"Crying doesn't mean you're weak ... Sometimes it's what you need to do to get strong again"

🥀____MAYA'S POV____🥀

I walked out of the store as— I was feeling nervous in front of akira's soon to be fiance .

The smirk he is always wearing in his face was something different but, I don't care, I went from there to another store .

There —I was looking at the beautiful dresses and one of them just caught my eyes , I was roaming my finger on that beautiful lehenga , it was red , pink and orange mixture with sparkle in it and the blouse was backless and has a beautiful design.

It was just perfect but when I saw the tag price it cost twenty - four thousand my eyes widened while looking at the price. I drop the idea of buying it ..

I turned around and got hit with a giant wall like body of a person — I look above my head and the person was taller than me ,

it was like he had the height of the burj khalifa and I was like an ant in front of him.

The person was him who I just saw in the store. He has a muscular body , his chest was toned .

I moved aside and looked down not to look into his eyes.

KHUSHAAL - Do you want this dress?

MAYA- N..no I d..don't..

Saying this I went out of the store I can't handle that person I don't know why?

I hold akira's hand tightly and went out of the store.

She was blabbering something to me but, I was not in the state to listen her talks — I was panting and want to go home , we sit in the car and drive off to our home.

After arriving home— my legs were faster than my step mother talks and— I went to my room without listening to her as she was scolding me but,

I didn't care enough to listen to her.

AT NIGHT...

I was thinking about that man only, my mind was surrounded by his thoughts only .

I did so many things to not think about him but nothing worked.

My mind was subconsciously— thinking about him, about his face, about his body , about his.. smirk..

I was sitting at my swing chair , the fresh and cold air was touching my skin which had bruises and cuts on it.

I hiss in pain but, I am used to it.

I am very well aware that —that man has seen my bruises and cuts on my body and face already and he may think about it.

Five minutes later— I got a call from my besties Akshita and Sonu, they are my best friends and childhood friends too.

They are the ones —who know my condition better , I received the call and the first thing I saw was —their smile which made me also smile a little.

ON VIDEO CALL...

AKSHITA - how is everything going maya babe..?

MAYA - All good!

SONU - Your so called step sister is getting married? It's a relief to know that .

MAYA - yeah she is.

AKSHITA - *curiously* did you see his soon to be husband's face??

SONU - Yeah same thing I want to know! How does he look?? Is he handsome??

MAYA - I..uh.. I ye..maybe..

SONU - What are you saying maya?? You saw him right that is why you are stuttering.. such a liar..

MAYA - I AM NOT A LIER!!

AKSHITA - Okay then, tell us about him where did you meet him??

MAYA - he is quite good looking, I saw him today only when I went shopping with akira .

SONU - oh.. leave it now! Listen we have projects to complete the college will start from next month . We have a group project, tomorrow you both are coming to my home deal??

MAYA & AKSHITA - DEAL!! 🤝

After having some chit chats with my besties, it was already midnight and I was feeling sleepy —I changed my clothes and put ointment on my bruises as it hurts there and, then goes to my bed and tries to fall asleep..

I was sleepy but then, someone impatiently continuously knocked on my door which— led me to open my eyes and off to bed.

I opened the door while yawning but that yawning turned into my scream.

Akira hold my hair tightly in a fist which made me scream and push me hard which made me fall on the floor.

My knees start hurting badly but— she didn't do any mercy and hit me, slaps me hard on my face.

I was trying to protect myself but —she has become an irritating dangerous cat who always takes out her nails and starts scratching the person.

I power up my whole potential and push her away from me which makes Akira too distanced from me far away— she was shocked but angry.

That time my stepmother came and stopped Akira for creating more mess.

AKIRA - Mom did you see , she got the potential to push me away from her huh. I always told you that she is a bitch she will take away everything that I love..!

ANTARA - Chup ho jao akira . Yeh sab uski wajah se nahi tumhare papa kar rahe hai.

( Be quite akira . This all is not happening because of her but, your father is doing it. )

AKIRA - You are taking her side?

ANTARA - *Angrily* Get out of this room now!

Akira went out of the room furiously —I don't know a single thing they were talking about, my stepmother came towards me, looking straight into my soul.

She crossed her both hands towards her chest and glaring at me while— I was looking down .

ANTARA - Be ready tomorrow, someone is coming for you! He has chosen you . Anyways , do you know khushaal rathore by any chance?

MAYA - Akira's fiance?

ANTARA - *Scoff* you know right! But not anymore... He is not akira's fiance anymore..

MAYA - What?? I mean they were ready..

ANTARA - You will get to know all things by tomorrow morning, be ready in a nice dress, wear something traditional and yeah, put some makeup on your face to hide these bruises and all..

With a smirk she leaves the room and confuses me .

My sleep is long gone now— i am confused what is going to happen with me next?

“Why was Akira saying such things and why did my stepmom ask about that person? What is my father doing?”

All those things were scaring me very much . I looked towards my mother's photo and asked her..

MAYA - M..mummy ab k..kya h..hone wala hai me..mere saath? Please sab sa..sambhaal lena..

( M..mom now w..what I..is going to happen wi..with me? Please ta..take care of it.)

__________________________

NEXT MORNING...

BABY MAYA - Mumma..mumma me idhar hu , mujhe pakdo.. *giggling*

(Mother..mother I am here, catch me)

MANUSHI - Beta.. maya udhar mat jao udhar gaadiya chal rahi hai , idhar aao mumma ke pass...

(Baby.. maya don't go there,  car is going there, come to mumma..)

BABY MAYA - *giggles* nahi mujhe pakdo.. me yaha hu mumma..

( No , catch me.. I am here mother..)

MANUSHI - MAYAAAAAA!!!!

*car breaking sound*..

I woke up — breathing heavily, sweats beads on my forehead, frowned lines, and my heartbeat was faster than usual.

I was having that nightmare— this nightmare always comes to my dreams making it hard for me to survive.

I look at my Mumma's photo and then sigh in relief.

I closed my eyes for some minutes and then opened realising that —I slept on the floor.

I stands up , check the time and went to do my morning routine.

One hour later, when —I got out of my bathroom and drying my hair with a dry towel at that time.

My stepmother steps into my room .

With two women with her holding some clothes and accessories, my stepmother give them a hint with her eyes and those two women holding things in their hands keep the things on my bed and leave the room.

While —I look towards her confused, she smiled a little and comes towards me and patted my cheeks..

ANTARA - Get ready, they are coming in half an hour.

MAYA  - *Stuttering* w..why are you, be.. behaving like th..that ?

ANTARA - Innocent you, I am your mother in front of them but for you I am your step mother, I don't want to lose my reputation that's why I am just practicing or else I would have killed you yesterday for what you have done to my daughter.

MAYA - par me..mene ki..kiya kya hai?

(But, wh..what I.. h..have done?)

ANTARA  - Ohhoo ladki kitna sawaal karti hai?? Jaake tayar ho warna me tujhe aaj tujhse itna kaam karwaungi ki tu seh nahi payegi..

( Ohhoo girl how much question do you ask?? Go and get ready or else today I will give you so much work that you will not able to do that..)

Saying that she left the room, while— I was confident now, that she is just acting nothing else.

I don't know what she is talking about , what I have done to her akira? It's so frustrating.

I look at what she gave to me to wear.

There was a beautiful suit in a blood red with jewellery given, the jewellery must cost very high, but she gave it to me.

I was admiring those beautiful jewellery but a sudden — shiver made me come back to my reality.

I look at the time and I have only fifteen minutes to get ready.

I hurry up wear the suit and do my hair and wear the jewelry and— on perfect time I was ready.

A knock takes my attention.

I look there and a servant told me that they have arrived and my father is calling me.

I tell her that I am coming in two minutes and she nods and goes away while —I check out myself for the last time and for the last time— I take my mother's photo frame and kiss her and smile brightly.

MAYA - Mummy aaj jo kuch bhi ho sab acha hi ho , please , kuch galat mat karwana . I love you .

( Mother today whatever will happen , will happen good, please , nothing goes wrong . I love you. )

I smile and keep the frame in its place and leave my room and go downstairs at the hall where all were present .

I saw — a man , an aged woman and two more men who were standing on each side of the man who was sitting on the couch with the aged woman .

I go there while my facial expression says that I am confused.

MAYA - P.. papa, is everything o..okay?

ANTARA - Lo ji aagyi hamari beti , ab dekh lijiye aap khud usse , kitni pyaari hai na?

( Here is our daughter, now you all can see her, how pretty she is right?)

I look at them confusingly while my father made me sit on the couch beside him.

My step mother and the aged woman were talking happily .

The man was smirking at me and I was hella confused and shocked.

Why did he come to meet me?

I want to ask them what's going on here but, I can't do anything because— my throat was jammed .

The other two men were looking down .

And the man in front of me was just looking at me intensely then, he said..

KHUSHAAL - Hello again, miss maya.

*Smirk*

MAYA - W..why you are here?

ANTARA - Aree beta teri shaddi hone wali hai inse..!

( Aree daughter you are going to marry him..!)

MAYA - wh..what?

~ To be continued...

_______❤️🪄🦢🍾🔥🥀_______

Heyyyy my cute little fellows!!

Third chapter is out , hope you all will like it and please share your comments

so that I can see how you all are liking my stories?

Here, is a new twist in the story.

Stay tuned for the next chapter..

Till then comment and vote and tell me how you like my story?? Ignore my grammatical mistakes..

Byeeeee

Love you all

❣️