1)Being an Orphan

Aahana's POV

"I feel home" resting on his chest feels like, life's most beautiful blessing. I never knew what's going to happen to my life.

It was directionless; empty, there was a vacuum making me engulf in darkness.

He came like hope, a lamp in the darkness,  enlightening all my world with happiness, life.

When there is darkness all around when darkness is at its peak and no hope seems visible; 'magic happens'.

A similar thing happened with me; meeting him, falling in love with him was nothing less than magic.

Lying in his arms, with my munchkins on either side, I adored the love of my life.

"As I think about life; it was all so bleak; use to wonder how it shall be ending."

I was diving back into my past; the route to my present and future.

*****

Sunshine, intelligent little girl, princess, that's what Mumma used to call me. And for daddy I was always his angel, he bestowed me with all the life happiness in the 15 years I spent with them. Those were my happiest year of life to date. 

Life was easy, there was mom and dad love, and I was the luckiest child. I used to get whatever I put up my hands upon. Time flew like breeze, dancing singing far from the harsh waves. 

There was a time my closet was full of all colours of dresses with different prints. There was all kind of toys and luxuries bestowed upon me. 

Five years have passed since I lost all of my happiness. 

I was named by my parents as 'Aahana' meaning inner light, the first rise of the sun. 

Destiny plays hard and destroys the beautiful souls, ruin their life's and then mocks as a mute witness. 

"I hate life, I hate God; if there is any! "

"He took away my parents, snatched all of my happiness and left us in this dirth to live a tiring life."

"An accident took away all my happiness, it was all going good Mumma made my favourite dishes the same morning; with a promise to bring all the toys dresses and beautiful presents for my birthday they left to work."

It seemed like yesterday only when my father gifted me a small little trunk with a mysterious golden Key in it. He used to gift me a present at correct 12:00 midnight on my birthdays.

September 9, 1999; worst day of my life. I lost everything. My birthday took my parents; I never celebrate it. I hate my Birthday date.

It was a dreary night; That was a moonless sky gulping all the light within. Black clouds were enveloping us and it was thundering and lightning loudly. 

On the same night, we lost our parents. We were at home stuck upon the windows, waiting for our parent's arrival from work. The thunder and storms were making us anxious and afraid. 

But the night went waiting, no footsteps arrived, all calls went unreachable. We were restless when our uncle, aunt broke in delivering us the news that we have lost our parents in the accident last night. 

We can't even find their bodies. The last riots went unperformed. Our lives shattered with a thump. 

Since then we are living with maternal uncle his cruel wife and her hopeless, extravagant daughter Ria.

Since five years uncle is having our custody he told us that our parents have left all the property in the name of the uncle and we are under the guardianship of him. 

We would have been better off alone than living with these wicked people. 

I am not allowed to go out, had to work all the house chores day and night, I can't think about the last day I had my favourite chocolates.

Probably in Neny Wedding or Lilly's but I could attend only Lilly's wedding. Aunt got news of some rich man having its presence there and these fellows wanted to hook me to him for a good Ransome. Yaa I had my last mouthful of chocolates at the same time. A year ago, quite long ago. 

A roaring voice my ears;

"Are you going to spend the whole day cleaning these glasses, fasten your hands? You are just a weighted sack on us. We are doing so much for you an orphan. You are such a thankless. Fasten your hands, if you want the material to stitch your second piece of dress. Otherwise, I don't care, just spent the rest of your life in the same torn dress. "

Aunt was continuously rattling at me. 

I thought; I just have a single dress left with me, and that's the most beautiful dress, I can't wear it every day working the chores. It will get spoilt. I was saving each penny I could, I could ever get for 3 years and stitched this dress. And the dress I am currently wearing was made from a rejected dress of Ria.

She is so moody, wears a dress rejects it in a month, wears a different dress each day. And still, I don't know why aunt hates me so much. She even doesn't allow us to wear the rejected dresses. With the one I could win I make beautiful dresses for my little sister. 

I want to get all happiness for her. She is also forfeiting all, her dreams, capabilities living here. To continue her education she needs a good amount for fees, which I am sure uncle and aunt are not going to provide us. They would also not allow me to go outside work and earn for my sister. It's a situation of crisis and I need to devise a way out of it. 

But presently, I need to stitch this torn dress of mine. While I was sweeping the ground it got stuck in the nail and got torn at the edges of the waist. 

I can't let it flung like this, today Ayaan and his family are going to come to finalize Ria as the bride, daughter in law of their family. Ayaan belongs to a Royal lineage.

What I got to listen to is that his family is having hundreds of car.

More than thousandths of servants. This Singhaniya clan is famous all over, it is the talk of the town how this family raised from rags to riches.

All the empire has been built singlehandedly by Ranveer Singhaniya. 

It's a very big day, Ria is super excited, she is going to wear her best dress.

Two hairdressers are working on her hair. One is cleansing her face other is polishing her nails.

Aunt is shouting all-around at me for getting work done faster. 

I had to do a lot of work.

Prepare all the dishes. Clean the house.

Most importantly stitch and mend the dress, I can't appear like this in front of the guest.

"I was hopping towards our room upstairs to change the dress quickly. "

It was a small room filled with my parent's photo, all the sweet memories I had from childhood. Aunt snatched all the things from us; all our precious belongings and now I live in this deserted place with the bare minimum.

With my family photo frame; with one side Mumma other side papa and in between me; There is emptiness; but I know I am my father's tigress, I will never quit.

Heartwarming, memories the visuals of the enchanting past lay in a deserted place full of harsh realities.

The half-broken, continuously mended bed, which is covering the 80℅ of the room space. 

There was a trunk below my bed; wherein I keep all the particular souvenir dresses I have.

My achievements.

Although just two or three in counts. I quickly opened it and after a good thought of about thirty minutes, I chose the one which was intact and don't even have a single hole. It was baby pink and lavender coloured long gown dress.

I like the other red dress the most I am saving it for Ria's marriage. And the third and the last one in treasure has some minute holes in it and looked rough from use. Although in better conditions than the one I am wearing currently. 

I stood in front of the mirror, the pentagonal shaped mirror another unique treasure of mine.

"Although broken. "

The broken things tell a beautiful Story, this mirror tells another story of the broken lives hard to be mended. Waiting for someone to touch and turn all of the ugliness into heaven's delight. 

My hair was looking like an eagle nest.

I quickly got hold of the comb and detangled my hair furiously but these strands are so rigid, stubborn, even after ten minutes of continuous hustle with my comb a single strand rises and comes forward in an ugly position.

At last, I decided to tie them in a ponytail only way to make them look decent.

Remnants of flour dust from the cooking tasks were still on my face; what a beautiful makeup. Hush! 

I took a wet piece of cloth wiped clean my face; put on the dress; made a not so perfect pony and wearing my mother's heart-shaped pendant necklace; the thing most dear to my heart. Now I was ready. 

This way I look better, I sighed looking myself in the mirror. 

Aunt can't let me live in peace; her voice again came thundering.

"Where the fuck are you" 

"Are you going to come down the stairs or not princess? "

"Who will do all the work; they might arrive any time; come fast prepare tea? "

My aunt was rattling continuously I quickly followed downstairs; I can't bear to miss today's meal. It would be delicious for sure. 

I am coming! I answered

Saying this I quickly hopped through the downstairs to reach the hall when I collided with the mop basket and I crumbled on the floor on my knees.

Always awkward things happen to me 'murmuring' I looked above, the whole Hall was filled with Ria's prospective groom visitors. 

I was embarrassed! Why such things happen to me.

Ria was wearing a tomato red georgette gown, with antique choker jewellery and decent silver sandals with a thin line of tie-up at top.

It was evident that this was a failed attempt to look-alike someone from a royal lineage. 

She ended up looking a complete mismatch. A modern dress paired with antique jewellery although looking highly valuable, and extremely beautiful but old fashioned sandals; and a bun which look like it has been worked for hours.

Looking at her I got reminded of something these were the same sandals my mother used to have; these were her most valuable possession.

How can this old sack do this; she is giving my mothers possession to her daughter. But what can we do? She has shown us legal papers in which it was mentioned that my parents had named all the property in the name of my uncle.

Still, I wonder what might be the reason behind this.

"Now stand up, you can't even carry yourself. Stand up on your knees fast"

she roared.

"Poor orphan lost her parents in childhood, and that's the reason she lacks manners. Don't mind it all of you; I am teaching her manners and investing all my energies in making her a reliable woman. " This was the ill description my aunt gave about me.

How could she even say that; She is teaching me manners,

ohh!

Is it by making me work like a machine; and what she called me an orphan! I am strong but this word orphan hurts me to the core of my heart.

A piece within me further brokes listening to this harsh reality. A tear rolled down my cheeks which I tried hard to control. 

I stood up with a thump and answered my aunt back in the same clever yet affectionate tone.

"My mothers necklace and sandals are making Ria look beautiful. My parents were much more generous than what was needed for you people. " saying all this in one breath I felt better.

With this, I could see the colour of her face fading away and red eyes gazing at me. 

"Hello everyone I am Ahaana Mehra daughter of once number one businessman of town other than the introduction you listened from my aunt's mouth. "

Saying this I chinned up and asked would you all like some tea with cake. 

After all this drama these people were looking at me with doubt, and somewhat admiration from head to toe. But my aunt was surely furious at me. 

All this could cost today's dinner or even worse; but I will see to it, now it's already done. 

Thinking this I looked to count the heads of the guest to decide the number of cups of tea, Ayaan his mother, father, Sister, uncle aunt, Ria so a total of 7 cups, wait there was an unknown face sitting at corner continuously gazing at me with a mischievous smile. 

"My self Rahul Singhaniya, Ayaan's brother" he introduced himself spotting me staring towards him with bewildered eyes. 

'Hi Nice to meet you,' I greeted! 

"No tea for me please! "

Would you like to have coffee then? 

"I would like to have you"

What! ( Did I heard right, fucked up fellow) 

I was bewildered at his flirting.