Warning: This Chapter Is Unedited!!!

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Prarthana stared. Her heartbeat calm.

Get up.

She commanded.

The man stared at her startled.

Ji?

He spoke thinking he had misheard.

She stood up.

She was dolled up in a sleek, classic, black, bodycon sheath dress tailored to hit above the knee.

It had a modest square neckline and cap sleeves that created a structured, shoulder-framing silhouette. A thin, dark belt sat at the natural waist, defining the waistline and adding subtle texture.

The back of the dress included a small slit at the hemline for ease of movement.

She was wearing a classic black pointed-toe high heels. She was wearing a pair of delicate, geometric drop earrings in white gold and her hair were styled in loose curls that framed her face making her look like a vision of timeless elegance.

I said get up.

She said calmly but there was something in her tone that made him shiver.

He stood up stumbling on his feet.

Biwi chahiye ya kaam wali Bai? Tum chahate ho main apna carrier quit ker doon tumse shadi kerne ke liye taki tumhari mom mujhe poori Zindagi tane marti rahein.

Prarthana asked, calmly.

Mera matlab...

Tumhara matlab main tumhari poori family ka khayal rakhun, raaton mein jagun, Ghar ke sare kaam Karun, apna carrier quit ker doon aur tumhara kabhi kabar wala gussa bardast Karun.

She cut him off sharply.

Mujhe bas Kabhi Kabhi...

Gusse mein apni previous girlfriend ka Kya haal Kiya tha tumne pata hai mujhe. Saari details hain mere paas.

She said softly.

Ab dafa ho jao isse pehle ke main security ko bulaun. You are rejected.

She said, softly.

You...

The man trailed off with a hiss and raised a hand but she caught his hand and kicked him hard.

The woman who was nervously sipping her tea, dropped the cup and stood up with a loud gasp.

Be..

Prarthana looked at the woman, and she swallowed her words.

Apne bete ko lijiye aur jaiye yahan se. Karate black belt hoon main. Itna maarungi mahino bed se uth nahin payega.

She said, her voice dangerously calm.

She turned, grabbed her clutch and walked out. Her dark, loose curls framed her face like spilled ink and she lifted her eyes and her eyes caught the sunlight causing her orbs to appear in the color of warm honey.

She stepped inside the house. Her chest felt tight but her face remained calm.

How was the meeting.

Her mother, asked excitedly.

Prarthana's lips curved into a smile, half genuine, half automatic.

She walked towards her mother and hugged her tightly, squeezing her.

Are bas bas mujhe sans nahin aa Rahi. Meri jaan logi kya?

Radha spoke with a soft laugh, gently teasing.

Nahin toh bas aise hi main apki kasrat karwa rahi hoon.

Prarthana said, softly.

Kya baat hui did you like him.

Radha spoke curiously.

Nahin.

Prarthana said calmly.

Per why? Itna acha toh hai woh.

Radha said, a frown forming on her forehead.

Her heartbeat was calm. She felt nothing.

He was abusive.

Prarthana said, evenly.

Prarthana ek thapad toh chalta hai na bete.

Her uncle,Ved spoke with a sweet smile.

No. Nahin chalta. Shadi mujhe kerni hai choice bhi meri hogi.

Prarthana said, coldly.

Bhabi iss ladki ko samjhayen.

Ved said, shifting his eyes to Radha.

Nahin uncle. Main pehle se hi bahot samajhdaar hoon.

Prarthana said, softly.

Kitni badtameez ladki hai yeh...

Ved spoke.

Aunty wait ker rahin hain Ghar per.

Prarthana said, completely uncaring.

Ved's face flushed red in embarrassment and he walked out.

Yeh kya badtameezi thi...

Radha screamed at her.

Prarthana stared at Radha, her eyes screaming a silent accusation: You didn't take a stand for me.

Her heart ached, her breath threatened to hitch but something in her locked it in place.

Yeh badtameezi nahin sachai thi.

She wanted to scream.

But instead she said with a smirk

Thanks for the compliment.

She turned and went upstairs and closed the door and then finally breathed, something in her chest loosening just slightly and she blinked.

She walked towards her desk and opened the drawer. She pulled out a diary and grabbed a pen and sat down on the chair in front of the desk. The pen hovered over the blank page. Time passed but she kept staring at the blank page. She dropped the pen inside and closed the diary and
dropped it inside the drawer and shut it off.

She took off her heels and walked to the bed and let herself fall behind, letting her body loose.

Her head hit the mattress and she closed her eyes.

A moment passed and memories crashed over her like a tidal wave, sudden, unbidden.

A sharp ache clawed at her chest, the kind that made her breath hitch.

She sat up and breathed and the ache inside her dulled.

It didn't fade.

But it dulled.

Like a wound half-stitched.

She stared up at the ceiling.

Somehow it had became her identity.

She breathed calmly. She stood up and walked to the desk and sat down on the chair in front of the desk and pulled the drawer open and pulled out the diary and flipped it open.

She wrote: Uske ird gird ek khamoshi thi. Ek aisi khamoshi jis mein bahot shor tha.

She stared at the words and dropped the pen inside the diary.

I think people will like it.

She thought and what answered her was silence.

Absolute silence.

She stood up and walked to the kitchen.
.............................................

Shivansh!!!

A 15 year old Prarthana yelled in excitement as she rushed inside the study, her bare feet thudding against the floor, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and excitement and her straight hair flying around her face but she didn't care, her blush pink skirt catching the light.

Prarthana sambhal ker. Gir jaogi.

Shivansh said with a soft laugh catching her just as she stumbled.

Aap sambhal loge mujhe pata hai.

Prarthana said, her voice shaking with a mixture of trust and breathless excitement.

Acha agar main na hua toh?

He spoke mischievously, his heart skipping a beat as he held her careful as though she was a fragile doll.

Kyun Nahin hoge? Mujhe pata hai aap honge.

Prarthana said with a confidence of someone who knows him better than he knows himself.

Shivansh laughed, the sound was warm and hearty that filled the air between the two.

Yeh excitement kis liye.

He spoke, seeing her excited.

Mera wallet khali hone wala hai.

Shivansh thought. The thought made his heart flutter and he smiled, a heart-melting smile.

Haye main marjawan. Itni pyaari smile.

Prarthana said, entirely smitten and clicked a picture.

Yeh kya ker Rahi ho?

He asked, with a soft chuckle.

Picture click ker Rahi hoon ab yeh mat kahiyega ke Prarthana tum Nahin le sakti because aapko bhi pata hai maine aaj tak aapki Kuch kaam ki baaton ke ilawa koi baat nahin suni.

Prarthana said in one breath.

A wave of warmth washed over him. He rolled his eyes but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

Ab kya hi ker sakte hain.

He said, with a dramatic sigh but his heart skipped a beat, caught between love and soft warmth.

Okay okay get ready mujhe market jana hai. Eid hai. I know Muslim festival hai but that won't stop me from shopping and apka wallet khali hone wala hai. Mujhe churiya bhi chahiye, kapde bhi chahiye, accessories bhi chahiye, street food bhi khana hai, mehendi bhi lagwani hai aur payal bhi khareedni hai aur princess twirl bhi chahiye. Sab aap diloge.

Prarthana said in one breath, her heart raced, caught between a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

Shivansh caught her, breathless.

Prarthana sans lo. Tumhein ek sans mein bolta dekh ker mujhe sans chadh Rahi hai.

Shivansh spoke, growing breathless.

I'm not sorry. I'm so excited and please change this formal suit or else I'll say to everyone that this man beside me is my brother.

Prarthana said, mischievously, using the ultimate trump card.

The color drained from Shivansh's face hearing her but he recovered quickly and spoke despite his heart recoiling in horror

Okay baba.

Shivansh said with a soft laugh and Prarthana turned and left to change while singing something entirely random.
........................................
Bhai. Come out of your memories. You are going to meet her in a few days phir samne se niharna.

Tanya spoke teasingly as she entered with two mugs of coffee balanced in her hands.

Shut up.

Shivansh said but his heart fluttered.

Tanya laughed and sat beside him on the couch. Warmth wrapped itself around her heart like a warm blanket.

Shivansh took the cup of coffee and took a sip.

It was nice.

Kaisi hai?

Tanya asked, raising an eyebrow, seeking feedback.

It's nice. But prarthana's coffee hits differently.

Shivansh said honestly.

GOD!!! I miss her. Damn it.

Shivansh thought.

Main ek na ek din usko beat kerke rahungi.

Tanya said mischievously.

That's not possible.

Shivansh said, without missing a beat.

Try me.

Tanya said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I'm trying you.

Shivansh said.

There was a beat of silence.

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

On The Other Side!!!

Prarthana opened her laptop, notepads, registers, ready to work on her story.

Radha passed by her bedroom and stopped outside the door.

She let out a heavy sigh.

Yeh ladki hai ya robot.

Radha said to herself tiredly and went to her room.

Prarthana heard it but didn't comment.

She had already moved past that.

Here's the chapter No 1. Don't forget to vote and comment. Love you all. Take care stay home and stay safe ❤️

Prarthana and shivansh: PraShiv 👇