HER TRUE SOULMATE

Unneeded

Ch-11
"Your dad is dead,"

"He will never wake up,"

"You are an orphan,"

"An unlucky girl,"

"A bad omen,"

"She should be thrown somewhere,"

"She is such a bad luck attracter,"

"You little bitch get out of here,"

"She should be killed,"

"NO! NO! STOP IT! DAD! DAD! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"DAD!! DAD!!"

Laya sat up straight at the nightmare she got. It's just that, it's not a nightmare but a memory of her childhood.

She tried to run her hand through her hair, but something tugged her. She noticed that a drip was connected to the back of her right palm. It reminded her of the morning incidents. She fell unconscious knowing her engagement. Raghuram informed her about this, but she was too caught up in their betrayal and her unanswered questions that the matter of engagement totally slipped out of her mind. The last thing she remembered before losing her conscious was her brother carrying her.

She removed the needle as the drip ran dry. A bitter smile crossed Laya's face when she realized no one bothered to check on her. If they did, this empty drip wouldn't have been hanging here. Ignoring the growing pain in her chest, she checked the wall clock and saw it was past seven in the evening. Moving to the bedside, she drank some water to quench her thirst.

As the water slid down her throat, the nightmare slid down her brain too. No matter how many days or how much time passed, these nightmares never really left her.  

From what she had heard, the engagement was supposed to be in the morning. It seemed likely that it had been canceled. Smiling at her luck, she walked to the window and saw the sun setting. Looks like now she can escape this marriage. By now she was sure that her relative have already fed the ears of the groom side with her bad luck rumors. Anyone with sane mind would never her as their daughter-in-law. She thanked her illness for saving her from this disaster marriage. 

She sat there leaning on the windowsill watching the sky. The sky was a breathtaking canvas of colors. As the sun dipped below the horizon, it painted the sky with hues of deep orange, vibrant pink, and soft purples. Wispy clouds stretched across the expanse, catching the fading light and glowing like embers in a dying fire. Stars began to peek out, shimmering faintly against the darkening backdrop. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of blooming night flowers. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, adding a soft, whispering melody to the serene evening. 

Looking around the room in daze, she smiled sadly. This room holds many sad and happy memories for Laya as it was her father's room. Since her father's death, she had never entered this room. After her father's death, she used to come here and wait, hoping for his return. Whenever he didn't, she cried like no tomorrow. Over time, she stopped waiting, but her tears never ceased. Seeing her in such pain, Raghuram locked the room. Since then, neither Laya nor anyone else had opened it.

If not for the engagement, no one would have dared to open and clean the room. Perhaps it was the arrival of guests that made her Peddananna to open it for them. She didn't complain but felt he shouldn't have done it. Then again, who was she to voice her opinion? It held no value. She considered herself a burden. The more she thought the sadder she felt. She decided not to indulge in these things. 

Not being able to stand in the room, she stood up and started walking. As she stepped into the balcony, she settled herself on the lounge chair as the sky caught her attention again. The sky was slowly surrendering to the night. The vibrant colors of sunset had faded, leaving behind a deepening shade of indigo that spread across the horizon. The last remnants of twilight clung to the edges of the sky, casting a dim, ethereal glow. Stars began to appear, one by one, like tiny pinpricks of light piercing the darkening veil. The moon, a slender crescent, hung low in the sky, its pale light casting a soft, silvery sheen over the landscape. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of the day gave way to the gentle hum of nocturnal life. The sky, now a canvas of deep blues and blacks, signaled the quiet arrival of night, wrapping the world in a serene, dark embrace.