Athulya stood in the midst of the tense atmosphere, her father's harsh voice ringing in her ears like a bell tolling a dire warning. The weight of his demand to explain pressed down upon her like a heavy stone, threatening to crush her fragile resolve.

In that moment, she couldn't help but reflect on the fragility of belief and the cruelty of fate. How hard it was to mend the broken pieces of her world when it seemed that fate itself conspired to break them anew. She pondered the power of a few words, capable of shattering hearts more effectively than a thousand paragraphs.

Perhaps, she thought, some things were meant to remain broken forever. Some fates were written with the ink of cruelty, and some lives were but leaves destined to wither and fall in the relentless march of time, with no knowledge of when the inevitable autumn would arrive.

As she stood there, grappling with the weight of her father's demand, Athulya realized that she was facing an uncertain future, one that she was ill-prepared to navigate. All she could do was brace herself for what was to come, steeling her resolve to weather whatever storms lay ahead.

"Explain," her father's voice echoed once more, a stark reminder of the challenges she faced and the uncertainty that awaited her. With a deep breath, Athulya summoned whatever strength she could muster and prepared to face the storm head-on.

As her father threw the papers at her, Athulya remained seemingly unaffected, her expression blank like a crumpled page that had been folded multiple times. It was as if the initial shock had numbed her to further pain, leaving her detached and emotionless.

Bending down to the floor, her bag slipping off her shoulder and her hair a tangled mess, Athulya began to pick up the papers one by one, her movements slow and deliberate. Her family looked on, waiting for an explanation that she couldn't yet provide.

Examining the papers again and again, Athulya couldn't believe what she was seeing. Both documents were drafts for her father's company's next deal, and they were identical to those of Singhania's. It was a blatant case of plagiarism.

Looking up at her father with a mixture of confusion and disbelief, Athulya silently questioned him, seeking answers that were slow to come.

"We lost the deal, and they got it," her father explained, his anger palpable in his voice and demeanor. His eyes were wide, his face flushed with frustration.

Her brother pointed to his phone, urging her to look at something. But Athulya remained rooted to the spot, unmoving and unresponsive.

"What's wrong? Look at it," her brother's tone was mocking, but Athulya didn't react. He reached out roughly, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards him. His grip tightened on her hair, forcing her to look at his phone.

There, on the screen, was a message from Aaryaveer Singhania.

"Won't you give me congrats? Well, I'm giving to you. A traitor in the house! Make sure they see this message."

Athulya's heart sank as she read the words, her mind reeling with disbelief and betrayal. The realization of what had transpired hit her like a sledgehammer, leaving her feeling helpless and alone in the face of her family's deception.

In the midst of the chaos and accusations, Athulya felt a sense of disbelief and betrayal. She never imagined Aaryaveer could stoop so low, despite knowing his cruel and arrogant nature. However, she found herself unable to provide answers to her family's accusations and suspicions.

"Now see this 1 lakh cash notes , don't hesitate see it , I found this in your drawer only" Her mother looked at her for an answer, which she doesn't have and if she have then she doesn't wants to give.

"And this , are you taking drugs. God knows what else are you doing!" She looked at the tablets in her mother's hands, she doesn't really has an answer.

"Dad, it's all because of you , you spoilt her"

"I am not a spoilt brat" 

She remembered her words

"It's enough now, She will not go anywhere without my permission , my men will keep an eye on her, and Athulya I don't wants to get disappointed from you again."

Dragged upstairs by her mother, Athulya found herself confined to the cornermost room on the second floor.

"I can walk on my own " Her mother raised her eyebrows , clenching her hands in fist , maybe stopping herself from slapping her.

She demanded her belongings be brought to her new prison, but her mother's silence spoke volumes as she locked the door from outside.

Alone in the dark room, Athulya's frustration and despair boiled over as she shouted into the empty space. Feeling suffocated by the walls closing in on her, she reached out for a lifeline, dialing a familiar number.

"Do you have some poison?" she asked, her voice strained with desperation.

"Which flavor?" came the casual response.

Ending the call abruptly, she sank onto the cold floor, enveloped by the darkness that seemed to mirror the bleakness of her life. Yet, in that dimly lit room, she found a strange sense of solace, a refuge from the chaos and betrayal that had engulfed her world.

Turning to her phone, Athulya found a thread of unread messages, her only lifeline to the outside world. With a heavy heart, she opened a chat and began to read and reply

You: How was the taste of betrayal?

                     1 unread message                               

Unknown: Very eager huh? I see , you will taste it soon.

                                              today

You:  Don't  make me erase the line, I will stab you and then I will come to your                 funeral , consoling your family. I am great at acting .

                                      Don't play fire with me because I am a disaster myself.

As midnight descended upon the room, Athulya found herself seated on the dusty floor, her head resting on her knees. Despite the lack of light, the moon's gentle glow seeped through the window, accompanied by the soft illumination of nearby lampposts. It was a tranquil night, and amidst the turmoil of her thoughts, she sought solace in its serenity.

"Maybe I will get a chance to meet you this year, God. I know you are missing me already," she whispered into the quiet darkness, a hint of wistfulness in her voice.

The sound of rain began as a gentle drizzle, a soothing melody that matched the rhythm of her thoughts. Athulya loved the rain, finding solace in its expression of emotion while others reveled in its refreshing touch. With a light smile, she shifted her gaze towards the window, taking in the beauty of the sight before her.

Setting her phone aside, Athulya's emerald eyes sparkled as she stood up carefully, feeling her way around the room in the dim light. Despite the darkness, her determination to find something remained unwavering. She rummaged through the various items scattered about, searching every nook and cranny until her hands finally landed on her camera.

Photography was her passion, her escape from the harsh realities of life. If not for the demands of her business studies, she would have pursued it as her course of study. Her camera held within it a treasure trove of memories—her first day at boarding school, the pranks she played, the inspirations for her paintings. It contained her entire world, frozen in moments captured through her lens.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Athulya began to snap dozens of photos, each frame capturing the essence of the night. From the lush greenery outside her window to the majestic palace in the distance, from the stoic guards standing watch to the bustling activity of passing cars—she sought to immortalize every detail of the tranquil night with her camera, preserving its beauty for eternity.

Her phone ringed ..

Isn't it contrasting that she has only a few contacts but still this box  keeps making sound. She controlled her voice , practiced her tone , all like a full dress rehersal. 

It was Aarushi on call

"Hello Athu."

"hhh..."

"You sleepy head , are you still sleeping?"

"Umm..mm don..tt .. disturb .."

"Is it time to sleep?"

"Don't you have manners.. "

"wake up , I  knew you are speaking in sleep"

"Who calls a young girl at midnight?you are shamless .. let me.. sleep ...byee."

"It's 5 in the morning not midnight"

She even forgot the time in photography. 

"aww...yawa.." She tried to make her yawning sound real.

"You lazy head ! "

she cuts the call. 

Athulya started feeling sleepy in all this acting but she acted well , she must try her luck in bolywood or daily soaps. Really a drama queen.

Slowly sleep embraced her and her eyes opened when she heard some noises.

"Athulya , here are your things , I have cleaned everything , go and take a bath"

She rubbed her eyes slowly founding that she was sleeping on her knees with camera in her neck, Shanta was looking  at her warmly.

The room was looking clean , all her things were there . She gets up to find a pair of cloth placed for her to wear, it was a red off shoulder frock. 

"I took it out for you, they will look good at you, go get ready aren't you getting late?"

She checked her phone it was 8:30 , it means she is late again. She quickly grabbed her clothes , hurrying to bath , stepping  inside the bathroom.

"Your phone is ringing " Shanta knocked.

"Ah this box can't let me bath in peace, life in cave was better , give it to me"

She took the phone to see it was her dumbo friend.

"You idiot , don't you have any work to do, jobless girl, go eat some food so that you can stop eating my brain and what is your problem women? why do you always calls at wrong moment?"

"Take a deep breath 1..2..3.. , ya, well wrong moment ohoo, it means I disturbed you in .." She said with a teasing tone.

"What in?? You are really shameless! don't your family members hears your talk or are all of them this shameless. Ahhhhh..."

"What's going on Athu? Won't you make me meet.."

"Stop dreaming women, I slipped on bathroom floor , Ahh my waist" 

"So you are bathing , it means you are completely ..."

"You pervert girl , have some shame , you are phone teasing me"

She heard a chuckle on other side of the phone , hoping that no one was beside her friend, if anybody heard it , she will die from embaressment.

She quickly bathed before any more hinderence comes in her bathing. Wearing a bathrobe she came out , the red dress was on the bed , she looked at it before wearing.

After getting ready she made her way downstairs to go out , she don't wants to meet any of her family members. She can't face them.

"Wait!"

It was her dad , standing behind her. She turned her back , to reach to him , still not making any eye contact.

"Meet him , he is Daniel , he will be with you , I don't want any complains." He finished his words with a warning look.

She got the message, this means he will be keeping an eye on her , now she can't even have personal talks.

"Damn life!" She murmured

"Huh?" 

"N..nothing"

Daniel gestured her to go ahead, he was a tall muscular man , with a ruthless personality and deep harsh voice.

She sat inside the car and found Daniel opening the door of other side, her eyes wide in terror.

"Can't you sit in passenger's seat?"

"No!"

"Then I am going to sit there" She was opening the door but his hard hands grabbed her back .

"No You will be sitting here only" He argued.

"I am not comfortable" She folded her arms.

"That's not my problem"

"You have to take care of me, that's your work"

"My work is just to take care of your body"

His words  felt strange , hostile and her breathe went faster as her heart beat goes up

"I am going to die like this" She murmured.