Switched

Chapter 2

Delhi, Raizada Mansion

Khushi woke up to the dim light filtering through the curtains, her head throbbing with the weight of unresolved emotions. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she sat up slowly, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. The events of the previous day flooded back to her, filling her with a sense of unease.

She had fallen asleep crying, her tears a silent testament to the turmoil raging inside her. But now, as the morning sun cast long shadows across the room, she felt a sense of numbness settle over her. No one had come to wake her up for lunch or dinner, leaving her to navigate this strange new world alone.

Struggling to make sense of her surroundings, Khushi pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her footsteps echoed softly in the silence as she made her way to the window, drawing back the curtains to reveal the sprawling gardens below.

But even the beauty of the landscape couldn't chase away the gnawing sense of loneliness that lingered in the air. She felt adrift in a sea of uncertainty, longing for the familiar comforts of home.

With a heavy sigh, Khushi turned away from the window, her gaze falling on the door. She knew she couldn't stay cooped up in this room forever. It was time to face whatever lay beyond that door, to confront the challenges that awaited her in this strange new world.

Khushi took a deep breath and gathered her courage, determined to face whatever challenges awaited her outside her room. After freshening up, she straightened her dress and squared her shoulders, ready to venture into the unknown.

As she stepped out into the hallway, her heart raced with nervous anticipation. But before she could take another step, she collided with Arnav, spilling his coffee mug in the process.

"Hey Devi Maiya! I'm so sorry," Khushi exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Arnav's expression darkened as he surveyed the mess on the floor. "Watch where you're going, will you?" he snapped, his tone laced with irritation.

Khushi recoiled at his sharp words, her heart sinking with disappointment. "I-I didn't mean to," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arnav rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. "Be more careful next time," he muttered, striding past her without a second glance.

Khushi knew better than to argue. With trembling hands, she knelt down to pick up the broken pieces of the mug, wincing as she felt a searing pain shoot through her fingers from the spilled hot coffee.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back fiercely, refusing to let anyone see her vulnerability. She couldn't afford to show weakness, not when she was already teetering on the edge of breaking down.

As she cleaned up the mess, her mind raced with conflicting emotions. Once the hallway was clear of broken glass and spilled coffee, Khushi took a shaky breath and stood up, her hands still trembling slightly.

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Khushi winced as she carefully applied the burn ointment to her scalded hand, her fingers trembling with pain. She gritted her teeth, determined not to let her discomfort show as she wrapped a bandage around the burn, her movements slow and deliberate.

Joining the family for breakfast, Khushi felt a knot form in her stomach as she sat down at the table, acutely aware of the tension in the air. Arnav's icy gaze bore into her, his lips curled into a disdainful sneer.

"Looks like someone's not a morning person," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Or maybe you're just always this clumsy."

Khushi's cheeks flushed with indignation at his snide remark, but she bit her tongue, refusing to rise to the bait. Instead, she focused on her food, her appetite all but gone in the face of Arnav's hostility.