Bruises| Abhira FF ✔️

CHAPTER 17

Third Person's POV

Her whole life, she just wanted someone to be there for her. She wanted someone to take a stand for her, to support her in every step of her life, to right her wrong decisions. Someone who can put her before themselves.

A little sarcastic chuckle left her mouth as she remembered her mother's conversations. How she used to say that there's always a good time and a bad time. If right now it's a bad time, then there are surely good times ahead of you too because...

"Nothing lasts forever!" she repeated her mother's words with a half smile.

"You lied, ma. You lied to me! Just like everyone else!" she sobbed, gripping the book tightly in her hand, which she was trying to read to divert her mind a little bit.

"Nothing is gonna change! The bad time in my life is constant!" she said through her gritted teeth as she started tearing the page of novel one by one and then eventually throwing it on the other side of the room.

Her room was pitch black due to the darkness of midnight, but the tears that rolled down her cheeks were still visible in the moonlight. Sitting on the bed, she brought her knees to her chest, burying her face between them as she continued cursing her fate.

She didn't seem to remember when was the last time she hated morning this much. She was usually that cheerful person who waited for the new day to come so she could start building new goals. But not anymore, now she wasn't the one in control of her life.

It was sold. Her freedom. Her dreams. Her wishes. Her goals. It was all sold. For just a few millions. Was she worth it? How can someone tell you how much it is worth you are? Isn't everyone priceless in their own way?

Placing all the thoughts in the back of her mind and accepting her fate--as usual, she was taking a look around her room, making sure she had packed all the things when her step-father entered the room.

"The driver is here!" he told her, earning a glare from his step-daughter whose eyes were still puffy due to all the crying last night.

"I'll be there in a minute!" she replied, moving her gaze off his face. He nodded and left the room.

Taking in as much as she could, her eyes wandered around the room. The room where she spent her whole childhood, the place where she grew up, the laughter of her mother, the silly jokes her father used to crack. All the memories. They were all here.

And she was now leaving it all behind. A new chapter was beginning in her life. The chapter she didn't want to live, she wasn't supposed to turn the page but the wind of fate blew and now she was lost in the story.

Dragging her suitcase, she made her way out of the room and to the front door of the house where her father was already standing along with the driver. Upon seeing Akshara, the driver hurriedly approached her and took the suitcase from her and went to load it in the car.

"So, you're getting rid of me after all!" she said as she stood face to face with the old man.

"Can't we just say goodbye on a good note?" he asked, and she scoffed.

"There was never anything good between us, and there never will be." she glared at him. Before he could say anything further, the driver came and interrupted them.

"Ma'am, we are ready to go!" he told her, and she nodded.

"I wish you nothing but the best!" he said and moved his hand forward to give her blessing, but she moved out of his reach before she turned to leave the house.

"Papa?" Rhea tried to get her father's attention, who was continuously busy on his mobile phone while she was watching cartoons on the television.

"Hmm," he hummed in response, his eyes still glued to his mobile phone.

"Why didn't you go to the office today?" she asked, and he turned to look at her before plopping his phone on the couch.

"Because I wanted to spend time with my princess!" he replied as he pulled her onto his lap.

"You should be taking me out somewhere then?" she looked up at him, and he smiled at her.

"Well, I would have, but I have a surprise for you!" he told her.

"Surprise? What is it?" she asked with a big smile.

"It won't be a surprise anymore if I tell you. But lucky you, you don't have to wait any longer." he replied, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"How long?" she whined, and he couldn't help but chuckle at her behaviour.

"Baby, you just have to....." he couldn't complete the sentence as they both heard the doorbell ring.

"Rhea,why don't you get it?" he told her.

"Okay!" she shrugged her shoulders before getting off his lap and making her way to the front door. Her eyes, it would be fair to say, popped out of the sockets as soon as she saw the person in front of her.

"Akshu!" she squealed as she immediately hugged her knees tightly.

"Rhea!!!" Akshara mimicked her as she picked her up in her arms and hugged her tightly.

"Suresh!" Abhimanyu called out, and Akshara's smile immediately faded away upon seeing him.

"Take madam's suitcase to the guest room." he ordered, and he did as he was told.

"Are you staying here?" Rhea asked as Akshara made her way inside the house, towards the living room.

"Yes, princess, she's staying!" Abhimanyu replied as Akshara put Rhea down.

"Like a sleepover?" she asked innocently as both Abhimanyu and Akshara tried to come up with an answer.

"Uh-Rhea, why don't you go arrange your toys? I'm sure akshara will love to see them!" he told her, and Akshara couldn't help but put on a fake smile.

"I've a lot of toys! Wait here. I'll call you when they are ready!" By saying this, she rushed towards her room.

"We need to talk!" he spoke, and she looked at him.

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