All Chapters of DIFFERENT SHADES OF HIM (BOOK-ONE): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The big plan. "Hm-hm, you know you can ask me more than one question as you like. I will invariably be there for your hotty-naughty question, you know." She joked with a wink at my uneasy face. She was such an exuberant person. I couldn't help but think to myself. "Kidding babe. Now, shoot!" "You don't know me; then why do you care so much? How can you be so courteous to me?" I inquired, my voice coming out just above a whisper with my clogged throat. "I am left alone with a baby brother in this whole world by myself," I said in a broken voice after a pause with a bent head. "I feel lost and alone." The last part was barely audible. "Ssh. Don't cry; you are not alone. We are family now—me, Zahar, your little brother, and many more; just wait till you come across them. You will never be alone again. Trust me, they will all love you!" Sitting by my side, Sabba held my hand and squeezed it lightly, consoling me while rubbing my back. After a movement of silence, Sabba ordered: "N

08— Escaping from the doomed place. “And sometimes we feel so deeply yet say nothing.” —Saumya Tripathi Huddled up against the side of the bed with my brother asleep soundly, I hefted up a sign. “I hope everything goes as planned.” This short time literally felt like the longest hour of my life. I was perhaps waiting for fifteen minutes, but it felt as if hours had gone by and yet the fifteen minutes had not arrived. I mused to myself, woefully. “Why is the time slower than usual?” I was optimistic as well as agitated and scared out of my wits, and above all, I somewhat felt satisfied in the hope of returning home. My home. It was where the remnant memories of my parents lingered in the air of my abode, however. Blinking from my trance, I stared ahead of me at the gigantic window where a gust of air was flowing, making the curtains give a swaying twist. It seemed almost exquisite and tranquil. The room was muffled and the lights were off, which allowed the lighting to peep into t

A step forward. After waiting for quite a long time, I was almost in a panic-stricken state until I saw Fatima from behind the tree where I was sitting. Sprinting straight up to the guards in nothing but a full nightgown that was even opened from the front and was giving the full view of her neckline and fair chest, no maiden in her right mind could even think of doing such things. On the other hand, she did and, however, looked perturbed and terrified. Was she okay? Has something happened? I ducked my head more behind the thick maple tree. And signed in relief. It was all an act. I reminded myself. “Please make them believe her.” However, only faint voices were what I heard from where I sat, but peaking at Fatima and her exaggerated manner in which she was elaborating something horrible, and from the guards' exasperation, I frowned and gaped. Was she really acting? Or something bad had happened to her? Oh! No, please, Shiv Ji, don't let anything happen to her. She was my on

A Brief History of the city Varanasi. "It is pronounced to be the city of 'Lord Shiva,' not only in India but in the entire world." The integrity of this city is that it is not only the oldest but also one of the holiest cities known in the cosmos. It is conceived that the path of land lying between the two tributes of the Ganges, Varuna and Asi, which flank its northern and southern borders, was named 'Varanasi', the holiest of all pilgrimages. In the sixth century B.C., Varanasi became the capital of the kingdom of Kashi. It is a city situated in the northern Indian state of U.P. Categorically, Varanasi is not merely a name that has been known in the entire world, but it has come to be known by different names: Kashi, Banaras, Benaras, and many more, apparently. Articulately, Varanasi is not only a city of eight letters; perhaps, because steeped in tradition and mythological legacy, Kashi is believed to be the 'Original Ground' created by 'Lord Shiva,' and 'Goddess Parvati.'

The Phone call. My heart pounded incredulously and restlessly. I had never felt this alone in my life. Never. And with this crowd, I was somewhat nervous and terrified. I breathed hard. Wandering around with panicked eyes for the electronic contraption that must be somewhere, I searched thoroughly through my eyes to be fixed on the telephone I was so frantically searching for. I was vaguely exhausted and somewhat relieved to find the phone sooner than I expected. I, without halting, approached the device across the enormous hall of a huge crowd, breathing somewhat hard with Shaurya tucked safely in my arms. By reaching, I stayed standing for some seconds for my erratic breaths to calm down. Although remaining firm in front of the phone booth, I searched for a few coins in my pouch, and to my luck, I got some—enough to talk to my uncle. How thoughtful of her! I thought. She must have known I'd need them. I thanked her inwardly. I smiled and wept at the same time. Going inside and dro