Prologue

It was a rainy day, the onset of the monsoon season, and Priyanka, an emerging model, found solace on her porch. A content smile graced her face as she watched her only child joyfully playing in the rain with his adorable yet devilish friends. There was an undeniable warmth in the air, a feeling that encapsulated the beauty of a day adorned with raindrops.

Embracing the joy that the rainy season brought, Priyanka felt a hop in her steps as she made her way towards the kitchen. The rhythmic pitter-patter of rain on the roof was the perfect symphony to accompany her mood. She was genuinely happy, reveling in the simple pleasure that rain often bestowed on people. And, of course, there was the prospect of relishing hot pakode, those delightful Indian fritters that seemed almost obligatory during the monsoon.

In the cozy confines of her kitchen, Priyanka embarked on the delightful journey of crafting pakode. The sizzling sounds of frying in hot oil mingled with the rhythmic rain outside, creating a melody that resonated with her joy. The aroma of spices wafted through the air, tempting the senses and signaling the creation of a culinary masterpiece.

After toiling with love and care for half an hour, Priyanka triumphantly completed her first batch of pakode. The golden-brown beauties exuded warmth and comfort, embodying the essence of rainy-day indulgence. With a satisfied smile, she called out to the children, inviting them to share in the delights she had prepared with so much affection.

However, fate, with its capricious nature, decided to interject a note of tragedy into this idyllic scene. As Priyanka's child, Abhyudaya, rushed home, his enthusiasm perhaps heightened by the slippery rain-soaked path, an unfortunate slip brought him face to face with a passing car.

A sudden 'Squeak!' echoed through the neighborhood as the car's brakes screeched to a halt. The joyful atmosphere abruptly shifted, replaced by the distressing sounds of children crying. Priyanka, sensing the urgency, rushed out of her house, her heart pounding with concern. Yet, as her eyes fell upon the driver, her movement halted, and her body tensed with a mix of shock and recognition.

The man standing in front of her was not a stranger; he was a haunting figure from her dreams. However, these were not fairytales; they were nightmares that had gripped her subconscious in the silence of the night. The raindrops seemed to freeze in mid-air as Priyanka confronted the person who had played a malevolent role in the theater of her subconscious fears.

Her mind grappled with the surreal intersection of reality and the phantoms from her dreams. The rain continued to fall, now serving as a backdrop to a moment of unexpected turmoil. As Priyanka navigated through the tumult of emotions, a whirlwind of memories and fears threatened to consume her.

The air thickened with a palpable tension, mirroring the conflict within Priyanka's mind. The neighborhood, once alive with the joyous sounds of rain and laughter, now bore witness to a dramatic scene, an unforeseen twist that blurred the lines between dreams and reality.

Amid the rain-drenched chaos, Priyanka faced not only the immediate concern for her child but also the resurfacing of her deepest fears personified by the enigmatic driver. The elements conspired to weave a narrative that transcended the ordinary, turning an ordinary rainy day into a chapter fraught with suspense and emotional complexity.