beings because I have met a lot of people in life with warmth in their eyes and monsters residing inside them.”

—Saumya Tripathi

“Who are you?” I breathed, quivering in the cold. “What do you want from us?” Trying to force back some air into the lungs, I whisper-yelled. “So you think, it is easy for me to just trust a complete stranger without any questions asked and be compliant with what has been asked of me?”

“No,” he finally forced out the words. “But you should know I will never let any harm come to you or your brother if you listen to what I say.”

“What if I say: you're the one who has been hurting us by forcing us to stay with you?”

Even in the storm-crashing weather, there was an eerie silence at that moment. I waited for his reply.

“It's the only way to protect you.”

“Protect me from what exactly?” I burst into tears. “It is you who we want protection from!”

He was