Silk and Scars Chapter 2

The sun rose lazily over the ghats of Banaras, casting golden hues across the sacred waters of the Ganga. Life buzzed awake in the old city, the aroma of incense blending with the sounds of conch shells and temple bells.

Inside a small two-room house tucked in a crowded bylane, Pranavi Sikawar folded her hands in front of a tiny temple tucked into a corner. Her eyes were calm, but her heart — weighed heavy.

Behind her, harsh footsteps stormed in.

kalindi Sikarwar ( Fl grandma)

Aaj phir se subah 5 baje uth gayi? Yeh naatak band kar. Zyada sanskaari banne ki zarurat nahi.

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

Mandir ka kaam pehle kar leti hoon toh baaki sab time se ho jata hai, Dadi* said softly*

kalindi Sikarwar ( Fl grandma)

Zyada zubaan chal rahi hai teri. Jhaadu le aur verandah saaf kar. Mehmaan aane waale hain.

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

*nodded and quietly picked up the broom

Pranavi was used to it now — the early mornings, the never-ending chores, the taunts, the slaps.

Ever since her parents’ demise, her life had shrunk to four walls and countless expectations. She never questioned it. Not aloud, at least.

She had dreamt once — to become a doctor, to heal people. She still worked at the flower shop in the morning and tutored two kids in the evening. That money barely covered her own books and food. Her Dadi and bua never gave her a single rupee. Yet, they took everything from her.

she never complained

until lately - strange things had begun to happen.

Like the time her medical book order got cancelled due to lack of funds — and someone anonymously re-ordered the entire set and sent it to her with a note: "Keep studying. The world needs more healers."

Or when she got harassed at the local bazaar — and the next day, the man disappeared from Banaras.

She'd started to feel... watched. But not in a scary way.

in a protected way

Later that evening — At the flower Shop

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

*busy stringing marigolds

unknown

Ek gajra milega, please?

Pranavi briefly glanced up and found a tall man with white kurta, calm eyes, soft voice

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

Jasmine ya Mogra?!

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

Jasmine, like your name — pranavi, Pure

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

*froze* aapko mera naam kaise pata?!

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

*smiled**brushing it off

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

umm.. this stall is famous. Naam sun rakha hai

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

*cheeks slightly flushed* handed over the jasmine gajra

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

*handed over the exact change

little writer

and like every other story of noveltoon, their fingers brushed giving shivers to our fl

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

*walked away*

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

*looking at her fingers

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

*glanced back once and then blended into the Banaras crowd

Meanwhile

At Rajawat Mansion, Delhi

meenakshi Rajawat (Ml Mom)

*sipping her tea, going through some photographs

Her son's assistant has handed her a dossier— details about Pranavi Sikarwar

meenakshi Rajawat (Ml Mom)

*smiling* simple, soft hearted girl... bas waisi hi jaise mere Eshaan ko chahiye

Her husband had built an empire but her son built the world.

And now she wanted to built her son's future with someone worth it.

meenakshi Rajawat (Ml Mom)

*reached her hand for her phone

meenakshi Rajawat (Ml Mom)

*texting her son*

meenakshi Rajawat (Ml Mom)

📲 Tum Banaras mein ho?

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

📲 hnn, maa. Just met her. She's more than I imagined.

meenakshi Rajawat (Ml Mom)

📲 toh phir rishta fixed samjhu?!

Eshaan Rajawat (Ml)

📲 Not yet. pahele use samjhna hai. Dosti se shuru karte hai.

Banaras, 10:40 PM

Pranavi Sikarwar (Fl)

*staring at her jasmine gajra.

Something about that stranger felt... different. Gentle. Familier.

outside her room

kalindi Sikarwar ( Fl grandma)

paise mile? 15 lakh bol rahe the.

unknown

Sab milega. Shaadi fixed samjho.

Pranavi didn't hear that part.

but her fate had already been sold To Eshaan Rajawat

. . . . . . . . . . . .

TBC