Ashta locked the door behind her, the click echoing through the silence. She kicked off her heels, feeling the soft carpet beneath her feet.
Exhaustion washed over her, the mask of confidence slipping.
She trudged to the bedroom, her gaze falling on the mirror.
For a moment, Ashta saw herself - truly saw herself.
The façade crumbled, revealing a woman worn down by years of emotional abuse,a heart heavy with the weight of her family's expectations and a soul crying out for validation
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she recalled her mother's venomous words,her brother's scornful gaze,her father's abandonment.
Ashta's shoulders sagged, the burden of her past threatening to crush her.
But she refused to break.
With a deep breath, she began to unwind - She lit candles, filling the room with soothing scents she ran a warm bath, letting the water wash away her worries then she wrapped herself in a soft blanket, feeling the gentle texture
Ashta closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel vulnerable,scared and human.
For the first time in years, she permitted herself to be weak.
Ashta's eyes drifted shut, memories flooding her mind.
Flashback
Age 10, standing in the kitchen, watching her mother's tears.
"Mummy, why are you crying?" young Ashta asked.
"Your father left us because of you," Kamla sobbed. "He wanted a son, not a daughter."
Ashta's heart sank. "Is it my fault, Mummy?"
Kamla's gaze turned cold. "Yes, it's all because of you."
The memory stung, but Ashta confronted it head-on"That was not my fault," she whispered to herself.
More memories emerged her brother's bullying,her mother's constant criticism and her father's absence
Ashta's tears fell, cleansing her soul"I want to forgive you, Mummy," she whispered. "I want to forgive you, Papa."
But forgiveness came with a price-
Grief.
Ashta mourned the loss of her childhood, the love she never received.
Ashta sat in her dimly lit apartment, surrounded by shadows of the past. Her eyes wandered to the old, worn-out photograph on her nightstand. Dadi's warm smile and twinkling eyes sparkled in the faded image.
Memories flooded her mind.
Dadi's gentle hands guiding her through homework, ensuring she didn't fall behind.
Dadi's fierce determination when she stood up to Kamla, refusing to let Ashta be married off at 13.
Dadi's words, etched in her heart"Betu, padhai hai teri sabse badi dhan hai." (Education is your greatest wealth.)
Tears pricked at the corners of Ashta's eyes as she recalled the day Dadi passed away. The grief still lingered, but Dadi's legacy lived on.
Ashta's gaze shifted to the savings account passbook on her dresser. Dadi had secretly saved for her future, ensuring she could pursue her dreams.
With a deep breath, Ashta rose from the bed and walked to the window. The city lights twinkled like stars, symbolising hope and resilience.
She thought about her journey from a vulnerable child to a successful entrepreneur.
YOU ARE READING
A Tale Of Hidden Scars ✔️
Short Story*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...
