Note: It's a fictional story.
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Flashback:

Harpreet: Bebu, I have to run an errand to the market. Your father is sleeping inside. Don't scream or trouble him. Okay?

Shehnaaz nods as she looked at her mother. Her eyes were red and the surrounding of it was discoloured, it was purplish. There was a fresh wound near the corner of her lips along with the old ones.

An hour or 2 hours back, her father came home fully drunk and asked for food. Her mother's mistake was just that she asked him 10 minutes time to serve the food as she was still cooking. He slapped her and threw all the food and groceries in the kitchen. He hit her with every single utensil in the house until he passed out.

Harpreet would always ask Shehnaaz to go out when he gave her a first slap. Shehnaaz was terrified as she heard the hitting sound. Harpreet would try to control her cries to not scare Shehnaaz but the monster just wouldn't stop until she gives up and scream with pain. He found happiness in her painful cry.

Shehnaaz was 9 year old but she always wondered why did her mother tolerated the barbarian act. She hated her father more than anyone in this world. Every time she sees her mother's wound, her blood would boil. She never spoke to him.

After her mother went to market to buy grocery to cook again and feed the monster, Shehnaaz went inside the house. She picked up the utensils on the floor. The steel plates which were once round were totally out of shape, the bowls had dents and were crooked and the spatulas were bent. She kept them in its proper place.

The monster was awake and he called Harpreet several times, when he didn't get the answer, he came out of the room and saw Shehnaaz who stared at him in rage.

"What are you glaring at bitch? Where is your mother?", He inquired

Shehnaaz didn't answer.

"That whore must have gone to some pimp to satisfy her thirst. Who would satisfy my thirst?", he uttered disgustingly.

He looked at Shehnaaz from top to toe. She was plumpy and looked fuller and bigger for her age. His eyes were filled with lust.

"Nevermind, if it's not her then let it be you.. I don't think you are born to me", he said with his filthy mouth.

She got horrified as he approached her. She struggled to release herself when he pulled her by her wrist.

"Leave me you monster", she screamed.

"There you go. You don't have even a bit of respect for me.", he said.

"You don't deserve it, you dog!", she revolted and bit his hand. He left her but she couldn't escape as he blocked the kitchen door. When he pounced on her, she grabbed a knife and inserted into his stomach. He fell on the floor shrieking in pain but she didn't have even an ounce mercy for him.

Harpreet returned to find him dead and Shehnaaz looking at his body.

Harpreet: Bebu? (She cried)

Shehnaaz: Your tensions are over amma. I finished it for you.

Harpreet hugged her daughter and cried.

Harpreet: Bebu, do you think I was a coward to not put up fight against him? Bebu, the world outside is full of shitheads and vultures like him. I was quiet and scared only for you Bebu.

Shehnaaz: Amma, he attacked me. He spoke about fulfilling his thirst through me. What should have I done?

Harpreet: (shocked) You did right bebu. But now, you won't open your mouth infront of anyone. I will take care of everything myself. Promise me you won't tell anyone.

Shehnaaz nods yes. The police comes and arrests her mother as she takes the blame on herself. Even after the monster's death their life wasn't better. Her mom ended up in jail where she was tortured and Shehnaaz was sent to orphanage where she was ill treated.

Flashback ends..

Shehnaaz: I am sorry, I slapped you without knowing that you saved my daughter's life. Thank you for saving my life, that's my daughter.

I can't disclose you the fact that she is your daughter. One, because I don't want you to take her away from me. I love her more than anything in this world. She is my only source of happiness. Secondly, I still don't know what kind of person are you. My father was a monster and all the men I ever came across were monsters who were ready to eat me at the first opportunity. I am scared of trusting any man.

Sidharth: I was angry before but now that's fine. I understood your concern. You thought I was kidnapping her, I understand that it's difficult to trust strangers. Next time you need to be little bit patient before you jump onto any conclusion.

Shehnaaz nods by putting her head down. She was guilty for two reasons - one for slapping him and two for hiding from him about his own daughter. But after learning about how understanding he was, she decides to talk to him and know more about him just to check what kind of person he is.

Shehnaaz: Are you going to the City as well?

Sidharth nods yes.

Shehnaaz: Do you stay there?

Sidharth: No. Infact I don't have any address at present. I am going to the city to search for a job. What about you? Does your husband stay there?

Shehnaaz: Aaa.. No.. I am a single mother. I am going to the city in search of happiness.

Sidharth: (surprised) How do you find happiness? They say happiness lies within us.

Shehnaaz: (thinks) I don't know. You tell me, are you happy? Have you found the happiness within?

Sidharth was entangled in his own words. He didn't know the answer himself. It's been over 3 years for his wife, Gunjan's death yet he couldn't overcome the sorrow. She had left him with a wound which he himself had scratched into a bigger scar over the period of 3 years.

Sidharth: You look to be very young, how do you manage single parenting?

Shehnaaz: (chuckled) Time teaches you everything.

Flashback:
Shehnaaz held a newborn baby in her hand not knowing what to do? She was just 16 herself. She hand handled kids in the orphanage but not this small.

She didn't have a single penny in her hand as well. She herself was hungry since 28 hours. What was she going to feed the baby? She looked at the nurse who counted the money she had in her hand given by Lalita.

Shehnaaz: Nurse, what does this new born baby eats?

Nurse: (casually) Mother's breast milk.

Shehnaaz looked at her in disappointment, dissatisfied with the answer. Nurse looked up and realised that she is a young girl and not a real mother.

Nurse: Oh! Formula milk for those newborn who have lost their mother during birth. You can buy it from the pharmacy there.

Shehnaaz nodded okay, not knowing how would she arrange money for the formula milk.

Nurse: You don't have money, do you? (Shehnaaz nods no) Then, what made you adopt this baby?

Shehnaaz: The pain of being an orphan myself and the difficulties I faced at the orphanage.

Nurse was moved by her words. The pain was visible when Shehnaaz spoke those words. Nurse counted the money and gave her almost half of the money from it. Shehnaaz denied to take by nodding her head.

Nurse: Take it. I would have given you the full amount but I have to pay the people who helped me in getting the documents ready in your name for you to take the baby.

Shehnaaz: But that's your money!

Nurse: It's her's. (pointing at the baby) If her parents hadn't met with an accident, probably the same grandmother would have celebrated her birth with joy and distributed sweets.

Shehnaaz: I don't understand how could she deny the baby. The mother kept her in her womb for 9 months, everyone involved would have dreamt about what they would do with the baby when it arrives. Suddenly, how can that dream turn into nightmare that she decided to throw her own son's child into orphanage.

Nurse: Don't make me feel over emotional. Just take the money and leave.

Shehnaaz: Can I request you one more thing?

Nurse: What?

Shehnaaz: Please tell me all the do's and don'ts to take care of her.

Nurse nods and writes down the list she shows her how to bathe the baby as well and how they change the nappy. The vaccinations and the diet to be given at every stage.

She takes her leave and buys all the stuff needed for the baby. However, her real challenge has just begun. She fled to an unknown village with the baby which cried every hour or two requiring feeds and nappy changes.

Nobody gave her a house on rent when they saw her with the young infant. At last she got a house on rent. The owner was an old lady named Nirmala who stayed alone and had her flower boutique. Nirmala was bold and badass lady. She neither cared for nor was scared of anyone. Her only son stayed abroad with his family and hardly visited her even if he came to India.

Shehnaaz struggled and spent sleepless night taking care of the baby. Her money was depleting and she was in need of job to take care of herself and the baby.

Nirmala: Shehnaaz! Shehnaaz!!

Shehnaaz was bathing the baby. The baby was crying on top of it's voice, hence Shehnaaz couldn't hear Nirmala. Nirmala goes inside and looks at her struggling with the baby. She was there to collect her rent but she felt pity of Shehnaaz.

She offered her help and treated her like her own daughter. Shehnaaz slowly started helping her with the flower boutique and learnt about the business. Nirmala stopped taking any rent from her plus paid her some salary to manage the boutique.

Just when Shehnaaz thought her life was getting better, Nirmala had an heartattack and she died. Her son, Nitin flew in from abroad and he spoke to Shehnaaz.

Nitin: Look, I can't manage the property here while I stay abroad. Hence I intend to sell the property. But I can let you stay here on one condition. You have to be my mistress. You will have to satisfy me whenever I come here. You agree, you stay else go away!

Another typical male, she thought. The amount of respect she had got for Nirmala didn't allow her to slap him for those words. She always chose her modesty over anything. She flew from there to another village with her 5 months old baby. This time she knew how to earn livelihood by selling flowers.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️