At Manu’s place. Aunt Aadrika was seated in the living room, painting her nails when Manu came along.“Aunt?” Manu called, moving closer to her. “Can I speak with you?”“I’m busy,” the aunt replied, without a glance.“Aunt, what did I do to you?” Manu questioned, standing in front of her.Aunt Aadrika looked at her. “What do you mean by that?”“Why are you making me look bad in the presence of Arjun? This is our first time meeting, right?” Manu queried, sadness hinted in her voice.“I don’t like you,” Aunt Aadrika blurted. “Your relationship with Arjun was never meant to be.”“Why, Aunt? Why wasn’t our relationship meant to be? We love each other,” Manu stated.“Because Arjun belongs to Sachi,” Aunt Aadrika claimed. “My baby girl, how much she loved Arjun. I knew she came apologizing for your wedding but she was still hurt. She cried to me on a video call. She was my childhood friend’s daughter, I had introduced her to Arjun, and I wanted them
I woke up at sunset. Sidd wasn’t with me. I flung my feet to the floor. I headed towards the door. I went downstairs. I saw Ranveer and Sidd in the living room. The damage I caused wasn’t there anymore. I shuffled to them. “Did you find my baby?” I questioned.“We will go to Kamala’s house tomorrow if she doesn’t return,” Ranveer said.“You are still anticipating her return?” I chuckled. “I don’t care how you all go about it, I just want my baby back,” I set forth. I couldn’t cry anymore but I hope my baby will be found. I can’t hold my sanity for long without my baby.“Don’t worry, love,” Sidd assured, “Chandni will be back.”I dropped down on the couch.The following morning, I, Ranveer, and Sidd went to Kamala’s house. Her door was locked. We turned to ask around. She got neighbors. A lady came along. “Who are you looking for?” she asked.“Um, we are looking for Kamala. She works as a nanny,” I responded.“Nobody bears that name, ma’am,” t
At Manu’s place. It was the weekend. Everyone was at home. Arjun faced his phone squarely. Manu was reading a book opposite Arjun and Aunt Aadrika. Aunt Aadrika was flipping through a magazine’s page. She lifted her gaze to Manu. She glanced at Arjun.“Ahem!” she cleared her throat. “Manu, can you get me a tube of henna paste?” she requested.Manu looked at her. She frowned. “I’m busy,” she declined.“Arjun, did you hear that?” Aunt Aadrika reported.Arjun sighed. “Sweetheart, please go get it for her. You are going to be driving, right?” Fine!” Manu accepted, jerking up. She wasn’t too pleased with that. She flung her book on the couch and went out.Arjun stood up. “Aunt, I’m going to meet a friend down the street. We have an outing today,” he announced.“The get-together meeting?” she queried.“Yeah, I will be back,” he said and left.Arjun had told his aunt about his get-together meeting with his college mates. They even planned a dress code for the meet-up. Aunt Aadrika
I couldn’t tell my mom what happened. I worry for her health. My phone was ringing, indicating the caller as my mom. I ignored it. She continued calling. I will break down if I take my mom’s call and she asks me about Chandni. She always does. Sidd came along from downstairs.“Your phone is ringing,” he told me.“Tell her I’m not around,” I instructed. Sidd answered the call. After a few minutes, the call ended.“Why didn’t you take the call?” he asked, putting my phone back on the nightstand.“And tell her Chandni is missing?” I snapped out, standing up. “You were among them. You took sides with Kamala. You were her defendant. My husband couldn’t see my fears. You allowed that cheap wh*re to manipulate you. She was all over you. She wanted you to make out with her, maybe you did,” I poured out “Enough!” he protested. “I take all the blames for our missing child but don’t imply infidelity on me.”“I can say whatever I want to you,” I yelled. I started hitting his chest. “You al
At Manu’s place. At sunset, she was in the kitchen. She looked sad. Arjun hasn’t been behaving well with her. He was mad at her for all the lies his aunt has been feeding him. She fumbled with the utensils.“Ugh!” she grunted, irritated by her mind-boggling thought. A plate fell off her hand and broke into pieces. Aunt Aadrika came along laughing.“Stop hurting the plates, Manu,” she mocked. “They are innocent, unlike you.” Manu scowled at her. Aunt Aadrika turned to go, still laughing.Later on, Manu heard Arjun’s voice and an unfamiliar voice in the living room.“Whoa! My baby girl is here!” Aunt Aadrika laughed, standing up to welcome Sachi. Arjun came home with her. Manu headed to the living room only to be stopped by Sachi’s presence. She staggered back. Sachi came with her suitcase. What was going on, she couldn’t comprehend. Arjun seems happy.“How have you been, Aunt? I missed you a lot,” Sachi expressed, hugging Aunt Aadrika.“I missed you, too, dear. We got lots to t
I woke up in a warehouse. Wooden boxes were everywhere around me. I was pinioned to a chair. Someone abducted me. My eyes darted around the place. I struggled with the rope I was tied with. I fought with it till I heard footsteps approaching. I stopped, and my ears drew out to the steps. The figure of a lady appeared before me. I looked her from her toe up. My mind shut down the moment I saw her face. Kamala? She was resplendent in a chic red gown, snuggly fitting her body and showing off her shape. This wasn’t the innocent-looking Kamala that I know of. She appeared with a black aura. The aura of danger was more than what I feared of her. Two huge men came behind her, one holding my baby. I struggled. A smile crept its way to my face. My mind was relieved. My baby was alive anyway.“My child!” I laughed happily. I wanted to hold her, I wanted to feel her, to know if she was okay.“Welcome to hell, Rani!” Kamala spoke with terror. I trembled. Was she a devil? She grinned w
Manu explained her predicament to her mother.“Is that the reason to run out of your home, dear?” the mother queried.“What do you want me to do, Mother?” Manu sobbed. “His aunt will make him marry her. Arjun doesn’t love me anymore. He is marrying another woman,” she continued sobbing, dropping her head on her mother’s lap. The mother patted her shoulder.“I understand how you feel, dear. Stop crying,” the mother soothed.Arjun couldn’t find Manu around the house. He has been looking for her. He had asked his aunt who told her she had gone out early in the morning. Last night, he didn’t bother to check up on her when he struck up a conversation with Sachi. Nothing happened between them, just to get Manu jealous. He had opened up to Sachi about his situation with Manu and that she shouldn’t use that as an advantage as his aunt wished. She understood him. Besides, she has moved on. Arjun was her friend, since the aunt was there and their place was close to the air
Arjun had no choice but to put a call across to Manu’s mother. She told him Manu was with her and that he can come for her.Manu was seated gloomily in the living room. She was thinking of what Arjun must be doing with Sachi. She has lost her husband. She never thought a day like that will come in her marriage with Arjun. Her mother had gone out to the market. The doorbell rang, thinking it was her mother that returned, she went to get the door. She opened up and then saw Arjun instead. She stared at him. Their gaze was interlocked for a minute.“Can I come in?” Arjun requested. She left the door ajar and returned to the living room. “I have been looking for you. Why did you leave like that?” he questioned.She turned to him. “I should have stayed?” she asked, her voice calm and collected. “I should have stayed to watch how you two frolic around each other, making me look like a worthless being. I should have stayed?” her voice broke down, she was dewy-eyed.Arjun took hold of her
Our journey might not be a perfect one, but it’s ours. My life with Sidd isn’t perfect, but it is the most beautiful experience. When you’re in love, there’s nothing worth not fighting to stay together. We discovered a treasure from our hatred. Now it doesn’t matter how we started, all that matters now is our future. I’m certain it’s going to be bright, more colorful. I pray not to encounter any challenge henceforth. Even if that happens, we will fight it together. I belong to Sidd. We belong to each other. He is mine, I won’t ever let anyone take him away from me.Author’s note 💖🌈🌅I am super excited to have completed this story. To all my readers who were able to read to the end, thank you so much. I hope to be able to bring out more imaginations like this to inspire your world. I’m honestly grateful for the time you spent reading this. I love you all.Woohoo… 💃💃💃 “Love Lights More Fires than Hate Extinguishes!”The End!
I was busy in my office, working on some files when Mr. Arijit entered.“Hey, beauty!” he greeted me with a broad smile while working with me.“Good day, boss,” I responded, lifting my gaze on him.“I have a surprise for you,” he said.I smiled. My boss was fond of surprises. All his surprises were always precious to me. He walked to my side and I stood up. “What is the surprise?” I asked eagerly.“Close your eyes,” he said. Without hesitation, I closed my eyes. “You can open your eyes now,” he commented.I opened my eyes. My surprise vanished into a look of shock. My boss was on one knee with a ring. A proposal? How?“Will you accept to deal with my flaws, share in my joy, and celebrate my success stories? Will you be the woman I wake up to see every morning? Will you be my woman, Rani?” Mr. Arijit proposed. I was dumbstruck. What should I say? Just then, the door creaked open. Sidd walked in, holding a bouquet of rose flowers. He stopped at the door, staring between me an
The next day when I returned from work, Chandni came along. She was holding her pink teddy bear. “Hey, baby,” I smiled, taking off my shoes. She came to sit beside me. “Mommy, are you still fighting with Daddy?” Chandni asked. I looked at her abruptly. “Why do you ask, baby?” “Because Daddy told me you two aren’t on good terms yet. He said you are mad at him.” I smiled. “Daddy is just assuming, baby, we are not fighting,” I lied. We are fighting. “If he wronged you, please, forgive him, Mommy. Daddy is a changed person now.” “It’s fine, baby, but we are not fighting,” I insisted. Sidd is crazy to tell my daughter such a thing. He wants to use her to get to me. “Then be happy with him, okay?” Chandni said. I smiled reassuringly. The following morning, I was rushing out when Mother stopped me. “Hold on, Rani,” she said. I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. She walked closer to me she placed her palm on my shoulder. “Is the ga
The following day, I walked into my boss’s office. He had summoned me. “Good day, sir,” I greeted. “Good day, dear, have a seat,” he said. I smiled and sat down on the opposite chair. “First and foremost, thank you for allowing your daughter to come along to the outing. I’m very much obliged,” Mr. Arijit appreciated. “I should be thanking you, boss. Chandni was happily going out with you. She enjoys your company and that was relieving.” “I’m glad she did,” he said, pulling out a locker. “Here, I got you a gift,” he presented a small wrapped box to me. “Wow, thank you,” I smiled, taking the box from him. “Can you open it now?” “Oh, yeah, sure,” I agreed and began unwrapping the box. I opened it. It had a beautiful gold necklace in it. Small and expensive. It was the latest necklace, coming new into the market and I have been wishing to get it. Now my boss got it for me. Awesome! “You like it?” “I love it. Thank you so much,” I smiled.
A few days later. I went to meet my boss in his office. He was standing close to the window, looking through it when I entered. I stopped at the entrance.“Boss?” I called. He looked at me. “Here, I brought the file from Karen’s Ink firm for you to sign. They were satisfied with our presentation,” I stated, walking to him.“Okay, put it on my desk,” he said. I put down the file on his desk and turned to go. “Wait, Rani,” he said. I halted and looked at him. He moved close to me. He stood in front of me, staring into my eyes. I felt itchy all over. Why was he staring at me? I looked down, feeling queasy. “Can I ask you a favor?” he asked. “Huh?” I looked at him surprised. What favor can I possibly offer my boss? “What is it, sir?” I asked.“It’s your child,” he said. What about my child? What did she do? Will I lose my job again? “I saw her picture on Facebook. She is adorable,” Mr. Arijit stated, walking away from me. “She looks like you, cheerful and vibrant. C
At the Sharma’s mansion. Sunia was seated in the living room, staring into space. She was gloomy. Veejay came along from outside. He just returned from the office.“Hey, sweetheart,” he greeted. She wouldn’t answer him. He understood. Sunia hasn’t been herself since their last visit to the hospital.“What does that mean?” she had asked the doctor. Her heart thumbs up to her throat. She was already sweating.“I’m afraid, Mrs. Sharma, you might not be able to have a child of your own anymore,” the doctor announced.“Ow…!” she exclaimed, with the way her heart flew out of her, she fainted. Due to the unnatural way, she lost her pregnancy, she lost her womb with it. Only a miracle can give her a child of her own now.“Sweetheart, why are you like this?” Veejay asked, moving close. She glared at him. Without a word, she stood up and headed upstairs.At night, Sunia lay down on the bed, facing the ceiling with her arms crossed on her b
My mother-in-law was in the living room. Sidd and the call girl walked down to her. She stood in surprise. I shuffled downstairs. Thank God Chandni was still sleeping. What would I have told her?“Greetings, Mother,” Sidd saluted.I reached to the living room. Mother-in-law just stood with a look of surprise still evident on her face. “Mother?” I called and she looked at me. “I will be outside if you need me,” I said and turned towards the door.“Hold on, Rani,” Priyanka said.I halted. That wasn’t Mother or Sidd’s voice. Does the call girl know my name? What more did Sidd tell her about me? I turned. Indeed, it was the call girl that stopped me. She walked to me.“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know you are Sidd’s wife. He didn’t tell me and I scolded him for that,” Priyanka apologized.I was confused. I didn’t say anything. Why would Sidd’s mistress apologize to me? Sidd came along.“It’s true, Rani,” he stated. “Meet Priyanka Kapoor, my childho
I rode with my boss to Begusarai. We didn’t talk much in the car. He only showed me the presentation on his laptop. When we reached, we lodged in a hotel. Different rooms. After freshening up, I sat on the bed, going through my laptop. I got the presentation on my laptop as a backup. It was sunset then. I heard a knock on my room door. I looked at the door. The knock came up again. I stood up to go get the door. I opened up and saw Mr. Arijit looking down at the door.“Hey,” he smiled, looking up at me with a mesmerizing smile. My heart thumbs up to my throat. I forced a smile through my mouth. “Can I come in?” he said. Come in? By now? I swallowed hard and gave him a responsive nod. He entered, looking around the room.“You need anything, sir?” I asked, facing him.“How are you enjoying the room?” he asked, turning to look at me. “Are you comfortable? Or you need another room.”“No, sir, I am fine here,” I smiled again.“Glad to hear,” h
A few days later, I drove along from work. It wasn’t hectic at the office today. I finished what needed to be done early, so my boss permitted me to go home. Did I tell you guys his name? His name was Arijit Mohan. Mr. Arijit was so good. He was a responsible, concerned, selfless, and humble man. If I had met him before Sidd, I’m certain to have equally fallen in love with him. Crazy thought, I know. I got stuck in Mumbai's impromptu traffic.“Shit!” I hit my fist against the steering wheel.I relaxed back in my seat. I turned my head and saw Sidd coming out of a law firm with an attorney. I knew the attorney, he was a famous divorce handler of his time. I sat up quickly. He handed a paper to Sidd. I bet it was a divorce paper. Was Sidd planning to divorce me? Why? Because of the call girl? The honk of the car horn from my back pulled me back to the reality of the traffic lift. I moved off. I had a constant pang in my heart. Sidd wants to divorce me without thinking of our