dead girls don't love [dgdl]

chapter 21(I) \n

ASHNA LIED TO HER MOTHER to go out to meet Ivan. This was the first.

Every other time she had met Ivan was when she was already out for something, like college and friends who sometimes had snatched time from their busy schedules to hang out.

For Ashna who often felt despair, with her life that seemed to lack meaning, these short and numbered hangouts meant a lot.

Twenty minutes with her friends, chatting, sharing and gossiping together while eating tasty delicacies and all sorts of junk food, made her feel like life is worth living.

She had to lie today.

This was sort of a big deal. Ivanya and Ashna never lied to their parents, except for minute things. Ivanya was less of a sharing person but Ashna told everything, each bit, to her mother. It even turned annoying sometimes and tiring for her mother but it made both of them happy.

Until Ashna grew up to keep things to herself. She just did not chat a lot all of a sudden in the past few years, five or six, especially the depression that sucked all life out of her.

Still, she always told her mother where she was going. And with what happened regarding Ivanya, these things became an obligation.

She had to tell where she was going, who will be the people along with her, when will she return etc etc. Today was different though. Simply, she could not tell the truth which was going to get her locked up in the house. So, she barely felt any remorse about lying.

Also, she hated how it was mandatory to inform her whereabouts. Partly because her parents would be worried, and partly because they were afraid. Of Ashna going the same path as Ivanya. Of Ashna falling for 'some boy'.

But how sweet it would feel if that boy were to be Ivan, the thought has crossed her mind. She had no intention to fall. Noticing the constant upsurges rising in Ashna's heart, Ivan may trip her though.

Also, Ashna could not tell the other reason she was going out. To meet Ms. Emilia. So, the only way out was to utter lies.

She had tried to contact Emilia, the lawyer whose information was provided in the file given by Ivanya, but she could not. Yesterday night, she texted that she had been busy. In the morning, she had called informing her stay in the Shan-e-Awadh hotel in the city.

~

An awry feeling grasps Ashna as she reaches the door to the room Emilia was staying in, one among the numerous rooms lined in the hall which was shining with golden lights.

Opulent silence filled the area, the only shuffles and sounds were of the waiters and attendees and their carts.

Ashna took a deep breath and then swallowed a gulp. Nervousness constricted her throat. She had no idea how she was going to tell a story so tragic of a woman so frail.

The fact that she has never been in a situation like this did not make it easy for her. She had never thought she would have a day when she will be getting involved in cases, courts and lawyers. It has not even started yet and her legs felt wobbly.

The door opened after half a minute of knocking, revealing a brunette-haired lady, clad in a fitted black top and blue pants. "Hey, come in," she said, smiling brightly at Ashna.

Ashna smiled back at her, ducking her head a little as she greeted her. "Ms, Emilia, I am Ashna."

Ashna forwarded her hand as she came inside the well-furnished and utterly clean hotel room. A queen-sized bed at the front, and there on the side was the sofa.

"Yeah, come sit." Emilia asks softly, and Ashna sits on the sofa on the other side of which Emilia sits. She seems to notice Ashna fidgeting her fingers, the bag she had brought with her on her lap. "It's okay, relax. Consider me your big sister." A large smile covers her face.