"Not every person who comes in your life is meant to stay, remember that and act accordingly."
~ Tanvi

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Sai wiped the sweat beads formed over her forehead and looked at the tall building in front of her. Chopra's and Co. It was written in big block letters up over the top. The old-looking building was covered in cream colour which seemed to be diminishing in places.

She looked sideways and noticed people walking away from the building and getting in. All busy in work. Too busy to look around the beggars who are just a leg away from them.

The last place for today.

Sai sighed and walked up to the entrance. The automatic gate opened and she walked to the reception area trying her best to not gaze at the eye calling interior designs.

"How may I help you?" The receptionist asked, keeping the phone back to its place as she saw Sai approaching.

"He-here, I have brought lunch for Financial Deperatmemt members," Sai stammered, her throat dry after working for continuous three hours in the heating sun.

"Yes, can you give it to the peon? You will find him after going straight and taking a turn towards the end corner on the left side," The receptionist said politely to which Sai nodded her head and started walking towards the instructed place.

She gulped as she walked, her eyes colliding with people working. Her head was feeling light today, all gratitude to the blazing sun.

She looked at the shimmering frames hanged over the wall as she walked over to the peon's area. She was feeling nearly sorry for herself for being the way she is. Her life was so busy, so puzzling that now she doesn't even have time to look at the beautiful frames and fall in their beauty for a while.

The peon who was on duty for the tea looked at her and then at her hand which had the basket of tiffins and nodded his head.

"You can keep it here," He said, pointing towards a glass table and continued stirring the tea.

Understanding what the old aged man said, Sai kept the basket over the table and walked outside from the suffocating room. She was tired. Tired from working daily. She wished to have some break but a break for life meant a break for forever which isn't a part of her dream till now.

She clutched the straps of her bag tight as she looked down at the floor and kept walking out. Her mind was not in place, she was afraid. Afraid her head would burst. Her head had started hurting a lot these days. Ironically, even headaches don't matter to her aunt.

She looked up and saw she was at an unknown place. Her eyes widened in realization and she started walking in opposite direction.

Walking with long steps, Sai gasped when she collided with someone and fell to the ground. She closed her eyes as she felt a pain shoot up to her spine and her bach started aching. Her day was done at the worst speed it could.

"Hey, are you okay?" She heard someone ask and opened her eyes.

Her eyes fell over a pair of light brown orbs which looked at her with concern. She nodded her head as she looked at the person. He was a lean and tall guy, maybe in his early thirties. His skin pale and raven hair gelled up nicely upwards.

She looked at his face and noticed a smirk plastered over his face as he noticed her staring at him. He winked at her and forwarded his hand to stand to which she shook her head and stood up after taking a huge breath. Sai hesitantly looked at the guy, who smirking at her and staring at her from head to toe. She was embarrassed and mortified.

"I-I am so sorry," Sai said and started walking.

"It's okay. It was even my mistake," He spoke to Sai, catching her hand in his.

She snapped her head at looked at him, trying to remove his hand. Feeling his tight grip, her breath hitched. She took some breaths and looked at him.

"Leave my ha-hand," She ordered, her throat still dry and parched causing her difficulty to speak.

"Wait for a second," the guy said and pushed her towards him.

"Leave me," Sai said resolutely as she struggled to get out of his hold. He caught hold of her shoulder when she tried to release herself from his hold. She was frightened but he didn't need to know that.

She slowly reached her back pocket with her other hand and caught hold of the pepper spray she had for an emergency.

He strong pressed her shoulders which made her gulp in terror.

"Leave me, you moron," She said firmly, and before he could assault her more, she briskly sprayed the spray over his eyes making him yell.

The guy screamed leaving Sai and she started walking back to see him. She looked at him while stepping back and panting.

She knew he couldn't harm her now but she felt anxious. He was still in front of her even though she was trying her best to run away.

With great difficulty, She ran.

Ran until she was out from that hall.

Ran until she was out of that area.

Ran until she was out from that corner.

Ran until she was out from that company, ignoring the weird looks as much as she could and started her scooty to reach the restaurant while trying her best to concentrate.

From inside, She felt an inch of her got broken again. She was numb recalling a minute old incident. She was about to get assaulted. One more memory was about to join her nightmares. What would happen if she was not fast enough to save herself? What would happen if she would have been assaulted? Would her family accept her Would they even help her? Would they even look at her without accusations?

"स्कूटी चलाते समय सामने देखो|" ["Look at the front while driving scooty"] Sai heard someone say. She looked sideways and saw an old man who was sitting on a rickshaw.

She nodded her head looking at him to which he shook his head.

Sighing, Sai stopped her scooter in front of a park and parked it outside before going inside. She sat on the side benches which were almost invisible to people and kept her bag at the side.

Her shoulders dropped and she released deep breathes as a small whimper left her mouth. Muffling the sound of her cry with both hands, she sat there sobbing. Sobbing about the mortification she felt when he looked at her as if she was a meal. The sudden shock she felt when he caught her hand.. the fear she felt when he touched her. The amount of disgust she felt when he pressed her shoulders.

Sai cried sadly over fate. It again left her in a dead-end situation. She was not strong enough, she was weak and afraid. Her life has given her enough pain. She couldn't embrace more. She wants to have a normal life. A normal family who loved her. A family which will protect her. Sh... She wants to feel again how it feels to be protected. How it feels to have a father. Who will scold you when you do wrong, Who will care for you, Who will shout at everyone for you, Who would play weird games with you, Who would watch late-night movies with you.

She wanted to feel how it's like to have a mother. Another who will cook food for her at any time she felt who will doll her up and then cry dramatically, who will oil her hair and then massage them until she asleep, who will hug her when she will sad.

She missed her family. Her mother and father were what she had wanted in life. Their presence was enough to make her felt wanted and protected. Unlike now, where she is alone. No one to hug, to talk, to cry, to lean on. Just herself.

She felt like the bud which was detached from the tree because it was just too eye-catchy. The bud whose life was detached before it could even become a flower and bloom. She felt like the bud which was now alone. Alone for others to stare at her and play with her. After a time, the bud would even be thrown out from their lives. Crushed. Crumbled and left to dry.

She was that bud. The bud wanted the tree to take her into its embrace but was left dead She wanted to know, like the bud who maybe will get noticed by someone who understands its value will she also find someone who will understand her or will she be crumbled after everyone around her will be bored with her.

Maybe. She will crumble down. Maybe that's what her fate is.

She hated to think how her life is nothing important. She is nothing important. She was once the apple of the eye for her people but everything changed. Her life changed. Let alone be the apple of the eye, she isn't even the poisonous seed that kills people if it becomes great in amount.

Her love for herself was in the negatives. She didn't believe her life could. Something would change that will give her a reason to live to smile, to laugh, to be her.

Sai sighed as she heard her phone beeping. She took it out of the pocket and saw the message send by her aunt.

Aunt - This is the picture of the groom. Talk with him before tomorrow and here is his number. +91 87563 *****.

She groaned look at it ng the message, not bothering to check the picture of artistic human picture. Her eyes glistened with her thinking how her aunt will soon get her married and threw her out of the house.

Accepting her defeat, Sai looked at the time which was almost an hour before her curfew time. She stood up from the bench and took her bag before walking towards the scooty.

She was about to start her vehicle when her phone started ringing, she took out the phone from her pocket and smiled seeing the name of her elder cousin sister flashing on the screen.

At least someone is happy.

"Hell,o Di?" She said, answering the call.

"Hello Shree," Her sister, Archana di replied making her smile.

Shree was a nickname she was given by her parents. No one calls her that leaving Archana di and sometimes Kriti.

"Are you fine Bache? (child?)" Archana asked in a gentle tone.

"I am good. What about you?" Sai replied, her lips curled up in a small smile.

"Fit, Fine and Fighting," Archana replied with a buckle. It was something Sai and Archana made.

"Hmm," Sai hummed and look looked at the ice-cream seller in front of her who was targeted with kids from all sides.

"Shree, I heard what Maa did," Archana spoke softly, she knew where this was going.

"What has she done now?"

"Don't try to fool me. She has again brought a proposal for you,"

"But ho-how do y-you-"

"Mummyji called me saying her friend was asking maa's number and she guess it's for her grandson,"

"Oh,"

"Oh? Shree, Bache don't be sad,"

"I am not dii,"

"Who is kidding, me? The one who is looking after you for the 3 years,"

"Okay listen. Chachi gave me the number and has asked me to talk to him,"

"What have you decided? You will say 'No', right?"

"No di. I will agree if the guy is even 5% good then people I am currently living with him,"

"You don't have to,"

"Di, I will say no to him. Chachi will bring another guy and then another. I am tired, di. I will turn 20 in three months and I have rejected 4 guys and was being rejected by 6. It's just too much for me,"

"I understand. Let me ask Rahul about the guy. If he agrees about him then you can talk with him. Alright?"

"Okay,"

"Good. Now I have to go down, Mummy ji is calling me. Bye,"

Sai hummed as she heard a beep sound from her phone. The call was over. But she wanted to hear more, more from her sister. The only person who at least thought about her during the times she didn't.

Shaking her head, Sai wore her helmet and started the scooty.

Time to reach the restaurant and then home...

Words - 2090

Another chapter is done.

👀 The Question is- How close are we to the main story?
Me - *ahem* The main plot will take 2-3 chapters more to arise. 😌

Okay, so I am on a mission of #BreakTheCliche.

But I want to know something from my dear readers...

What do you want?

A. Nidhaan to be One of the Successful Businessman of South.

B. Nidhaan to be Successful Billionaire Businessman.

Poetic_Pri Thank you for always reminding me about the calendar.

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Press the ⭐ if you liked the chapter don't forget, you have to comment too.

~☆~

Sending lots of hearts and food
Shra