GILDED LOVE IN THE SHADOWS

CHAPTER 4

Aarthi clearly knew it wasn't easy outside as the summer sun torched everything in it's sight, but Aanya obeyed and stepped out in the open place behind her room

Aarthi's room was separate from the main building as she wanted to use the place to practice art

Few minutes passed and Aarthi's could see Aanya drenched in a pool of sweat from head to toe.

What frustrated her more was how gorgeous she looked drenched in sweat the shirt which she wore hugged her waist and mostly how it drooped her shoulders giving Aarthi a perfect view of her rogue fairy muse

Aarthi shook her head, but she herself knew it was wrong to think of another woman like in that way, from what she heard and was taught only men and women fell in love, made love and had kids, these feelings she felt was visibly wrong but one glance from Aanya all her thoughts melted

Aarthi knew something was wrong, something was wired wrong. So she did what felt like was the right thing to do, took her friend Navya to a nearby temple to get some prayers done, Navya's sister Meera accompanied her as well

They all went and got a few prayers done but she never felt at ease upon leaving the temple, a knot formed in her chest, she knew she wouldn't be able to stomach this like who knows for how long

Upon returning Aarthi scans everywhere only to find her muse all being smiley and chatty with all her other servants, she had told Aanya to get back to her place because she didn't want to ruin her perfect image before leaving to temple.

But seeing her all smiley felt relieved that she didn't fall ill due to the punishment

Aarthi come here fast, Amma calls for her

Coming!!!!...She runs over

Deliver these lunch boxes to Appa and your brother's, Oh I heard the new girl knows to ride a bike take the bike Naveen had left to get these delivered, Amma tells her

~Aarthi doesn't like the idea of going with her because for obvious reasons lately

But Amma warns her to deliver before food gets cold

Akka(sister in Tamil)come here please....she calls her

~Aanya listening to her being called like that feels elated but curious as to whats next in store

Yes princess how can I be of your service, being dramatic is like always in her nature

*sighs.... We need these delivered can you be my driver please....

Of course, let me get changed and we can leave...

~Throughout the ride and back home Aarthi feels strange, awkward, shy and giddy all at once, she was never in love with anything other than art but she never felt giddy atleast all these feelings were new to her, she couldn't control it and felt worse when she was this close to her.

Her smell, her physique, the way she rode the bike, all at once bombarded her and she wanted to hurry back home

Once back Aarthi didn't maintain eye contact with Aanya instead went straight to her room, locked it and smiled like an idiot at herself upon seeing in the mirror

Even though it felt wrong in all possible ways she never stopped herself

** Few months went in a haze for Aarthi but one thing was for sure, she never felt this way at all and she wanted to make sure she wasn't a weirdo, so she did something she wouldn't usually do, ask for help.

Aarthi was confused as in who was the right person for this dilemma of hers

She couldn't go to Navya because that chatterbox would spread this information like wildfire and won't shut up about it

Her sister Meera was a very innocent woman who seems like she hasn't stepped out of her house at all and follows word by word what her parents tell her to

Kartik & her brothers wouldnt even bother to listen to her, Kartik would but what if he told about it to Appa things can get worst the very least

So the only person left is the one who can solve her problems is the one who caused it in the first place

But Aarthi always had a trouble starting conversations which were unfamiliar to her, but she mustered her courage and called for tea and snacks to be delivered by Aanya

Aanya gets it as advised and Aarthi moves so quickly that she closes the door behind them

Aanya gets surprised by the sudden behavioral changes

The Aarthi she knew wasn't the one in front of her, her gaze, the way she moved just now
"Because a few weeks back this troubled girl tortured & tormented me so much that Madam had to interfere and bring a stop to whatever she was trying to do"

Madam had to make sure I wasn't harassed further,I can clearly remember that I was made to stand in the sun, to being told to get things back & forth from town, to clothes getting torn and bike which was given to me incase Naveen uses his own getting punctured,I recall all her past horrors and sigh.....

She brought all the tricks up her sleeve, but not once I flinched or was shocked as I  am was right now because it was worst than those tortorous moments

Being face to face with her, told another story all together