28 years ago

Loud screams of a pregnant woman broke the dead silent atmosphere of the small cottage located in a village . Her husband's eyes shot open and sense of panic attack hit his nerves while looking at his wife. Her water was broke and their first child could come out anytime soon.

He went outside in search of help only to find, loud thunder roaring furiously in the dark, extremely dark sky. That night felt different, different from any other dangerous night. It was like devil himself has appeared on the earth, himself was there to mark his existence in the land of God, in the land where thousands of God(s) exist, where beliefs are more powerful than proofs. It was like devil finally wished to show his presence to humans.

The wind was blowing fast and waves were crashing at the shore, making terrible noises which could give goosebumps to any witness . "Help" "Help". Loud pleading voice of the man could be heard. Witnessing the climate, it was not a big surprise that no one was willing to contribute to humanity and help the poor man.

Losing every hope at last, he decided to take his wife to the city by himself. He immediately took her wife on a cart and managed to pull her on the old wooden boat. The pain in her stomach was unbearable and it was much more powerful than any other pregnancy case. Her voice was more filled with trembles than the pain. The rain drops were furiously attacking every single earth particle and the river.

The man was using all his power to keep the boat balanced and his hands were constantly working to cross the big river as soon as possible. A very loud scream escaped the woman's dried throat and man snapped his face at her direction . The baby had came out by itself sans any help. It was like miracle. The loud cries of baby also became the part of unpleasant environment.

The man's eyes grew wide and his tears kept falling harshly on boat, not of happiness but of bitter sorrow, not looking at the baby but the wife who. was lying on creaked wooden floor, lifeless. Her body had turned blue and her eyes became red. It was a scenario that was commonly seen in the case of poison.

Man took the baby in his arms and somehow managed to cross the river. His heart was rapidly beating faster , not because of the nervousness but because he knew that his end was near. With heavy heart and clear vision of his death in his eyes, he put baby under a vicious banyan tree.

The next thing he did was clearly a shocking seen to watch. He gently kissed the forehead of the baby, taking few drops of fresh and extreme red blood on his lips. He then went in the open area. He closed his eyes, standing still at his spot with a smile on his face, like he knew what was going to happen next. Lightning stuck the ground, inviting him on the heaven, like his work on the earth was done.

That was the day ,when the darkest soul arrived.

"Neden.... Neden.... "  An unfamiliar voice was constantly ringing in her ears, pulling her out of the deep sleep in which she was in from past 3 months.

A small groaning sound escaped her lips and her eye lids opened slowly. She woke up to find an unfamiliar man sitting by her side, looking intensely at her. Confused, she looked around and found room was oddly familiar but it was filled with strangers. “Where Am I? ” She asked as she tried to sit up.

The man in the black suit helped her to sit properly and adjusted a pillow behind her. “wa.. Wa.. ter” she chocked. Man handed her a full glass of cold water, which refreshed the deserted throat of Neden. “You are in hospital.” The man replied calmly.

Neden scanned the man from head to toe. He was wearing typical cliche suit of early 90s with a white shirt, red necktie and black polished shoes. Although he sounds old but his looks were fresh and young. Probably in his early 30s, Neden concluded in her mind.

“Why I am here?” She asked the man, who was still unrecognisable to her brain. “Don't you remember? ” He asked with confused gaze. “No”, she replied blankly. The man was unconvinced by her answer but Neden was the women who will never lie about such situations.

He looked at her. He looked at Neden, the women from whom even death fears, who established herself as an uncrowned queen in the dark world, who is grey aura in the mist of dark world, whose eyes are enough to send shivers to many people at a time. No one can be compared to her, she was a devil in this place where magic is more powerful than logic.

“Wait... Wait, first who are you? ” She asked looking at the man who was lost in his train of thoughts. “You don't remember me? ” He asked, completely shocked . He knew that it was definitely not a joke, Neden was a very serious kind of person. He blinked his eyes few more times before answering her, “I am senior officer, Ajay Gupta.”

Neden looked at the man, still her brain didn't recognise him, but the most haunting question that was ringing in her mind was who's she ?

She asked bluntly to the man, “Who am I?”. The man looked at Neden with wide eyes. “She lost her memory, Shit! No no dammit ” He shouted, face palming. “Doctor.” He shouted. His constables quickly ran to call the doctor. Few minutes later, Dr. Sinha arrived.

Neden was not confused or panicked, regarding her identity. She was dead calm person in situations like these, her eyes were dark  and blank like every time. She was in the hospital, unaware of the people around her, sitting on soft white bed, in white room with vanished memories but still she was not panicking. That's Neden. Apart from crowd. A born leader.

To everyone's surprise, Senior officer Ajay was more stressed regarding her memory. This was definitely something unusual. The man like him was pretty experienced in every rough situations like that. It was very unusual for him to react like this.

There is definitely something important than Neden knew, keeping the unusual behaviour of Senior officer. But what was it? And why she was admitted in Hospital?

Warning :Not Edited

Author's wordings

Neden was sitting calmly on the bed, staring at plain white wall with her dark eyes . Officers were looking at her, waiting for her to say something and decide her next move. Everyone knew that Neden's silence indicates some danger. Danger that will definitely ruin something.

“Why I am here? ” She asked in dead calm voice . “ We will tell you everything, first let's get you discharged from here.” Ajay replied looking at her. She wordlessly nodded. With that Ajay went out to talk to Doctor Sinha.

“You guys are afraid of me.”Neden concluded looking at the constables who were trembling with fear, cause they were left alone with her. A devilish smirk appeared on her moonlighted face. “yes or no?” She asked in commanding voice.

“Y.... es.. Yes. Ma'am.”One constable replied stuttering. Fear was evident in his voice and eyes. Neden could sense. She could hear, she could feel. And that's what keeps her breathing steady. Fear. Fear of other from her. It keeps her blood red ,her rage calm and her entertained.

“What exactly do you know about Neden?” She asked them. She was enquiring about herself? That was really strange. Oh right! She lost her memory. One of the constable. thought looking at her. “Ma'am.. ”He was going to say when she interrupted.

“Look at me when I am talking. ”She said in deadly voice. Her voice was enough to shake him from core. Her voice was enough to give him the message at once. However looking at her while talking to her is not everyone's cup of tea. He somehow managed to look at her, her eyes kept changing the colours, brewing darker at every second. Was it a illusion? Or was it really happening?

Neden is a mystery. A mystery which can't be solved. A mystery which is brutal death of the solver. A mystery which is more dangerous than danger.

“Tell me something about my lifestyle ?” She asked with same commanding that she used to have during duty. “ Ma'am you are a criminologist

, psycho killer specialist. You have solved more than 150+ cases. You.. You.. You.. Don't have a family.... You have won multiple medals for the work you have done and... eve... every... big or small criminals are afraid of you.” He somehow managed to finish but he never dared to break eye contact against her order. Defying her means asking for death wish.

“That's it, you know about me? ” She asked him with raised eyebrows. “Ye.....y... Y.... Yes Ma'.... Ma'am.” Constable replied looking at her , somehow managed to keep little eye contact with her. She stared at him for few minutes and once again said, “You know something else as well” without any hesitation.

“Ma'am, I only heard that, you are other form of devil for everyone. You don't spare anyone who crosses path with you .” He said, by now crying completely. She looked at him and was going to ask further when Ajay came in.

“Let's leave. ”He said and took Neden with her. I want to know my identity. And I will do anything to know it. Neden thought in her mind. She made up her mind and now no one can change it.

It was clear that, she is determined to know about her. But till what extent will she go to know it? It isn't predictable . Maybe there is no limit. But what else will happen if she doesn't get what she wants?

This marks the beginning of dark times........