Chapter 3) Past Was Beautiful

At ARIN's House:-

"I really need to know your story, Dua, so stop beating around the bush," Arin growled slightly at her.

He had been trying to talk to Dua for two days, but she refused to speak. 

His shouts made her nervous, and Dua looked down, guilty.

"It is not easy for me to reveal everything about myself, Mr. Arin. "You may be my lawyer, but I did not ask for this," Dua said grumpily, her eyes red.

"But I am your lawyer, and your case is in my hands. That is why it is really important for me to know everything about your past, and that too from you", Arin easily controlled his temper and spoke in a calm tone, leaving Dua perplexed by his mood swings but still nodding at him.

"I have already wasted too many days with you. So now tell me, Dua, or I will not be able to help you in your fight", Arin said, as a lawyer, he wanted to give his all, but Dua was not cooperating. 

Dua closed her eyes and remembered the darkness that sped up her heartbeat and breathing.

Dua panicked and hurt, but she knew Arin was correct. He was doing something for her. Jailor helped her, but why? It was critical for them to assist her. It was not important to those who did not know her or her past, but they chose to help her, but why? 

Dua was still dazed, reflecting on her life before and after the storm.

Darkness, tears, pain, betrayal, and blood ripped her to the core.

Everything had changed in her life. She was not the 19-year-old girl who was happily wandering through the streets of her hometown. She was not the type of young person who enjoyed spending time in Delhi with her friends. Her life changed dramatically. She spent five years in prison. She was now twenty-five years old, with a dark past. 

Dua shook her head and looked at Arin, who was patiently staring back at her.

"I am from Patna City, Bihar," Dua said, closing her eyes.

"My full name is Dua Srivastava. My father owned a Mart Shop. I was a single child with a single father. My mother passed away while giving birth to me. My father never remarried because of me," Dua said, her voice cracked. 

Dua caught a glimpse of him and saw him staring at her intently. She gulped nervously and avoided his stares.

"I was happy in my life, especially with my father. He cared deeply for me. After passing my twelfth grade, I was accepted into the best college of fashion design in Delhi, but everything changed in my life. Delhi changed me, my life changed me, and time changed me", Dua said, holding back tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

Arin gave her a glass of water, which she gulped down in one go. 

"If you need time, I can wait", Arin spoke, and Dua shook her head negatively.

Dua looked into his eyes, hoping to read him, but they were blank, with no sympathy or condolences. Only a lawyer was listening to the story of Her DARK World.

"No, I am ready to share my life with you. I want to end everything. I want to see my father. I want to go back to my house", Dua spoke, and tears streamed from her eyes. 

Arin said nothing to her, just stared at her intently.

The pain was visible on her face.

Dua wiped her tears and looked out the window of his home. A dark night screamed about her dark life. Her life had its ups and downs, but it never turned out this darkest, creepiest, and scariest.  

"I was nineteen years old when I returned to my hometown, and there was a surprise waiting for me"

~Flashback Six Years Ago:-

Patna, Bihar:-

"Dua.. Dua.. Dua"...., Her name was disturbing her beauty sleep.

"Dua", Dua recognized the male voice that was calling her.

She groaned, hiding her face in the pillow.

"Dua, wake up, daughter." Her father was shaking her body, but she was not in the mood to leave her beloved bed and pillow. 

"Papa", Dua spoke in a hoarse voice, sneaking a peek at her father, who was lovingly ruffling her curly hair.

"Good morning, Papa", Dua said, and her father smiled at her.

"Wake up, my friends are coming to meet me, and you are still sleeping." Her father spoke, and she sat down on her bed. 

"Which friends, Papa?", Dua inquired as she collected her messy hair. 

"My child, I told you a week ago about my friends who will come here to meet and visit the temple", Her father responded, and Dua slapped her forehead.

"Sorry, Papa, I forgot about their visit," Dua said as she went to the bathroom.

Her father shook his head at his childish daughter.

"Come quickly. Breakfast is ready", Her father spoke, and Dua looked at him.

"Are you not going to Mart?", Dua asked as she began brushing her teeth.

"No, the staff will handle the Mart today", Her father spoke as he looked at a photograph of his beloved wife, who was smiling broadly while holding her newborn child in her arms.

Her father left the room and served breakfast on the plates. Dua appeared and suddenly pounced on the breakfast.

He smiled at her.

"Dua! Dress nicely", Her father spoke, and she stopped eating her breakfast.

"Huh? Why are you asking me to dress properly? Am I not in proper dress?", Dua asked, pouting dramatically.

"No, my child", Her father shook his head and gazed at his daughter.

"I am just asking you to wear something else", Her father spoke and arranged his own plate.

"What do you mean, Papa? I always dress appropriately. I never wear short or revealing dresses", Dua spoke slowly and ate her breakfast unwillingly. 

Her father sighed loudly as he looked at his saddened daughter.

"I am sorry", Her father apologized, and she smiled at him. 

It was true that Dua always dressed according to the time, situation, and place, but only outside of the house or at college, not inside. Dua loved wearing whatever she could get her hands on.

"My child, I am just telling you that my friends are coming with their families, so wear whatever you want, shorts or skirts. I do not mind, but please spare my lungi today", Her father spoke, and Dua choked food in her throat. 

Her father immediately rose from his seat and rubbed her back. He gave her water, and she gulped it down forcefully.

"I do not like you going in my lungi in front of them", her father said, and she understood what her father was trying to tell her. 

Dua and her father exchanged stares before laughing.

"Dua! Please spare my lungi", Her father pleaded, and Dua again laughed loudly.

"No, Papa, I feel comfortable in your lungi and about dressing properly in front of your friends, naa, so do not worry, I will be a good host for them", She said and giggled upon seeing her father's face. 

[Lungi is a white or colored cloth that is usually wrapped around the waist with the two ends knotted together. It is worn by various states of India]

"Girls love to wear Western dresses, but my daughter is unique and came from Mars, and she loves to wear my shirt and lungi", Her father spoke and shook his head. 

Dua laughed again, stood up from her seat, and bent down slightly in front of her father. She kissed her father's cheeks and headed for the kitchen.

"For how many days do they live here?", Dua inquired, and her father joined her in the kitchen.

"Maybe for a week," Dua's father replied.

"Will they live in our house?", Dua asked as she began washing the dishes.

"No, hotels will be more comfortable for them", Her father spoke as he cleaned the kitchen.

"That is good", Dua spoke softly, and her father questioned her.

"Papa, I only have a week with you, so manage your friends' visits because I will be leaving soon for college, and I do not like it when someone disturbs my peaceful time with you. I came here to spend my holidays with you, but you are already booked with your friends", Dua said frustratedly, and her father stared at his daughter. He nodded in agreement.

Time passed, and the guests arrived at her house.

"Dua, come meet my friends and their family members", Her father introduced her. She touched their feet and smiled warmly at them.

Her father's friends smiled at her. Her father was proud of his daughter. She looked stunning in blue traditional clothes. Simple yet elegant. Dua looked at her father, asking him through her eyes. Her father smiled and shook his head. Dua noticed that his eyes were glossy. She rarely dressed up; at other times, she lived freely and dressed casually.

Dua served snacks and drinks to the guests, and as they began chatting, Dua became bored and uncomfortable in traditional attire. She missed her father's lungi a lot. 

She sighed loudly, catching her father's attention. He exchanged a look with her, and she shook her head.

"Dua, please go to your room. You have an assignment to finish, right?", Her father asked abruptly, and she was perplexed, but she nodded her head and left them to their chitter chatter.

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Thank you

ShineeSunshine ❤️