I sat at the table, my eyes fixed on the plate in front of me, my mind racing with thoughts of the impending separation.
I didn't want to leave Isha Di and Anant bhai, but I felt like I had no other choice. I had been trying to convince them to let me go since morning, but neither of them was willing to listen.
In desperation, I lashed out, my words cutting deep. "I feel like you people don't want me to enjoy my life," I said, my fist clenched in frustration.
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. I couldn't bring myself to look at Anant bhai, afraid of seeing the hurt in his eyes. Tears pricked at the corners of my own eyes, but I fought to hold them back.
Anant bhai's voice was heavy with emotion when he finally spoke. "When are you leaving?" he asked, his words like a knife to my heart.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Tomorrow," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
But it was too late. The dam had broken, and tears began to flow down my cheeks. A sob escaped my lips, and I felt a pang of guilt for hurting the people I loved.
Anant bhai got up from his seat, his face a mask of anger and hurt. He walked away, leaving me alone with Isha di.
Isha di's voice was soft and gentle as she spoke. "If you don't want to go, then why are you hurting yourself and us too?" she asked, her words piercing my heart.
I broke down, my emotions pouring out in a torrent of tears. Isha Di rushed to my side, wrapping her arms around me in a warm, comforting hug. I buried my face in her belly, feeling a sense of security and love that I had never known before.
"I cannot say why I'm going, but please don't be angry with me," I sobbed, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Now, in this world, there is no one that belongs to me except you two."
Isha di's hands stroked my hair, her touch soothing and calming. "We never get angry with you, but how will you stay there alone?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "I got a room in the college hostel," I explained, my voice shaking. "Rudra also stays in the hostel, so I'll be able to stay comfortably there. It's a double-seater room, so my roommate will also be there next to me."
Isha di's face was etched with worry, but she nodded, trying to reassure me. "We'll miss you, but we'll be fine," she said, her voice soft and gentle. "You have to do what's best for you, Vaani."
Isha Di nodded and smiled at me, trying to reassure me that everything would be okay. But my attention was drawn to Anant bhai, who was standing beside her, his arms folded across his chest. His eyes were fixed on mine, and I could sense the hurt and anger emanating from him.
"Tell me, what time do you want to go tomorrow? I'll drop you off," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for hurting him.
I was about to say something, to try and apologize, but his phone rang, interrupting us. He answered, his voice curt, "Okay, we'll be there in a while."
He cut the call and turned to Isha di. "We have to go to the mansion. Bua ma is there to see you," he said, his tone still emotionless.
I watched as Isha di nodded and turned to me. "Vaani, get your stuff packed. We'll come back later, and tomorrow we'll drop you off at your hostel so you can... enjoy your life," Anant bhai said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
I felt a sting from his words, but Isha Di intervened, placing a gentle hand on my arm. "Don't take his words seriously, he's just hurt. I'll try to make him understand. Please give him some time," she said, her eyes filled with empathy.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. Isha di turned to Anant bhai, and they both left the room, leaving me alone to pack my belongings. I took a deep breath, trying to process the emotions swirling inside me. I knew that Anant bhai was hurt, and I couldn't blame him. I had hurt him, and I didn't know how to make it right.
****
I sat on the bed, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Dhruv and whether he would be angry with me for leaving without saying anything. I was trying to distract myself by thinking about this when my phone rang, breaking the silence. I smiled as I saw Uncle's name on the screen.
"Hello, Uncle," I answered, trying to sound cheerful.
"Why are you going to the hostel?" he asked, his voice serious and strict.
I stuttered, feeling a wave of fear wash over me. "W-w-why... umm..."
Uncle's voice was calm and reassuring. "Speak straight, you know I won't get angry at you."
I took a deep breath and explained everything to him, telling him about my problems and why I wanted to go to the hostel. Uncle listened attentively, and then suggested that I stay with Rudra in his apartment.
"Uncle, if I had to live in an apartment, I could live where I am living, but I would prefer to live in the hostel only," I said, trying to sound firm.
Uncle chuckled and said, "You know that in the whole of Asia, no one has the courage to talk to me with their raised eyes, and you are talking to me like this."
I felt a surge of confidence in his words. Uncle never made me feel weak or incapable; instead, he always offered to help me if I needed it.
"But will you be able to handle everything, or should I tell my guards? Rudra is out of the city," Uncle asked, his voice filled with concern.
I reassured him that I could handle everything and that I was leaving for the hostel the next day. Just as I was finishing our conversation, my room door burst open, and I flinched in surprise.
Dhruv stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger. "Hello, Vaani..." Uncle's voice came from the other end of the line, but before I could respond, Dhruv snatched the phone from my hand and threw it to the ground.
I closed my eyes and covered my ears, feeling a wave of fear wash over me. Dhruv's actions scared me, and I felt my heart racing with anxiety.
I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the floor as he grasped my wrist, his grip tight and unyielding. "You are not going anywhere," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
I slowly lifted my gaze, but couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes. Instead, I looked away, trying to jerk my hand free from his grasp. "I'm going to the hostel," I stammered, my voice trembling.
He took a step closer, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Didn't you hear what I said? You are not going anywhere," he repeated, his voice dripping with authority.
I took a step back, my heart racing with fear. He continued to advance, his movements deliberate and calculated. I felt like prey being stalked by a predator.
My back hit the wall, and I felt a surge of panic. He placed his hands on either side of me, trapping me between his arms. I felt tiny and insignificant in his presence, his towering height making me feel vulnerable and scared.
My heartbeat was racing, and I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples. But as I looked up at him, I felt a spark of defiance ignite within me. Why should I listen to him? Why should I be bound by his rules and whims?
He had sent me away countless times, told me to leave whenever it suited him. He had stopped me from doing things, controlled my every move. But I was not his servant. I was not his command.
A surge of determination coursed through my veins, and I steeled myself for the confrontation ahead. I would not be intimidated. I would not be controlled. I would stand up for myself, no matter what.
I summoned every ounce of strength I possessed and pushed him away, sending him stumbling down two steps. A mental smirk spread across my face as I thought about the self-defense training Rudra had been teaching me for the past month. It had finally come in handy.
"I am not your servant, Mr. Rajwansh!" I yelled, my frustration boiling over. I was shocked at myself for speaking to him in such a tone, but I couldn't help it. Today, I had found the courage to stand up to him, even if I still couldn't meet his eyes.
"You know what? I was going tomorrow, but now I'm going today!" I declared, turning to grab my bags. But before I could take a step, he spun me around, his grip on my arms like a vice.
"You want to go?" he sneered, his eyes blazing with anger. "But now you have to stay in this room until tomorrow."
With that, he tossed me onto the bed, and I landed with a soft thud. I watched as he stormed out of the room, leaving me feeling shaken and confused.
As I lay there, I couldn't help but wonder what I had just gotten myself into. Why had he reacted so strongly? And what did he plan to do with me now?
A mix of emotions swirled inside me - fear, anger, and a hint of excitement. I had never seen Dhruv so angry before, and a part of me was thrilled to have finally stood up to him.
But as the reality of my situation sunk in, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. I was trapped, and I had no idea what lay ahead.
I rushed to the door, but it was locked from the outside. Panic set in as I frantically called out for Dhruv, but there was no response. It was as if he had abandoned me.
Fear gripped my heart, and I started banging on the door, desperate for someone to hear me. I was not one to be trapped or confined, and this feeling of helplessness was suffocating me.
"Mr. Rajwansh, please open the door!" I cried out, my voice shaking with fear. My body was drenched in sweat, and tears streamed down my face. My throat was parched, and I felt like I was going to collapse.
How could he do this to me? I thought, my mind racing with memories of the past. He was a monster, a Rakshas, and I was trapped with him.
Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I slumped down beside the door, exhausted. But my respite was short-lived. Suddenly, the lights flickered on, and the room was plunged into darkness on all sides. I gasped, my breath hitching in my throat.
Flashbacks of my past trauma started flooding my mind, and I felt like I was reliving the nightmare. The black shadow was forming again, and I could feel its presence closing in around me.
I wrapped my arms around myself, holding on tight as if I could physically keep the darkness at bay. I rocked back and forth, trying to calm myself down.
"S...t...a...y..." I stuttered, trying to speak, but my voice was barely audible.
And then, I heard it. his laughter. It was low, menacing, and sent shivers down my spine. It was a sound that was both familiar and terrifying, and it seemed to come from all around me, echoing off the walls.
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that I was trapped, and this was the one holding the key.
Author pov-
she was sitting beside her bed while hiding herself from her monsters.
We can never imagine that when a person has phobia or fear of something then how scared he becomes till we ourselves do not feel it, we just take advantage of his helplessness.
She is afraid of darkness, she is afraid of people because her past is something that has made her like this, a child who does not even know what birth and death are, is blamed for the death of a people, invisible person. it has been made, what can she do.
her past was coming in front of her eyes....
flashback....
(Warning ⚠️ child harm and abusive language)
a 10 One year old Vaani was crying in the dark room wondering why god did this to her,Just then her room opened loudly and a man came in.
"What you think yourself is that you tried to come in front of them ; he said her and held a belt in his arms
Seeing this she started crying even louder as now she will again have to bear the same pain which she has been enduring for the last five years.
"I had told you not to leave this room ; he yelled and and started hitting her with the belt and making her scream in pain.
"you are dystopian You were born to destroy us ; he said while hurting her but she didn't say a single word because of the pain.
"I'm sorry dadu ; she said in between her scream but he didn't stop a movement and she fainted.
This is how her childhood was. after hearing bad things about herself from her own people, getting hurt and crying, all these things had created a fear in her mind that people come near her only to hurt her and darkness only gives her pain.
Flashback end...
Vaani, sat beside her bed, her body trembling with fear as she tried to escape the monsters that haunted her. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose swollen from crying, and her face pale and sweaty. Her body was racked with hiccups, and her eyes were half-open, as if she was ready to faint at any moment.
The darkness seemed to close in around her, suffocating her. She was trapped in a living nightmare, and she didn't know how to escape. Her body was trembling, and her eyes were brimming with tears as she whispered, "I'm sorry, Dadu."
Vaani's eyes fluttered closed, and her body went limp. She was exhausted, emotionally and physically drained from the trauma she had endured. The last thing she heard was a soft voice calling out to her, "Princess..."
The scene was heart-wrenching, a poignant portrayal of a young girl's struggle to cope with the trauma of her past. Vaani's fear was palpable, her emotions raw and intense. The darkness seemed to close in around her, threatening to consume her whole.
Write a comment ...