Chapter 1
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*CHARACTERS*
Sona, 20 – A brown-skinned, independent girl juggling part-time jobs to save for her future studies. She’s strong-willed, practical, and quietly ambitious. Behind her tough exterior is a soft heart that falls in love silently—through stolen glances and unspoken care. She believes in hard work, not fairy tales, but deep down, she hopes for a love that understands her without words.
Ardharv , 27 – A wealthy, handsome hunk, once-charismatic man who now lives in shadows. After facing deep betrayal and heartbreak, Ardharv shut the world out—emotionally numb, buried in silence, and wrapped in darkness he chose for himself. Cold on the outside, broken within. But then she came—Sona, with her soft heart and quiet resilience. She didn’t try to fix him, just stood by him like a flicker of light he never expected. And slowly, that light begins to reach the parts of him he thought were lost forever.
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Sona pov*
My eyes locked into him..
He stood there, casually buying a few drinks...
I walked into nearby shop, pretending to buy something.. But my heart had other plans...it want to see Him...
There he was.. 6'3, broad shoulder, dressed head to toe in black like a shadow given human form. The hood of his sweatshirt was pulled low, hiding his face from the world.
But not from me
I saw him...
The moment my heart was not mine... Its start beating for him....
I had seen that face before, and no amount of darkness could make me forget that night..
Flashbacks *
The sky was a bruise deep purple and grey as dusk gave away to night.
I quickened my pace, each steps echoing my racing heartbeat as i approached a narrow, dark alley that seemed to swallow the last fragment of light. Every time i passed this strech, a shiver ran down my spine,as if the darkness itself carried whispered warnings.
Memories of past danger fluttered through my mind, a collage of moments that still my skin crawl. I tried to ignore, but the oppressive weight of the night pressed in.
The silence, broken only by the distant hum of the city, suddenly filled with the faint sound of footsteps.
I dared not to look behind me, fearing what i might see.
Instead, i forced my legs to moved faster, my breath quickening with each stride. But no matter how far i ran, the sound persisted, close enough to rattle every nerves in my body.
Then, in an instant stretched into an eternity, everything changed. Just as i resolved to break into a full sprint.
A strong hand gripped me from behind.
A muffled efforts to scream was silenced by another covering my mouth firmly. Panic surged through me as i struggled, but the grip was relentless and unyielding.
In a brutal motion, i was shoved violently to the cold, unforgiving pavement. A sharp pain shit through my elbow on impact, and i could only manage a strangled hiss as the air forced from my lungs. Emerging from the gloom, i saw the shadow figure of a man, his eye were cold and unfeeling as he held a glinting knife ...
In that moment, fear and shock mingled into a paralysing..
I want to run for my life, but he was too fast. He yanked my hair hard, making me scream in pain. A brutal punch to my stomach sent me crashing to floor. He kept kicking me as i curled up to shield my face.
Then suddenly the kicking stopped.
I opened my eyes. Through the darkness, i saw another figure, he was punching my attacker relentlessly. It was too dark to see clearly, but he didn't stop until the man lay unconscious.....
Then the stranger turned to me.
Fear surged through me, and i shut my eyes.
" Hey... Are you ok?" he asked. His voice was deep and calm and surprisingly gentle. I heard footsteps as he approached me..
"can you stand up? Do you need help?"
I nodded slowly. He reached out, gently took my hand and help me up. Dizziness wash over me, and i nearly fell b he caught me, holding me tighter..
His arm wrapped my waist, mine draped over his shoulder for support.
I leaned into him, unsteady.....
I could still smell his cologne. Earthy with a faint of cigarette smoke. He had helped me out of the alley and now i was sitting on a small bench, trying to catch my breath.
I looked up at him .. He wore a black hoodie, his face partially covered by a black mask. Under the pale glow the roadside light, his eyes shimmered sharped, unreadable.
He pulled something from his pocket. A phone. He was speaking to someone, his voice slow and steady...
Then he came over and sat in front me.." Are you okay" he asked his tone calm but concerned...
I nodded slowly...
" he studied my face, his eyes scanning every bruise, every cut.
" you're hurt badly", he said. Do you want to go to the hospital? "
"No, its ok" i said quickly. "I'll manage. Thank you for your help" ..i tried to stand but stumbled. Pain shot through me. He caught me before i hit the ground.
He groaned softly under my weight.
"Can you sit for a moment? " I've asked my friend to bring a car. I'll take you home "
His phone rang again..
He lowered his face mask and answered it..
Just then a few car drove past. Their headlights swept over us, i saw his face clearly for the first time.
He was.... breathtaking.
I had never seen someone so striking. I couldn't take my eyes off him...
As if sensing my gaze, he turned to look at me. Our eyes met. For a few long seconds, we just stared at each other.
Flustered I looked away. I couldn't hold that gaze not when his eyes looking straight through my soul..
A black car pulled up where we stood. A man stepped out, tall and composed. They exchanged a few words, their eyes flicking toward me..
Then he approached.
"He's my friend," he said, nodding toward the driver. " He'll drop you at your house. Are you okay with that?
I looked over his friend, well dressed, clearly wealthy. Then down at myself, clothes torn and stained from when i was shoved in the alley.. I glanced at the sleek, luxurious car. I didn't want to ruin the leather seats..
As if reading my mind, he added gently.
He will not mind about your clothes.. Come on...
His friend shot him a quick glare, then turned to me with a polite smile.
He opened the door. I hesitated for a moment, then walked slowly over and slide into the passenger seat.
" Thank you, " i murmured as the door closed.
He gave me a nod, then turned and walked away. His friend started the engine and quietly drove me to my apartment.
As the city lights blurred past the window, i sat silently, my hands clenched in my lap. But my mind wasn't on the ride, it was still back there,with him.
The way he looked at me concerned but without pity. The way he noticed what i didn't say out loud. And that voice soft, steady, safe...
I didn't even know his name. But somehow in that brief moment, he made me feel seen.
And as the car pulled up to my building, one thought limgered in my chest like an echo i couldn't shake.. I want to see him again....
Flashback end*
It had been a month. And now..
he stood right in front of her...
Like an angel, she had prayed for every night.
She had asked god over and over~just one more time to see him, to thank him. But he didn't recognise her..
He stepped out of shop, a small bag in hand. Sona hesitated,then started walking towards him..
"hi sir, how are you? Do you remember me? She said to gently, her voice trembling with hope.
He stopped.
Turned to face her..
His eyes scanned her coldly,head to toe. His browed ceased-a scowl.
Then he turned away....and kept walking..
She didn't stop..
She followed, speaking softly but quickly trying to keep pace.
"Ahm... Sorry to disturb you sir, i just wanted to thank you helping me the other night. Can we have a coffee, that cafe just there-"
"FUCK OFF, girl!!
his voice exploded.
"Move out of my way. I dont even know you!!
Everything stopped. The street.
The sound . The people turning to stare.
Sona froze. Her breath caught in her throat. She stood there, heart pounding, face burning.
He walked away, never looking back.
She lowered her head in shame,silent tears streamed down her cheeks, each drops heavier than the last...
To be continue
