Ashta stood before the mirror, her gaze tracing the familiar contours of her face. But her attention wasn't on her striking features or piercing emerald eyes. It was on the subtle bruises on her skin, reminders of the battles she'd fought.
She gently touched the yellowing mark on her left cheekbone, a souvenir from her mother's latest outburst. The physical pain had subsided, but the ache within her heart remained.
Ashta's thoughts whispered"These scars on my skin will heal, but the ones on my heart...will they ever fade?"
With a deep breath, she began to dress for the day, her movements deliberate and precise. She slipped into her tailored business suit, the crisp fabric enveloping her like armor.
The transformation was striking - from vulnerable to powerful, from hurt to hardened.
Ashta gazed at her reflection, her expression a mask of confidence.
"AshTech Solutions" - her company, her sanctuary.
She grabbed her bag and headed out, ready to face the day, leaving the scars - both physical and emotional - hidden beneath her polished exterior.
Ashta stepped into the sleek, modern lobby of AshTech Solutions, her heels clicking on the marble floor. The receptionist, Neha, greeted her with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Ashta nodded, her expression professional. "Morning, Neha. Any urgent messages?"
Neha handed her a folder. "The Smithson account documents and a meeting invite from Rohan."
Ashta scanned the contents, her mind already racing with strategies.
She walked into her spacious office, the city skyline gleaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her assistant, Rohan, awaited her arrival.
"Ma'am, the marketing team needs your approval on the new campaign."
Ashta's focus shifted to the task at hand, her emotions locked away.
As she worked, Ashta's thoughts drifted to her business's meteoric rise. AshTech Solutions was her escape, her triumph over adversity.
But amidst the success, a nagging voice whispered"Is this enough? Will it ever fill the void within?"
Ashta's gaze drifted out the window, her mind slipping into the past.
A young Ashta, 12 years old, cowered in the corner of her cramped bedroom. Her mother, Kamla, towered over her, rage etched on her face.
"Tum kuch bhi nahin kar sakti!" (You can't do anything!) Kamla's voice echoed.
Ashta's father, absent and indifferent, left Kamla's toxic behavior unchecked.
The memories flooded back endless criticism,emotional manipulation and the physical abuse.
Ashta's thoughts whispered"I'm worthless. I'm unlovable."
Back in the present.
Ashta's assistant, Rohan, interrupted her reverie.
"Ma'am, the meeting is in 15 minutes."
Ashta composed herself, the mask of confidence firmly in place.
"Let's go."
But the past lingered, haunting her.
Ashta wondered"Can I ever escape the shadows of my childhood?"
Ashta's thoughts lingered on her mother, Kamla. Their toxic dynamic had shaped Ashta's life.
Flashback
YOU ARE READING
A Tale Of Hidden Scars ✔️
Cerita Pendek*Ashta* Entrepreneur | Complex Soul Ashta, a striking and enigmatic figure in her late 20s, is a self-made businesswoman with a razor-sharp mind and a penchant for control. Her raven-black hair and piercing eyes command attention, but beneath her po...
