Her first laugh after months. I sucked a bated breath the moment I noticed his presence behind me. When did he even enter the room without my noticing? “Hello there, little one.” Swiveling my head to face the sudden intruder, what I saw made me gulp down my frustrations. And, here he was standing there with hands behind his back—locked together, his face having a goofy smile, shoulders all relaxed, legs apart as he regarded me with obnoxiously black pools of his eyes. There was a storm lurking around his blackish orbs. His gaze was piercing as if looking straight through my soul. “It has been a while since the last time I saw you,” it was a statement. “Do you have any idea how much I have missed you, little one?” He stepped closer. At that explicit sentence, I started to panic. What was he here for? “Didn't you miss me?” “I—” I grimaced at his intrusive behavior. “Sssh… it's alright. You don't have to confess. I know you did,” he whispered abruptly, silencing my inco
The devil's touch. Only when my laugh subsided did I notice how hard my lower abdomen was hurting after laughing so hard for so long. At that moment, I failed to decipher what to think anymore. Feeling strangely weak and vulnerable. Soon after, my mind appeared to have gone blank, as did the voices inside my head. It was calming for once. I undergo an urge to close my eyes and go to sleep then and there. I inhaled the peacefulness that I was awarded with in that moment. It felt like an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city. For once, I wanted to live in it.Until his calm and softly spoken words reached my ears. “I almost forgot the sound of your laugh. It is the same as it was once, though. So full of life.” Oddly enough, after hearing the same things continuously, it didn't make me snap at him anymore. More than three people had already brought up my past. It didn't seem to have angered me as much as it did two days ago. Perhaps I was getting used to the comparison between t
Us? “I said, don't laugh!”He didn't listen and continued to make fun of me. Frowning deeply at his audacity, I managed to get away from him. Sauntering away to sit on the sofa, I totally ignored him while unconsciously keeping my eyes on him just to make sure he didn't pull anything.Weekly I murmured, getting fed up by his laugh, “You brought yourself here..just to make fun of me.”“Oh, no. I wouldn't dare to do that. Now would I?” Blinking, he cleared his throat. Following my footsteps, he sat down as well in front of me.My brows furrowed together, but I didn't respond to him. Silence. We sat there in silence. None of us said a word to the other. And it stayed for some more minutes, until he decided to break it."I have arranged a meeting with your uncle tomorrow. He will be here by six p.m. sharp in the evening." Immediately my ears perked up at that. "He would? You did what?" I asked, stunned. I was astounded into silence because I really didn't trust the words he told me th
26— Unbound truth! (Part-1)“Death is the ultimate truth of life and there is no escaping it.”—Saumya Tripathi“He is now at home, living his usual lavish life and doing just fine. What can you anticipate from a diabolical rich boy such as himself?"What? It couldn't be. It felt like my ears were deceiving me because it couldn't be Awdhesh that I knew. “Or he must be plotting something against me; I wouldn't be surprised though,” he completed. “Always been a jealous brat.”He was ridiculed, which wasn't what caught my attention but something entirely different. Why did he say that?My eyebrows drew closer. "What?" I denied it straight away, shook my head, and frowned while looking into his eyes to gauge what he meant from it. "No. He comes from a middle-class family. He works hard to ensure his family has two to three meals a day because they couldn't afford that by themselves. He works three jobs to ensure the wages are enough for his younger siblings. Moreover, how do you know hi
His arbitrary mind. Two hours later. Uzair was in his apartment, drinking Bourbon with a cigarette hanging from the corner of his lips, already lit up. Leaning across the chair with his elbow propping on the table, he exhaled the fog of smoke in one puff before taking another sip from his snifter glass. He took a glance at his watch. It was nighttime. His lips curled up in a smile with his eyes drawn in a contemplative half-mast. His wild hair fell all over his forehead as he sat casually, thinking nothing in particular but everything his mind could conjure at the moment. He was indeed a man of discipline and determination. Also, a man of steel who never was accustomed to bending to anyone unless it's a member of his family. His devotion to his family was frighteningly known, however. His whole existence was to thrive on the blood of the enemies that threatened to demolish what he had built over the years. Even the slight inkling that carried the danger in their wake was enough to
His arbitrary mind. Two hours later. Uzair was in his apartment, drinking Bourbon with a cigarette hanging from the corner of his lips, already lit up. Leaning across the chair with his elbow propping on the table, he exhaled the fog of smoke in one puff before taking another sip from his snifter glass. He took a glance at his watch. It was nighttime. His lips curled up in a smile with his eyes drawn in a contemplative half-mast. His wild hair fell all over his forehead as he sat casually, thinking nothing in particular but everything his mind could conjure at the moment. He was indeed a man of discipline and determination. Also, a man of steel who never was accustomed to bending to anyone unless it's a member of his family. His devotion to his family was frighteningly known, however. His whole existence was to thrive on the blood of the enemies that threatened to demolish what he had built over the years. Even the slight inkling that carried the danger in their wake was enough to
His inner monologues. (Part-1) It was nine months ago. And yet whenever he found myself thinking about it, his heart ached as if it were on the urge of collapsing. It was his first sighting of her after more than a decade. “Your existence alone gives me hope to live. I don't know what I'd do without your presence on my side anymore. The thought alone scares me more than death itself, little one.”A slow smile crept on his face. “Only if you willingly choose to stay. I wouldn't have to force you into anything,” he found myself grumbling to himself. “I've been quite chatty lately. Aren't i?” He chuckled at his own joke. “Of course it's because of you, little one.”Unknowingly, his heart skidded multiple beats, remembering her small doll-like face and her little innocent acts. That put on the ultimate full-blown grin to replace that small smile he had on earlier. Shaking his head a little, he murmured again, “Will you ever come to trust me, Radhika?” Dryly, he chuckled, thinking that
His inner monologues. (Part-2)“At least the weather is having its way.” With his eyes tightly closed, he inhaled. “Seems like it's going to rain tomorrow.”A sudden thought racked his brain. Or rather, a quote that struck a chord. “Life is tragic when seen close-up but comedic when seen from afar.” Which was true. There was no humour when he let it engulf him entirely. Because one's pain is another's happiness. He puffed, opening his eyes.The weather was truly romantic today. The slight cold wind touched his bare arms; it soothed him. “Oneday, maybe when you're happy in my company, I'll take you here whilst we watch the stars as you continue to chatter.” The thought was far fetched, but he hoped for it to come true—not now but one day. With such height where he stood, everything looked way too small. He chortled, bringing the second most prized possession towards his parted lips: Treasurer, aluminium old. Of course the first being—her, he guffawed as he put the cigarette to his li
Author's note. I know the last chapter has ended on several cliffhangers. With Radhika's suspicious and dubious thoughts about Uzair’s personality. The shades he carried in himself. With uncle's arrival, the main truth unrivalled at last, inversely the last chapter served as the foreshadowing of what's to come next in book three. The third part of the book will soon be available on my GoodNovel profile, so don’t forget to check it out! I can’t express how thankful I am for your incredible support, love, and patience throughout this journey. There were countless moments where I felt completely broken while writing this story, but your encouragement kept me going. I’m beyond grateful for that. Your reviews, likes, and comments have been a constant source of motivation, pushing me to keep writing. As we move forward, I truly hope you enjoyed this book. Your passion and support mean the world to me, and it’s because of readers like you that I continue to grow as an author. I pro
Stillness of Dread. “It has been a week,” Radhika breathed the words out. “Almost a week of nothing being the same anymore, however.” Almost a week had passed with the presented information she had no hint of before about her own life till she was made aware of it. It has been a week since she had her worst mental breakdown for the first time. A week has passed since there were ineffable emotions she felt that were difficult to understand by herself. A week, after her acceptance of the facts, led to another set of questions that did not quite sit well with her. “A week..” she murmured. A week since she last saw Uzair.. She placed her hand on her chest, closing her eyes. It gave a sudden jolt, thinking of him. She did not trust him, not fully; she could not. Not at all. But she was trying to. Everything was so different now. Or perhaps nothing was the same anymore. All her life she lived with the truth that was never complete to begin with. Even after knowing the truth about eve
31– His ineffable anger. “Our opinions only matter to others as long as they agree to it. Otherwise, they are just words without meaning.”–Saumya Tripathi A week later. Last day of the week.Precise: a day before the departure to Dubai. Uzair was in the middle of a last meeting of the day before he left when he felt the vibration of the phone in the underside pocket of his suit jacket. He ignored it, seemingly sensing nothing significant that could not wait. With that thought in his mind, he gazed at the screen in front of him, projecting the launch of another product presented to him for approval regarding its favourable opportunity and innovative ideas for fruitful results.“Tell me if you have any other ideas of its launch date. Which would be the best day for it to let it out in the market?”“Inform the HR team before any further procedures.”“Yes, President!”His phone rang again while it continued to vibrate; without giving it a second thought, he let it. He ignored it once
Bound by Obsession. They both froze at her sudden whisper. Confused about how those words made out of her mouth without trying, her eyes instantly widened. It took him a moment to realise how much it would have taken for her to say what she just did. Because it was far from her gullible and apprehensive state, which she always felt while he was near her. It was none other than her honest side. “It has been your room since childhood.”Her eyes became wider as his insinuated statement. “Oh? I used to live here?” “Very much so. You were stubborn, wanting to have this room as your own.”“Was I always drawn to this garden as well?”Squeezing her a little between his arms, he replied. “This garden was precisely made for you on your instruction.”“Wasn't I too small for that?”He gave a light laugh before starting. “You were. You saw it in a cartoon, desiring to have the same garden for yourself. So, here we are.”She lightly gasped at his nonchalant reply. For once, her mind was empty;
A Vow of Protection. She barely gave a nod. Swallowing the lump, she stuttered out, “Will he be okay if-if I don't try..?” She trailed with a trembling voice. More scared thinking about happening something like that again to her uncle. “As long as you don't put your life in danger. No one will get hurt.” He nodded her way, giving a curt nod. “I will make sure he is,” gently cupping her hands, he initiated. “He probably is in danger all the time.”“I will make sure that he will be looked after.” She gazed up at him with her large, innocent, hesitating eyes. Asking him as if he was really telling the truth. “I will not let anyone harm him either.” Her gaze moved before she let her head fall back on her knees. His heart fluttered in his chest at her hopeful look. Indeed, she was his only weakness; he could not afford to have her hurt herself. “No matter the hardships, I promise to keep you and your family safe by standing by your side through the adventure of our lives,” he vowed
Shattered Calm: His Unexpected Rage. “Let me clarify two things for you,” he uttered at a slow pace.A chill sliced her ribs.“One, I did not take away your freedom. It's the people who treat other people's lives so carelessly. It's their own greed that other people's lives don't matter while the said people could do nothing but take refuge wherever they can to save their lives.”At his brutal grip and harsh words, Radhika couldn't muster up the strength to retort to that. “Two, neither have I taken anything away from you. Only I know how much effort I am making to control myself because your accusations have no facts! They are just plainly stating unreasonable remarks and nothing else! Have I ever lied to you about anything?”“Do you think telling a lie isn't the only way to trick people?”Uzair slightly flinched at her cold gaze. She never looked at him like that before. “No.” She answered her own question. “Telling half-truths can trick people into having false assumptions just
Unveiled Fury: His Sudden Brutality. When she just stood there before him, her silence was an answer in itself. She hated him up to her core. Didn't she? Despite knowing everything, she was blaming him for everything! Was it even fair on his part? Where did he go wrong after doing everything in his power to protect her at all costs? Even at the cost of his own life! He didn't need appreciation; however, he didn't need her scorn-filled eyes either, verbally accusing him of wanting her body on top of it as a reason! “How can you be so sure about me taking everything from you when in fact I am the one who is fighting for the things you like for them to stay? Tell me, Why are you so adamant about me being the villain? Can you give me enough logical reasons where I could understand it myself?” “Because you are a monster!” She yelled at last, clenching her fists tightly. What the fuck was she saying? Did he even know what a monster is for fuck's sake?” Filled with sudden fury, he was bl
Silent Scars: The Weight of Unspoken Pain. Slouching a little more, he let his head rest on her frail shoulder. “You do, little one. Only if you stop being stubborn, you will see how much you need a shoulder to lean on.”She turned her face away while trying to push away his head. Distancing himself from her. He forced her face before him again; he stated, “I know how you feel. What is the point of hiding your pain now? Does sharing even a little bit of your burden give you an inferiority complex? Is this a reason why you are forcing yourself to hide away from everything?”She breathed shakily. His words hit it all the way through her, breaking apart the walls that she created for her own sake. Little by little. Choosing not to show how much his words hit her, she changed her hazy mind into believing otherwise. “Do you really?” Her eyes were challenging him to deny. Maybe it was the tiredness in her body that made her feel brave. “I doubt you know how I feel.”A smirk appeared on t
Whispers in the Dark: A Late Night Encounter. She blinked three times to confirm her suspicion of him being here. There he was here again. But why? The question she wanted the answer to. Above all, at this ungodly hour of the time! Even though she was once an energetic child, she always had been feeling sluggish and heavy while coming here. Besides, today was no exception. Her reluctant eyes flickered. He raised his head to look at her. To finally look at her. Instead of saying a word, he chose to stare at her sad and sleep-filled eyes. A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “Such a cute little bunny.” Her large, filled, hazy eyes made him compare her to a bunny. Her frown lines were the first thing he took notice of. But he chose not to comment on that for now. Not yet. A veil of silence fell upon them, the distance of it growing with each passing second. Standing in a slower motion, she anxiously backed away unconsciously. When did she get off the bed? She didn't ev