P.S. --> Please pardon me, this chapter is not edited much. 🥹

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Kiaan

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[FLASHBACK}

Mom forgot my birthday

...again...

I should have been used to it by now, yet somehow the hope lingered that maybe, maybe this time would be different. But I was left disappointed, like every other birthday of mine. She was sleeping as usual till late. Her medicines make her really sleepy. She takes her medicine daily but takes extra pills when she is upset. Last night I heard her crying, and I knew she would eat more medicine than usual. When I went to Grandpa to ask him what happened to Mom, he shut me off like every other time, saying she was missing my cousin Dhruv. I knew it was a lie. Dhruv lived in India, and I missed him a lot. I wanted to be with my brother and even tried to convince Grandpa and dad but I was scolded instead. Mom's condition had been the same for years, and I did not know what was the reason. I had tried to know what was wrong with her and even asked the doctor secretly, who comes to see her often. I asked him if my mother had cancer. I knew people with sicknesses like cancer get really ill, but the doctor scolded me like everyone else and then he ratted me out to Grandpa. Grandpa did not let me have dinner as a punishment. I did not mind not having dinner, but to discipline me he also stopped me from going to school for a week. No school means no Hredhaan, my only friend in that country. After that incident, I stopped asking what was wrong with my mother, yet I still cared.

I remembered some of my childhood memories in which I would play with my twin cousins Dhruv and Dhriti. Seema Maasi, their mother loved me a lot. My mom was not sick then and she loved me a lot too.Mom played with me, cooked me great meals, but then one day Maasi and Uncle went out and never came back. Dhriti was gone too. I used to cry for them a lot. I remembered the day Dhruv was being sent to India. I had clutched my brother's hand, not letting him go, but no one listened to my pleas.

I combed my hair and looked at myself in the mirror. My face fell more when I realized I was still an inch shorter than Hredhaan. I had told him that by fifteen I would grow taller than him. Though it was only my twelfth birthday, and I still had three years, yet I was desperate to be taller.

I looked at the clock and realized I was late. I was not supposed to be late otherwise, how would I get to see her?

Silly Kiaan, I smacked my head.

Just like every birthday, Dad and Grandpa had left money for me and some gifts in the room. I did not bother to check, nor was I excited. I was excited about someone else and the thought of seeing her had me hop down the stairs in a hurry.

I reached the dining table which was decorated with a good meal.

"Happy Birthday, junior..." Arthur wished me.

"Thanks, Arthur..."

Arthur was the one who looked after me. He cooked for me, drove me to school or to Hredhaan's place or anywhere I wanted to go and was allowed to.

I picked up a muffin from the dining table and stuffed my mouth with it.

"Whe'e iz Enzo comin'?" I asked with my mouth full of blueberry muffin.

Enzo was Arthur's son. He would visit sometimes, especially during Christmas. I did not like everyone's company, and Enzo was one of the few people I jelled well with.

"He will come in two days...." I nodded.

"I have prepared a delicious birthday breakfast..." He pointed to the meals on the table but I had no time for that. I gulped the muffin and then said,"Not now, Arthur. I am in a hurry...." I

"But..."

"No one will know, and I just had a muffin. I am fine." He would be scolded badly if my father or grandfather knew I did not have my breakfast. They did not have enough time to have breakfast with me on my birthday but then definitely had time to scold Arthur or even me.

"Take me somewhere right now, please..." He nodded and walked out with me to the parking lot. Once we both were settled in the car he asked,"Where to, junior?"

"The post office..." He nodded as he drove me to the post office. I looked at my watch. If my guess was right, I had thirty minutes. The post office I had to go to was closer to my place so it only took us twenty minutes. Once Arthur parked the car we got out of it. We stood in front of the post office. I was waiting, he was confused.

The weather was snowy. Since Christmas was approaching every place was decorated with fairy lights and Christmas stuff. I rubbed my hands as I looked here and there waiting for her.

"Who are we waiting for?" Arthur asked. I did not reply as I did not want to look up at him replying. What if she appears and I miss it.

Come on. Come on....just show up already....

It had been more than fifteen minutes and the snowfall had started now.

"Junior, the weather is turning colder. Let's go somewhere warm." Arthur said.

I had almost given up too, as I did not know if the information I had of her being there was true or not but then...

"Wait for me...." I heard a soft voice. I turned to my right and saw a man walking and then a little girl running to him. They had just gotten out of a car and the man was wearing a driver's uniform.

"I have got little legs...." she said, holding a letter closer to her, running to him with her little legs.

Is this her? I thought. I did not know what she looked like so I was not sure if it was her. She was wearing a cap and her hair was covered. She had a glowing clip type of something on her cap.
Weird!

An old man came out of the post office and then his eyes landed on the girl. He recognized her instantly

"You are late, Miss Star..."

"I had to get a gif... gift..." she said, stumbling over her words as she showed the letter to the old man

"A gift?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded, her face lighting up with a wide, glowing smile.

"It's his birthday," she said, her voice full of joy, more joy than I'd ever seen in anyone from my family because of my birthday.

"Then let's post it without delay. Come in." She walked inside with the old man and her driver.

It was her. She remembered my birthday. As always.

A smile crept through my own lips. This was the first time in the entire day I smiled genuinely.

"Is that your pen pal?" Arthur, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold, asked. I nodded, grinning.

Three years back, I received an anonymous letter with multiple spelling mistakes. I thought it was a prank from one of my classmates, but it turned out it be from someone who just wanted to return the pen I had lost. I had no clue where she got it, and how she knew it was important to me or even my name and address, but she seemed really sweet, genuine, honest, and was actually concerned for me. I wrote her back with a box of chocolate as a thank-you gift.

I knew a thing or two about how to show gratitude and how to make a girl smile, and since then, we were pen pals. She never revealed her true identity and was a mystery to me, but she knew me well. This time, I found her. Not exactly found her, but tricked her into finding her.

She was bossy but naïve too and she hated lies. So one time I lied in the letter how I knew she was the girl from my glass and how I knew her address and that I would talk to her in front of the whole school. I was sure that infuriated her as the very next day she told me the address of the post office she goes to send me letters and how that girl from my class was not my pen pal. I made her upset, though, and I could see she cried because of me. There were multiple spelling mistakes, which meant she was really, really upset and spilled ink too, which meant her tears messed up with the words. This happened two nights ago, and I was scared she would not send me a letter today, but I was wrong. She had a huge heart for sending a letter and a gift to the boy who made her cry. It made me upset that she cried because of me, and I knew I had to make up with her.

Before I could go and talk to her she was already out and heading towards her car.

"I am gonna, get the letter..." I said to Arthur hurriedly going inside. Arthur helped me receive my letter and I rushed out to go talk to her. But by then she was already in her vehicle which already drove off. I ran to my vehicle and jumped in. Arthur followed a few seconds later and ignited the engine.

"Arthur, follow that car." I said while getting anxious about losing her. I kept getting up from my seat, tracking the car that she was sitting in. I could see the distance between our cars increasing.

"Drive fast...drive fast..." I said, panicking. Arthur increased the speed, but it was not enough to catch up. I was irritated because I felt we were going to miss her car.

"You have to get close..." I said as I glanced at Arthur briefly and then looked at her car, which was now more far than before.

"Junior, if I get any faster, we will both end up hurting ourselves...." Arthur said. Her car appeared like a star now, about to disappear in the sea of vehicles, and finally it was not in our sight. I was sad. I felt hurt more than being hurt over my mother not wishing me on my birthday.

"Looks like we lost her...." Arthur said.

That was like Arthur, always stating the obvious.

"Where to now? Home?"

"Drop me at the Keychain Cafe. Hredhaan will go there too. "I mumbled, staring at my lap. I was close to eventually meeting her but...

I began tearing the envelope feeling terrible and, as expected, there was a letter and there was a small square box too. Keeping back the letter inside to read for later I opened the black box. It had a black beaded bracelet. It looked like a handmade bracelet. I instantly wore it on my right wrist. The bracelet was designed with care, and it was adjustable too. If I had been fat, it would still have fit me without any issue. She was always thoughtful.

"Key chain cafe? It's your birthday, don't you have to celebrate it? Maybe buy something good. In terms of you kids, buy something 'cool'."

I sighed. Celebrate with whom? There was no one excited for my birthday. Those who had been excited lived in India. My cousin Dhruv and friends Namit and Arjun were the only ones apart from Hredhaan I liked spending time with and would have loved to celebrate my birthday with but that was not possible.

"All my friends live in India except one...." I said, staring out of the car.

Even Hredhaan was busy with some stupid royal affair he hated to attend. Not my words, but Hredhaan's, that those royal affairs were stupid.

Arthur dropped me off at the cafe while he waited for me outside. Keychain was one of those places where only kids hung out and not elders. They always came with their families, and I always went there with Arthur. Hredhaan too did not have anyone else from his family to show up. We were the loners who had to see others with their families feeling terrible about our state.

"Hey, Bella..." I greeted the lady who owned the cafe once I entered. I could not believe I stood inches apart from her and yet could not even talk to her. Not getting to even talk to her was making me quite sad. I guess God did not like me much, that's why he did not let me talk to her at all.

"Bonjour, young boy. What should I get you? The orange cookies, the cupcakes, or both?"

"Nothing...I am waiting for Hredhaan." I replied to Bella before taking my usual. Hredhaan was going to be late, but waiting there for him was better than staying in my room on my birthday.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice. "That's mine..."

I looked to my right and saw a group of boys younger than me laughing. One of the boys was holding an origami bird in his hand, teasing a girl. The girl wore a similar outfit to hers. I hated bullies, and just when I was about to go and help that girl, she smacked the boy's head and got her origami bird back.

"Next time, don't steal from me," she said. The boys had stopped laughing and looked scared now.

Wait, I had seen the dress, and I knew that voice. It's her. And she just smacked a boy's head.

She turned to me but did not see me. I could see her face now and could not help but grin again.

Should I talk to her? I thought.

Of course, I should.

But what should I say? I wondered again. I was actually nervous, which was strange. I never got nervous before.

Why am I nervous? I am even older than her. I tried reminding myself.

'Come on, Kiaan, you have waited three years just for this day. Don't ruin it.' I said that to myself in my head and started walking towards her. I stopped when she was close, but she was not looking at me and only at the origami birds in her hands. Her head hit my chest.

"Ouch!" Out of reflex, her hand went to her head where she got hit, and her birds, of course, fell down.

"My birdies..." She mumbled and bent to collect them. I bent too, to help her.

"Can't you see...Why do...." Her eyes widened instantly when she looked up at me while she tried scolding me.

She knew me? I thought

Of course, she did, idiot. She sent you a letter first, remember? My inner self reminded the foolish me. She kept staring at me with her wide eyes.

Suddenly, the bells at the entrance jingled, signifying someone had entered the cafe. Her attention on me broke, and she looked towards the entrance. All of a sudden, she grabbed my wrist, leaving her birds behind, and pulled me to a corner and ducked under the space behind the staircase, pulling me with her. We were not sitting there, basically hiding there. She kept looking behind me, not sure why. She was holding my wrist too tightly, looking somewhat scared. Her eyes were too wide in fear, just like those cute white kittens in movies. I patted her head to remove her fear. Her hair was soft, really, really soft, softer than a cotton ball. She was not wearing the cap, and now she had that glowing thing in her hair. After patting her head, I held her hand, which was tightly holding my wrist. That was when she looked at me. Her cheeks got red, just like a cherry.

But why?

She looked cute, though.

"Why are we hiding here?" I asked, my voice low.

"Shhhh...." She shushed me and then looked behind my back for a second.

"Who are we hiding from?" I did not like how sacred she looked and wanted to know who was troubling her so that I could help her. I knew if I told my father or grandfather, they would definitely try to help her. But instead of answering me, she shushed me again.

"Shhhh..."

I wanted to go see for myself who had entered the cafe that had scared her so much that she had to hide, but then I recalled she sometimes mentions a monster in her letters.

"Is that the monster you talk about in your letters?" She shook her head.

"The monster comes out at night...." She said, her voice softer than before.

"He works for that monster..." At least now I knew that it was a man. I was already planning to get all the details and tell my father about it. I wanted to help her anyhow. But first, I had to distract her.

"I wore your birthday gift." I showed her my other wrist, smiling.

I had never received something like that, and it was really precious to me. Besides, it was handmade, which made it more special.

She appeared sad for some reason.

"I know it looks bad and...you don't like it...I am sorry." She really was naïve. Feisty and naïve both. A weird combination, but I liked it.

"It's pretty," I said.

Why would she think I don't like it?

No one ever went that far to give me something handmade. It meant that she thought of me; she spent her precious time weaving something for me.

"It is?" I nodded, giving her a full-blown smile. I smiled again because of her. Recently, I have been smiling mostly because of her. The bell jingled again, and then she looked behind my back. Her fear appeared to be gone. I realized the man was not in the cafe anymore.

"I have to go now," she said, looking hurt.

No, I was not ready to let her go, not yet. Before I could realize, she had left my wrist and stood up. I got up on my feet too hurriedly, almost bumping my head on the stairway we were hiding under.

"What's your name?"

"I can't tell you."

What? Why? That was unfair. I had to stop her and talk to her more. I could talk to her about anything, like the glowing thing in her hair, which was bothering me. It was bright yellow, almost shining.

"What's that in your hair? Is that a bug?" I said, pointing at it. I brought it up not out of curiosity but out of a need for her to stay for long. I did not want her gone. She scrunched her nose and then touched her hair where I was pointing.

"No, it's a hair clip."

"A hair clip?"

"It's a firefly hair clip." She said and then told me, "I love fireflies."

Her eyes glittered at the mention of them. I knew she loved fireflies; she mentions them in almost every letter. She had told me that in a dark room, fireflies help her with her fear. She started going towards the exit.

No, no....Stop her, Kiaan.

"Wait!" I called her, but she did not stop.

"Firefly..." I called her with the one thing she loved, as I did not know her name. She stopped and turned to me. Her eyes curiously stayed on me, waiting for me to say whatever I was about to.

"Will we meet again?" I asked, hopeful. She looked at her shoe, her face gloomier than before when she looked up at me. Then she shook her head and then sprinted off outside the cafe to where her driver was waiting for her.

We will meet again, firefly. If my trick could make me meet you once, then I could do that again.

******

I stared at the black bead bracelet in my hand. A smile burned through my lips at the memory of her. I did not call her Firefly because of that hairclip. I called her that because she was the only glowing part of my life. Even in the darkest corners of my world, she glowed. When my life was filled with gloomy days, she shone brighter in it. And when she shone, I could see nothing but her. When I lost her and when my world turned darker, the hope of finding her always brightened things up, clearing a path for me. In all my darkest nights, she glowed.... just for me. And now that I had her, I could not even tell her about our past, as it would ruin her. I drank the water from the glass I was holding, staring at her sleeping form. The water burnt my throat as it slid down, but the pain was not enough. I wanted to drink liquor instead, but the woman sleeping on the bed needed me to be sane. She stirred in her sleep and groaned, as if she was in pain. I knew it was her nightmare again.

******

Simran

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I was stuck in the same woods. I was not supposed to be stuck there. I was trying to run away, but the faster I ran, those men in masks got closer to me than ever. I stumbled on a log all of a sudden and fell. A scream passed through my lips. I was holding the jar of fireflies closer to me, not letting it fall and break. My frock got mud on it, and my knees were bleeding now. I started crying. The pain was too much to bear.

I was scared that the marksmen would capture me now. Their footsteps were louder than ever. I held the jar of fireflies closer to my chest and shut my eyes. But then something weird happened. The sound of their footsteps decreased. I realized they were retreating.

But why?

Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw a boy taller than me running to me. He had mud on his clothes, too. But he also had a gun in his hand.
But why did a kid have a gun? Was he there to protect me?

He extended his hand to me, staring at me with concern-filled eyes. His eyes teared up when he saw blood on me.

Why was he crying?

"Firefly, take my hand...."

He called me firefly...but...but only one person calls me by that nickname.

Who was he?

And why did it feel like I knew him?

Why did it feel like he meant a lot to me?

Why did it feel that I had been waiting for him?

"Your monster prince won't let anyone take you away from me," he said before he bent to me, closer. His eyes came into the closest proximity possible. I recognized those eyes. I had seen them before, multiple times. Those belonged to the beast; the amber eyes belonged to none other than Kiaan.

I wheezed for breath as if resurrected from a deathbed, and then I coughed hard. My eyes opened, and I found the same pair of eyes staring at me. The most dangerous yet beautiful pair of eyes stared at me with concern. But this time it was on an older face and not a kid's face.

I realized what I saw was a nightmare. Though I was used to nightmares about being stuck in woods, masked men, and running and chasing, but this felt different, this felt real. Besides, it had a new face, a boy's face.

Why were my nightmares resurfacing this soon? I wondered.

Perhaps my medicines weren't working, and I needed to see another doctor before I lost my sanity.

I was lost in my thoughts, not realizing the man those eyes belonged to bent to my face level. When it actually hit me, I stopped breathing. He surely noticed as he made some distance and helped me sit. Surprisingly, very different from his character, he arranged a pillow behind my back and helped me sit comfortably. He then sat beside me on the bed, extending a glass of water and two pills to take.

Is he poisoning me this soon? I thought. I stared at him skeptically. He sighed as if he understood what was going on inside my head and then said, "The doctor prescribed some vitamins for you. These won't kill you."

My throat was really parched, so I reached for the glass of water hesitantly. I took a few sips, looking around. We were back in London, at Kiaan's parent's place. My head was throbbing to even think of why, when and how. I was planning not to take the medicines, but he kept staring at me holding out those pills. I knew he would force me to take them so before he could, I took them willingly.

I had questionable trust issues. One moment I was doubting him, the other moment trusting him. Something was severely wrong with me to act that way.

The flashes of the wedding kept coming to me, and I pulled my knees closer, trying to hide in an invisible cocoon by attempting to shrink myself. Intertwining my hands on my knees, I said something weird.

"You wanted me to suffer, didn't you? I am sure what...what happened at the wedding must have felt good..."

I hated how my words came out. They were brutal. I did not know why I said that to him. Perhaps he was the one in front of me and not my culprits and I needed to vent out. Or maybe I believed him to be equally responsible for what happened to me even when he was the one who took my stand. I don't think I was completely at fault for blaming him. That man treated me terribly the past three years, and when suddenly he became a knight for me, how was I supposed to trust him?

He kept sitting there without saying a word, simply staring at me. It felt weird to be stared at by him where hatred was not in his gaze. It was something incomprehensible.

"Why did you take my stand?"

His agenda was always hazy from the start. Now I knew he did not simply marry me to save his image and mine. If that was the case, he would not have gone against my family, whose image he pretended he was trying to protect.

"Because I want to punish you myself." He said, his voice just like a raw whisper. I had never heard him talk like that. But his unclear answers always made me desperate for clarity. He got up, and I instantly held his wrist tighter, like my life depended on him being there.

"Punish me for what?" He kept staring at my hand holding his wrist. He could have jerked my hand back, but he did not. He gently curled his fingers around my hand, unlatching it slowly. It seemed as if it hurt him doing that, as if it was really, really painful.

"I had been dying every night for years, and you didn't even remember what you did." He mumbled. He did not look at me, though.

It felt like forgetting what I did was a crime more terrible than murder.

"Tell me...." My words came out as a plea. If I did something hurtful, then I would repent. If I were at fault, then I would seek forgiveness. All this while I kept thinking it had to do something with the car I burnt, but no, it was not.

He dodged the question like dodging a bullet and said, "Change into some comfortable clothes. You need to eat and take some more rest." Before he could go out without answering, like always, I stood up hurriedly. It was a huge mistake, as the suddenness caused me to feel dizzy. I was about to fall when he grabbed my arm and pulled me gently to him. Kiaan held me in his arms comfortably.

I stood there almost limp. I felt too weak to do anything by myself. He secured me in his arms, and it felt really good. He stroked my hair gently, his other hand drawing patterns on my back. He was being so gentle that my heart began thudding like it would explode. Not only that, even his heartbeat ran into sync with mine. That was when I realized something brutal.

It was a dream.

Because the real Kiaan did not have the heart to beat like that.

I had that nightmare in my dream, and ever since I woke up from that nightmare, I was stuck in a dream. And I did not want to wake up, not yet.

"Can you walk?" he muttered.

"Hmmm..." I nuzzled his sherwani. He felt so good, smelled so good. I wish I could exchange him with the one in real life.

"You couldn't even take a step and you say you can walk..." The dream Kiaan was cocky too.

Gentle and cocky. Damn! What a powerful combo!

He pulled out of the hug holding me and made me sit.

"Sit here comfortably..." I pulled my legs up, and he sat there too.

"Give me your hands..." Confused, I willingly extended my hands wondering what he was about to do. I was left speechless when he began opening my bangles. He kept pulling them out of my wrist and arranged them neatly on the bedside cabinet. I could feel heat creeping to my cheeks already, and he was quite focused on what he was doing.

After that, he put my feet on his lap. I panicked and pulled them back.

"What are you doing?"

"Making a tattoo. What do you think I am doing?" He rolled his eyes, and I frowned at him.

"You can give a simple answer," I complained.

"You don't like simple answers." He reasoned. I opened my mouth to retort, and he raised his brows in challenge. The dream Kiaan had a point, though. Even in my dream, he did as he pleased.

Stubborn ass.

When he touched my feet, my body tingled. He pressed my toes as if relieving the stress, and heck, it felt so, so good. He was pressing my feet, throwing all the patriarchy in the trash can. Never thought even in a dream Kiaan would do this. He kept pressing my foot, running his index finger on my sole. My body erupted in goosebumps. I knew I was red with blush. I curled my toes when his thumb caressed the area around my anklets.

"I will do it...." I murmured, attempting again to pull my legs, but he did not let me. He held them tight, gave me a look that had me gulping in fear, and resulted in tingles too.

"If you don't stop protesting, I will tie you to this bed and do as I please." I could not say anything, but my inner self did.

'Silly, let him do whatever he wants. It's a dream.' That's what she said to me.

Kiaan took his time, leisurely brushing his fingers over my anklets. The ghungroos chimed every now and then, a sweet cacophony that danced in the stillness. A slight smile tugged at his lips as he did it again. He looked so breathtaking in that moment, I wanted to bottle the sight and keep it forever. He was completely lost in the sound, the sound of my ghungroos. I watched him, confused and curious.

What kind of strange fantasy was this?

"Wear them often." He said as he opened the clasp slowly. It felt as if it hurt him to remove them from my ankles. They were just anklets, right, then why did he want me to wear them so often? I guess the dream Kiaan knew that I loved wearing anklets that's why. Even after he was done removing them, my feet kept resting on his thighs. He kept touching my sole softly with his thumb, mindlessly caressing it. If he did not stop I knew a moan would pass through my lips. I thought of chanting a mantra in my head to stop that from happening.

He is not real.

He is not real.

He is not real.

And then, all of a sudden, a new mantra played, Fuck! I like his touch. Before I could actually lose control, he stopped torturing my body and my soul and asked, "Do your feet still hurt?"

I shook my head vigorously.

"I saw you struggling in those heels. Don't wear heels if they are that uncomfortable. I will get you comfortable, cushioned shoes."

Okay, I was losing my mind. What a wild imagination I had that the dream was so vivid and the man I hated was acting like everyone's dream man.

'Was I in some novel instead?' I mused.

Because guys in dreams never did that much for a woman.

"They are fine now," I said. Before I could try pulling them back again, he already tightened his hold around my feet, keeping them intact.

God! Please help me.

"Leave them, please..." I pleaded. His eyes darkened at my request. He bent closer to me, and my heart skipped a beat, but he did that to pick up his phone from the bedside cabinet.

"Get me two foot patches right now." He ordered someone over the call.

The dream Kiaan was torturous, too, except that he tortured in a different way. I knew if I stayed in that dream long enough, I would try to seek the same warmth the dream Kiaan was providing me from real Kiaan. I wondered what was taking so long for me to wake up.

Did I hit my head after the wedding?

Or did I get really sick after the wedding?

Did someone hit my head with an iron rod?

Those questions lingered in my head but were left unanswerable. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I felt his grip loosened and then I instantly pulled my feet back. I took a breath of relief, and the giddiness in my stomach started to die. I started opening my earrings and winced in pain. I tried again but it hurt more this time. Before I could do another try, I felt him gripping my hands and then something was tied around my wrists. I looked at Kiaan horrified as he was tying a piece of cloth around my wrist.

"What are you doing?"

Am I out of my dream already? I thought.

"I told you I would tie you the next time you protest." He sat back again after he tied my wrists together and quite tight.

"Turn around." Without protesting, I turned my back to him. He touched my earlobes tenderly and then opened the earrings without any hassle. I did not feel that much pain. After earrings, he opened my forehead ornament and then began removing those heavy gold jewelleries tied around my neck. I sat there like a princess. But this princess was tied.

When his fingers reached the tip of the nuptial thread, I panicked.

"Not this..." I said in a hurry.

"Don't open this."

His thumb rested on the clasp of my nuptial thread, and then he whispered, "Why not?"

Why not?

To be honest, I did not have an answer to it or maybe there was an answer. I just did not want it to come out yet. While he waited for that answer, I felt something cold around my earholes, and then the fruity smell of an antiseptic cream reached my nostrils. My eyes teared up, not because of pain but because with the realization that I would never be treated like that in real life. That in reality there were people to rub salt in my wounds and not to tend to them with care.

Once he was done applying the antiseptic to my earphones, I felt his finger tugging my nuptial thread. He pulled me back to him like that, lessening the gap in between our bodies. He nuzzled the back of my neck just where the nuptial thread's clasp was. I fisted my hands because of the sensation that ran its course through my body.

"I asked you a question, firefly." He said, and then I felt his lips leaving kisses on the back of my neck. My eyes went drowsy, and I almost closed my eyes. But the moment and my haziness broke the moment the door was knocked. Kiaan left me, got up and headed to the door. He opened the door partially so I could not see who was there. But then he came inside with two-foot patches and a pair of pajamas. His jaw was clenched as if he were angry. He kept the foot patches on the bed along with those clothes before he untied my hands. He did not glance at me for once ever since the intruder came.

"Change your clothes and apply the foot patches. I will be outside while you change." He walked out and shut the door while I laid down instead of changing. I closed my eyes trying to come out of my dream because the dream Kiaan was no different from the real one. He hurt me too.

******

The bright lights were too sharp, almost penetrating in. I opened my eyes feeling way too relaxed. I reached for my phone near the pillow and found it. I checked the time, it was four in the evening. I was not in my lehenga but in comfortable pajamas. That confirmed whatever I saw was a dream, as in the dream I slept in my lehenga only. There were multiple voices too I heard. I saw Di, Saavi and Niti doing something with my bag. Probably someone from them changed my clothes.

"Try 0000.." Di said. Niti matched the passcode and said, "It's not working."

"1111.." It was Saavi this time.

They were trying to open my blue bag, which had some gifts from them. But why?

And why did they think I would keep such an easy passcode? Was I too dumb in their eyes?

Footstep sounds came from somewhere closer, and then Kiaan's mother entered the room. She glanced at the girls holding more gift boxes in her hand.

"Did it open?" she asked and then put those boxes on the bed.

"No, Maasi...." Di replied.

"Then don't bother. I have a spare bag. Let's put these in it." She said, eyeing all the gifts lying around.

Were they all from my in-laws? I wondered. Those were too many for two people to have.

"How about 2222?" My best friend suggested another passcode.

It was 0101 and not a combination of the same numbers. I would not keep an easy passcode.

'Yeah, as if 0101 is too tough to guess.' My inner self mocked me.

It was tough for me though. It was a combination of two numbers and not one.

I knew my inner self smirked this time.

Fine, I had a terrible memory, and I did not want the passcode to be too easy or even tough, yet ended up keeping quite an easy one.

I was initially curious why they were trying such basic passcodes, but then I realized they knew I was not good with passwords. I reset my Gmail password every time I am logged out. No way I could remember it, and even if I write it somewhere, I tend to forget where I have written it. I eventually sat up, feeling quite relaxed. It felt like all my tiredness from the wedding festivities was released out of my body as if a suction pump sucked it out, just like how in the dream my darling dream husband did it by simply pressing my feet.

I blushed at the thought of dream Kiaan.

'Stop blushing, Simmy, it was a dream.' I sighed disappointed when I heard my inner self.

Just a dream.

I focused back on those poor women trying to open my bag like a pandora box. I cleared my throat as I said,"0101". Their heads snapped in my direction, and I smiled, clarifying,"... that's the passcode."

"You are awake?" The three of them squealed, launching themselves at me, hugging me with force, almost stumbling me back to lie on the bed.

"Guys, I can't breathe..."

"Oops, sorry!" Saavi said, smiling as she pulled. Niti pulled back and just smacked my head and complained, "How dare you blackout?"

"Yeah, this was a terrible, terrible prank..." Di said, lightening the mood more before they all burst out laughing along with Smita Aunty.

Aunty came forward, hugged me sideways and then left a gentle kiss on my hair.

"How do you feel, beta?"

"Relaxed..." That was really true.

"By the way, when did I get here and how? And what are you guys doing with my bag?"

Was I teleported to London as I could not remember getting on a plane to get back? And how could I not wake up for even a second the entire trip? Was I on some kind of drug?

"You got here by plane last night. And we are packing your gifts. We are keeping them all in the gift bag," Di said, pointing at those gifts.

"Strange, I don't remember a thing after I blacked out. And why are you guys packing the gifts now? You all look so tired."

"You don't remember anything, because you were extremely tired because of the wedding." Aunty said as she caressed my hair lovingly. I smiled at her care, but still I felt there was more to why I did not wake up.

"And your husband dearest wants to take you with him tonight only so here we are packing both of your gifts," Saavi said.

Taking me to his hell? No.

The realization of sharing a ghostly house and, more specifically, a room with him dawned upon me.

'Wasn't it obvious before that married couples stay together?' my inner self asked me, probably rolling her eyes at me.

I was so focused on other matters that I did not pay attention to this important thing at all.

'You should expect from this marriage what anyone else would.' Kiaan's words from before the wedding rang in my ear.

How could I not focus on that? I am such an idiot.

"I don't wanna go." I said hurriedly. I was sure I looked panicked, but then I instantly masked it with a sad smile and said, "I mean, I want to live with you all for a few more days...and what about the rituals?" I was so excited about the rituals after the wedding. They were really fun, the only good part about the wedding. Those were better than staying in the same house with the beast.

"Beta, it's okay. Don't be so disappointed. We can do all the rituals when you get better, and right now, you need a lot of rest."

"Can I not rest here?" I asked my mother-in-law making puppy eyes.

"Can she not rest here?" Saavi said, looking at her and then Di joined,"Yeah, Can she not rest here?"

"Yeah, aunty ... that way I can stay here too for a few more days. This is closer to my workplace. Can she not stay here?" We all looked at aunty with so much hope. I was under the impression she would have the upper hand on her son, but I was wrong when she said, "Try convincing my darling son, if that's the case." The three women glanced at each other as if talking in some code language and then began gathering gifts.

"I think we should start packing the gifts..." Di said.

I watched them with my mouth open.

"Traitors..." I muttered.

'Why were they scared of Kiaan?' I asked no one in particular.

'As if you aren't,' my inner self replied, though.

'My case is different,' I replied back.

"When it comes to reasoning, no one can win against your husband. Besides, he is right, it's better if you stay there for a bit. You will get better sooner in a new and different environment, and you will also be really comfortable." Aunty said.

"That I can guarantee..." Saavi added.

"Yeah, you know what they say...make your home your sanctuary.... something like that..." Di added. That place I doubted would ever become my home.

"I stayed at his place once, and heck, I was treated like a goddess...." Niti's eyes glowed in happiness when she mentioned it.

Were they really talking about Kiaan and not some gentleman who kisses the ground his wife walks on?

They were surely talking about someone else because no way Kiaan could make anyone comfortable like that. He was going to treat me in a way that I would remember for eternity, in the worst possible way.

"Just a matter of a few days. I will come and get you once you are all better. When you are healthy enough, we will have loads of fun, shopping sprees, movie marathons and what not."

I was already looking forward to Aunty's plan of fun.

"Promise?"

"I promise, darling," she replied, smiling.

I wanted to ask them about what happened after the wedding and about my family, but I restrained myself. I was not ready to bear the pain that almost made me lose my sanity. This time it would kill me, and I was not prepared, not yet. So I chose to be ignorant.

A few hours later, I was on my way to my husband.

Apparently, Kiaan was at work and was supposed to come and get me, but one of his meetings got extended, so he did not show up. So now everyone except Grandpa was taking me there. Grandpa was told to rest after the trip, so he stayed behind. Dhruv Bhaiya was driving the car, and Saavi was beside him in the passenger seat. Smita Aunty and I were in the back seat. Ashok Uncle was in the car with Namit jiju and Di. Niti had left with Arjun an hour ago for her home. The entire route, I was anxious, like a kid who was on her way to give the exam of the subject she hated. But this time, this exam was going to be different. Even with no answers, I was going to not only pass but excel on this exam.

My hell, here I come, to make the monsters you feed dance to my tunes.

A gentle smirk played on my lips as I began weaving a plan to turn this hell into heaven for me while the monsters there would suffer.

******

Hi Lovelies, 

I hope you all are doing well. 🤗

I know it's confusing how Simran and Kiaan met when she lived in India since childhood. Trust me, everything will start making sense the more I reveal about their past. 😊

Finally, the sequence of some really sad chapters ends, and the reign of our queen begins. 😌

Simran won't let Kiaan be at peace. 😉

Are we ready for Simran's revenge? 🤔

Do share your views about the chapter. It would mean a lot. ❤️

Thanks,

Shrishtee