Lakshya opened his eyes only to see the same darkness he is seeing for last 5 years. Something he is now used to. It's been 5 years now his life have been confined to these four walls. Everyone says he is a prisoner. But he knows very well that he was a prisoner long ago. The day when he start killing people for money, he became a prisoner who is waiting for his ultimate punishment. He prisoned his body from all enjoyments and pleasures. He prisoned his heart from all feelings. He couldn't love anything, anyone..even himself too.. all he had in his mind was regret and guilt.

And then she came to his life. Only to make him fall in love with her. She made his life beautiful with her love and care. He tried to hate her.. pretended to be angry...only to save her..to save her from ruin. He tried to go away from her. But he couldn't. His heart had already fallen for her even before he can realize. She owns his heart.

And today he have no guilt for being a prisoner... for being a murderer. Because life changed for him. She changed his life. He is now experiencing the biggest punishment of his life. It's not imprisonment..it's separation...staying away from her. Each minute, each second, he is dying without her.

The door of the jail room opened causing the first rays of sun to enter into it. He remembered how she entered into his life just like how the light engulfed the darkness prevailing there till now.

"Its breakfast time. Come with the plate everyone." A policeman entered into the room and ordered in a rude tone. The others who were sleeping around him suddenly woke up. He stood up and arranged his white shirt and white dhoti currently he wearing. Its been 5 years he used to this jail uniform. He took his plate and entered outside the jail room.

For a moment he enjoyed the fresh air closing his eyes. He smiled. It was a surprise for him when he realized that he started smiling. But again. He knows the person who introduced smiles in his life. He is always thankful for her. The reason why he is happily living his jail days. He can do anything for her.

He moved little and saw other prisoners standing in a queue with their plates. He took a position at the end of the queue. He wondered when he started to be so much patient. If it was the old devil, he wouldn't have wait for anything. But now, he is one of the best prisoner with his good behavior and peaceful nature. For that reason the policemen inside the jail likes him.

"Lakshya there is a letter for you.." it was then one of the guard called for him.

His face suddenly brightened. He was waiting for the same letter for past two days. He doubted why the delay this time unlike the previous months. He smiled and rushed to the guard leaving the queue.

"Are you not having your breakfast?" Someone from the queue asked him.
"No.."he said taking the letter from the guard.
"Thank you.."he said smiling and kissed the letter.

And then he walked to his room without bothering the giggling and teasing from the crowd. He took a seat on the floor and slowly opened the letter. A smile never leaving his face.

Laksh,
It's only three months now remaining to end your punishment. I am so happy. Finally we are going to meet again. This time pls don't hate me. Dont ignore me. Dont avoid me. Because I love you more than you can ever imagine. I want you to live like a human. No more devil. Pls...

I know there is no point in asking whether you are fine there. But here I am feeling lifeless without you. Pls come back soon. I am waiting for you. Bye...
From devil's girl.

Lakshya closed his eyes reading it. For the past 5 years she is writing the same lines again and again on each month. But each time it's feeling so new to him. So refreshing. He didn't bore with those lines and he is impatiently waiting each month for this letter. From the only person who cared for him. Who loved the devil in him. He read the letter again.

Laksh..
It was only her who used to call him Laksh. For others it's either Lakshya or Devil. She didnt even come to meet him once for the last 5 years.  He have no complaints for that. Infact he didn't want her to see him inside jail. It will break her heart. He knows how much she tried to make him free from this life which was only filled with mistakes. Eventhough she didn't come he knows that she is living each moments through his memories and thoughts. She is waiting for him. And that's the only inspiration for him to live again. To go back from here.

He recalled the incident where he met her for the first time.

It was a normal day for him. He walked outside the big building wiping away the blood from his sword. His friends Guna and Vinay walked beside him like a shadow. He is a goon and ready to do anything for money. He heard cries from behind. It will be only from that man whom he just stabbed a few moments ago. He is least caring for all this screams, cries and all those things. For him only money matters.

He saw another man who is waiting outside the building and went towards him.

"The job you have assigned me is done." He said in a cold voice.
"Thank you devil. Here is your money." The man handed over a bundle of notes to him and left.
He gave the money on Guna's hand.
"Any more job left for today" he asked.
"No Lakshya. Let's go home. You have many injuries. I will help you for a first aid." It's Vinay who said.
"Let it be there..my body is used to this injuries. It can't kill me. Let it be there" he walked away followed by his two friends.

They entered into his Jeep and he drove away. He stopped the vehicle at town. They got out and suddenly they heard the scream of a girl. They turned to see a lot of people gathered around and the cries are hearing from the middle.

"Why should we waste our time here? Let's go Lakshya." Vinay said and three of them turned back to go away.

"Help me..."suddenly he heard the voice of the girl and he stopped involuntarily.
He thought something and without bothering about anything he went into the crowd. Moving the people apart he reached the middle. And there he saw a gang of men laughing hard looking at something. A man holding a girl from behind and a knife is placed at her neck.

The man is smirking in evil and the girl is crying loudly. He looked into the girl's pleading eyes deeply and he couldn't stop himself. He went to the man and kicked him from behind. As it was unexpected the guy fall down with a huge scream. The girl was about to fall when he immediately went towards her and hold her through her waist. She looked into his eyes and she didn't get anything. He broke the eye lock and took the shawl of the girl from ground. He wrapped it around her and she smiled at him thankfully. For a moment he frozen. He didn't see such a thankful gaze ever in his life. All he saw was pleading eyes and pain. He couldn't move away. He just stood there looking at her. That was when the guy stood up and came to attack him.

"Hey..there he is.."she saw the man and warned him.

Before Lakshya can react the knife made its wound on his arm. She cried. But he turned back and kicked the knife away. He punched the man on his stomach and he fell down on the ground again. The other men came to fight with him but he successfully defeated them.

Vinay and Guna were looking at him in wonder. They knows that nothing bad will happen to their friend. But they are seeing him saving someone for the first time. They are amazed.

Lakshya beated all men and the gang ran away along with their leader. He sat on ground placing his hands around the bleeding wound. She immediately took her shawl and tied it around his wound. He looked at her in wonder. No one cared for him till now except his friends. And now an unknown girl is helping him.

Vinay and Guna came for his help within this time. He was looking at her without even blinking his eyes. She smiled at him again. But he couldn't smile back. But just sat there looking at her.

"It's bleeding man. "Guna said loudly.
"Come Lakshya... let's go to hospital.."Vinay said.
"Laksh.. Lakshya...Is it your name?"she asked stammering.
"Hey girl, go away before he becomes violent. He is allergetic to girls." Guna warned her.

She was confused. Guna and Vinay helped him to stood up and they slowly placed him inside the Jeep. She followed him. But before she could reach them, they closed the door and Vinay started driving. She became disappointed. But she saw him looking at her through the window till they vanish from her sight.

She smiled at him wholeheartedly. She didnt know why he didn't smile back. But she was happy that atleast someone came to help her when all others were watching them harassing her. She knows that if he didn't help her, she would have died with their hands. She searched for her shawl and suddenly remembered that it's still with him.

"Lakshya.."she muttered smilingly.
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Present: Another Place

A beautiful and clean room is shown. Morning rays are entering inside through the window holes and the curtains are flying in air. A bed is there which is empty. The alarm rang loudly and a girl groaned under the blanket from the floor. On the next ring she forwarded her hand from the blanket and switched off the alarm which is under the bed.

"Samskriti..get up dear..."her elder sister Shivani entered with a cup of tea and stopped her seeing on floor.
She sighed and then slowly her eyes watered.

"What's this baby? Again sleeping on floor?? How many times should we tell you to sleep on bed?" Shivani sat on floor near Samskriti.

Samskriti slowly started removing the blanket from her body.
"If our Appa and Mama was here, they would have broken seeing their angel sleeping on floor. That too for last 5 years..."before completing her tears have been wiped away by two hands. She looked at her smiling sister who is now sitting along with her.

"Why are you crying my sweetheart? Your husband, my Sree Anna wouldn't handle seeing you in tears. So stop crying like a baby." Samskriti said in a happy mood.

"Seriously why are you punishing yourself when Lakshya is getting punished on jail? Punishment for two people, for one mistake.. "Shivani sighed.

"I am the one who dragged him into this mess. He wouldn't have entered into our messed life. He is getting punished all because of me. All because of my love" she replied looking at the floor.

"Do you think he will be happy hearing all your sacrifices for the last 5 years? He may curse himself for all this... sleeping on floor, wearing old sarees, not going outside, eating little food... Actually who is experiencing the real jail punishment? You or him?" Shivani asked caressing her cheeks.

"We both are Akka. How can I enjoy myself when he is suffering there? I chose a life just like him. I am not regretting for it too." She said confidently.

Shivani knows that her sister wont obey even if she insists her. She sighed in relief thinking that everything will be over within three months.

"Now drink this tea." Shivani gave the cup of tea to her and she drunk it.
"Where is Anna?" She asked.
"Went to factory. It's audit day." Shivani replied.
"Where is Guna and Vinay?" She asked.
"They went with Sree to help him." Shivani said.
"Ok let me fresh up. After that I will help you to prepare the breakfast." Samskriti stood up folding the bed sheet and placed it on bed. She took the dress from wardrobe and went to washroom. Shivani left the room within this time.

After 10 minutes, Samskriti entered outside the washroom getting herself ready in an old saree which her mom used to wear. She came infront of mirror and looked at her reflection. She smiled.

"Laksh..I hope you received my letter. It's 3 months more now. I am still waiting for you."she said and a tear drop fell on her cheek. She immediately wiped it away and took a small box from the table. She took a bit of vermillion from the box and applied it on her hair partition. She took out her wedding chain from her neck and kissed it.

"I am all yours Laksh. Come back soon" she placed the chain back and took a framed photo from the table.

She closed her eyes and recollected their last happy moments together. The moment when he tied the wedding chain on her neck. After that everything she could remember is blood and loss. The picture of him standing infront of her with handcuffs made her cry.

"Dont try to come into my life. I am devil and I can only give you tears. Go away. Dont try to embrace the darkness of my life by being mine."
She remembered his words and she realized that it was true. The moment when she became his wife, she lost everything and her life became dark.

"Still I love you Laksh. I know you would return back to remove all darkness from my life and to fill it with colors. I am waiting for it. I am waiting for you to embrace me with all your love that you hid from me. Dont try to avoid me anymore. I love you more and more on each day." She said kissing his picture on her hand.

"Samskriti..."she heard her sister calling for her and immediately placed the photo back on table. She wiped her face and ensured that she is ok. She left the room fixing a smile on her face eventhough it was not genuine.

She walked into the dining area to see everyone already ready for breakfast.
"When did you come Anna? What about audit?" She asked looking at Sreeram, her maternal uncle's son and her sister's husband.

"Audit will start after 10 am. We had some pre-arrangements there. Glad that Guna and Vinay were with me. Because of their help everything has finished quickly." Sreeram told.

Samskriti smiled at Vinay and Guna. They are the people who witnessed all ups and downs of her love story with their best friend Lakshya.

"I will bring the breakfast."she was about to go when she saw Shivani coming with the dishes from kitchen.
"Everything is ready dear. Lets eat together."Shivani said starting serve everyone.

They sat on the table and started eating.
"So 3 more months to finish everyone's punishment here." Sreeram said gaining everyone's attention.
"I am also waiting for him to return. He was not less than a brother for me. He gets prisoned for my mistake too. Then also he decided to take the whole punishment himself. For the sake of these two women..."Sreeram looked at Samskriti and Shivani alternately.

They stopped eating.
"After he returns I want to hand over the factory to him. He needs to start a new life with my sister. And I will do anything for their happiness." He stated making Vinay, Guna and Shivani smile. Samskriti showed mixed emotions. She don't know whether to cry or smile.

She quickly finished her breakfast and went to kitchen after taking her plate. Everyone looked at her sadly. This girl is their biggest sorrow. She forgot to smile too. They recollected the memories where she used to smile for Lakshya. Her giggles, blushing, angelic voice,... everything. Their past flashed through their mind. It was all about them. Lakshya and Samskriti. Everyone became a part of their story. It was all started after he saved her from the public torture caused by her father's biggest enemy's only son. The day they met for the first time. They didn't know that life is gonna change for both of them after that. They unknowingly became part of each other's destiny. Became each other's destiny.
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Beautiful love story of Lakshya and Samskriti will be starting from next chapter onwards. It will be portraying in a flashback. Again it's a short story. Dont expect long tracks. Thank you!!!