deep darkness and dawn

"Deep Darkness and Dawn" In the embrace of deep darkness a blanket of silence has spread Quietly passing moments on the land of dreams where everything lies asleep In the depths of darkness the echo of silence can still be heard Under the soft shadow of a moonlit night thoughts begin to take flight Whispers of the heartbeat carry me into a world of dreams where every moment is a story and every story hides a secret "In the deep darkness lie hidden silences under the faint glow of the moon the shadow of an endless night the echo of heartbeat's rhythm When everything stands still and I get lost in the world of dreams then suddenly— the first ray of dawn cuts through the darkness a gentle shine of morning light pushing the shadows away A message of new hope a rising wave of expectation a new beginning of life Where every color comes alive new paths of life open where every heart's hope awakens and every eye sparkles with dreams Piercing through the deep darkness the very first light of a new morning…" Chapter 1 I Am the Hero of My Own Story I am the hero of my own story. Where there is pride, I become determination. Where darkness reigns, I become light. Where the chains of oppression exist, I become the voice of freedom. Where truth stands, I stand beside it. Where there is a heart, I become its heartbeat. Where there is injustice, I become rebellion. Because... I am the hero of my own story. He insisted he would place the turban on my head only after I bowed it. So I saved my head... because it was destined to wear a crown. The black sedan raced down the deserted highway, its engine roaring through the silence like a beast refusing to be tamed. Inside, two men occupied the vehicle. One sat in the back seat, leaning comfortably against the leather upholstery. Calmness rested on his face, yet his eyes carried unwavering determination—a quiet strength that refused to bend before anyone. Behind the steering wheel sat his bodyguard. Saif's hands remained firm on the wheel, but his sharp eyes never stopped scanning the road ahead. Every passing shadow, every movement beyond the windshield, drew his attention. It was the look of a man expecting danger long before it arrived. Rows of trees lined both sides of the empty road, their branches whispering beneath the evening wind. Occasionally, a bird crossed the fading sky, but apart from that, only the sound of the speeding car disturbed the silence. Neither of them spoke. The destination that awaited them was enough to make words meaningless. Far ahead, the outline of a grand mansion slowly appeared against the horizon. Saif finally broke the silence. "Boss... he only wants to see you bow." His worried eyes met the rearview mirror. The young man in the back smiled faintly. There wasn't the slightest trace of fear on his face. "Boss..." Saif spoke again, his voice noticeably lower. "This is the first time I've felt this afraid. Please... don't go in there alone." The young man looked at him with the same gentle expression. "Don't worry, Saif." His calm voice only made Saif more anxious. "So... you've really decided to go alone?" "I've already made my decision." There was no hesitation. No doubt. No room for argument. Saif tightened his grip on the steering wheel. This time... Everything was different. A few moments later, the car came to a smooth stop before an enormous mansion. Its magnificent architecture dominated the landscape. High walls surrounded the estate, giving it the appearance of a fortress rather than a home. A security guard immediately approached and opened the rear door. The young man stepped out. Saif followed him with his eyes. A perfectly tailored white suit covered his lean frame. An expensive watch rested around his wrist. His neatly styled hair reflected the afternoon light. There was nothing childish about his appearance... Yet there was an innocence on his face that made him seem younger than his twenty-four years. It was the kind of face people trusted at first sight. "Boss..." Saif hurried after him. "I'm coming with you." The young man stopped only long enough to answer. "Wait outside." It wasn't loud. Yet it sounded more like an order than a request. "Boss... please don't go." Saif's chest tightened painfully. Something inside him refused to stay quiet. His instincts were screaming. The young man looked back one last time. "Don't worry." Then he walked away without another word. Saif could do nothing except watch him disappear beyond the entrance. A strange heaviness settled over his heart. It felt as though... His boss had walked into that mansion on his own feet— But he would never walk back out. Saif stood frozen for several seconds before letting out a slow breath. His eyes lifted to the mansion. He knew every corner of it... As if he had spent an entire lifetime within those walls. The three-story building stood tall, its elegant architecture impossible to ignore. Engraved across the front were two words: EREN HOME Its walls blended soft shades of crimson and rose, giving the mansion a refined yet welcoming appearance. Large glass doors stretched across the entrance, allowing daylight to pour into the spacious hall. A beautifully maintained garden, filled with flowers and lush greenery, surrounded the front of the house, adding warmth to its grandeur. The second and third floors featured wide balconies overlooking the grounds. Every floor housed spacious rooms equipped with every modern comfort. At the very top, occupying almost the entire rooftop, was the private suite of the mansion's owner. The mansion was admired for its beauty. Its owner was admired for his wealth... And his impeccable taste. But today... To Saif, those walls looked nothing less than terrifying. He closed the car door behind him and remained outside. Meanwhile... The young man stepped inside. A large window allowed daylight to spill into the hall, yet the atmosphere remained strangely dim. Paintings decorated the walls. Normally, they would have drawn anyone's attention. Today... They faded into the background beneath the weight of the tension filling the room. A rich crimson-and-maroon carpet stretched across the floor, its deep colors making the silence feel even heavier. Once... This place had brought him peace. Today... It welcomed him like a battlefield. The moment he entered the lounge, his footsteps came to a halt. Sitting on his usual sofa, one leg crossed over the other, was the man who had summoned him. He wore black boots... Black trousers... A black silk shirt... His tie had been loosened slightly around his neck, giving him an effortless yet intimidating appearance. Several young men stood nearby. One leaned casually against a pillar with his arms folded across his chest. Although his posture appeared relaxed... His eyes never left the newcomer. The others remained silent as well. Every one of them watched carefully, waiting to see what would happen next. The young man walked forward. A gentle smile rested on his face. "Assalamu Alaikum." No one answered. Even today... He had not forgotten to greet them. The man on the sofa looked at him without expression before gesturing toward the seat opposite him. "Sit." The young man smiled faintly. "I will..." He paused. "But that wasn't a reply to my greeting." His voice remained soft. It always did. Especially... When he spoke to the man sitting before The man's expression hardened. "I didn't call you here to exchange greetings." His voice turned cold. "I called you to tell you one thing." "Stay out of my way." "Don't come anywhere near me." "Not even to a place where my shadow falls." He leaned forward slightly. "Otherwise..." The young man looked at him quietly. "Otherwise... what?" There was no fear in his voice. Only calm curiosity. The man clenched his jaw. "I won't hesitate to kill you." A faint, almost beautiful smile touched the young man's lips. "Really?" His gaze drifted toward the coffee table between them. Four handguns lay there. He took another step closer. "So..." "Which one are you planning to kill me with?" The room fell silent. The man rose to his feet in one swift movement. "I'll kill you..." His voice echoed through the lounge. "And I'll hang your body outside so everyone knows what happens to those who dare stand in my way." The young man nodded thoughtfully. "And after that..." He tilted his head ever so slightly. "You'll bury me too... won't you?" For a brief moment... No one knew how to react. The man's hand tightened around his tie before he yanked the knot loose in frustration. His eyes blazed with anger. "Stay away from me, Saahir Farqaan." "Otherwise..." "We'll kill you." Saahir slowly turned his eyes toward the men standing around them. One after another... They lowered their gazes. Not a single one looked back at him. Saahir smiled. "So..." "This is why you called me here?" "Yes." "That's all." A quiet laugh escaped Saahir's lips. It wasn't mocking. It almost sounded... affectionate. He stepped closer. Only the glass table separated them now. Leaning forward slightly, he spoke so softly that only the man before him could hear. "Do you know..." "Why I came here?" The man remained silent. Saahir never looked away from his eyes. "I told you once before." "And I'm here to tell you the same thing again." He spoke each word slowly... Clearly... "I won't let you walk down that path." He paused. "Forget walking..." "I won't even let you crawl." The smile had vanished from his face. For the first time... His calm eyes carried something frightening. Something unshakable. The man stared back at him. His eyes slowly turned blood-red with rage. Saahir straightened himself. Then quietly turned around... And began walking away. "Saahir Farqaan!" His furious roar echoed through the lounge. Saahir stopped. But he didn't turn around. "If you interfere in my life again..." The man's voice trembled with anger. "I'll kill you." Saahir's shoulders rose in a careless shrug. "Then..." A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Do it." Silence. A suffocating silence. No one dared to move. The men standing around the room held their breath, their eyes shifting between the two. Then— Bang! The gunshot shattered the silence. Outside, Saif froze. For a split second, his heart stopped beating. Then he ran. Without thinking. Without hesitation. Inside the lounge, Saahir remained exactly where he was. The bullet sliced through the air... Passing only inches from his right side. He neither flinched... Nor looked back. Outside, Saif's own words echoed in his mind. "Boss... he only wants to see you bow." The man's grip on the pistol tightened. His breathing had become uneven. "Listen to me, Saahir Farqaan!" His voice thundered through the hall. "The next bullet..." "It'll go straight through your heart." No one spoke. No one even blinked. Saahir simply resumed walking. Another gunshot rang out. Bang! Once again... The bullet missed him. It flew past his right side. It was hard to tell... Whether the shooter's aim was failing... Or whether he simply couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger properly. Saahir never stopped. Not even for a second. "I swear..." "I'll kill you, Saahir Farqaan!" The man was almost shouting now. Every step Saahir took... Every moment he ignored him... Every second he refused to fear him... Only pushed him closer to madness. His finger tightened around the trigger once more. Another shot. The bullet should have missed. It was meant to miss. Because the man holding the g*n had made sure it would. But... This time— Saahir moved. Not away from it... Toward it. Everything happened in a single heartbeat. No one had the chance to react. No one even had time to shout. Saahir took one step forward... And placed himself directly in the bullet's path. Bang. The bullet struck him. For a moment... Time itself seemed to stop. The faces in the room drained of color. Eyes widened in disbelief. No one could comprehend what had just happened. At that exact moment, Saif burst through the entrance. He froze. His feet refused to move. The scene before him stole the very air from his lungs. He had always known the truth. The greatest danger to Saahir Farqaan had never been the people standing inside this room... It had always been the heart beating inside his own chest. A heart completely filled with love... For the very man who now stood before him with a g*n in his hand. And Saahir... Had never once hesitated to die by that man's hands. The bullet that was never meant to hit him... Became the cause of his death. Because... Saahir Farqaan had stepped in front of it himself. He had chosen it. Saahir Farqaan... Was the hero of this story. A hero... Who was killed by the villain of his own story. And yet... It was exactly what Saahir Farqaan wanted. He wanted to die... At the hands of the one he loved. Why? Only Saahir Farqaan knew the answer. Because... He was the hero of this story