The memory struck like a flash of lightning, searing away the suffocating darkness.
From that circle a rainbow light fall on school.
That cover the whole school that day 6 person are dispear from school.
Everything is dark. Arjun reminded himself, a cold tremor running down his spine. He had to remember.
The smell of dust and burnt ozone was thick in the air. A phantom chill touched his cheek, the same chill he felt eleven years ago...
Eleven Years Ago
The argument was a dull, constant ache behind the thin wood of the bedroom door.
"You are always like that, you always just busy in your work! You never spend time with me! With family!" The words, sharp and laced with tears, were his mother's.
A man stood before her—his father—a silhouette framed by the hallway light. "Oh, what do you think I am doing? I am doing just my work!" The reply was clipped, devoid of warmth.
"Oh, so your work is more important than your family?"
Arjun, all of seven years old, peeked from the door to his room, his innocent expression mirroring the confusion in his heart. He didn't understand the words, but he understood the noise, the sadness.
Sliik... Sliik...
A faint sound came from behind him, like someone small was walking on the carpet. He turned.
"Big brother?"
It was Ananya. She was only three then, wearing a faded pink nightsuit, tiny fists rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Their shouting woke her up, Arjun thought, his anger immediately deflating into a familiar, protective concern. He gave her a soft, genuine smile. "Hey, Aanya. What are you doing up?"
"I heard a voice of Papa and Mama."
Arjun moved to her, gently taking her hand. "They're just having a grown-up conversation. It's boring. You don't want to care about that. Come on, let's go back to sleep."
He led his sister back to their room. The shouting faded behind them, but the resentment in his heart did not. They are always fighting. They both don't care about their children. Arjun's young face hardened with silent, impotent fury.
Then, suddenly, the past dissolved.
Present
His eye snapped open.