"Innocence and Intrigue"

Part 3

Nitya's Perspective:Gaadi chalu ho gayi hai. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha hai ki mere jeevan mein 24 ghante mein itna bada mod kyun aaya hai.

(The car has started. I can't understand why my life has taken such a drastic turn in the last 24 hours.)

Before the Last 24 Hours:

Main saat baje uthi. Mat socho ki main subah jaldi uthne wali hoon, agar aap aisa sochte hain toh aap galat hain. Main apne bistar aur neend se bahut pyaar karti hoon. Agar mauka milta toh main bina kuch soche samjhe poora din soti rahungi. Aur mera doosra pasandeeda cheez khana hai. Kya aapko pata hai maine abhi-abhi khana banana seekha hai kyunki mujhe pata nahi kab mujhe kya khana hai. Aur agar main woh khana khana chahti hoon jo main nahi bana sakti aur sab bahar hain toh mujhe pareshani ho sakti hai, isliye maine ye sab seekha. 

Shuru mein mere liye ghar ka bana khana khana mushkil tha lekin ab main ek shandar sheff hoon. Pata hai, mere papa mere banaye huye khane ko bahut pasand karte hain aur mera jeevan har din khushi se bhara hai. Mere jeevan mein sapna nahi hai, ye khushi aur khushi se bhara hai. Aur pata hai, mere parivaar mein sirf do log hain, ek meri maa aur doosra mera papa, kyunki unhone pyar mein shaadi ki thi, apne parivaar ke khilaaf jaake, aur tab se mere papa aur mummy ke alawa koi nahi hai mere papa aur mummy ke liye. Unhone har sthiti mein ek doosre ka saath diya hai aur ab tak maine unke beech koi bhi jhagda nahi dekha hai. Main unki bandhan ka adarsh karta hoon aur mujhe bhi apne jeevan saathi se aise hi bandhan chahiye. Uuffff.

(I woke up at seven. Don't think I'm an early riser; I absolutely love sleeping in. If given the chance, I could sleep all day without a care in the world. My other favorite thing? Food. Did you know I just learned how to cook? I did it because I never know what I'll feel like eating. And if I crave something I can't cook and everyone's out, I'd be in trouble, right? So, I learned. It was tough at first, but now I'm a great chef. My dad especially loves my cooking, and my life is full of joy because of it. It's just me, my dad, and my mom in our family. They had a love marriage against their families' wishes, so it's just us. They've supported each other through everything, and I've never seen them fight. I admire their bond and want something like that with my future partner. Uuffff.)

Maine bhool gayi kyun main aaj subah jaldi uthi kyunki aaj mera pasandida din hai, meri maa aur papa ki saalgirah hai aur kal mera janamdin hai. Mujhe nahi pata kaise, lekin meri zindagi ke do mahatvapurn ghatnayein ek dusre ke baad ek din mein hain aur main poora din ka mazaa loongi, isliye aaj ka koi kaam nahi hai, bas parivaar ke saath samay bitana hai. Hamne pehle hi apna din ka yojana banaya hai, sabse pehle mandir jaana hai, uske baad anathashram jaana hai, uske baad dopahar ka khana, phir hum saahil jaayenge aur ye socho mat ki ye aakhri nahi hai, hum phir movie dekhne jaayenge aur phir wahan cake cutting hogi. Ab main din ke liye taiyar hoon, main sona rang ka saaya pehni hoon, humne mandir jaake maza liya aur anathashram ke bacchon ke saath maza aaya phir humne apne pasandida jagah par khana khaya aur mere pasandida dishes ke saath. Uske baad maine saahil dekha aur ab hum mall ke parking mein hain. Hum andar gaye hain aur pehla hissa maza aaya, ab main movie hall mein akeli hoon anjaanon ke saath mujhe ye pasand nahi hai, maa aur papa snacks lene gaye hain lekin kyun itna der lag rahi hai,Movie ab dobara shuru hone wali hai, aur mujhe achha nahi lag raha hai. Kuch alag sa lag raha hai. Main bahar nikalti hoon unhe dhoondhne, lekin woh wahan nahi hain. Jab main parking mein unhe dekhti hoon, toh mere maa wahan leti hui hai, aur mere papa ko goli lagi hai. Mera dimaag blank ho jata hai. Main kya karun? Kuch log bhaagte hue aate hain, ambulance ke liye pukarte hue. Woh mummy aur papa ko le jaate hain, aur main unke peeche chalti hoon. Hospital mein, ye khabar mujhe jaise patthar ki bhari ho gayi. Mummy bach nahi sakti thi, aur papa ko bhi bacha nahi sakte. Main dono ko kho chuki hoon. Main kuch dastakhat karta hoon, par mujhe kuch mehsoos nahi hota. Police mujhe unke samaan dete hain jo parking mein mile, Arjun uncle mujhse baat karne ki koshish karte hain, lekin mujhe shabd nahi milte. Apne ghar mein akeli hokar, main khoyi hui mehsoos karti hoon. Par phir main papa ke shabdon ko yaad karti hoon. Unhone hamesha kaha ki main mazboot hoon aur sab kuch muskurahat ke saath samna karna chahiye. Main unhe gauravshaali banungi. Park mein chalne jaati hoon apne dimaag ko shaant karne ke liye, lekin kuch log mujhe follow karne lagte hain. Main panic mein bhagti hoon, phaans gayi mehsoos karti hoon. Unka kisi wajah se mujhe nuksan pahunchana chahte hain, lekin woh wajah nahi batate. Main abhi bach jaati hoon, lekin main dar se kaanp rahi hoon.Yehi kis tarah main car mein pahunchti hoon.

(I forgot to mention why I woke up early today. It's my favorite day – my parents' anniversary. And tomorrow is my birthday. Somehow, these two important events in my life fall back to back. I'll make the most of today and tomorrow. We've planned our day: temple visit, orphanage, lunch at my favorite spot, beach time, movie, and cake cutting. I'm all dressed up and ready to enjoy the day. We've had a blast so far, but now I'm alone in the movie hall. I don't like it. Mom and dad went to get snacks, but they're taking forever. The movie's about to start again, and I'm not feeling well. Something's off. I step out to find them, but they're not there. Panic sets in when I see them in the parking lot. Mom's lying there, and dad's been shot. My mind goes blank. What do I do? Some people come rushing in, calling for an ambulance. They take mom and dad, and I follow. At the hospital, the news hits me like a ton of bricks. Mom didn't make it, and they couldn't save dad. I've lost them both. I sign some papers, feeling numb. Police hand me their belongings found in the parking lot. Arjun uncle tries to talk to me, but I can't find the words. Alone in our house, I feel lost. But then I remember dad's words. He always said I was strong and should face everything with a smile. I'll make him proud. I take a walk in the park to clear my head, but I end up being followed by a group of people. I panic and run, feeling trapped. They want to harm me for some reason, but they won't say why. I manage to escape for now, but I'm terrified. that is how i end up in the car.)

AUTHOR'S POV:

Gaadi ke andar, Rudransh se ek prabhavshaali sugandh aa rahi thi, jo Nitya ke liye nayi thi. Use aise sugandho ke saath anubhav nahi tha, aur pata hi nahi chala jab aansu uske aankhon mein aa gaye. Gaadi ek bhayankar chuppi mein chali gayi, kisi ne bhi kuch nahi kaha. Achanak, Nitya ko hikka aane lage, aur uspar bhay chha gaya. Usne dar gaya ki uski maujoodgi ko notice kiya jayega, aur usne unka reaction darna shuru kiya. Vyathit hokar, usne apne hikke rokne ki koshish ki.

(Inside the car, there was a dominant aroma emanating from Rudransh, which was new to Nitya. She wasn't experienced with such scents, and before she knew it, tears started to well up in her eyes. The car fell into an eerie silence, with no one saying a word. Suddenly, Nitya began to hiccup, and fear gripped her. She worried that her presence would be noticed, and she dreaded their reaction. Desperately, she tried to stifle her hiccups.)

Rudransh aur Rakesh dono hi piche baithe huye hikke sun kar chakit ho gaye, kyunki gaadi mein sirf ve the. Ve mud kar dekhte hain to Nitya ko dekhte hain, jo kuch ro rahi thi. Rakesh, musibat mein cute ladki ko dekh kar ghabraya, Rudransh ke sambhavik prateekriya ke prati bhay ka anubhav kiya. Usne Rudransh ke saman ka istemal karne se mana karne ka unka roop dekha tha, aur usne socha ki woh phat se pratikriya kar sakta hai. Achanak, Nitya ne bola, unhe us bechari jaisi nazar se na dekhe, kyunki use pasand nahi thi.

(Rudransh and Rakesh were both taken aback when they heard the hiccup from the backseat, as they were alone in the car. They turned to see Nitya, who appeared to be crying about something. Rakesh, startled by the sight of the cute girl in distress, felt a pang of fear regarding Rudransh's potential reaction. He knew Rudransh's aversion to anyone using his belongings without permission, and feared he might react explosively. Suddenly, Nitya spoke up, asking them not to give her pitying looks, as she disliked that.)

                                          *********************************************

                                                                        Author's Note:

English is not my native language, so I appreciate your understanding if there are any errors in my writing. Your feedback is valuable to me, so please let me know in the comments if you enjoyed my story or if there's anything I can improve upon. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing you again soon!