Anindita :HIS Ardhangini

chapter 1

In the grand hall of the Aggarwal mansion, a tense silence hung in the air. A woman, her eyes blazing with fury, stood tall. In front of her, a maid cowered, head bowed low. Without warning, a harsh slap rang out, making the maid tremble in fear and tears well up in her eyes.

The woman was none other than Divya Aggarwal.

Divya: "You useless creature! How dare you ruin my saree? You can't even hold a glass of juice properly!"

Maid: "Madam, please, I'm sorry. It was a mistake. Please forgive me."

Divya's face twisted with disdain as she slapped the maid again, harder this time.

Divya: "Sorry won't fix my saree. You're going to pay for it!"

The maid's heart sank. How could she ever pay for a saree worth 10 lakh? It was more than she could earn in a lifetime. Fear consumed her as she fell to her knees, hands folded in desperate plea.

Maid: "Madam, please. I beg you... I don't have that kind of money."

But Divya's anger was unyielding. She kicked the maid away, turning her back as the maid continued to plead.

Divya: "Filthy maid! You've ruined my mood and my saree. Now I have to change, and this headache won't leave me."

With an irritated sigh, she stormed off toward her room, leaving the maid sobbing in the hallway.

---

In Anindita's Room

Meanwhile, Anindita lay fast asleep, exhausted from a long night at the hospital after performing an emergency surgery. The sharp trill of her alarm shattered the silence, jolting her awake. Her eyes shot open as she glanced at the clock-8 AM! Panic

Anindita rushed out of the shower, her heart pounding as she realized how late it was. She quickly slipped into a simple yet elegant white kurta paired with jeans, her fingers working deftly to put on her jhumkas and a small bindi in front of the modest mirror on her table. With no time to spare, she darted downstairs to prepare breakfast.

In the kitchen, she moved with practiced ease, preparing a simple yet hearty meal-poha, bread with jam, aloo parathas, juice, and tea. Once everything was ready, she carefully laid it out on the dining table, arranging the dishes neatly as her family began to trickle in for breakfast.

By then, everyone had gathered at the table. Divya, having changed into a fresh saree, took her seat. Anindita silently began serving breakfast, first to her father, then to her stepmother Maya, and finally to Divya, her stepsister. (Dadu and Dadi ate in their room due to their failing health.)

As always, Anindita stood by, watching them eat. She wasn't allowed to sit or eat with them. She would only be given what was left over after they finished, a routine she had grown accustomed to over the years.

Once breakfast was done, Mr. Aggarwal left for the office, but Divya and Maya lingered. Anindita, gathering her courage, approached Maya.

Anindita: "Mrs. Aggarwal, I need to head to the hospital now," she said quietly, hoping for a swift exit.

But Divya's sharp voice cut through the room before she could take another step.

Divya: "Where do you think you're going? Have you forgotten your place? You can't leave until you've finished all the housework."

Anindita: "But I have important work at the hospital..." she began, her voice firm but respectful.

Maya let out a scoff. "Important work? You're just a doctor. What difference does it make if you're a little late?"

Anindita, shocked by the comment, tried to explain: "Being a doctor is important! We save lives, we-"

But before she could finish, Divya's hand came down hard on her cheek, the sound of the slap echoing in the room.

Divya: "How dare you talk back to my daughter!" she shouted, her voice filled with venom.

Anindita, reeling from the slap, held her cheek but didn't back down. "But it's the truth..."

Divya's eyes narrowed with cold fury. "You listen to me now. You're not going anywhere." She grabbed Anindita by the arm and dragged her toward the storeroom, shoving her inside before slamming the door shut.

Divya: "Rot in there without food or water," she spat through the door, locking it from the outside before walking away with Maya, both of them laughing as they left.

Anindita collapsed to the cold floor, tears streaming down her face. She hugged her knees to her chest, her heart heavy with pain and helplessness.

Anindita's POV:

God, what did I do to deserve this? What wrong have I said?
Mumma, why did you leave me alone in this world? You could've taken me with you...
Even Mr. Aggarwal and Dadu don't love me. They blame me for your death...

She sobbed quietly, her words lost in the silence of the storeroom.

Anindita cried herself to sleep, her body exhausted from the pain and heartache. Hours passed in the dark, cold storeroom, but her sleep was abruptly shattered when cold water was thrown over her face. She gasped and jolted awake, coughing as she wiped her eyes. Slowly, her vision cleared, revealing Maya standing over her with a look of disgust.

Maya: "Why are you sleeping? Get up! The chef isn't available today, so you need to cook dinner."

Anindita, her body still aching from the abuse, slowly pulled herself up. Without a word, she walked to the kitchen, forcing her tired limbs to move. She began preparing dinner, her movements mechanical, her mind numb from the endless torment.

Suddenly, Maya appeared in the doorway, her voice sharp. "I have a headache. Make me some tea."

Without complaint, Anindita quickly prepared the tea and was about to hand it to Maya, but as she extended the cup, Maya didn't reach for it. The steaming cup slipped from Anindita's hands, crashing to the floor and shattering. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the kitchen.

Within seconds, Divya stormed in, her eyes filled with rage.

Divya: "What happened here?"

Maya, with a mocking smile, spoke before Anindita could explain. "She tried to pour hot tea on me, intentionally."

Anindita's eyes widened in shock, her head shaking in denial. "No! I didn't! It was an accident, I swear!"

But Divya didn't care for explanations. Her fury was unchecked as she grabbed Anindita by the arm, dragging her toward the stove. Before Anindita could even understand what was happening, Divya pressed her hand onto the burning gas stove.

Anindita let out a piercing scream, the searing pain overwhelming her senses.

Anindita: "Please! It hurts! Don't do this to me!" she begged, tears streaming down her face.

But her cries fell on deaf ears. Maya stood nearby, smirking with satisfaction as Anindita's cries echoed through the kitchen. Divya finally let go of her, the burn on her hand throbbing with unbearable pain. She dragged Anindita once again to the storeroom and threw her inside, slamming the door behind her.

Anindita, now writhing in pain, knocked weakly on the door, her voice hoarse from crying. "Please... at least give me some medicine..."

But instead of help, Divya returned, opening the door only to pour salt on her fresh burn. Anindita cried out in agony, her voice breaking under the sheer cruelty.

Divya: "You deserve this," she spat coldly before locking the door again, leaving Anindita in the suffocating darkness.

Alone, Anindita cradled her burned hand, tears flowing uncontrollably. Her body shuddered as she sobbed, her cries echoing in the empty room. There was no one to hear her pain, no one to care. The agony overwhelmed her, both physical and emotional, until her body could take no more.

In her exhaustion and torment, she finally collapsed, fainting from the pain and the weight of her despair.

Continue....