Chapter 1

DRISHTI'S POV

" 9 years ago the word happy family died for me"

I was in my sweet sixteen back then.

The sounds of my father and mother shouting at each other reaching my ears from inside of our home .

Home , can I call it a "Home" ..nah it's just a cement house .

Built with shouting , fighting , taunts and much silence .

I am sitting on the floor of our terrace hiding myself from the rain . everything is turning blurry due to the moist present in my eyes. A suffocating feeling crawling to my throat yet I gulped down the pain.

Tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY .
The day I hate most in my life . I am turning 24 and I have no one to share my happiness as well as pain in my family other than my brother but he is busy I guess.

I have always seen my friends' parents wishing them , blessing them , giving them surprises but never mine . It's like they don't want to celebrate their mistake.
Rather I have seen them quarreling with each other more .

My mother Revati Mehta being a professor in a well known college Delhi .

Who loves her students more than her own child . She is all sweet in front of others but inside the house a whole new Revati Mehta awaits.
I should be hating her for that but I just can't the only feeling I feel towards her is fear . She is the sole reason why our family is breaking apart .

And my father Deepak Mehta, CEO of Mehta's and Corporation . it's not a well known company but we earn more than good for survival.

We are on our okay - okay terms of relationship but there were some fun moments I always cherish. We don't talk much now , I don't know the reason as well why we stopped talking.

The sound of rain drops brought me back from my haze . Still in my agony I stood up from my place and took a deep breath, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands .
I returned back to my room which is technically not mine, it's my Nani 's small room . She used to live with us as both Mr. and Mrs. Mehta had a busy life . She took care of me . I had so many memories in this room with my Nani than the memories with my parents .

I think Nani was also fed up with me so she left me here.
Like how can she leave her chiku when she knows I can't live without her .

I can't even complain now because what's gone it's gone .I can never bring her back to me , I can never hug her after a long tiring day and resting my head against her lap with her caressing my head.
it's all gone ......

Am I crying ?
stop Drishti and sleep . I hushed to myself cause tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Covering my ears with pillow as noises were coming from downstairs.I slept in Nani's room feeling a sense of warmth in her calmness.

Morning
Time : 6:15 AM

I woke up in a hurry and immediately ran to my room , locking that room carefully before the house help tell's Mrs. Mehta that I was sleeping in that room.

"Bach gyi varna aaj pta nhi kya hota" I said to myself locking the door of my room from inside.

Looking towards the clock on my study table stating it's 6:20 AM . I have to hurry today Mr. Patel called me early than usual to help him in the library.

I placed my mobile phone for charging and went to freshen up myself, took shower.
Getting ready in a red anarkali suit , using a little bit of tint on lips as well on cheeks for blush , Kohl in eyes , Bindi inbetween my brows , wearing pair of matching jhumka and my favourite bracelet given by Nani when I stood first position in 12th grade in my class.

Checking time,
yup it's 7:15 AM , I took more than enough time to get ready but it's okay.

I have to go to Krishna Mandir today. Later on I will go to the Library. Taking my dupatta , bag I went downstairs.

To my luck I saw my father in the dining area eating breakfast. I went towards him with the hope that today at least he acknowledges my presence .

I sat opposite to him on the table .

"Good Morning" he said reading news in his mobile phone .

"Oh-Good morning" I replied to him and to be honest this single statement made my morning happy . I don't expect him to keep our birthdays in mind so it was more than okay .

Till then Ramu kaka came with Poha on a plate . Placed it in front of me and I started to eat without making any noise like a good girl. I have to finish this breakfast before mom arrives here.

After 5-7 minutes I told Kaka that I am going for my work so there is no need to make lunch for me .

Leaving home I took an auto to reach the nearby Krishna temple I often visit .
Taking Pooja ka samaan with me.

"Janam din ki badhai ho beti" I turned back upon hearing this . And there stood Panditji . I bent down to seek his blessings with a smile on my face .
He knows me because of my Nani

( Blessing for your birthday )

"Shukriya Panditji "

( Thank- you )

"Achha ..chaliye Pooja ka samay ho gya hai beta "
(Alright, let's go. It's time for prayer, my child)

I have to leave early otherwise Patel uncle will not give me books to read .

While praying Hey Krishna ji aap toh sab jante ho mujhe apne liye kuch nhi chahiye bus papa aur successful Bane , bhaiya ka gussa thoda Kum ho jaye and Nani aapke paas khush rahe .

("Hey Krishna Ji, you know everything. I don't want anything for myself; I just wish for my father to become more successful, for my brother's anger to soften a little, and for my grandmother to be happy with you.")

Just like that I went to Patel uncle's library from there . Entering the library's reception area from where the books are issued.

"Good morning Mr Patel" I wished him with enthusiasm only to get ignored. His whole focus on that newspaper.

Arey inko kya ho gaya me toh time par aayi hu
("Oh! What happened to him? I arrived on time!")

currently it's 9 AM.

Oh ha padhne me busy hai na
( Ohh yup he is busy - reading )

"Hello mere cute uncle" I tried one more time to catch his little bit of attention in which I succeed.
( " Hello my cute uncle ")

"Ohh so you came bachha ..Aaj k din ka shift kar lo.. you know I have some urgent work today"

( "Ohh, so you came, bachha... do today's shift work, you know I have some urgent work today.")

He informed me because he was going out with his wife . And I am telling you , she is the literal definition of sweet .

"Okay uncle..bye and enjoy" such that he left .

I sat on the reception seat and relaxed myself trying not to overthink anything which led me to open my bag and take out my biology books to study .

Yes guys I am an intern in the hospital named "WE CARE" technically today is Sunday and I am free so why not revise everything I learnt in a whole week .

While I was studying I didn't knew how the time went by and some customers came to issue their books .

Just like that it was evening time.

I think I should close the library now otherwise it will be a huge mess at home . I messaged Patel uncle about it .We both have keys to this library so it's not an issue to hand him the key .

While I was going home a thought came to my mind that I am forgetting something and shit I always share my treat with Aashram k bachhe because I think we both are similar.

They don't have parents or their parents abandoned them while mine treat me like I rarely exist for them .
So I can relate to them well now I have to take some sweets for them. I took an auto to go to a nearby sweet shop. From there I will be going to the ashram directly.

When I reached the ashram it was feeling strange like something bad is going to happen because it was pin drop silence, very unusual , on other days it feels like a whole cute animals are here but not today.

Should I go further or Should I return !!

I think I should take this risk because Dar ke aage Jeet hai .

Aur Jeet k aage maut !!

("And beyond victory lies death !!")

Suddenly when I opened the main gate of the ashram the light went off making my heartbeats fast and it would be a lie if I told you I was not sacred . I was scared to my guts , okay I just was this close to screaming because someone's presence can be felt behind me.

Then a cloth covered my eyes and I screamed - "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa leave me you bastard or whoever you are !!"

I used my elbow to hit his stomach because in another hand I was carrying sweets but he covered my mouth. Also hearing him groan it confirmed that he is a man .
I kicked him on his leg resulting him to step back from me .

Suddenly the light came at the right time , I removed that cloth from my eyes and believe me I was shocked to see who the man was.

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(1500+ words)

So guys this is the first chapter of my very first book ..yaay I am happy !!