•1•

“Her heart was hidden under the shadows.

He was like the starlight that washed away the shadows.

The light stayed in her heart,

               Forever.”

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The soft click of her heels echoed through the marble floored corridor of the villa, as she walked, pressing the phone to her ear.

“Come on, pick up” she muttered, her voice tensed. 

She paused near a huge wooden door, as the two guards standing there blocked her way, stopping her. 

“You must be new.” She said, in a calm tone. "I am Kavya Malhotra.” 

Another guard came running there and said,

“Pardon, ma’am. They have just been assigned here.” he explained and opened the door for her. 

Inside, the room was dim. 

As she scanned the room, her eyes fell on her two best friends.

One of them is sitting comfortably on the couch. She glared at him and snapped,

“Mr. Ahaan Khanna, why have you and your idiot friend been ignoring my calls? I don't even know what possessed me to become friends with you two.” 

Ahaan gave her a sheepish smile and gestured her to sit, passing her the glass of liquor. She took the glass and looked at her other side.

A man, dressed in formal clothes, was lying on the couch, his eyes closed, one hand hanging down, a burning cigarette between his fingers.

“So, your highness. What are you upto? huh?” She said and slipped on the seat next to him. “Your family keeps asking me about you everyday as if I have locked you somewhere and you are chilling here.”

The man stayed silent, eyes still closed and brought the cigarette close to his lips, taking a quick drag he let the smoke drift from his lips.

“You need to stop it now, it's been two months. She betrayed you and disappeared. And you are not even close to finding her. Just give up.” She said, taking a sip.

“I will find her.” He finally spoke with a voice low and firm.

Kavya rolled her eyes hearing him.

Their attention shifted with the sudden ring of the phone. Kavya glanced at the screen,

“It's your dad.” She informed, quietly.

His eyes flicked open, face reflecting confusion. He sat upright and crushed the cigarette into the ashtray.

“Answer it,” he said. “put it on speaker”

“Hello, son.” The voice - cold, deliberate - came from the other side of the call. “From the past two years you did what you wanted to. You fought with your family for someone who left you without a thought. Don't worry no one knows about it in the family, not yet. So, now accept your defeat and come back. I am giving you two days, remember only two days.”

And the line went dead.

“How did he-” Kavya began to say but he interrupted,

“I will find her”

Kavya and Ahaan looked at eachother confusingly, finding their friend unusually calm. 

Ahaan’s phone pinged with a text and Kavya noticed as his expression tensed. She turned, hearing a knock on the door. 

A group of men barged inside and stood aligned there. One of them came forward to them and said,

“Sir, we found the information. She is in Anantapur.” 

Kavya instantly smiled as relief washed over her. She stood up and turned towards her friend.

“Congratulations, Mr. Rishabh singh Rathore. You finally found her. Come on, let's go to Anantapur.” She said excitedly. Aryan also stood up and said to his friend,

“Yes, let's go.” 

Rishabh finally looked up at them and smirked.

“Let's go.” 

____________

Dark clouds covered the sky, turning the early morning into grey. 

A woman in her late 40’s is standing on the doorstep, frowned looking at the sky. After some time she stepped inside and saw her husband and son sitting down on the ground having breakfast. She came and sat next to them. 

Just then a young girl, her daughter- Aarohi, came and quickly served food to her mother.

“Aru, where is your plate?” her mother asked.

“I will eat later, Maa. I have to get ready first.” She answered.

“Are you going somewhere?” 

“Yes, for a job.” She said, “Have your breakfast or you will be late.”

“Where are you going , Yamini.” Her father questioned, suddenly, glancing at her mother.

“To visit the Doctor, Papa and you are going with her.” She said, earning a glare from her father, who didn't say anything further and continued eating. 

She got up and went inside the other room.

After some time, she came out wearing a simple blue kurti, paired with brown pants. Her eyes stared at her mother standing near the door, with a dull face and weak frame. 

Her mother turned to face her, said, “Don't forget to take the umbrella, the weather is not good.” and exited the house.

Once everyone left, she scanned her house. She took different shapes of buckets and placed them in different places on the earthen floor. Because if it rains, the cracks in the ceiling will invite the raindrops inside.

She went to the other corner of the room, took out a Roti and put the Subji on it and rolled it. She quickly ate it.

Once done, she exhaled a breath and kept the umbrella inside her handbag. As she came out, she saw her neighbour standing near the gate. The lady smiled looking at her way and asked her,

“Arohi beta, how is your mother’s health now?”

“She is a little better now aunty.” She replied, “She went to the doctor today as well.”

“Oh, It's okay, I will come later.” she paused for moment and said,

“Beta, I know about your family’s condition. But please ask your parents to return the sum as soon as possible.” 

“I really feel bad for Yamini, she has suffered a lot. Even I don't want to pressure her, but-”

“It's alright, Aunty. We will try to return the money soon and sorry for the delay.” The lady nodded, giving her a small smile and left. 

Aarohi took a deep breath and continued to walk. She found the route in front of her moody because of the continuous raining. She somehow crossed the moody portion of the road and decided to walk till the bus stop. 

Her mind wandered aimlessly as she made her way towards the bus stop. Just when a sudden movement caught her attention.

She saw a woman, maybe in her late twenties, running towards her direction, with desperate steps, her head snapping back again and again, checking as if someone was following her.

Before she could react or understand anything, the woman collided into her with a force, making her stumbled backward.

She fell hard on the road and her head struck a stone. She felt a sharp, burning pain and warm blood trickled down from her forehead. Her vision blurred and within moments everything blacked out around her.

She fainted.

The woman’s steps halted looking at Arohi, her face,  reflecting shock and regret, trying to catch a breath.

A few passerby started to gather there and the woman’s eyes darted towards the men at some distance, approaching her and she started to take her steps backward. Giving a last look at Arohi, she ran away, disappearing from the scene.

_________________________

| AROHI’S POV.

With an ache in my head my senses alerted, pulling me out of unconsciousness and I tried to open my eyes with difficulty, blinking against my heavy lashes. Slowly, the darkness faded and a white ceiling came to my blurred vision. I felt heaviness in my head and a slight pain shot through my forehead and my fingers instinctively moved up to the bandage wrapped around my head.

My mind wandered to the earlier  incident before I fainted. I slowly sat up on the bed and looked at the unfamiliar surroundings. 

How did I come here?

Did someone kidnap me?

But why would someone kidnap me?

I stared at the room, which is undoubtedly expensive and even bigger than my house.

I put my foot down from the bed,as I tried to stand up. I heard the door click and two women in simple uniforms entered inside. One of them carrying a tray of food.

Both greeted me, with a warm smile and said in unison,

“Hello, ma’am.”

One of them placed the tray on the side table and left.

The other one stayed and 

“Please have your meal ma’am. Your injury has been treated properly, the doctor said it will heal soon.” she said gently.

“Can you tell me who brought me here?” I questioned.

She answered casually,

“Your husband.” 

What?

Husband?

I stood upright immediately after hearing her. But my head spinned and I slumped back on the bed.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” I heard her asking.

“No, no, there must be some confusion,” I tried to explain, “I-I’m not married, you must have mistaken me for someone else.”

She frowned.

“What are you saying ma'am? Please calm down.” and said with hesitation.

“No, I need to leave.” 

“Sorry, ma’am. But you can't go anywhere, until Sir comes.” she stated.

I sighed, frustratingly.

“Who is your sir?” I questioned.

“Your husband,” She said again and I held my head with both hands. 

“Listen, whoever he is, he is not my husband. I am unmarried.” I tried to make her understand.

“Okay, you please relax, but you need to wait till sir comes. Please eat your food.” Saying so exited the room.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to stay calm and scanned the room. 

I found my bag kept on the table in the corner. I stood up and slowly took steps to take my bag. Taking out my phone, I came back to sit on the bed. I saw five missed calls from my mother on the phone screen and dialed her number.

“Hello, Aru, where are you? And why you weren't picking up my calls.” Her voice came from the other side of the call.

“Maa, the interview got delayed. I am waiting here.” I lied consciously. I am already late for the interview and now I am stuck here. 

“Maa, what the doctor said?” I asked.

“Nothing, just prescribed some medicines. Don't worry, I will be okay in some days.” She said,

“Okay, Maa you take a rest, I will call you later.”

I said and hung up the call. 

The time on my phone shows 11:12 am. I had my interview at 10 am, it's too late. I kept the phone aside and stared at the wall blankly. I felt warm tears blurring my vision and quickly rubbed my eyes.

I really needed the job.

 I turned and I gulped looking at the food. I picked up the plate and started to eat. 

Soon I finished the food, which was indeed delicious.

A few minutes passed. But no one came.

I stared at the locked door, feeling trapped and leaning back on the pillows, I closed my eyes for a brief moment. 

Just then, I heard some faded voices and hurried footsteps, coming closer and I sat up straight. 

The door burst open.

A man stormed inside, his movements sharp and I stood up instantly. As his eyes landed on me, his expression shifted from shock to anger.

Behind him, two more people came inside- a man and a woman.

“Who is she? Where is Aranya?” the man said in a voice laced with rage. His jaw tightened looking at them.

His sharp gaze sept over me again and I backed away slightly, grabbing my bag.

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration pacing the room.

The second man started to say,

“The men, they followed her. They found this girl injured and Aranya was wearing similar clothes, so maybe they got confused. The-”

Before he could finish, the man grabbed a heavy vase and threw it, the broken pieces shattered on the floor. 

I flinched, looking at the scene unfolding in front of me.

Where have I gotten myself into…?

Clutching my bag tightly, I took my steps forward.

“I think there must be some confusion. But please let me go now. I need to leave urgently, I'm already late for my interview. I really need a job.” I almost blabbered.

“Whatever loss you have suffered will be compensated. We’ll arrange a job for you. A driver will drop you wherever you want to go. You may leave now.” 

He kept his eyes glued straight on the wall and said in a rigid, calm tone.

What is he saying? 

Compensation? No, I don't want it.

A Job? yes, definitely.

I stood there awkwardly, when the woman said,

“You should leave now. I apologise for whatever happened. Please take care.” the woman said, gently.

I nodded. 

Silence covered the room and then I heard the phone ringing invading the silence.

The man held the phone looking at the screen.

Ignoring everything, I moved close to the door. The ringtone of the phone echoed in the room finally stopped. 

“Ruko”

(“Stop”)

I heard his thick, cold voice. I turned to him, his eyes already on me, looking straight in my eyes. 

Then, he moved closer.

“So, you need a job?” He asked, casually standing in front of me. His tall frame practically towers over me. 

I gave a slow nod.

Why is he so interested in offering a job?

Earlier he was furious and now he looks absolutely calm.

Weird.

I didn't react, just watched him, but his face remained unreadable. He didn't wait long,

“Well, I can offer you more than just a job. I have a deal.” He said, “I will give you anything, I mean anything, money, stability, security. Whatever you need.”

“And in return, I need something.” The pause stretched and then he let out the words.

“be my wife.” 

I froze.