Fifteen-year-old Leher Malhotra has mastered the art of smiling through pain. After losing her mother, she built walls around her heart - walls only her aunt, Mahi, could ever cross.
But when Mahi marries Raghav Oberoi, Leher's world tilts again. A...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The living room was unusually silent.
Leher sat curled up at the corner of the couch, knees hugged to her chest, Coco asleep like a tiny cotton ball on the carpet. Naira had already left, and the house felt too big... too empty.
Her eyes were unfocused, drifting somewhere far away.
Just then the front door opened and Yuvaan trudged in, shoulders slumped dramatically, hair messy like he had fought with the wind. Without warning, he dropped beside her on the sofa with a loud thud, making her jolt.
Leher glared. "Aaram se nahi baith sakte?" she snapped, pushing his shoulder.
Yuvaan made an offended face, hand to his chest as if she stabbed him. "Are yaar, abhi toh aaya hoon... aur tumhare nakhre shuru ho gaye. Dekho, I'm already tired."
She rolled her eyes and looked away, sinking back into her silence.
Yuvaan's dramatic complaints faded in the background as her thoughts slowly pulled her underwater again.
One week. Just one week left for her birthday.
And As always she wouldn't hear her mother sing that soft birthday song on her birthday.
I miss you, Mumma... I wish I could celebrate every birthday with you. I wish I hadn't gone to school that day. Why did you leave, Mumma...?
Her throat tightened.
Why did he do that to you? Why marry you when he loved someone else? Why pretend to love me when he was going to leave?
Her nails dug into her palm.
Why did he choose him over me? Wasn't I good enough?
She felt the sting in her eyes.
I hate him, Mumma... I really do.
A loud snap of fingers broke her spiral.
"Oye! Kaha khoyi hai? Din mein sapne dekh rahi hai?" Yuvaan waved a hand in front of her face.
Leher blinked hard, straightening. "Kuchh bhi to nhi" Her voice came out too quick, too practiced.
Yuvaan frowned, concern softening his features. "Are you okay?"
