Beneath the Facade : A heart in hiding (Novella)

Shree Lekha Sharma had always been the picture of innocence, her bright smile masking the weight of a secret she carried for years. At fifteen, her world shattered when a tragic accident claimed the lives of her parents. The only survivors were her and her younger brother, Shivam. With no one left to care for them, their relatives took them in-not out of love, but for the fortune that came with their inheritance.

To protect Shivam from their greed and cruelty, Shree Lekha made an impossible choice. She pretended to be A childlike ,she hid her true self behind a facade of mental disorder. It was a role she played so well that even she began to lose sight of who she truly was.

But deep inside, the strong, intelligent woman remained. In the shadows, Shree Lekha completed her education and began working at an orphanage, dedicating her life to helping those who had no one, just as she had once felt.

Her quiet life, however, was about to change forever.

Adityanath Vardhan, a world-renowned surgeon and the mysterious leader of a powerful organization, had seen many things in his thirty years. Yet, nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Shree Lekha. When he first saw her in Varanasi, something stirred deep within him. Her innocence, her kindness, and the way she hid behind a mask of vulnerability caught his attention-but it was the truth he sensed beneath the surface that intrigued him the most.

Despite her apparent mental disorder, Adityanath was certain that she was hiding something. He was a man who got what he wanted, and he wanted her.

When an arranged marriage was set in motion BY HIM , Shree Lekha found herself trapped between duty and a growing fear. But what will happen when she uncovers the shocking truth-that her parents' death was no accident?

In a world of secrets, lies, and powerful forces, Shree Lekha must decide how much of herself she's willing to sacrifice to protect the ones she loves -