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Nandini's life was unraveling, thread by painful thread. Despite her friend Namita's well-intentioned advice, the traumatic experience she'd endured refused to loosen its grip. It sank its claws deeper, poisoning her mind with fear and dragging her into a terrifying downward spiral. Academic success, once a source of pride, became a distant memory as she struggled to concentrate, her grades plummeting. The simple act of leaving her bed became a monumental task, the weight of her nightmares tethering her to the mattress.

But the damage wasn't confined to the academic sphere. Nandini's vibrant social life withered as she withdrew from her friends, haunted by the fear of accidentally revealing the secret that gnawed at her insides. Even Karan, the college friend she secretly admired, noticed her change in behavior.

"Nandini, what's going on with you?" he asked, concern etched on his face as he caught her alone in the library. "You've been so distant lately. Are you okay?"

His genuine worry tugged at her heart. She longed to confide in him, to share the burden of the nightmares, the terrifying image of Manik Malhotra that plagued her waking hours. But the fear of his reaction, the fear of not being believed, silenced her.

"I'm just... stressed," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze. "A lot of assignments, that's all."

Karan, perceptive and caring, saw through her flimsy excuse. He knew her too well to accept it. Yet, respecting her boundaries, he didn't push. "Well, if you need anything, anything at all, you know you can talk to me," he offered, his voice laced with genuine concern.

Nandini managed a weak smile, a poor imitation of her usual cheerful demeanor. "Thanks, Karan."

As he walked away, a wave of guilt washed over her. She was pushing away the people who cared about her, isolating herself in a prison of her own making. But the fear was a relentless warden, its grip tightening with each passing day. The nightmares were too real, the threat too palpable.

Then came another blow, a seemingly insignificant detail that plunged her further into despair. While searching for her ID card, she noticed her silver bracelet, adorned with the infinity symbol, was missing. She vaguely remembered wearing it that night, the night it all happened. Had she lost it in the alley during her frantic escape?

The thought ignited a fresh wave of panic. The bracelet was a precious gift from Namita, a tangible symbol of their enduring friendship and unbreakable bond. The idea of it being out there, potentially leading someone, specifically Manik Malhotra, back to her, filled her with a paralyzing dread.

That night, the nightmares returned with a ferocity she hadn't experienced before. But this time, there was a chilling addition – a palpable sense of being watched, of being actively hunted. She dreamed that Manik was searching for her, his eyes cold and calculating, his face a mask of chilling indifference.

She woke up screaming, her body trembling uncontrollably. This was no longer just a recurring nightmare. This felt like a premonition, a dark whisper of a terrifying future.

In the cold light of dawn, Nandini knew, with chilling certainty, that Manik Malhotra was coming for her. And she was utterly, devastatingly unprepared to face him. Her carefully constructed reality had shattered, leaving her vulnerable and alone, staring into the abyss of her fear. The question wasn't if he would find her, but when. And she had no idea what to do.