{Book 1 in The Never series}
"Marry me.", he commanded.
"What?", I shrieked in disbelief looking into his eyes that were absolutely cold and emotionless. Does he take all this as a goddamn joke?
"Let me rephrase. Be my bride.", he emphasized the las...
Bending my both knees and hugging them to my chest, I was sitting under the beautiful sky in my balcony gazing at the stars that were twinkling at me occasionally, maybe trying to make me smile. My light auburn locks flowed over my shoulders playing with the soft wind. The doe-shaped chocolaty brown eyes I possessed were today also trying to search for the answers to the unsaid questions of life. My lips that adorned a smile once were tightly pursed in a thin line. My fair skin was shining in the moonlight giving me a strange satisfaction. The stars twinkled at me once again and a lone tear escaped my eye.
"Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Avni. Happy birthday to you", a sweet feminine voice echoed in the room.
It was my mother. She was beautiful, very captivating. Her smile was something that was my everyday need. She smiled wholeheartedly seeing the cake she brought with her. My maa was so cute, she made me a chocolate cake just the way I like it. It was not your fancy bakery one expensive cake. It was a small homely-cooked flour chocolate cake, some sprinklers, and gems topped on it. She kept the cake aside and moved towards the balcony and sat beside me.
"Avni child, are you angry with me?", she asked softly caressing my hair.
"No, maa. I can never get angry with you", I looked at the stars and one among them again twinkled.
"Avni these stars are so stupid, aren't they?", Maa said gaining my all attention. "These stars know that they won't be able to erase all the darkness but still, they try, how foolish of them
"But maa, at least they are trying, they...", I stopped when realization dawned on me.
"Exactly child that's what matters... we just need to keep trying, getting success, or not getting is not in our hands.", Maa said and smiled at me.
"You're right maa, I won't lose hope.", I smiled looking at the twinkling star, I would never lose hope. No matter what happens.
"That's like my girl. Now come, let's cut the cake and tell me how's it?" She got up and pressed the switch of the light, the whole room illuminated.
"Beautiful, just like you.", I smiled and hugged her.
She lit a candle and placed it in the centre and asked me to blow it off, only after I ask my birthday wish. I shook my head in disbelief, amazed at the childish thought of my maa. Told you, didn't I, she's unbelievable.
"Though I don't believe in this but still if maa does, so do I. Dear God if you are listening to me then please don't let anything happen to the smile of my mother. She keeps on smiling endlessly and I keep cherishing her happiness till the end of my life-It's my only wish. Thank you.", I prayed closing my eyes and blew the candle.
~~~
Third Person's POV
"Sir, I've finally fixed your meeting with Mr Frank. At first, he was not agreeing but then I said that you are one of the wealthiest persons....", a man said.
