Trigger warning - This chapter contains themes which might not be suitable for certain readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

Author's POV

"I have brought you a very bad news," the soldier said.

It was something about that day, which was not letting Laxita have some peace of mind.

"What bad news?" She asked.

"Your parents were returning from their journey when they had an accident in a nearby forest. The king was also near that place when this happened and he has told me to inform you that..."

"Th-That?" Her voice was trembling now.

"Your parents are no more...."

When the last word escaped his mouth, Laxita couldn't hear anything. She was trembling and tears welled up in her eyes. She closed her eyes and ears and pretended that she didn't hear anything. But reality was cruel. She started crying madly. She stumbled and then fell on the floor. She didn't know how to react. Her parents were no more. She was alone in this world now. She could hear others' voices, they were trying to comfort her but she couldn't decipher anything. Suddenly, everything went black in front of her eyes and she collapsed.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that Reeta was sitting beside her bed and everyone was weeping.

She sat up and said, "Reeta ji, keh do ki ye sab jhooth hai, keh do ki wo abhi thodi der mai wapas aane waale hai, keh do ki wo jeevit hai..." Her voice broke at the end.

("Reeta ji, please tell me that everything is a lie, please tell me that they will come back after a while, please tell me that they are alive...")

Reeta couldn't say anything and just kept on crying. She hugged Laxita and tried to console her. But how to comfort someone who has just lost her parents. Laxita wailed, cried, wept but nothing could bring them back.

It was nightfall, when the soldiers brought their bodies into the courtyard. It was still raining.  Fresh tears welled up in her eyes after seeing her parents' lifeless faces. If she knew that, the last time she ever saw them was at the University gate, she would have hugged them one more time. She would have told them that she loved them. She would have never let them go. But it was of no use now. She lost everything in a single evening.

The king came to the mansion followed by Yash, Vanya and Nakul. They were horrified by this incident.

"I am sorry for your loss child. I wish I could do something about it but I can't. May God give you strength to overcome this", the king said. Vanya came running and hugged Laxita, she was also crying.

It was a terrible night. They were kept inside the mansion and everyone was crying the entire night. All the servants also respected them a lot. It felt like their personal loss. Their cremation was to be performed in the morning. Laxita wasn't crying anymore. Her tears had dried up and she became numb. Her friends also stayed with her this whole time. Vanya thought that if she left her alone, something bad could happen to her. So she held her hand the entire night. She was scared because her condition was not looking good. Her eyes have lost the light and now they were looking empty.

The next morning arrived and they had to perform the cremation ceremony. The entire city had come to witness this. Yashwant and Subhadra's bodies were lied on the pyre and the priest started chanting some prayers. Since, they had no son and her uncle was away at the moment, Laxita ignited the fire to cremate them. And like that, they were gone forever.

The next evening, the relatives started arriving at the mansion to meet Laxita. They were asking how this tragedy happened but she couldn't respond to any questions. It was as if she had stopped talking. Also, she was not eating properly. Vanya responded to them instead of her. Yash and Nakul were taking care of the rituals which were performed after the funeral.

It was dinner time and Vanya was searching for her when she saw something. Something terrible. Laxita was standing at the edge of her room window. Vanya was terrified and ran to save her. She pulled her back and they both landed inside the room.

"Ye kya karne jaa rahi thi tum?" She shouted.

"Jeene ke liye kuch bacha hi nahi hai, kya karu jeeke?" Laxita's voice cracked.

("What were you going to do?"

"There's nothing left to live for, why should I live?")

"They would have never wanted you to do something like this. Think of the time when they were you. They would not be happy to see this.

"But they are gone Vanya. I'm all alone now. I have become an orphan," she started crying.

Vanya hugged her and said, "No, you're not. You will have me, always"

Both of them cried for a long time after that, hugging each other. After that, Laxita became exhausted and slept. She had not slept for two days.

The next few days passed in a similar manner. The relatives and friends came, offered their condolences and stayed for the rituals.

The teravi (13th day) arrived when her uncle entered the mansion.

"Ye kya ho gaya meri pyaari bhatiji ke saath..."

("Why has this happened to my dear niece...")

Vijesh hugged her and said,  "Don't worry my child, this chacha (uncle) will take care of you."

Vijesh greeted everyone and handled everything. Teravi ended and everyone left.

There was someone among them who had also lost someone precious. They were crying the entire time without anyone's notice. But Laxita didn't know them. That someone thought that she was in safe hands with Vijesh so they too left with others.

Laxita started living with Vijesh and he too was caring towards her. She still could not sleep well but she was trying to live, to move on. This nightmarish life was her new reality. A few days have passed since then.

It was night time when she suddenly heard someone's anklet bells near her room. Why was someone roaming in front of her room at this time? All the servants have gone to sleep.

She looked outside her room and saw that a woman was entering her uncle's chamber. Her uncle had acquired the guest chamber which was across the hall from her room.

She followed the woman and entered his chamber. What she saw there was shocking to say the least. The entire room was filled with alcohol bottles and then suddenly she heard a woman's voice.

"Ahhh...yes. Yes there...ahhh...I love it..."

She hid behind a pillar and when she peeked at the bed, she saw that the woman was sitting on top of her uncle and they both were naked. She was screaming and moaning his name. To say that she was horrified was an understatement. What was he doing in her home? She knew that he was not a good man but she never knew that it was this bad. 

She left and ran to her room. She lied on her bed and started crying hysterically. This was her new life. A life which she never wanted but was forced to live now.

The next morning, she confronted her uncle by throwing the bottles in front of him. She was really angry. How could he do this? It has been mere days since his brother passed away, what was this shameless behaviour?

"What is this? You are squandering my father's money in alcohol? You vowed to take care of me. Is this how you do it?"

Vijesh scoffed and replied, "It WAS your father's money but now it is mine. You are young and can't take care of the family. So, I'm the family head now and I can do whatever I want with MY money. You better get used to it. Next time, I won't tolerate this childish behaviour of yours. Now ask someone to bring me breakfast, NOW!"

She flinched and now she has realized that this new life was going to be hellish. How would she survive? It was a family matter so she couldn't ask for anyone's help. It was a rule of Kshatra Gadh that no one can interfere in family matters. Not even the king. She had to bear with her uncle as long as she finds a solution. She was helpless and this was her new reality.

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Hello everyone🌟

It was quite a heavy chapter. I ain't lying when I say that I did shed a tear or two. Laxita's life has changed now. How will she overcome these obstacles?

There is going to be a leap in the next chapter so stay tuned😉