Hello!

How is everyone fairing on this fine day?

Begin the story on a positive note

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काग़ज़ के पर्दे हैं ताले हैं दरवाज़ो पे

पानी में डूबे हुवे ख्वाब अल्फाज़ों के

CHAPTER 1- ANSHIKA

Exploring.

Is it the right mentality to explore individuals and view them as options?

Anshika always asks this question. She detests it when people think that the person they like should only love them and die for them, but they also want the liability of having options for them with the freedom to explore them whenever they want. She finds these people's hypocrisy amusing.

Anshika was seated next to her fellow classmates at the tea vendor's tiny store, which was directly in front of her ideal college.

Samaira, one of the group's girls, has been involved with a boy for more than two months, and her friends were discussing how she should consider her other possibilities.

She worries about these folks since she doesn't know how they would handle life with such an attitude. However, she should be thinking about other things in her life instead of this subject.

She is terrified of going back to her house more than anything else that could threaten her, yet she is still afraid of everything else.

After all, it's the weekend, and she needs to get back from her hostel stay to her parents' house. And she despises this time period with all of her heart.

What was meant to be her home never seemed like home to her; she never felt supported, loved, or safe there. Her heart yearns for the same calm and affection that other people experience when they visit their parents. That small thing is what hear heart longs for.

She detested those who assert that parents are the only ones who truly love you and all that, because that isn't usually the case.

Your parents may also be the source of your hatred towards love; they may be the ones who instill in you a deep-seated self-loathing. Her life is evidence of this.

"Anshika, where are you lost?" was a call from Sidharth, a fellow batchmate, as she was buried in her own thoughts.

Her heart answered, "In this world, where nothing is right," when he asked her. But her voice said, "Nowhere, Sidharth, was just thinking something; you were saying something?"

"Well, I was wondering, will you like to have a night out with us?" he added, nodding.

A voice said, "Hey Sid, quiet up. She never goes out with us for a day out, and you are asking for a night out? No, my friend, she won't be attending."

Another youngster spoke for her, saying, Prateek.

Since she truly wants to escape her family, she was actually going to accept the invitation, but that would require her to spend time with the stupid bitch, Prateek. After weighing the invitation's drawbacks, she declined and requested a leave of absence because she would be late.

She now wants no further marks on her body, so there's no chance she'll make a mistake.

She prepared herself and took a short drive before standing in front of the home she was supposed to call her own.

She despises this place with all of her being, but she lacks the ability to leave at this time.

She inhaled deeply before moving ahead to the front door of the house. As she continued, she saw her brother Divit writing on pages in the lawn, appearing to be working on an assignment. She stepped in his direction and put her hand on his back. Divit turned his attention in that way, and when he spotted her beloved sister, his expression brightened instantly. He took a stand and gave her a bear embrace.

"Aap aa gaye?"

(You came?)

Anshika chuckled and said, "No, I'm still on the way."

Divit laughed it off. "How are you? Your health? You eat on time, right?"

She nodded and said, "Yes, sir, I'm doing extremely fine, perfectly healthy, and yes, I eat on time."

"You were doing assignments?"

"Yeah, school work; I hate it." He spoke

"I know you do; give me some time. Sab se mil kar aa jau, fir mai tera saara kaam karwa dugi, hmm?"

(I know you do; give me some time, let me come after meeting everyone, then i will help you get all your work done, hmm?)

"pakka?"

(Sure?)

She smiled broadly and nodded before heading to the gate to let herself inside the residence. When she arrived in the living room, she noticed her mother looking through her phone while seated on the couch. She stepped in her direction and bowed to touch her feet.

"Ram Ram maa, kaise ho aap?"

(greetings mom, how are you?")

Anju Goyal, her mother, scowled at her as soon as she turned to face her.

"Why are you so late today? How long I will have to teach you that you have to follow the time rules? you are exactly half an hour late; tumhare papa ko pata laga to zinda nahi bachogi. I am sure you must be roaming around with some boys; tumhe thodi si azaadi kya di, tum to titli ki tarah udd ne lagi ho; pichle Janam ke karam jale hoge humare, jo tujh jaisi aulaad ko Janam diya"

(Why are you so late today? How long will I have to teach you that you girls have to follow the time rules? You are exactly half an hour late; if your father finds out, you will not be able to survive any longer. I am sure you must be roaming around with some boys; by giving you a little freedom, you started flying away like butterflies; the karma of our previous birth must have been washed away for giving birth to a child like you.")

While standing there, silently staring at the marble floor beneath her feet, Anshika's mother's words did break something inside of her, but it was already so little that she no longer felt anything.

"Sorry maa, This will not be repeated again. Will come early from now."

She did apologise, but her heart knows it was not her mistake; she was not roaming out in the town with any guy; she was just having a moment to herself, but that offended her maa, her mom, the lady who gave her birth.

Even if Anshika regrets what she did, it was not her fault because she gave everything she had and they weren't proud of her. Her mother's comments had an internal effect on her, causing her to clench her fist and sink her nails as far as she could, all in an attempt to forget her mother's remarks, as she does every time.

"Now go and do some chores, mera chehra dekhne aayi ho kya?"

(Did you come here to stare at my face?)

Anshika made her way to the kitchen, ready to whip up a delicious meal for dinner tonight. After a solid 2 hours of hard work, she had successfully completed all the cooking, dishwashing, and kitchen cleaning. She then meandered her way to the grassy expanse to fulfil the commitment she had made to Divit.

As she navigated through the way towards the secluded table where Divit had been seated just a few hours earlier, she couldn't help but notice that his books were still sitting there, abandoned while he was nowhere to be seen. With a wistful sigh, she settled into the chair and began tackling his task.

In her youth, Anshika's intelligence shone so brightly that she was destined for academic success. If she doesn't achieve high grades, there will be repercussions. Right from the beginning, she fixated on the idea that if she didn't meet the high expectations set by those around her, she would be left behind by everyone.

Perhaps this was the driving force behind her success in passing the medical entrance exam on her first try-the knowledge that her family's expectations were so high that failure was not an option. Even though it was not the path she had envisioned for herself, her inner desires had long been buried. Now, all she desires is to be strong enough to protect and provide for her little brother so they can start a new chapter together.

Divit is the one shining star in her universe, the most important person in her life. She keeps her problems to herself because she believes that sharing them might portray her as vulnerable and seeking attention. She still sees her younger brother as a small, innocent child who shouldn't have to go through the same pain she did.

Upon finishing her assignment, she eagerly made her way to her room, determined to avoid her father's presence for the rest of the evening. However, it appears that fate has a different path in store for her.

As she ascended the stairs, the grand gate swings open, unveiling her father and grandmother standing at the entrance.

"Mummy ji aap?"

(mom, you?)

Anju respectfully greeted her mother-in-law by draping the loose end of her saree over her head and humbly bending down to touch her feet.

"Now I must seek your permission before entering my own home," declared Shakuntala Devi, the matriarch of the household. "May you always remain a happily married woman," she added as her daughter-in-law reverently touched her feet.

At the tender age of 18, Shakuntala Devi tied the knot with her beloved, Somnath Kumar Goyal. While Shakuntala's father worked the land as a humble farmer, Somnath's lineage traced back to the aristocratic zameendars of the era.

The couple shared the joy of raising two kids, Rajesh and Rashi. Rajesh's innate sense of responsibility as the eldest sibling often manifested in a rather authoritative demeanour. Following the passing of her husband, she made the decision to return to her roots and reside in her hometown Jind, located in Haryana.

Shakuntala Devi harboured a deep disdain for her granddaughters, clinging to the outdated belief that girls were nothing more than a liability. However, deep within her heart, there exists an undeniable feeling of animosity towards Anshika. She harboured a deep dislike for her, always seeking to inflict pain upon her through any means available.

She scanned the entire house with her eyes before they settled on the figure by the staircase, Anshika. Anshika felt her grandmother's eyes on her and gracefully moved closer to her side. She gracefully lowers herself to reach down and touch her feet in a gesture of reverence.

"Ram Ram Baa"

(Greetings, grandma)

The old lady's face contorted in anger as she swiftly kicked away Anshika's hand, which had dared to touch her feet.

"chal hatt! Tujh jaise abshagun ne agar mujhe chu bhi liya to mai maili ho jaugi, dur reh humse ladki, pata nhi tere baap ne abhi tak tujhe ghar me vo bhi zinda kyu rakh Rakha hai, tujhe to jab hi mar jana chahiye tha jab tu paida hui thi.

(move it! If someone like you, causing bad luck, were to even touch me, I would become tainted. Stay away from me, girl. I don't know why your father has kept you alive in this house. You should have died the moment you were born.)

Anshika's eyes were starting to redden from the pain she was experiencing. The pain she felt stemmed from the hurtful words spoken by the woman who was meant to share comforting bedtime tales with her, yet instead found herself causing her harm. She rose to her feet with haste, whispering an apology into the empty air.

Her father commanded her to retreat to her chambers and spare one from the misfortune of her presence. She gave a subtle nod of agreement before gracefully gliding towards her sanctuary. Upon entering her sanctuary, she swiftly secured the door before diving into her bag to retrieve the one solace that could carry her through the chaos.

She produced a sharp blade, a tool she constantly keeps close at hand. She began to etch scars onto her left wrist, causing crimson drops to trickle out.

The blade squirts blood onto the ground. She may quit suffering since the cutting decreases the pain. The blade is her best friend and the person she trusts the most. The one she can depend on when life becomes too much, The edge of the blade rips through her skin and sears into her flesh. The pointy object protects her from every danger since it is her shield. Anger builds up and simmers in the shadows.

She opened her bag again and took out a long t-shirts to hide her arm, hide the bruises, hide her self-inflicted injuries, and hide the tears, the wrath, and all the falsehoods. To mend her broken heart and put an end to her sobbing.

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सो गई हैं ये साँसें सभी

अधूरी सी है कहानी मेरी

फ़िसल जाएँ भी तो डर ना कोई

रुक जाने की ज़रूरत नहीं

काग़ज़ के पर्दे हैं, ताले हैं दरवाज़ों पे

पानी में डूबे हुए ख़्वाब अल्फ़ाज़ों के

खो गए हम कहाँ, रंगों सा ये जहाँ

खो गए हम कहाँ, रंगों सा ये जहाँ

टेढ़े-मेढ़े रास्ते हैं, जादुई इमारतें हैं

मैं भी हूँ, तू भी है यहाँ

खोई-सोई सड़कों पे, सितारों के कंधों पे

हम नाचते उड़ते हैं यहाँ

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Behold, the inaugural chapter for your reading pleasure!

I hope it pleased you.

What emotions does the story evoke within us?

opinions?

It may seem mundane in the beginning, but who knows, perhaps it will become enjoyable after some time.

I apologise for the delayed posting.

I'll release the next chapter in two days, so please show this one some love till then.

We will take a brief pause after publishing five chapters, and this will be continue in the future as well.

I appreciate your cooperation as I am now dealing with some personal challenges.

I appreciate your reply.

Vanshii