Author's pov:-

As Maahi was about to answer her, Arika's phone suddenly started ringing.

The sound echoed loudly in the room, making Arika flinch slightly. She looked at the screen, and the moment she saw the caller ID, the colour drained from her face.

Mom.

Her fingers trembled as she answered the call and placed the phone near her ear.

"Where are you, huh?" her mother's sharp voice pierced through the other line.

"I told you to come home early today. Who will make the food, haan? Main banau kya? Come home fast!"

The words were harsh, loud, and filled with irritation - as if Arika's existence itself was a burden.

Before Arika could even reply, the call disconnected.

Her eyes slowly filled with tears. She tried hard to blink them away, but the ache in her chest only grew heavier.

Maahi noticed the sudden change in her best friend. Without saying anything, she pulled Arika into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around her protectively yet comforting.

"It's okay... shhh... calm down," Maahi whispered softly, rubbing her back gently.

"You don't deserve this. You never did."

After a few moments, Arika's breathing slowly steadied and cried muffled.

"You're not going there," Maahi said firmly, pulling back and holding Arika's shoulders.

"From now on, you'll live here with me. You got that?"

Arika shook her head immediately.

"No, Maahi... I can't live here," she said softly.

"Don't worry about me. I'll manage."

Maahi's eyes flashed with anger.

"Till now you are managing, but how much more will you endure, haan? Bata mujhe!" she snapped.

"You always say you'll manage, but at what cost?"

Arika lowered her gaze because she didn't have the answer.If she say that she love her parents, it will be only sided and it was always from her side, not from theirs.Yet, suppressing the pain in her heart, she said...

"Maahi, please... I'm telling you na, I'll manage," she said gently.

"You have a project in Delhi. Go there, give your best and make me proud, okay?"

Then she smiled weakly and added playfully,

"Aur haan, promotion lekar aana... nahi toh main jaadu lekar tumhari pitai karungi."

Maahi chuckled through her tears and finally nodded, pulling Arika into one last hug.

Two days later, Maahi would leave for Delhi - for months.

After bidding her goodbye, Arika walked back to her home, her steps heavy with reluctance.

As soon as she entered the house, she was met with her mother's furious gaze.

Before Arika could say a word, Maya started yelling.

"Aa gayi madam ji?"

"Aaiye, padhariye. We were waiting only for you!"

She scoffed sarcastically.

"Tell me, who will prepare the food? Me or you? You want my family to starve, haan?"

Arika swallowed hard in fear.

"No... no... I... I will make it," she said, her voice stammering ,barely audible.

"Then gooo!" Maya yelled.

"And take your drama somewhere else. Tera chehra dekhte hi mere sar mein dard hone lagta hai!"

Arika didn't say another word. She ran straight into the kitchen, her vision blurred with tears.

She leaned against the counter, clasping her hands together as if holding onto her last bit of strength.

"Everyone in this world believes that whatever You do is always for good," she whispered, looking up to God.

"Par main ismein kyun shamil nahi hoon, Bhagwan ji?"

"Kya main itni buri hoon beti hoon ki aapne bhi mujhe is dard mein akela chhod diya?"

"Bachpan se aaj tak har cheez karti aayi hoon un logon ke liye... bas is umeed mein ki ek din..."

Her voice broke.

"Kaash ek din wo log mujhse pyaar se baat karein,"

"Mumma mujhe pyaar se gale lagaye ,papa apne haathon se mere sir ko sehalaye"

"But yahan toh..." she let out a shaky laugh,

"Yahan toh ,wo mujhe apni beti tak nahi maante." she said with a broken voice.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Mummy kehti hain meri shakal dekh kar unhe sar dard hota hai...

Riya didi ko mujhe dekh kar ulti aa jaati hai...

Aur papa..."

Her chest tightened.

"Papa toh mujhse baat kya, meri taraf dekhte bhi nahi."

"Yeh sab sun kar bahut dard hota hai yahan, Bhagwan ji..."

A lone tear escaped her eye as she clutched her chest where her heart was pounding painfully.

"Oyee Maharani!" her mother's voice echoed from the hall.

"Khana banne mein late nahi hona chahiye! Pehle hi mera itna time waste kar diya. Mujhe khana time par chahiye, samjhi?"

Arika quickly wiped her tears with the back of her palm and started cooking.

That night, the family gathered at the dining table.

Arika silently served everyone, her movements careful and obedient.

After serving, she hesitated for a moment before pulling out a chair to sit.

"Aee ladki!" Maya snapped.

"This is our family dinner. Why are you taking a seat ,you are not a part of this?"

"but.....I... I am also a family member," Arika said meekly.

"No, you are not," Maya said coldly.

"Samjhi?"Riya scoffed loudly.

"Mom, don't you know how she always tries to make a place in our family gatherings?"

"Teri koi jagah nahi hai is family mein."

"How dare you speak like that, Riya!" Abhay voice echoed and slammed his hand on the table.

"She is your sister. Say sorry to her."

"No!" Riya snapped.

"She is not my sister. Shakal dekhi hai iski?"

"Enough!" Manoj said harshly, finally speaking.

"She doesn't need to join our family gatherings. Woh jitna door rahe, utna achha hai."

Abhay stood up angrily and left the table without eating.

"Yeh ladki hi manhoos hai," Maya muttered but audible to everyone.

"Iski wajah se mera beta bhooka chala gaya." she said while glaring toward arika.

Arika stood frozen, guilt and pain crushing her.

Everyone left the dining hall, leaving behind a broken girl who silently held herself together not to breakdown further.

Later, Arika knocked on Abhay's door with a plate of food.

"Bhai..." she called softly.

Abhay's expression softened instantly.

"Come, Aruu. Sit," he said gently.

She sat beside him and tooka morsel in her own hand and forwarded her hand toward abhay but abhay was looking at her little sister with full of love.His heart softened watching this gesture of her.

"Bhai, kha lo... meri haath dard karne lagi," she pouted.

Abhay chuckled,took the moseral in his mouth and fed her back as well.

"Aruu, why don't you take a stand for yourself?" he asked softly.

"They are our family," she replied quietly.

"If they don't consider me theirs, I don't have a problem."

But they both knew she was lying.

To lighten the mood, Abhay smiled.

"Achaa chodo ye sab............Ice cream party?"

Her eyes lit up instantly.

"Chocolate aur vanilla dono!" she said excitedly, jumping on her seat and for a few moments, Arika forgot her pain.

On other side

After wrapping up his work, Arvith drove straight tohis home in his Mercedes Maybach.

The house lights glowed warmly as he stepped inside.

His mother, Shreya, greeted him with open arms to hug him.

"Aa gaya mera baccha?" she smiled.

"Don't tell me you fired your employees again in your anger."

"Mooom," Arvith sighed.

His aunt laughed.

"My cute angry boy!" his aunt said

He immediately went to his room because he knew that if he stayed any longer, his mother and aunt would start teasing him.

He escaped to his room, showered, changed into a black T-shirt and white joggers, and joined dinner.

Later, he called Aman.

"Le aaya use?" Arvith asked coldly.

"Yes, boss. Dungeon mein," Aman replied.

"Good. I'm coming."

Arvith smirked, picked up his gun, slid it into his back pocket, and walked out -

unaware that destiny was already preparing a collision between his darkness and a girl drowning in pain.

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