When Love Hurts First.
A New Beginning or an End?
The world outside was still wrapped in the whispers of dawn. A soft, golden glow stretched across the sky, blending into hues of lavender and pink, painting the horizon like a fragile dream. The silence that filled the air was heavy—𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲… 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.
𝗔 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Inside the dimly lit room, time seemed frozen. The walls stood still, the curtains swayed slightly with the morning breeze, yet everything felt suffocating. The weight of the past night still hung in the air like an unshakable shadow.
A lone figure lay curled in the vastness of the bed, small, fragile—yet carrying an unbearable weight.
Her eyelashes fluttered as consciousness pulled her back, her swollen lids struggling to open. The golden rays of sunlight slowly crept in through the half-open window, stretching towards her face, almost as if trying to comfort her. 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱. 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.
The moment the warmth kissed her skin, something inside her shattered. A single tear slipped past her lashes. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.
She didn't even try to stop them.
Advika Nair.
W- why are there still tears left in me?
(cracking voice)
Advika Nair.
H... Ha... Haven’t I cried enough?
(chuckled after reminding her condition)
A tremor ran through her fingers as she lifted her hand, her touch hesitant, as if afraid of confirming that she was still real. That last night hadn’t stolen the last piece of her.
Her heart pounded as she turned her head slightly. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀.
The one who was supposed to love her. The one she had loved. Or she still do.
The man who had ruined her.
His back was turned towards her, his bare skin rising and falling with steady, unbothered breaths. He looked at peace. As if last night had never happened. As if the horrors he had inflicted on her had left no scars. As if she hadn’t spent the night drowning in the wreckage of what was supposed to be love.
A sharp, painful breath left her lips.
Advika Nair.
Kyu? ("Why…?")
Her throat burned. Her lips trembled. The question was a storm inside her.
Advika Nair.
My husband… the man I gave my heart to.
Advika Nair.
"Toh phir… yeh kya tha? Jo kal raat ko hua?"
(Then… what was this? Which happened last night)
Her voice was a shattered whisper, lost in the rush of water.
Her fingers curled into the blanket, gripping the fabric tightly, trying to hold onto something—anything. But 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲.
The way his grip had bitten into her skin. The way her pleas had dissolved into the dark. The way he had looked at her—like she was nothing.
Advika Nair.
Th-the bruises on my skin will fade… but what about the ones inside me?
(low voice almost like mind words)
Her mind whispered questions she couldn’t answer.
A sob wrenched itself free from her chest, but she choked it back, pressing a fist to her mouth.
Advika Nair.
"No. No more sounds. N-no more"
Furthermore, she swallowed the sob clawing at her throat. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted to feel anything other than this hollow emptiness inside her.
𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱, but through her tears, a cruel realization formed in her mind.
But 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺, her legs unsteady, her body a map of bruises she couldn’t see. The tiles were cold beneath her knees as she crumpled under the shower, the water already running—icy, punishing.
Advika Nair.
"K- kya yahi sadhi ka matalab hota hai?"
(I-is this what marriage means?)
Advika Nair.
Am I just… a body?
(Try to wipe her tears Harshly while dragging herself)
A shudder passed through her as she forced herself to move. The cold floor sent a chill up her spine, but she barely felt it. Her body ached, but the pain in her heart was far worse.
She didn’t look at him again. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁.
The bathroom door clicked shut behind her, sealing her inside a space where no one could see her break.
With trembling fingers, she turned the shower on. The water crashed against the tiles, its warmth a cruel contrast to the iciness inside her. She stepped under it, her legs giving out as she sank to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest.
Advika Nair.
"yeh kya ho gaya"?
(what has happened)
The water rushed over her, soaking her, but it could never wash away the filth she felt inside.
Advika Nair.
Abhi to mere sadhi ko hue ek din hi hue hain aur ye sab...
(It has just been a day to my marriage and all this…)
Her nails dug into her arms as a sob finally tore past her lips, raw and broken.
Advika Nair.
Kya aab yahi meri kismat hai... Mai-main... Aab kabhi pahle jaise nahi rah paungi kya?
(Is this my faith now… May-I will never be able to live like before?)
Advika Nair.
Will h-he ever understand me?
Tears mixed with the spray, her body shaking with silent cries. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿
Advika Nair.
Will I ever get love?
Advika Nair.
Will a-anyone ever love me with heart?
(Brushed into tears)
Advika Nair.
Ahem.... Ahem....
Someone had just sunk into the bed, the body craving rest, but peace remained a distant, unreachable dream.
A thin layer of sweat gathered on their forehead—unbidden, unsettling. As if the very air carried whispers of something unseen, something unwelcome. 𝗔 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝗔 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗲.
The breath wavered. The eyelids fluttered, rolling in restless discomfort. Sleep should have come easily, yet it remained elusive, taunting. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗖 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 of the skin, but instead of relief, a suffocating heat wrapped around, clinging, refusing to let go.
A bead of sweat trickled down their temple. Their pulse quickened. The chest heaved—shallow, desperate gasps followed by deep, aching gulps of air.
someone
(Jerked open eyes, Huffing in panic and sweating heavily even in AC on)
The body 𝗷𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲. Eyes snapped open, wide, frantic, lost. The pounding in the chest was deafening, a frantic rhythm of something unspoken, something forgotten—𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱.
"Whispers of Chaos & Comfort"
The night stretched on, dark and silent, yet something about it felt heavy—like an unseen weight pressing against the air. The moon hung lazily in the sky, its silver glow spilling through the window, casting long shadows across the lavish bedroom.
The cool hum of the air conditioner filled the space, wrapping it in an artificial chill.
But despite the cold, sweat clung to his skin.
A deep furrow creased his forehead, his breathing uneven. His chest rose and fell in rapid succession, his heart hammering against his ribs. And then—
Lucian vale.
(Jerked open eyes, Huffing in panic and sweating heavily even in AC on)
His pupils dilated as he shot up from the bed, a strangled breath leaving his lips. His hand instinctively flew to his chest, feeling the rapid thud beneath his palm. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples, his entire body covered in a thin layer of heat.
Lucian vale.
W... What the hell was that? Huff
(Huffing in panic)
His voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper, but the silence of the room swallowed it whole.
He gulped, still trying to steady his breathing, the remnants of his dream clinging to his consciousness like an unshakable shadow.
Lucian vale.
S-someone was crying...
(frown brows)
That sound—so raw, so desperate—was still ringing in his ears. His mind replayed the fragmented vision that had jolted him awake, yet the details slipped through his grasp like sand through his fingers.
A woman. A presence. Sorrow so deep it felt like it was his own.
Lucian vale.
It was just a dream. Nothing else.
(Blood boiled)
He ran a hand through his damp hair, exhaling sharply, as if trying to force out the lingering unease. But the tension in his chest refused to fade. His hands were trembling, his body still too warm despite the cool temperature of the room.
He pushed the covers aside, swinging his legs off the bed. The floor felt cold beneath his bare feet, but even that did little to cool the heat simmering within him. His mind was still restless. His pulse still erratic.
Without another thought, he strode toward the bathroom.
The door clicked shut behind him, sealing him in solitude.
He turned the shower on, the rush of water echoing against the tiles.
Droplets of icy liquid cascaded down his skin, trailing over the hard planes of his body. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back, letting the water wash over him.
Yet, even as the cold seeped into his bones, the unease in his heart refused to fade.
The cold water did little to erase the weight pressing against his chest. Even as it cascaded down his skin, trickling along the hard lines of his body, the unease within him remained—like an echo of something he couldn't grasp, something beyond his understanding.
Eventually, he turned off the shower, his fingers raking through his wet hair before reaching for a towel. He exhaled deeply, stepping out into the dim glow of his bedroom, hoping that perhaps the suffocating tightness in his chest had lessened.
But the second he took a step forward—
𝗔 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺.
His body tensed instinctively, muscles coiling as if expecting an attack, only to realize—
White fur. Small paws. An all-too-familiar presence.
Lucian vale.
(chuckled softly after getting cute attack by his little cat)
A soft chuckle escaped his lips as his beloved cat landed effortlessly in his arms, curling against his chest like she had claimed him as her own.
Lucian vale.
"Y-you little menace,"
(murmured, his deep voice laced with amusement.)
Lifted his cat up in his arms.
And held her closer, stroking her soft fur as she purred contentedly against him.
She tilted her head, rubbing against his chin, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.
Lucian vale.
(shook his head, lips curling into a rare smile.)
"You always know how to fix my mood, don’t you?"
(mused, letting his fingers brush over her ears.)
Lucian vale.
"But don’t get too proud of yourself. If you weren’t so good at it, I would’ve given you away by now—with all the trouble you cause."
𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹.
Lucian vale.
(Chuckled again)
Another chuckle rumbled through his chest as he carried her towards the bed, shaking his head at her antics. He sank onto the mattress, his hand lazily stroking over her fur as she sprawled against him like she had no care in the world.
Lucian vale.
(gaze softened.)
Maybe he should take a page out of her book.
He exhaled slowly, letting the tension slip from his body. Yet, somewhere in the back of his mind, the unease still lingered, refusing to fully disappear. He didn’t know why. He didn’t know what it meant.
But for now… just for now…
He held his cat a little closer.
Lucian vale.
"Everything will be fine."
(Whispers softly)
Even if he wasn’t sure whether he was saying it for her… or for himself.
The room was quiet, the weight of the night settling around him. He had just begun to drift off, his body finally relaxing, when—
A slight shift. A small movement.
He ignored it. Probably nothing.
A twitch of an ear. A shift of tiny paws.
Lucian vale.
(His brows furrowed.)
Lucian vale.
(His eyes snapped open with irritation when find so much movement and sound getting created by his cat)
Lucian vale.
"Seriously?"
(groaned, his voice thick with exhaustion.)
His cat, now practically vibrating in his arms, had no intention of letting him sleep.
Lucian vale.
"You never stop, do you?"
(sighed)
He sighed, tightening his hold around her in an attempt to calm her down.
Lucian vale.
"Listen, I actually work all day. Unlike someone who spends the entire morning stretched out like royalty and the whole afternoon knocking things over for sport."
His cat let out a small chirp, utterly unapologetic.
Lucian vale.
(Rolled his eyes.)
"And now, when I finally get a chance to sleep, this is what you choose to do?"
Lucian vale.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Lucian vale.
(He groaned, running a hand down his face.)
"Right, of course, why would you be sleepy? You already had your beauty rest—selling your soul to the sun all morning."
(Sighed dramatically.)
Lucian vale.
"But I have to wake up early, you know? And not just for work—" (paused)
His lips twitching before he muttered under his breath
Lucian vale.
—𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼. 𝗔𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 "
(muttered under breath)
He huffed, shifting his position.
Lucian vale.
"Who knows if she even slept or if she’s still glued to the TV?"
His mouth twisted in mock disapproval before he shook his head, exhaling.
Lucian vale.
"Alright, enough. No more trouble. We’re sleeping now."
Lucian vale.
"Be good for once. Just this once."
(Pulled his cat closer, pressing a firm, warm hug around her tiny body.)
A cold between us
𝗔 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺, 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱.
𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻, 𝗮 𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲.
The world outside this small, mist-filled space didn’t exist—not yet to her.
𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱, 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿, 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗸.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿—𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.
𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗹𝘆, 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁.
Aditya Shen
"Are you still 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 in there? Or did you 𝗱𝗶𝗲 inside?"
(roughly, voice laced with irritation)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀.
̲𝗔̲𝗻̲𝗼̲𝘁̲𝗵̲𝗲̲𝗿̲ ̲𝗹̲𝗼̲𝘂̲𝗱̲ ̲𝗸̲𝗻̲𝗼̲𝗰̲𝗸̲ 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻-𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Aditya Shen
"Tch. If you’re going to die, at least come 𝗼𝘂𝘁 first. I need to use the damn washroom."
(grumbling, muttering under his breath)
𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴.
𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘂𝗽, 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱.
𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲,
Advika Nair.
(𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 the door with hesitant hands, breathing heavily)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸
Advika Nair.
(step back slightly, gulped)
(𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙.)
𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙮,
𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙠.
Aditya Shen
(𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙠.)
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚.
Advika Nair.
(𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 run down the 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚.)
Aditya Shen
(𝘁𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆)
"Took you long enough. It's almost 11 o'clock... And…"
Aditya Shen
(𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙥𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙥 𝙛𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙙)
"You didn’t even bother to change?
(𝘼 𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩, 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨.)
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜—𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜—𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙚.
Advika Nair.
(𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧, 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮):
"I… I forgot to bring my clothes…"
(𝘼 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥 𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩—𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.)
Aditya Shen
(𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧):
"Forgot?
Aditya Shen
"𝙊𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙚?"
(crock an eyebrow)
Advika Nair.
(𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙,)
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙥, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.
Advika Nair.
(𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜):
" Na-nahi... Vo main... Baas—" (N-no… I… I just—")
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝. 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛.
Aditya Shen
(clucted eyes shut in frustration, Frown)
Aditya Shen
"Pathetic. Just like last night."
(𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧)
𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗰𝗲,
Advika Nair.
(𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀.)
𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀.
Aditya Shen
(𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿, 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁):
You must have got to know from my behavior yesterday 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂. Do you?
Advika Nair.
I... I... Didn't understand... But want to. why you... (teary eyes)
Aditya Shen
"No matter what you do—even if you try to tempt me—the kind of feelings you crave?
Advika Nair.
(Looking into his eyes with tears)
Aditya Shen
You’ll never get it. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲.
Advika Nair.
(breath hitched painfully)
Advika Nair.
B.... But why.... You already know that I .. I .. Lov- (Got cut off)
(heavy breathing)
Aditya Shen
Don't say that word...
(groaned)
Aditya Shen
Just because we get married doesn’t mean I’ll develop feelings for you. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻.
Advika Nair.
(shiver run down the spine)
Advika Nair.
T... Than wh- why did you-(got cut off by his groaned)
Advika Nair.
(controlling her tears and step back silently)
𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀.
Aditya Shen
(started passing by her towards washroom but paused)
𝗛𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱. 𝗔 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.
Aditya Shen
"Change your clothes before you leave the room."
(without turning, his voice still laced with indifference)
Advika Nair.
(Her stomach twisted, heart beat became fast)
For a second—maybe a foolish second—her heart beat became fast
Aditya Shen
“My mother shouldn’t see the marks you get last night.”
𝗔 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘀𝗽 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺, 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺.
Aditya Shen
(slammed the door shut with a loud thud)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀.
Advika Nair.
(Got flinched and than freeze at her place on her condition)
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲—𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻, 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.
Advika Nair.
(𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀, 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴ged 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 balcony.)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Advika Nair.
(feeling broken)
𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿.
𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.
𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.
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