011

Despite on the happy note the Trivedi had left the Mishra household, the atmosphere there was now charged with tension and heat.

Manorama took only a few seconds to open her acidic mouth against Radha "..I was doing the favour on her. Favour. Having two daughters and God forbid I'm saying, two beautiful daughters on top of that- one should think about sending them to their house rather than keeping them here. "

The rant goes on and on. The older woman having no care about the tears in her daughter-in-law's eyes or the angry glare she received from the two grandchildren. Raghuveer and Roopa remains stoic and depressed from the scene but could do nothing as supporting or even saying anything for Radha will mean pouring butter in the burning fire.

The all could they do was to wait for Manorama to stop the ranting or in a better scenario, tired enough to go to her bed and call it a day.

Roopa was so ecstatic after how the day turned in the favour of her daughter and how much the destiny of the Shivangi's favoured her today. Trivedis were such the well put reputed family, modern in their thinking traditional in their heart.

They didn't even asked much for the dowry either. "Whatever you will give will be for your daughter."

"Shivangi beta, if you want to you can do the job after the marriage. It is only appropriate you use your degree than to sit at home." Roopa must thanks all the lord for the luck her daughter was bestowed upon. Manorama has gasped even then, trying to refuse the offer even before it was out upon but once seeing how admant the family were she kept her mouth closed.

But she was not going to remain quiet anymore, "..it is one thing to be arrogant but to remain blind in the arrogance is not advised. Look how good of a proposal Shivangi got, because of Raghu's good virtue and reputation but in Niyati's case who will do that? Laxman is not anymore in this world and while his reputation was immaculate, it is not enough. Shivangi got lucky to find a family who are not keen on getting the dowry but who knows whether or not Niyati will be.."

"I tried to help. Though both of the young girls will be married in the same pavilion, will go to the same family and live together harmoniously taking care of each other. But no, no. You had to ruin it-" she pointed at a weeping Radha who wipes her tears her tears in the pretance of cleaning the kitchen and washing the utensils.

"How hard it will be going to find the proposal for your daughter ? Girls of good family are staying at the home because of the demands the boys families and here, a widow mother has refused the-"

"Do not call my mother that-" Niyati starts having enough of this nasty talk,

"And with a temper like that- huh..you will be lucky if she get into a well family. It will a miracle..no..to find the good family for the daughters who are fatherless. " Cursed the old woman.

"Then I will not get married. Understood. " Manorama looked at the livid girl then at her son and then to the others. They all remain silent not even refutting the girl. "With how much you are curseing both of us -me and Maithili- it seems to me that it will be hard to find any proposal for us anyways, right? So why waste our time and energy? "

"W-what you are talk- I didn't cursed- have some respect for the elder -"

"Only if they deserves that. " Niyati cut across having enough, it was one thing to pass the unnecessary criticism at her mother but a completely different thing to so openly curse them even after seeing how much all of it was affecting Radha. And so if no one is going to put a stopper on that gutter, Niyati will.

Manorama's eyes widen "is this what you taught your daughter?" She turns to the Radha who was trying to push Niyati in the room. Niyati pushes her arms out of her mother's firm grip and looked back at the older woman,

"Papa taught me to stand up to those who are disrespectful to the family and I'm doing that. " Her eyes tearful from just mentioning her father. If he was here, if only he was none of this would have happened. They all would be in the Indore, away from the vile woman and the toxic society he tried so hard to sheltered then from.

"Do not bring my son in this- "

"I will..he was my father. Our support system. Our everything. His death affected us the same if not more than it does to you-" because Manorama has always hinted how much the death of her youngest son broke her from inside but not enough to respect the people he loved so much.

"Yeah..so much so..you all ate him-" someone gasped, Roopa and Shivangi holding a crying Maithili in their embrace, Gola patting her head and Raghuveer standing at his place with his head lowered.

Radha's finger clutching the arms of her daughter so tightly it would soon leave marks, Niyati looking at the woman like she has slapped her.

Manorama must have understand that she said a bit more than she should and it was where she stopped.

A brief silent passed, no one saying anything. "Kaka.. I'm asking for the apology to you for what I'm going to do, " Raghuveer then raised his head glancing at the young girl, tears cascading her cheeks but her eyes has the gleam.

The same gleam he has saw years before, before Laxman left with his family, away from the toxicity of their mother.

"Amu.. don't-" Roopa understands that too for she starts but Niyati folds her hand in a pleading gesture, eyes not leaving the older woman.

"You have done enough for us. Uprooting us from our home, our freedom and bringing us to here, in a place that only holds the worst memory to us. But this, is where we'll stop. "

Manorama raised her eyes,a little bit of the horror flicking in her eyes before being wiped out by the anger- how dare a young girl would talk to her in that way.

"... Kaka..we- I, Maa and Maithili- will not enter this household untill your mother stays here. Neither that woman must cross our household or otherwise we will leave for the Indore right that instance."

Radha now getting the grip over herself looked at her daughter, the face of his husband coming back to her. Niyati spoked the same as laxman would had.

Knowing with the surety that the threat holds more volume than ever. Niyati would not waste a breathe to do what she has told if her warning is ignored. Capable enough to fulfill, ready to go to any extent to protect the family.

"Maithili..come here, we are leaving." Maithili, the young girl looked back at her sister, her hard expression and with a sob run to her before colliding on to her left side. Clutching her arms tightly and weeping with her full might.

She has always knew that in between the both of them Laxman might have favoured Maithili more because she was his youngest but it was Niyati, Niyati who inherite most of their father's qualities. His temper, his tone, his eyes.

"Shh..don't cry. Otherwise you will look like the panda on Shivu Didi's engagement ceremony-" Niyati's fragile figure jostled as both Shivangi and Gola comes forward and hugged their siblings. All of them bawling together, sitting in a heap around each other.

Gathering the courage from her children Roopa comes to the Radha hugging too.

No one notices the old woman leaving the hall, a resigned look on her. Knowing well that once again she pushed the limits of what could be a civil conversation but turned into argument.

Knowing but not accepting.

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"Laxman bhaisahab might be gone to the heaven but he left his guardian angel to protect you behind. Niyati said nothing wrong, so do not fret."

"She cursed my children jiji-"

Shaking her head Roopa smiled "a curse that comes from the saint is effective and we both know our mother-in-law hardly fit that mold."

Giving a wet smile to her Radha said "I did nothing wrong,right? Refusing the proposal?"

"No. A mother could never do wrong for her children. And do not be worried, I'm sure whatever Niyati's destiny will have in the store will be a better than something you and I both could imagine. "

"But- what if - you and I both know what kind of the society we are living in. What if someone bad-"

"Shh...do not think that. Don't let ammaji's words penetrate your belief and faith. Nothing bad could harm our Amu, she has the blessings of her elders and the God."

"But jiji.." Radha has the thinking of never to praise her daughters' looks, people around do that enough. Even her mother-in-law brought them out in a passing taunt. "She is a beautiful, vibrant girl- what if someone's black gaze put upon her?"

"That is not here nor there, Radha. I have not seen the future neither have you. But what we know, is our children. Our children whom we keep in our stomach for nine months, gave birth enduring terrible pain, raised them with hope and love and care and most importantly responsibilities. They know their limits and lines. Do not be so worried."

Both of the ladies sipped their tea. All the four siblings and the two women left the home after the fiasco, Raghuveer nodding at his wife for her good thinking of letting the children and them to stay in this house for the day then to separate.

Radha and her children needs the support of the family, and Raghuveer and Roopa are ready to go to any extent to provide that.

"If Niyati or Maithili ever do cross those lines, I will hook myself from this very celling, jiji. I do not think I could live the other day from the humiliation brought upon on me by the children I raised with my own two hands."

"Have faith in your daughters, Radha. They will do nothing wrong." Afterall they both had the virtue of the Mishra family, the noble blood of their clan runs in them.

Getting into wordly affairs and tarnishing the name of the family, nothing of that sort will happen. Roopa has firm believe in that.

Unaware they both sipped the tea, that the girl in the question was standing outside of the door, listening everything.

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The storm brewed in Niyati's heart. Her mother, her innocent mother and kaki who holds so much trust in her.

Not knowing that Niyati was gambling their trust to win the mere affection of a suave man who -only God knows- is after her heart.

The same man, for whom the whole female population of the Begusarai has hots for. Who finds immense joy in that said knowledge and would go to the extent of holding random female in his arms and howling them here to there.

Wiping the angry tears that cascade down her cheeks whenever the image of that encounter comes in her mind, Niyati turned to her left. And then to her right. Before sitting up, no matter which position she turns, she could not get comfortable.

Looking around herself she notices the blanket on the Gola's side has ridden low and she adjusted it before patting his head and kissing Maithili on the forehead who was sleeping adjacent on the floor.

Her eyes scanned Shivangi who was sleeping peacefully cradling Maithili to herself. Her sweet sister, who thinks Niyati could do no wrong. From whom she was hiding the truth and by doing that putting her future in the danger too.

What her in-laws will do, when they know about the wrongdoing of her sister. Of how she finds the peace and acceptance in the arms of a man, who, who knows has been provided that same comfort to how many.

Gambling with her future, Shivangi's future, Raghuveer' reputation, her kaki's faith and her mother's trust. All for a man.

Was she not proving Manorama correct in her stance that Niyati will do nothing but tarnish their reputation.

I will hook myself from this very celling-

Her mother's words bought the fresh onslaught of the tears in her eyes.

She closes her eyes, remembering the smiling, cheerful face of her father and the wish to weep, to whine, to complain arises further. If he was here, Niyati would not have to suffered this agony. He would definitely have done his magic and all of her problems would be gone.

But he wasn't here.

Suppressing the sob building in her throat she covered her mouth with her palms, no..she could not break down. Not right now, when the day has already been cruel to them.

She has to be strong, strong for her mother and sister. And for the lovely people her kaka's family were.

Whatever they had, the time she spent in his company, the moments they both stole from the tight clutch of the cruel world has to end now.

Her family is her first priority. The people who means so much to -for whom she meant their whole world - are the one who deserves her full loyalty.

Not a man, who shows that he cares but behind it all is just a shallow vessel.

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"Achintya Babu looks devil incarnate today-"

"Yeah..his mood is even worse than yesterday,"

"Hm..he was in such a jolly mood a day before yesterday, smiling and laughing and poking fun at others- I wonder what happened in one day to ruin his mood-"

Someone cleared their throat behind the two worker who has huddled together, "it would be advisable to only poke your nose where it belongs."

Vishnu Prakash eyes the man behind the glass door, talking with the CA who handles their Kanpur's business.

Even though Achintya Babu's attention was on the files scattered around him and on the figures the CA was showing, a blood wrenching rage bleeds from him that might be visible to the others as the form of a terrible mood but Vishnu who has seen the man since he was the boy knows better.

And so it would be much better to save the unexpected people from that rage, before it get triggered and taking over completely destroy the world around him.

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The Monday rolled before Niyati expected. She skipped the college for three days now and no matter how much she tries to persuade Radha in letting her do that for one more day, her mother won't budge. "Enough of dilly-dallying..you are going to the college from tomorrow. That's final."

She has not seen him for the three days. The longest they went after their relat- whatever theyhad started. Will he be there at their usual place? Waiting for her? Even after she didn't came for the two days?

Even more important than that, how will she face him. Should she just ignores him -but something in her mind tells her, that, Achintya's whole existence was something that could be visible or felt to even the blind- but that would be impossible.

Should she just went up to him and declare the descision she took few days before?

Or would it be advisable to just let the time decides her fate? Because she surely can not.

How will she look at him, in his piercing brown eyes, and say that- whatever she had to say. Will he be understandable? Or he could actually laugh on her face and will finally told her that- whatever in between them was just a timepass.

She will surely die, right there, if he do that.

Adjusting the dupatta of the green and pink coloured cotton outfit, she walked from the door. Her mother's eyes on her who advised " drop the application for the leave- "

Because Shivangi's engagement has been fixed to the next week's Thursday, and so she needs to stay at home for the prepration.

And while Niyati and Maithili demanded their mother the same she simply glared at them "Shibu is getting engaged, she will be needed to go to shopping of the clothes and jewelleries and parlour appointment and so many other things. That's why she's staying at home- what you two will do in that? "

"Safe her from the possible torture of the dadi-" Maithili replied and the trio laughed good naturally.

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If he did not see her today, he will be declared as the first in the family who went insane in the course of the three days.

He waited for her the next day of that encounter, of him seeing her with that geeky nerd but she didn't came. Then yesterday was Sunday, a day he already knows when they couldn't meet-

And let's just say.. Achintya was slowly loosing his mind.

Plus his shoulder was troubling him and it added to the foul mood. He shouldn't have went to the ring, but the informer was late in informing Vijay about the potential attack on their trucks, resulting in the feud and unexpected men- slaughter.

Now, his shoulder was throbbing with the pain, he didn't get to check whether the old wound again get re-opened or not, only made sure that it wasn't bleeding and called it the day.

He checked his watch again, she would be here soon. If she comes that if. What kind of fucking idiot he turns to in her presence to not even have the conscience of taking her number. If he has her phone number, things would be easier. Atleast he wouldn't have to stand there on the empty road with a troubling shoulder and a nasty temper.

The glimpse of pink and green catch his sunglass covered eyes, and relief he felt then was almost pathetic.

What the bloody fuck he was turning into?

In his haste to fulfill his quota of watching her to his heart content, he didn't saw the panicked looked grazing her face, her wide eyes or her tensed shoulders.

Straightening up at his place he waited for her to reduce the distance in between them, she did that almost reluctantly.

"Morning." He heard the small mumble and somehow the morning has indeed turns pleasant.

"Hm. Come..if we leave now you will be back before that Rawat's lecture -"

Pulling her hand from his grip, she took a small step back "where to?"

"To our place." He was talking about the old fort, which usually remains vacant and empty at this time of the morning. A perfect sanctuary to spent the beautiful moments of their life.

"I-..I'm sorry..i- I can't.. " Achintya frowns. What the bloody hell that supposed to mean? She can't? Why? After making him wait for the three days, he finally get to see her,to hold her and she is stomping on that hope with her words .

"Why? Are you fine? Everything's fine, right?" It had to be her fear related to that place. No matter how many times he assures her that nothing of that sorts can ever happen again, Niyati still gets a bit tensed whenever they visit the old fort.

Nodding her head meakly she looked at the ground, gathering her courage. She cannot take it more, the happiness of his face after seeing her, the sound of the relief in his tone and the worry in his eyes.

But she has to. Things has to be done.

Closing her eyes she tries to gather her thoughts, praying to the goddess Durga for the necessary courage and bravery for what she will do now.

The images of him carrying the other girl-

Achintya Chaudhary is the biggest womanizer -

I will hook myself -

Have faith in your daughter-

"What happened to you?" He asked worriedly. Niyati looked like someone has sucked all the blood from her body, leaving her pale and trembling. The pallor on her face now much more visible than before, the darkness around her eyes showing the sign of the lack of sleep and when she raised those said eyes-

Achintya's breathe almost stopped.

They were full of tears, flowing one after another -

He immediately gathered get her in his embrace, tightening the hold when her body trembles violently, "what happened? Fucking tell me what happened? You are frightening me-" and Achintya never has ever felt that particular emotion before.

Not even when, he stood proudly infront of the death.

But, but those eyes are enough to bought him on his knees, to evoke the emotion he himself didn't knew he was capable of feeling before. Fear, now being one of them.

He didn't caught what she mumbled, the delicate fingers of the hand clutching his peach coloured shirt in a tight grip,"speak clearly." He ordered.

Raising her head, Niyati wipes her tears from the edge of her dupatta, opening her eyes again with clear determination in them. The tears has wiped away the doubts in her mind and so she could see clear now.

"I- I said..I'm ending..ending whatever this is in between us."

He still has his arms around her, still has her in the cavity of the embrace, and so her words might have come in the murmur Achintya could hear it well. Perfectly well.

Niyati tried to squirm out of the embrace, -she holds no right to be with him now- but the grip at once becomes brutal, clearly telling her that any attempt at doing something even remotely close to what she is thinking..will not be meet with the equal consent.

"Say it again.." the fingers travelled from her arms to the nape clutching the handful of the hair she had tied their with the help of a big rubberband "..and this time, by looking in my eyes."

Hissing she was forced to look back at him, her inside frozen in the cold fear from seeing the rage dancing in his eyes.

when he removed the sunglass?

But that was hardly her concern, not with the way Achintya takes a step forward, spinning her in a way that it was her back now pressing against the cold jeep. Coming so closed that she now has to tilt her neck above to look at him.

"What- we are in public-" she attempt to push him away but it was a futile act against him. His body didn't even moved an inch.

"Keep doing that..and soon I'll do something that might actually not be appropriate for the public." Gasping, her arms stop pushing him. What he meant by that? Do something to turn-?

The anger licked her inside listening his words, he might have no qualm of the society but Niyati could not be that brazen.

"I'm sorry, but unlike you I do not have neither the reputation of your family nor the reputation you created yourself to protect myself from the society. I-" she pushes again and this time he actually moved "-can't be like the other women who are so used to having no shame around you."

It was his first time seeing her being angry, actually angered not those huffs or the act of the irritation but the anger covering her face, in her hard eyes, in her tone. It made her look even more beautiful to him.

But her words registered to him a second later, and some where in the dark side of his brain, he understands the undercurrent in her anger is the mixed concoction of the something green in that.

And he would have find it amusing, really he would if only the red covering his eyes could just be wiped off.

Snapping her finger infront of his face, Niyati raises her eyes "you heard what I said? Good. Now I'll take my leave-" side stepping him she take a step forward only for him to snatching her arm and spinning her again.

And before Niyati could snap back to stop treating her like the ragdoll he said "I said..say it again."

Irritated at his behaviour, at his caveman tendencies, the obsessive way in which he was acting as " I said-" she starts,

"And choose your words very carefully." And received the warning. The arms were back again around her, and he looked a second away from snapping away. Like the overly stretched rubber band which is enough to provide the nastiest snap.

The black rage flattened her confidence, suddenly making her feel a bit fearful. Blinking her eyes, she gulped and tried it again "I'm ending this. Whatever that was in between us." because giving up is not the option anymore.

"And you think I'll allow that-"

"I do not need your permission -"

"Oh, but you do." He disturbed smoothly. Giving her his smirk, he brushes the back of his palm on her cold cheeks enjoying the red bursting on them. "Wasn't I the one who approached you? Who started the conversation that day? Who-" pulled her closer that she stood on her tip-toe "-holds the sole right to whether to end this or not."

Finding it a bit hard to retaliate with the way he grazes his soft lips on her silken skin -it sends tingles in all over her body- Niyati closes her eyes.

Only to open them again at his next words "is it because of that geek man?"

Geek man? Who he is denoting?

"The one with whom you were standing on your terrace three days before. The lucky son of the bitch who didn't get his eyes ripped for eying something that isn't his own." He said it so calmly that it becomes even more frightening.

Niyati was aware of the violence in him, has saw it from her own two eyes of what he single-handley capable of doing with his bare arms.

Vishal, that man he was talking about won't even hold the candle infront of the Achintya.

Grinding her teeth she replied back, "don't talk about him in this way. " And instantly realises the wrongdoing from the way he smiled. Smile that instead of illuminating his carved features, highlights the beast behind the mask .

Goosebumps erupting all over her body, Niyati's hand instantly caught on his shirt fearing the dread, the rage, and the violence his eyes promised her with that smile. "No..i- I didn't meant-"

"Intresting. But caring about a dying-"

"Achintya no.. please. No." And he lost it then. The first chink in her armour comes in the form of that bastard rather than him. Niyati caring about a different man..while he was standing there, pleading about someone else'...

Achintya was not the saint, he was the devil. A devil with the horns and a blood thirst ancient than the civilization. A violence he inherited from his forefathers.

Tugging her hair harshly he beckons her closer " you are giving me intresting ideas of torturing -"

"Please do not. Please..." She can not jeopardize Shivangi's future because of herself. If something happened to the family member of the bridegroom just as the proposal is fixed, everyone will blaim the girl. Her being auspicious or not. Niyati can not let that happened.

She created this storm, and so only she should get harmed.

"I beg you. " His grip causes tears gathering in her eyes and upon noticing it he loosen it a bit "he will be my sister's family soon- do not jeopardize things for her,"

Oh so he can't do that, but Niyati can easily can. Jeopardize his life. She has no idea of how insane he has gone in the three days, of how much the thought of ripping that man's eyes provided the comfort to him, a balm to his heart.

The happiness he felt seeing her, the absolute fucking fear evoking in him because of the tears in his eyes.

"He better remain only that, Niyati. " He could see the anger slowly returning back to her because of his words " Because you have no idea of the cruelty I could stoop upon."

Was he threatening her?

Wao. Talk about the hypocrisy.

"He has nothing to do with my decision, Achintya." She stars calmly. "I still want to end this. "

"Why? What is the fucking reason then?"

"I.. I want to-"

"I ASKED WHY?" flinching back her eyes widen at him. The uncontrollable expression on his face. His temper rising a notch.

"Because I can't do it anymore. I can not lie..can not hide this from my family.. what..what if someone saw us? Shivangi dii is getting married soon, what if the rumors about us spread and affects her wedding." Because saying the truth is far better than giving him false reason . "I can not let that happen. It might not taint your reputation but mine will be sully forever."

The grip loosened as he pushed her away and she stumbled a bit before regaining her balance and looking at him. She has thought giving the real reason might help her situation, looking at his face proves otherwise.

It was a blank vaneer. No expression on their.

They both stood their in silence, and Niyati might not know exactly but a lot of time must have passed from the way she saw a school van zooming past them. Soon the whole Street will start opening up, and anyone, anyone could walk upon them.

"I understand." She raised her head to him, trying to guess anything from his face but it felt impossible. "So that's the main reason. You suddenly realising that the reputation of the family lies solely on your soldiers. The responsibility of your sister's successful marriage is yours then anyone else. That being with me..is so humiliating it could sully your name."

Cringing at how he put her own words in this way, Niyati looked away. But Achintya has not finished yet. No.

He has just started. "Does it ever occurs to you of how much this will affect me? Or you already have thought something about it too?" Her remaining silent gave him the answer he needed.

He is being discarded because of a reason like that. For such a silly reason. He was always aware of her fear of being seen. Of being seen together and the ruckus it will be later. And he always has appreciate that. Made efforts to make her comfortable.

While all she was making was excuses. It irks him a lot, his anger taking over his words "you have thought so much for everyone, have you thought of me too? What about me then?"

She said nothing. Looking at the side closing her eyes, her lips wobbling. "I asked something."

"I DON'T KNOW." She yelled back. Her chest rising up and down along with the different emotion. " I DON'T KNOW. Well let's see, you can go back to the other women-"

"I fucking can't see another woman without seeing you in them." He accused pointing a finger.

"Really? Really?" She repeated "then what is the rumour about you spending different night with different women? What about the girl whom you holded so carefully in your arms after she pretended to faint. Did she offered herself to you?"

"She did." She stop at once, eyes fixed on his face. "I refused." Relief bleed in herself. Even imagining the scenerio causes the bile to come up her throat, let alone hearing the confirmation from him might actually destroyed her.

"After seeing you, my eyes refuses to see anyone else. " It sound so much like the confirmation that it brought the fresh onslaught of the tears. The vulnerability in his face, Niyati has never seen it before. Could not even imagine Achintya being capable enough to having any kind of the vulnerability.

Her resolution crumbling She takes a step in his direction to cup his face, only to being jerk back -gently- away from him.

"I do not need your pity. " And gone was the tenderness from his face. A hard gaze finding it's way as he put the sunglass back "I do not need you. Not after you so easily discarded me."

"Achintya no-" trying to stop him from leaving..he can't misunderstand her. No, he has to know how much it killed her from the inside taking that decision. He has to. For only to him take his hand away from her grip with force, wincing.

"What - why are you- oh my god.." she gasped reaching the back of his shirt where a spot was wet with blood. "..you are bleeding-"

"I said..I do not need you or your pity." He went to his jeep, starting it and leaving. But not before aiming a taunt to her. " Run along. If anyone saw you here..who knows what calamity comes to the Begusarai."

Closing her eyes, she touched her forehead. Her eyes couldn't forgot the look of vulnerability nor they could ignore the way her heart clutches imaging that.

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Yeah, so that's it now.

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This will be last update -untill I can find the time- since college is starting from the Monday to suck my soul, my energy and I'll be busy.

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Things turning south and let's see what Niyati has in the store of her destiny.

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I can actually update sooner if the story reaches 1k read sooner so everyone likes and share. It will means a lot. Since that is how I'll get motivated in between of the soul sucking classes and lectures.