Nisha's POV

Flashback

A seven years old Aaliyah whimpered in her closet, Her face was hurting from bruise She got from her Father. She was came first in class that's why she went to show him, she wanted him to be proud of her, Love her, like he loved he loved her sister. But He got Soo furious When she disturbed him and slapped her hard.

"Aaliyah, Child where are you." She heard Asha's soothing voice and her little heart felt at peace.

"Asha Maa." She whimpered but she didn't had the the courage to Get out of the closed , Afraid her Father or worst Her Sister will punish her again.

The closet door opened and warm arms engulfed her in motherly embrace, Aaliyah immediately hide herself in Asha's embrace wishing she could hide Aaliyah from the work forever.

"Shhh Child no one's going to hurt again." Asha whispered caressing her hair.

Aaliyah looked at her eyesful of tears," But Kira Di will, She always does , She says I am a monster Who snatched her happiness, Am I monster Asha Maa." Aaliyah asked innocently.

Asha shook her head," No child You are an Angel , A sweet Angel , Your sister is just jealous of you that's why She says all these , but trust me one day a someone will come and take you far away from here." Asha said smiling, she wished she could help the innocent child from these monster but she was just a caretaker.

Aaliyah's eyes lit as sat straight," Really, like a Prince charming." She asked, she read a lot about princess and their prince in white horse and wished someday her prince while take her with him to his beautiful castle in the hill.

"No a knight in Shining Armour."

Aaliyah jutted lips," But I want prince charming and not a knight."

"To you he will be your prince charming but for the bad people's he will be your knight." Asha explained and part of her hoped that one day these void promises truly comes true.

Aaliyah happily hugged her, in hopes that one day her prince will surely take her away, and they will live happily ever after in their castle.

Or she wished.

Because The punishment didn't stop but Aaliyah didn't give up in the hope that one day her knight will rescue her.

I opened my eyes with a jerk, A silent scream lodged in my throat.

My breathing was becoming erratic and I could hardly focus on my surroundings but then my eyes fall on the person holding my hand sleeping on the chair, and just like that the world came crushing on me.

I always thought that my life can never be more cursed but at this moment looking at Ishaan I know that I am on the verge of losing everything again.

9 years ago I lost everything, My will to live, my identity, my humanity and a part of myself, 9 years later I am standing in the same place only this time there is a lot more in stakes ,

Only this time I will lose the person who is my everything.

"Nisha." I opened my eyes to see Ishaan looking at me worried, he cupped my face," You okay, shall I call the Doctor, is it hurting anywhere." He asking in deep worry but I could nothing but stare at him blankly.

I am Soo sorry Ishaan unshed tears stung me as the bitter realization of the truth slowly sank into me ,

I am the reason for Ishaan's misery , I am the person Ishaan is searching every moment in his life for revenge, I am the person who destroyed him.

I am reason Zoya is no more,

I killed Zoya

My eyes fall on my hand which was trembling, I could see the Scarlett blood slowly dripping, Zoya's blood.

"DOCTOR." I jumped hearing Ishaan shout.

"I am fine." I lied I am not , I....I don't want my memories...I want to be the clueless, it's hurting me.

My head was hurting, I was overwhelmed with every memory, every emotions that I am reliving every moment. I want to hug Ishaan, I want to be comforted by him but I can't.

Ishaan is not mine to cherish , He was never mine to begin with,I was never meant to get his love, I was never meant to be his light, I was the darkness which consumed him once, I was the shadow He was trying to destroy.

I was the poison spread in his every memories.

"You Don't look fine Sweetheart," He said with a frown holding my hand.

The doctors entered and panic shoot through me, did they get to know I got my memories back , No I am not ready for this, I can't, I am not strong enough to lose Ishaan now, I need him , I need him to hide from the world, from myself and from Ishaan also.

"How are you feeling Ms.Ahuja." The doctor asked me.

My throat felt like a desert as fear clawed at my chest, " I feel light-headed." I said wetting my dry lips.

" Something might have your memories,Do you remember anything."

I fisted my hand," I...Few flashes , I don't remember correctly." Lies lies

A invisible hand chocked me as Ishaan squeezed my hand with a soft look , don't, please Ishaan don't

"Can you try to remember those flashes." The doctor asked me.

I swallowed," I can't, my head is hurting." Please don't force me, please

"But..."

"When she is saying she can't, then Should definitely respect her wish and do your job of taking care of her headache, make that degree some use Doctor." Ishaan snapped like a wild animal and the Doctor paled.

"Of course, of course, I will run some tests for Ms.Ahuja." the doctor said.

"I want to go home." I mumbled as Ishaan stroked my palm, I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly retreated my hand to my lap, I didn't look at him but I could feel his confused gaze on me.

The ride to the mansion was silent , Ishaan tried to read me but he couldn't, not when I myself can't,All this time I kept my gaze outside afraid that one glance at his eyes and I will break.

"I want to rest." I mumbled and left for my room the moment we we got inside the mansion.

I locked the door and bolted to the bathroom, staring at the mirror my own skin crawled, the very face of Aaliyah Khurana stared at me, I tried to find Nisha Ahuja, if only for a hint of her light but only darkness stared back at me.

"No, No Go away." I whispered stepping back until my back hit the wall.

" Pull the trigger Aaliyah, pull it."

"No Aaliyah."

"Do it."

Bamm!!!

I covered my ears but the echoes of that gunshot still run like a echos of death, my whole body felt heavy as I slide down to the ground.

"I m sorry Zoya , I am sorry." I kept chanting shaking my head but nothing helped. The scene from 9 years back still played infront of my eyes. Why asha maa, Why did you safe me asha maa , I am a murderer maa , because of me Soo many lives got destroyed. I sobbed.

I never wanted this , I wanted to give up on my life , I wanted my life to end, I was death anyway, but Asha maa why did you do it , why did you put my burden on Ishaan , why did you put the biggest challenge to Ishaan and me.

You wanted him to be my protector maa but he was my biggest destroyer or I am his. We are each other poison and slowly we have spread in each other's every vain and now only one of us is going to survive.

"Nisha!!"

I jerked hearing Ishaan shout , how did he entered the room, I locked the door.

"Nisha fucking answer to me or I am going to break the door down." He shouted and I immediately stood up knowing very well he was serious.

No no I can't let him see me like this, I won't be able to answer his confrontation, I am not ready for this no no.

I quickly wiped my eyes and composed myself, looking myself one last time I opened the door to see Ishaan ready to break the door with a anxious face. Looking at me his face softened and he immediately engulf me in a tight hug. " Dammit Nisha , You scared me. I was freaking out from the car at your silence and you just run like that , gosh you scared me sweetheart don't do that again." He muttered in my hair holding me tightly like I would dissapear.

That was it for me I broke down , everything crumbled inside of me as I lost myself to the arm of the men whom I destroyed and who is my entire world now. My loud sobs shook through him as my tears drenched his shirt molding into his skin.

"Baby what happened, Did anything happened ? Tell me sweetheart did anyone said something to you, whom do I have to kill darling." He was panicking as he tried to console but my silence and loud sobs were the only thing which greeted him.

"Shhh sweetheart , I am here everything is going to be okay." His voice was now soothing as he rubbed my back and caressed my hair's gently. Nothing is going to be okay, nothing Ishaan, You will hate me, you will break down Ishaan.

Suddenly I froze, no no I can't do this to Ishaan, He will be devastated, he won't be able to take it, no no he has went through enough I can't let him suffer more. If one my lie can give him even a ounce of happiness then I will forever live in that lie, I will give everything in my power and beyond to make sure Ishaan never finds the truth of Aaliyah khurana. I am sorry Zoya , I am not a good person I never was , I was selfish 9 years back and I am still selfish 9 years later.

" Is it about your past sweetheart, the flashbacks you got." He asked me gently. I am fisted his shirt and took a deep breath, This step might destroy us both Ishaan us both , maybe the weight of the lies and the guilt might drown me in it, maybe I would never be able to look at your eyes with the same courage again but I have to do it, for me and for us.

I am sorry Ishaan.

" Can.....can you do something for me Ishaan." I asked him without raising my head, my voice hoarse from crying but determined for the step I was going to take for the unknown future.

"Off course sweetheart , Tell me What is it." He asked me with gentle voice still caressing my hairs. Tears escaped my eyes as I thought about my next words.

I raised my head and looked at him who was looking at me with mix of tenderness and worry. My empty heart broke again after that horrible turn of my life today, destiny played a sick game with us Ishaan.

I swallowed." Ishaan I ..I know what I am going to ask is something very.....very dificult but...but please understand I...I.." I took Deep. " I...I..I want you to promise me that you will never try to dig for my past and never ask me anything related to it." I told him and he looked surprised hearing me.

"Sweetheart, Why..."

"Please." I begged, desperation coated by voice I held his hand tightly." Please Ishaan , I..I don't want to remember my past I don't want to who I was because I want to be the one who is with you, please."

I could feel his confusion as he looked at me," I understand sweetheart but If your past is related to anything which is troubling you till now, Then it's my responsibility to take care of that thing." He told me but I shook my head, You can never fix my past Ishaan because Nisha doesn't has a past , Aaliyah does.

" Ishaan I saw some flashbacks today of...of the accident...and...and..and it was terrifying I don't want to do anything with my past anymore Ishaan I don't care who I was , please I beg you don't dig into my past and don't force me to regain my memories, It hurts Ishaan,it hurted me Soo bad today, Please promise me that you won't dig into my past anymore, please promise me." I rested my forehead on his chest tiredly. I was exhausted both physically and mentally I didn't had the power to fight anymore at this moment, but this was only the beganing because from today onwards my everything moment will spent fighting to protect the lies.

He was silent and it only increased my worries more , Ishaan doesn't know how Aaliyah khurana looks and only saw her childhood picture but I know it won't be long until he actually discovers who Aaliyah khurana actually is , Father is a coward and he will do everything in his power to protect his elder daughter, just like he did nine years ago , but not this time. This time Aaliyah khurana will fight , she will go to any extend to protect her present.

---------------------------------------------

Let me Know your thoughts regarding the story , would love to listen to your feedbacks.

Love- Ira ❤️