EIGHT

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AUTHOR'S POV

After returning home from college, Isha still felt a bit shaken and uneasy. The incident that had occurred earlier haunted her - her so-called lover had tried to misbehave with her. However, she had gathered all her courage and stood up to him, refusing to let fear overpower her.

Without uttering a word to anyone, she quietly made her way inside the house and went straight to her room. Shutting the door behind her, she leaned against it for a moment, allowing herself a deep breath to calm her racing heart. After freshening up and composing herself, she descended the stairs, masking her turmoil behind a faint, practiced smile.

As she reached the dining area, she saw her entire family gathered around the table, engaged in light-hearted conversations and laughter. Forcing herself to push away the dark thoughts clouding her mind, Isha walked towards them and silently took her place at the table, trying her best to blend into the warmth and normalcy.

Suddenly, her father cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention. His voice, firm yet gentle, broke the casual chatter around the table as he turned to Isha.

The room fell silent.

Even the clinking of cutlery came to a halt.

"Isha," he began, "the Rathores have invited us over for dinner tomorrow. So, you will be taking the day off from college."

The moment his words reached her ears, Isha felt her heart skip a beat and then begin to pound wildly against her chest. A sudden rush of anxiety gripped her, making it hard to breathe for a second. She lowered her gaze to her plate, trying to hide the turmoil swirling in her eyes.

A strange kind of uneasiness wrapped around her, tightening like an invisible thread she couldn't escape from. She tried to appear calm on the outside, but deep within, a storm had begun to brew.

Without warning, an image flashed vividly before her eyes - Veer.

His face, so sharply carved into her memories, appeared uninvited in her mind. Those intense, unreadable eyes that always seemed to look right through her, the rigid line of his jaw, the silent authority he carried without even speaking a word

She just nodded her head in yes, her throat too dry to speak.

A thousand questions swirled in her mind, but not a single word made it past her lips. Her heart thudded against her chest as if it were protesting silently.

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Returning to her room, Isha closed the door behind her and leaned against it, releasing a long, shaky breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. She pressed her hand against her racing heart, as if trying to physically steady the storm raging inside her chest.

She didn't understand why - but something about the thought of visiting the Rathore house tomorrow stirred an unsettling feeling deep within her. It wasn't just nervousness; it was something heavier, something that made her stomach twist in anxious knots.

Isha shook off her wandering thoughts, took a deep breath, and lay down on the bed, trying to fall asleep. But sleep remained far from her eyes. Restlessness grew inside her. After tossing and turning for a while, she finally gave up. With slow, heavy steps, she walked to her drawer, opened it, and with trembling hands, took out her sleeping pills.

Swallowing one, she returned to her bed, her steps slow and heavy. Curling under the blanket, she stared at the ceiling, thoughts swirling like a storm.

And soon, sleep embraced her — not gently, but like an escape she hadn’t realized she needed.

NEXT MORNING:

Isha woke up earlier than usual , the soft morning light slipping through the curtains of her room, stretching lazily she forced herself out of the bed, Her mind was still a little hazy.

She quickly freshened up took a long shower , and the warm water relaxed her tense muscles and carefully dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit and went downstairs.

She stepped into the dining area and found her family already gathered, enjoying breakfast in a peaceful hum of clinking cutlery and soft conversation.

“Good morning, everyone,” she greeted, her voice light but slightly hesitant.

“Good morning, angel,” her father replied warmly, flashing her a small, affectionate smile.

Everyone else followed with cheerful greetings, and she returned each with a polite nod before quietly taking her seat at the table.

They shared causal conversation but

Isha was having breakfast, but her mind was elsewhere. Her attention wasn't on the food in front of her or the conversation. Instead, she was consumed by a whirlwind of emotions-nervousness, anxiety, fear, and a strange sense of excitement. Her thoughts seemed to drift, lost in the chaos of her own mind, as she tried to make sense of the overwhelming feelings she couldn't quite explain.

Isha quickly finished her breakfast and then hurried to her room. Once she was in her room, she spent some time talking to Ayushi. The rest of the day passed by in the same way, with little interruptions and a calm atmosphere.

IN EVENING:

HER POV

Right now, I am searching through my closet, trying to find something nice to wear. After a while, I decided on a beautiful purple Anarkali suit. It's absolutely stunning, but the back is a little bit backless, which makes me feel a bit unsure.

However, I absolutely love it, so I quickly got ready in it. I paired it with big jhumkas, applied a subtle bindi, and did a light makeup look. And just like that, I was ready to go.

I took one last look at myself in the mirror, smoothing down the fabric of my outfit as if that would calm the storm inside me. Then, with a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs.

Dadu, Mummy, and Papa were already there, waiting for me. Their eyes lifted the moment they heard my footsteps, and three warm smiles met me at the bottom of the stairs—filled with love, pride, and something unspoken.

And just like that, the butterflies in my stomach doubled.

We reached the outside and got into the car. Papa started the engine, and we began our journey towards the Rathore house. As the car pulled out of the driveway, I looked out of the window, watching the familiar streets pass by. The city was bustling with life, but there was a sense of calm in the air as we drove towards our destination. I could feel a mix of excitement and nervousness building up inside me,

The car moved smoothly, and the cool breeze from the window made me feel slightly refreshed. The sound of the engine was soothing, and I leaned back in my seat, looking out at the passing scenery. The houses, shops, and trees blurred as we sped along, each landmark taking us closer to our destination. My mind wandered, thinking about everything that had been happening lately-how life was changing so quickly,

The car finally took a turn, and the long driveway to the Rathore house appeared before us. The gates, grand and imposing, opened slowly as we approached. The house stood tall in the distance, a majestic building surrounded by well-maintained gardens and large trees. It was as if we were entering a whole new world, one that felt both exciting and intimidating.

We stepped out of the car and made our way towards the grand main gate of the Rathore house. As we approached, I could see the imposing gate open slowly, revealing the grandeur of the estate. The tall, elegant structure of the house stood behind the gates, with its beautifully landscaped gardens and perfectly trimmed trees. The air felt different here - calm, serene, almost as if this place held secrets and stories of its own.

As we walked closer, I noticed the Rathore family waiting for us at the entrance, standing in a line with welcoming smiles. There was something warm and inviting about their presence, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me despite the nerves I had been feeling earlier. Each member of the family looked composed, dressed elegantly, and their eyes sparkled with kindness.

As we reached the entrance, they all stepped forward in unison, their smiles wide and warm, making me feel immediately at ease. It was as if the Rathore family was offering not just a home but a feeling of belonging. The moment felt genuine, a welcome that was both polite and heartfelt. Even with the mix of excitement and nervousness inside me, their smiles eased my tension.

But—there was one person who wasn’t there.

As my eyes scanned the surroundings in quiet desperation, searching every corner with hope clinging tightly to my chest… he was nowhere to be seen.

And just like that—my heart sank.

A strange heaviness settled over me, like an invisible weight pressing down on my chest. I tried to brush it off, convince myself it didn’t matter, that it wasn’t supposed to matter…

But it did.

And that’s when it hit me—

why am I even feeling like this?

Why does his absence feel so loud?

Why does it feel like something is incomplete?

Oh God… what is happening to me?

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