Chapter 1

(Scene: Early morning in a small, cluttered room. Kavya, a 12-year-old girl, is sweeping the floor. The room is dimly lit, and a musty smell lingers in the air. Her uncle, Ravi, is sprawled on an old sofa, watching her with a cold expression.)

Ravi: (angrily)

"Kavya! Jaldi kar, mujhe der ho rahi hai kaam par. Tujhse itna bhi nahi hota kya?"

(Kavya! Hurry up, I’m getting late for work. Can’t you do even this much?)

Kavya: (whispers, hesitating)

"Ji... bas khatam hi ho gaya, Chachu."

(Yes... I’m almost done, Uncle.)

Ravi: (scoffs)

"Bas khatam hi ho gaya? Tera bas chale toh poora din yahin guzar de. Kamzor aur kaamchor! Mujhe samajh mein nahi aata, tere jaise naalayak ko kyun pal raha hoon!"

(Just almost done? If it were up to you, you’d waste the whole day here. Weak and lazy! I don’t understand why I’m supporting someone as useless as you!)

(Kavya lowers her eyes, trying to ignore his harsh words. She finishes sweeping and sets the broom aside. The sound of her heart beating loudly fills her ears as she walks to the kitchen.)

Kavya: (to herself, softly)

"Bas ek din... shayad koi ek din ye sab khatam ho jaaye."

(Just one day... maybe one day this will all end.)

(Kavya hurries to prepare tea, her hands trembling slightly. She can hear her uncle’s footsteps as he moves around in the other room.)

Ravi: (yells from the other room)

"Tez awaaz mein bolna agar kuch kehna hai! Aur woh chai ab tak kyon nahi bani?"

(Speak loudly if you have something to say! And why isn’t that tea ready yet?)

Kavya: (trying to sound cheerful)

"Ji, abhi laati hoon."

(Yes, I’ll bring it right away.)

(She carefully pours the hot tea into a chipped cup, being cautious not to spill. She takes a deep breath to steady herself and walks back to the living room.)

Kavya: (offering the cup)

"Chai, Chachu."

(Tea, Uncle.)

(Ravi snatches the cup without a word of thanks, his eyes glued to the television, where a morning news program is playing. Kavya watches as he gulps it down, his expression hard.)

Ravi: (grumbles, wiping his mouth)

"Tera kuch nahi ho sakta. Padhai-likhai mein bhi zero aur kaam mein bhi zero. Tujhe toh kisi kaam ke layak chhodunga nahi."

(You can’t do anything. You’re zero in studies and zero in work. I won’t leave you capable of anything.)

(Kavya’s heart sinks at his words. She nods silently, her throat tightening as she struggles to hold back her tears. She’s learned that showing any sign of sadness only invites more cruelty.)

Kavya: (to herself)

"Kyun nahi samajhte woh? Main bhi kuch kar sakti hoon. Bas mujhe mauka chahiye."

(Why don’t they understand? I can do something too. I just need a chance.)

(After a few minutes, Ravi stands up and stretches. He glances at Kavya, who’s busy cleaning up.)

Ravi:

"Yeh ghar tera nahi hai. Mere liye kaam karne ke liye aayi hai. Aur mujhe tere jaise kamzor ladki ki zarurat nahi hai."

(This house is not yours. You came here to work for me. And I don’t need a weak girl like you.)

Kavya: (biting her lip)

"Ji, samajh gayi."

(Yes, I understand.)

(She moves to the kitchen to wash the dishes, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and freedom. As she scrubs the plates, she thinks about her life before her uncle took her in.)

Kavya: (thinking)

"Us din ko yaad karne se kya hoga? Woh sab kuch khatam ho chuka hai. Ab bas mujhe aage badhna hai."

(What good will remembering that day do? It’s all over now. I just have to move forward.)

(Later that morning, as she finishes her chores, she hears a knock at the door. Her uncle’s friend, Vikram, enters, grinning.)

Vikram:

"Ravi, bhai! Kaisa hai? Aaj bhi iss chhoti bachchi ka kaam dekh raha hai kya?"

(Ravi, brother! How are you? Still watching this little girl work?)

Ravi: (smirking)

"Isse toh kaam karna nahi aata. Bas ghar ki safai karke meri jaan chura rahi hai."

(She doesn’t even know how to work. She’s just cleaning the house and stealing my peace.)

(Kavya forces a smile, feeling embarrassed under their gaze. Vikram looks at her, a hint of pity in his eyes.)

Vikram:

"Kavya, tumhe padhai karni chahiye. Chalo, kuch naya seekho."

(Kavya, you should study. Come on, learn something new.)

(Kavya’s heart leaps at his words. She yearns for knowledge and a better life, but Ravi’s disapproving glare cuts through her excitement.)

Ravi: (snaps)

"Usse padhai se kya faida? Uski kismat toh kharab hai."

(What good will education do for her? Her fate is already bad.)

(Kavya looks down, feeling small and defeated. She knows that her uncle will never support her dreams.)

Kavya: (softly)

"Main toh bas kaam kar rahi hoon."

(I’m just working.)

(Vikram shakes his head, frustrated by Ravi’s attitude.)

Vikram:

"Ravi, bhai, is chhoti ladki ko thoda support do. Tumhe pata hai, education zaroori hai."

(Ravi, brother, give this little girl some support. You know education is important.)

(Ravi brushes him off, and Vikram shrugs, giving Kavya a sympathetic smile before leaving.)

Kavya: (to herself)

"Ek din, main sab kuch badal doongi. Yeh sab nahi chalega."

(One day, I will change everything. This can’t go on.)

(As the day passes, Kavya completes her chores, feeling the weight of her uncle’s expectations pressing down on her. She often daydreams about a life beyond these walls, far from Ravi's control.)

Kavya: (daydreaming)

"Ek din main ek khoobsurat ghar mein rahungi, aur mujhe kisi se dar nahi hoga."

(One day, I will live in a beautiful house, and I won’t be afraid of anyone.)

(In the evening, as the sun sets, Kavya sits by the window, gazing outside. She watches other children playing, their laughter echoing in the air. Her heart aches with longing.)

Kavya: (thinking)

"Kash main bhi unke saath khel sakti."

(I wish I could play with them too.)

(Ravi enters the room, breaking her reverie.)

Ravi:

"Kya dekh rahi hai? Kaam khatam hua ya nahi?"

(What are you looking at? Is your work done or not?)

Kavya: (startled)

"Ji, sab khatam ho gaya."

(Yes, it’s all done.)

Ravi: (grunting)

"Achha. Aaj raat ka khana jaldi bana. Mujhe khaana khaana hai."

(Okay. Make dinner quickly. I want to eat.)

(Kavya nods, pushing aside her thoughts of freedom. She heads to the kitchen, feeling a familiar sense of dread. She focuses on preparing the meal, her mind racing with plans for a future she desperately wants.)

Kavya: (thinking)

"Aaj nahi toh kal, main apne liye ek rasta dhoond loon gi."

(Today or tomorrow, I will find a way for myself.)

(As she cooks, the aroma of spices fills the air, momentarily distracting her from her worries. She adds ingredients with care, hoping for a small moment of happiness.)

Kavya: (softly to herself)

"Yeh khana toh achha ban raha hai."

(This food is turning out well.)

(Ravi enters the kitchen, eyeing her suspiciously.)

Ravi:

"Yeh kya bana rahi hai? Mere liye achha khaana toh bana."

(What are you making? Make something good for me.)

Kavya: (trying to sound cheerful)

"Ji, Chachu. Aaj dal aur sabzi bana rahi hoon."

(Yes, Uncle. Today I’m making lentils and vegetables.)

Ravi: (grumbling)

"Acha! Khaana jaldi banao. Main baith kar TV dekh raha hoon."

(Alright! Cook quickly. I’m going to sit and watch TV.)

(Kavya nods, feeling a mixture of fear and determination. She prepares the meal with as much love as she can muster, hoping that this small act will bring a moment of peace to her day.)

(As she cooks, she thinks about her dreams. She longs for the freedom to go to school, to learn, and to be like the other children. Each day, she watches them from the window, their laughter a bittersweet reminder of what she desires.)

Kavya: (thinking)

"Main bhi padhai karna chahti hoon. Ek din main bhi unke saath khush rahungi."

(I want to study too. One day I will be happy like them.)

(Finally, the food is ready. She serves it in a chipped plate and brings it to Ravi, who is glued to the TV, completely uninterested in her efforts.)

Kavya:

"Chachu, khana aa gaya."

(Uncle, the food is ready.)

(Ravi barely looks at her, grabbing the plate and starting to eat without a word. Kavya stands nearby, watching him eat, feeling invisible and unappreciated.)

Ravi: (after a few bites)

"Yeh khana sahi hai, par tujhe aur mehnat karni padegi. Abhi bhi kuch kami hai."

(This food is okay, but you need to work harder. There’s still something lacking.)

(Kavya’s heart sinks. She feels like she can never please him, no matter how hard she tries.)

Kavya: (timidly)

"Samajh gayi, Chachu. Agli baar aur achhe se banaungi."

(I understand, Uncle. I’ll make it better next time.)

(After dinner, Ravi finishes eating and returns to the sofa, flipping through channels aimlessly. Kavya clears the table, trying to ignore the dull ache in her heart.)

Kavya: (thinking)

"Kab tak yeh sab chalta rahega? Kya main kabhi azaadi paungi?"

(How long will this go on? Will I ever gain freedom?)

(As the evening drags on, Kavya finishes her chores and tries to find solace in her thoughts. She sits by the window again, looking at the stars twinkling in the night sky.)

Kavya: (whispering to herself)

"Ek din main bhi aasmaan ke sitaron ki tarah chamkungi."

(One day I will shine like the stars in the sky.)

(Ravi suddenly storms into the room, disrupting her peaceful moment.)

Ravi: (angrily)

"Kya dekh rahi hai? Abhi tak soyi nahi? Kal school nahi hai kya?"

(What are you looking at? Aren’t you going to sleep? Don’t you have school tomorrow?)

Kavya:

"Ji, lekin mujhe abhi tak nahi sona hai."

(Yes, but I don’t want to sleep yet.)

Ravi: (yelling)

"Tu kya samajhti hai? Yeh koi chhutti ka time hai? Koi bhi kuch nahi hai tere liye! Jaldi so ja."

(What do you think? Is this a vacation? There’s nothing for you! Go to sleep quickly.)

(Kavya flinches at his tone, nodding quickly. She understands that arguing will only make things worse.)

Kavya:

"Ji, Chachu."

(Yes, Uncle.)

(She retreats to her small room, which is bare and filled with the smell of dust. The only piece of furniture is a small bed and a rickety desk where she dreams of studying.)

(As she lies down, she stares at the ceiling, her heart heavy with the weight of her uncle’s words. She thinks about the future, the life she dreams of, and the freedom she longs for.)

Kavya: (to herself)

"Kya main kabhi padhai kar paungi? Kya kabhi koi mujhe samjhega?"

(Will I ever be able to study? Will anyone ever understand me?)

(Tears begin to roll down her cheeks as she thinks of the harsh reality of her life. She wants to break free, to find her own path, but the walls of her uncle’s house feel suffocating.)

(Kavya wipes her tears, determined to find a way out of this life. She closes her eyes, imagining a different world—a world where she is happy and free.)

Kavya: (dreamily)

"Main ek din zaroor kuch kar dungi."

(I will definitely do something one day.)

(After some time, she falls into a fitful sleep, filled with dreams of freedom and hope, unaware of the challenges that lie ahead.)

(The next morning breaks with the sound of birds chirping. Kavya wakes up early, the sun streaming through the window. She gets up, stretching and shaking off the remnants of her dreams.)

Kavya: (to herself)

"Aaj ek naya din hai. Mujhe kuch karna hai."

(Today is a new day. I need to do something.)

(She quickly gets ready, making sure to be as quiet as possible. She prepares breakfast for her uncle, hoping he will be in a better mood today.)

Kavya: (as she cooks)

"Shayad aaj ka din thoda alag hoga."

(Maybe today will be a little different.)

(Ravi enters the kitchen, yawning and looking grumpy.)

Ravi:

"Kya bana rahi hai? Bhot der ho gaya hai."

(What are you making? It’s very late.)

Kavya:

"Ji, aaj main paratha bana rahi hoon."

(Yes, today I’m making parathas.)

(Ravi eyes her suspiciously but says nothing. As she finishes cooking, she serves the parathas on the table.)

Kavya:

"Chachu, khana khao."

(Uncle, eat the food.)

(Ravi sits down and starts eating. For a moment, Kavya feels hopeful as he chews thoughtfully.)

Ravi: (after a bite)

"Yeh theek hai, par kuch aur bhi bana. Mujhe kuch tasty chahiye."

(This is okay, but make something else. I want something tasty.)

(Kavya nods, feeling a spark of determination.)

Kavya:

"Ji, agle baar aur achha banaungi."

(Yes, I’ll make it better next time.)

(As the day goes on, she does her chores and steals moments to think about her dreams. Each task she completes feels like a step closer to the life she wants.)

(Later, as she cleans the living room, she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes are bright, filled with a glimmer of hope.)

Kavya: (whispering to her reflection)

"Main kuch ban sakti hoon. Main apne liye kuch kar sakti hoon."

(I can become something. I can do something for myself.)

(Despite her uncle's harshness, Kavya feels a flicker of resolve growing inside her. She knows that she has to find a way to escape this life, and she’s determined to do so.)

Kavya: (thinking)

"Main padhai karne ka mauka zaroor dhoond loon gi."

(I will definitely find a chance to study.)

(As the day winds down, Kavya prepares dinner, her heart racing with thoughts of what she could do to change her situation. She wishes for the strength to take a stand and the courage to follow her dreams.)

Kavya: (to herself)

"Kal se shuru karungi. Ek din, main zaroor kuch bada karungi."

(I’ll start from tomorrow. One day, I will definitely do something big.)

(With her newfound determination, Kavya finishes her chores and heads to bed, feeling a sense of hope that she hasn’t felt in a long time. As she lies down, she closes her eyes, dreaming of a brighter future.)

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