Guys !
Please do vote and comment.
Ram shook his head, not daring to speak.
"I felt like I was nothing," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like I was never meant to belong. Like I was living a lie."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "I let my bitterness consume me. I started to hate Vishwanth. I convinced myself that he stole my father from me, that he took my everything , that he had everything I didn't. And in my anger, I hurt him in ways I can never take back. I know that my parent's death is a tragedy caused because of soemone's evilness but the one who brought it home is vishwa."
Ram squeezed her hand gently, offering silent comfort.
Maya chuckled bitterly, shaking her head at her own foolishness. "But when I saw him lying there , covered in wounds, barely alive... everything changed. All that hatred just disappeared. I didn't see the man I resented after knowing everything. I saw my brother. The one who shielded me from harm when we were kids. The one who stood by me when no one else did. The one who promised my father that he would never let me cry."
Her voice cracked, and a tear finally escaped down her cheek. "And I realized... I was the witch in this story. I was the villain. Not him."
Ram pulled her into a comforting embrace, rubbing her back gently. "Maya, you made mistakes, but you're human. What matters is that you see the truth now."
Maya buried her face into his shoulder. "I just want to fix things. I want to be his sister again, even if we don't share the same mother. He deserves that."
Ram smiled softly. "Then tell him. He's not the type to hold grudges on his lovedones. You know that better than anyone."
Maya pulled back and wiped her tears away. "I will," she said, determination settling in her eyes.
The sun had nearly set now, painting the sky in hues of crimson and violet. The lake mirrored its colors, a reflection of change and transition, much like Maya's own heart.
As they sat there in silence once more, Maya finally felt like she was breathing freely for the first time in years.
.............
Ram hesitated, watching Maya as she stared into the distance, her fingers nervously twirling the edge of her dupatta. He had never seen her this quiet, this lost in thought. After a long silence, he finally gathered the courage to ask, "Maya... do you have any idea about your biological mother ?"
Maya's breath hitched slightly, and her hands clenched together. Her eyes, filled with emotions he couldn't quite decipher, reflected a story she had buried deep within her. The depth of her gaze spoke of pain, confusion, and a longing she had never openly expressed.
Before she could respond, the scene shifted.
.............
A grand arena stood illuminated under a canopy of golden lights. The red carpet stretched endlessly, lined with flashing cameras and eager reporters. The air buzzed with excitement as celebrities, designers, and fashionistas graced the event, each vying for a moment in the limelight.
And then, she arrived.
Shilpa.
The woman who had defied time itself. The woman who, even after decades in the industry, remained an ethereal vision of grace and power. As soon as she stepped onto the red carpet, the collective gasp of the media was audible, followed by an onslaught of camera flashes.
She was breathtaking.
Draped in an elegant midnight-blue gown that sculpted her hourglass figure, she exuded effortless sophistication. The deep neckline accentuated her flawless décolletage, while the sheer sleeves, embroidered with delicate golden vines, gave her an almost celestial aura. Her striking blue-green eyes, sharp and mesmerizing, held an intensity that could disarm the bravest of men. Her full lips, painted in a bold crimson, curved into an ever-so-slightly amused smirk as she approached the waiting reporters.
Her long, chestnut-brown hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, framing her sculpted cheekbones. Her posture, poised, regal, untouchable, reminded everyone why she was still regarded as one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the silver screen. Age had only added to her charm, refining her allure rather than diminishing it.
"Shilpa, ma'am ! Over here !" one reporter called out eagerly, struggling to get a word in amidst the chaos.
Another voice chimed in, "Ma'am, your thoughts on tonight's event ?"
Shilpa stopped mid-stride, turning her head ever so slightly, her lips quirking into a knowing smirk.
"Ah, the usual spectacle," she mused, her voice rich with amusement. "A parade of dazzling outfits, fragile egos, and desperate attempts to stay relevant. Quite entertaining, don't you think ?"
The reporters erupted into laughter, both admiring and fearing her razor-sharp wit.
One particularly bold journalist stepped forward. "Ma'am, there have been rumors about a certain young model being your favorite this season. Do you care to confirm ?"
Shilpa arched an elegant brow, her fingers delicately adjusting the diamond bracelet on her wrist.
"Rumors ? My dear, I don't do favorites. I do excellence," she replied smoothly. "And if there is someone in this industry who embodies that, it is Tanya."
The mere mention of the name sent whispers rippling through the crowd.
Tanya.
A rising star in the modeling world. A protégée under Shilpa's wing. A woman who had captured both the audience's admiration and the envy of her peers.
Shilpa offered no further explanation. She simply turned, her gown flowing like liquid silk as she strode inside the grand venue.
She wasn't here for just another fashion show. She was here to witness her protégée rise to the top.
As the doors closed behind her, the cameras kept flashing, the murmurs growing louder. The media could speculate all they wanted, but Shilpa's mind was elsewhere.
Far away from the glitz and glamour, in a place buried deep in her past. A past that was about to resurface in ways she hadn't anticipated.
................
2 MONTHS LATER ,
Two months had passed since the storm of events that had shaken everyone's lives. The city had moved forward, but in the shadows, Sourabh lived in disguise. His face was hidden beneath an old cap, his once perfectly tailored clothes replaced with ragged attire. His pride, his power—everything had been stripped away, and now he wandered like a ghost, avoiding any familiar gaze that could betray his presence.
As he walked through the crowded marketplace near the docks, his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of escape. The sea route had always been his refuge, but with Vishwanth still alive, he knew he was running out of time. Suddenly, he bumped into someone. Instinctively, he muttered an apology and took a step back, but then he froze. The person he had collided with also stopped, stiffening in recognition.
His heart pounded as he turned, and there she was, Priya.
............
How's the chapter ?
We are nearing the end.
Probably 10-15 chapters or i might concise that to less.