Once Again,With You

Who are you? Why are you coming into my dreams? Why can't I remove you from my mind? What's the connection with you?" These questions had been haunting me for weeks now. Every night, without fail, he appeared in my dreams — a mysterious figure whose face I couldn't quite see, yet his presence felt strangely familiar. Sometimes we were in a bustling marketplace of an ancient city, other times on a serene hilltop overlooking a vast ocean. In every dream, his voice echoed in my mind, gentle yet commanding, as if trying to convey a message I couldn't decipher. I had never believed in reincarnation or soulmates, but these dreams felt different, as if they were memories from another time, another life. I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was a profound connection between us, something beyond my understanding, something that defied logic and reason. As I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen, I wondered if I would ever find the answers I was looking for.The familiar hum of the office faded into the background as I became lost in thought, replaying the fragments of my dreams over and over. What was he trying to tell me? And why did it feel like he was waiting for me to remember something crucial, something that could change everything? "Lost in your thoughts, Miss Avni?" Rohan's voice cut through my reverie, bringing me back to the bustling studio. I nodded with a smile. "Yes, just caught up in my designs." Rohan chuckled. "As always, the dedicated archeologist. So, are you done with your work?" We need to take the train tomorrow for Sitagarh. I nodded, "Yes." Just then, Meera, one of my friends, joined us. "What are my teammates up to?" she asked playfully. We talked for a while, discussing work and making plans for the trip. Meera then gave me a curious look and asked, "Is there anything you're worried about?" I shook my head, "No, I'm fine." But she persisted, "Did you get the same dream again?" I couldn't lie. "Yes," I admitted. She came closer and laughed. "You and your mysterious dream guy!" I laughed and said, "Shut up, you two!" For a moment, their humor lightened the weight of my thoughts, and I felt a bit more at ease. The next day, Meera, Rohan, and I boarded the train together, each with our own sketchbooks and a sense of adventure. I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mingled with the familiar sense of anticipation. I hoped that visiting the temple complex would provide some clarity about the mysterious man who had been appearing in my dreams. As we settled into our seats, I gazed out of the window, watching the landscape blur past. I couldn't wait to see what the day would bring. --- I don't know when I fell asleep, but the dream appeared again. I was running, and he was chasing me. He caught up, hugged me from behind, and held my hand. Then suddenly, I saw myself lying down, stabbed with a knife. I felt the pain and started bleeding. The man was holding me, crying, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. I woke up in terror, clutching my chest where I had been stabbed in the dream. Meera noticed my distress and came over with a concerned expression. She handed me a glass of water. "Avni, are you okay? You look really scared." I took the water from her, my hands trembling. "Meera, I had that dream again. It was so vivid this time..." Meera's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? The same dream again? Avni, this is really freaking me out. How can you dream the same thing over and over?" I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. "I don't know, Meera. It's like I'm reliving something... from another time, another life." Meera tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, Avni. Dreams can't hurt you. It's probably just stress from all the project work." I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes. "No, Meera, this feels different. It felt so real. I could feel the pain..." Meera hugged me tightly, trying to comfort me. "I'm here for you, Avni. You're not alone in this. Maybe talking about it will help." I nodded, wiping away my tears. "Thank you, Meera. I don't know what I would do without you." Meera smiled warmly. "That's what friends are for. Let's sit down and talk. Maybe it will help you feel better." We found a quiet corner in the train carriage and sat down together. Meera handed me a cup of tea, and I took a few sips to calm my nerves. "I've been sketching those dreams," I said quietly Meera looked at me with curiosity. "Sketches? Can I see them?" I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. I flipped through my notebook and found the sketches I had made of the mysterious man and the scenes from my dreams. Meera leaned in closer, examining each sketch with fascination. "These are incredible, Avni," she said softly. "You have such a talent for capturing emotions and details. It's like these sketches are telling a story." Meera showed him my sketches, and he leaned in to take a closer look. "Wow, Avni, these are amazing! How do you remember all these details?" I shrugged, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "I don't know, Rohan. It's like they're imprinted in my mind." Meera nodded in agreement. "It's like Avni is trying to remember something important. These dreams can't just be a coincidence Rohan looked thoughtful. "Have you tried researching anything similar in history? Maybe there's something that could explain these dreams." I shook my head. "Not yet. I'm not even sure where to start." I smiled gratefully at both of them. "Thank you, guys. I really appreciate your support." Rohan smiled reassuringly. "Well, you've got us. We can help you figure this out.". Meera gave me a hug. "Anytime, Avni. We're here for you." As the train continued on its journey, I felt a little lighter knowing that I had friends who believed in me and were willing to help me unravel the mystery of my dreams. --- I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep properly. The train's rhythmic clattering was oddly comforting, but it couldn't chase away the unease from my dream. I quietly made my way to the train door and stood there, looking at the moon. The cool night air was a welcome relief, and I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind. Suddenly, the dream came rushing back. The blood stains on my hands, the pain in my chest—I could almost feel it. My eyes snapped open, and I gasped for breath. I hurried back to my seat, heart pounding, and covered myself with the blanket, trembling with fear. Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I fell back asleep. I was jolted awake by Meera's voice. "Avni, wake up! We’re here!" I blinked groggily and rubbed my eyes. Meera was leaning over me, her face lit up with excitement. "Come on, sleepyhead. We're at the station!" Rohan joined in, grinning. "Rise and shine, Avni. The ancient world awaits." I stretched and yawned, feeling the remnants of fear fade away in the morning light. "Alright, alright, I’m up." As we gathered our things and stepped off the train, Meera couldn't contain her excitement. "So, what’s the plan, Avni? Straight to the temple complex, or do we get some breakfast first?" I smiled, feeling more at ease with my friends by my side. "Breakfast first. I need some coffee to fully wake up." We found a small cafe near the station and settled in with cups of steaming chai and plates of hot parathas. Meera, always the chatterbox, started the conversation. "So, Avni, any more dreams on the train?" I hesitated, but then decided to share. "Yeah, I had the dream again last night. It felt even more real this time." Rohan leaned in, intrigued. "What happened?" I described the dream in detail, and they listened intently. Meera looked thoughtful. "You know, Avni, maybe there’s something here at the temple complex that can help you understand these dreams." Rohan nodded. "Yeah, maybe there’s some ancient inscription or artifact that could give you a clue." I sighed, feeling a mix of hope and skepticism. "Maybe. It’s worth a shot." We finished our breakfast and headed to the temple complex. As we walked, Rohan and Meera kept up a steady stream of conversation to keep my spirits up. "Remember that time we got lost in the ruins at Hampi?" Meera laughed. Rohan grinned. "And you swore you saw a ghost, Meera!" Meera rolled her eyes. "It was probably just a shadow. But it was still spooky!" I laughed, feeling the tension ease from my shoulders. "Let’s hope we don’t get lost today." Rohan winked. "With you leading the way, Avni, we’ll be fine." We arrived at the temple complex, its ancient stone structures standing majestically against the sky. The air was thick with history, and I felt a strange sense of familiarity as we stepped inside. "Okay, team," I said, trying to sound confident. "Let's see what we can find." As we explored the temple, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the brink of discovering something significant. With Rohan and Meera by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came next --- The village of Sitamgarh was known for its eerie legends and ancient ruins. The temple we were headed to, Temple, had a reputation for being both majestic and mysterious. After breakfast, we hailed a taxi and told the driver our destination. "To Temple in Sitamgarh, please," I said, trying to hide my apprehension. The driver nodded, and we settled into the back seat. The ride was bumpy and the road winding, but Meera and Rohan kept the mood light with their banter. "Do you think we'll meet any ghosts today?" Meera teased. Rohan laughed. "If we do, I'm counting on you to protect us, Avni." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Just stick close and try not to wander off." As we arrived in Sitamgarh, the atmosphere changed. The village was quaint, with old houses and narrow streets, but there was a palpable sense of history—and a hint of something more ominous. We reached the entrance of Temple, where we found the rest of our team waiting: Professor Sharma, our mentor; Anjali, a fellow student; and Raj, our field assistant. "Good to see you all made it," Professor Sharma greeted us with a warm smile. "I hope you’re ready for some exciting discoveries." Anjali, always the enthusiastic one, bounced on her toes. "I’ve been reading up on the temple's history. Did you know there are legends of hidden chambers and secret rituals?" Raj, more pragmatic, nodded. "Yeah, but let's not get carried away. We’re here for research, remember?" Meera couldn’t resist. "Research can be fun too, Raj. Besides, who knows what we might find?" Professor Sharma clapped his hands to gather our attention. "Alright, everyone. We’ll split into two groups. Avni, you lead one group with Meera and Rohan. Anjali and Raj will come with me. Let’s meet back here in a couple of hours." As we headed into the temple, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and dread. The stone walls were adorned with intricate carvings, and the air inside was cool and musty. The dim light filtering through the small windows added to the eerie atmosphere. "So, Avni," Meera said, breaking the silence. "Do you think your dreams have anything to do with this place?" I shrugged. "I don’t know, Meera. But something tells me we’re about to find out." Rohan pointed to a series of carvings on the wall. "Look at these. They seem to depict some kind of story."