Forbidden Love... Or Maybe Not?

She opened the window of her room, which was on the first floor. She put one leg out, but before going any further, she tilted her head to check if her room door was locked. Looking down, she saw that the pipe was just half a foot below her foot.If it were the first time, she would have felt afraid. But she was used to doing this.She placed one hand on the sidewall of the window for support and then set her foot on the pipe. With little effort, she stood on it and, after taking two or three steps, held onto the pipe for support.Using the pipe as a slide, she descended and jumped to the ground. She sighed in relief when her feet touched the ground and looked up at her room window, a wide grin spreading across her face as she saw the accomplishment of her mission. It was as if the little daredevil had completed some impossible task.She zipped her hoodie to her chin, covering her face with the hood, and turned around. As she stepped toward the front of her house, her feet halted when

“Don’t know when I’ll be able to eat ice cream again,” she murmured with a sad pout, pushing a pebble she found on her way back home. Playing with the small stone, she came near the house and looked around.It was all quiet. She went to the backside and stared at the pipe going up toward her room window. Taking a deep breath, she held it with both hands, ready to climb. Suddenly, she heard footsteps from behind. Startled, she turned her head—and at that exact moment, everything went dark.Saraya’s sleep broke with the usual pounding on her room door. Austin was, as usual, shouting his lungs out and cursing loudly.“I wish I could choke his throat,” Saraya murmured in her sleep and grimaced, slowly getting up.“Coming,” she replied as usual and lazily dragged her feet toward the restroom—but paused.“Was I dreaming?” she thought, scratching her head in confusion. Her eyes fell on the window. She drew the curtain aside and peered at the jungle. Today it looked quieter than usual.For th

Flashback:“Austin, Austin!” Justin barged into Austin’s room.Austin, who was sitting there regretting slapping Saraya, frowned after seeing Justin’s state.“Not now, Justin. I don’t have the mood to talk,” Austin replied, turning his face to the other side.“Austin, it’s important. It’s about Saraya,” Justin said, trying to catch his breath.“What do you mean?” Austin asked, getting up from his bed with a jerk.“I heard Dad talking to Mom. He owes money to someone, and in return, he said he’ll sell Saraya to the Scorpion Clan,” Justin said. Austin was shocked.“This much hate in their hearts for Saraya? And we both, like fools, kept following them blindly. Today, when I raised my hand on her, I felt as if I had committed the biggest sin of my life. She is so innocent, so pure, and we, instead of behaving like her elder brothers, behaved like certified jerks,” Austin said, his voice full of guilt.“When I heard them talking, I realized we were fools. I wouldn’t even sell my enemies t

"What do you want to talk about?" Saraya asked, fidgeting with her fingers nervously.Raf got up from the stool and settled on the couch in front of her, across the center table."You said you want to go, isn’t it?" Raf asked. Saraya nodded."Where will you go? You know very well that the people who kidnapped you and the people who sold you must still be out there somewhere. Do you have a place to go, where you can live and be away from their eyes at the same time?" Raf asked. Saraya stayed silent, not having an answer.Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she stared at her hands."I don't know you; how can I trust you?" Saraya murmured, looking up."Your brothers came to me for help. Isn’t that enough to prove I’m trustworthy?" Raf asked, raising an eyebrow."Who are those people? And why did my stepfather sell me?" Saraya asked, frowning. The thought disturbed her repeatedly. Questions ran through her mind: How did Austin and Justin know? Why did they die? But she couldn’t answer th

“Saraya, do you have a cell phone?” Vidhant asked suddenly. Saraya, who was gazing at the dark jungle, turned around after hearing his question.“Nope,” she replied and turned her gaze again towards the jungle.“Okay, I’ll get you one, and also a laptop,” Vidhant replied and eyed Raf, who was deep in thought. Raf felt his eyes and looked up.“Darkness fascinates her,” Vidhant said.Raf didn’t reply, just turned his gaze towards Saraya.“What will I do with a cell phone and a laptop?” Saraya asked with a frown on her face.“Online classes for your high school,” Raf replied, and giving her one last glance, left from there.“Really?” Saraya asked in a tone full of surprise.“Yup, he already talked with the principal of your school. Don’t worry, you won’t miss your classes. And the days you were absent—I’ve arranged the notes. I’ll give them to you in the morning,” Vidhant replied and came towards her.“Why are you both doing so much for me? I know Austin and Justin wanted to save me, but