2.

Muskan pov:

She looked at me with rage in her eyes and hissed,

"So you've been acting brave in front of everyone? I'll show you what it means to stand tall."

Before I could even process it, she dragged me by the arm, pulling me through the house no one around to stop her.

She pushed me into my room... and then, She shoved me down to the floor. I fell hard.

I looked up at her, stunned, trembling, my heart racing.

And then... she spoke the words that destroyed me.

"You said I killed your father and mother? You're right. I did."

"8 years ago, I got your mother in an accident. Then I trapped your father into marrying me only for his property."

"And now that I found out he gave everything to you, his beloved daughter... I had him killed too."

I couldn't breathe.

Tears blurred my vision as I whispered,

"How could you...?"

"He was your husband... your partner... and you did this to him?"

"You were his wife... and you killed him for some papers?"

I stared at her Zmiya with tears streaming down my face.

She said it without a flicker of guilt...

"I can do anything for money. And I will. You only have two years left-once you turn 18, I'll make you sign all the property papers and then I'll get rid of you too. Then everything will be in my and my son's name.

"No!" I screamed.

"I'd rather die than give you what Papa left for me. I'll never sign anything! You'll never get it! NEVER!"

Zmiya's eyes narrowed.

"Fine," she spat.

"Let's see how long you last in this room. Until you turn 18, you're going to stay locked up in here. Until you agree to sign the property over, this room is your world."

She slammed the door shut.

I ran to it, banged my fists, screaming

"No! Please! Don't do this! Let me go!"

But she was gone.

I fell to the floor, sobbing.

"Akaash..please... save me..."

"I need you. Please come. Please get me out of this prison before it's too late. I'm scared..."

But no one came. This is reality—no one came to save you. Not a prince, like in fairy tales where the prince saved Snow White, or where the Beast gave Beauty a whole library. In reality, no prince comes to save an ordinary girl who isn’t a princess

I pressed my forehead against the locked door... the cold wood didn't answer my cries.

And then-

Like a soft breeze, a memory from years ago came rushing back...

We were just kids. I was 7, he was 10.

I had seen him walking toward the library and asked curiously,

"Where are you going?"

"To the library," he had said, not even looking back

I instantly followed,

"Wait! I want to come too!"

In the quiet library, he picked up a thick book and sat in the chair, reading seriously.

I marched over, snatched the book from him.

"Give it to me! I want to read too!"

He looked shocked,

"Muskan, this book is too big for you! You won't understand anything. You're just a kid read kiddie books!"

I pouted, flopped down on the table and opened the book upside down.

"If I'm a kid, then you are too!" I had argued.

He laughed softly,

"Still older than you."

And took the book back from me with a smile.

That moment... was safe.

That smile... was everything.

And now... I'm trapped, bruised, and alone.

I whispered through tears,

"You were always there for me, Akaash... even when I stole your book."

"Please... be here now...."

But there was only silence.

They only came to give me food once a day...

A maid quietly placed the plate before me, never saying a word, never looking into my eyes.

And I... I couldn't eat. Every bite reminded me of him.

Every moment, every breath... all I did was miss Akaash.

At night, as the darkness wrapped around me, I whispered:

"Come, Akaash... please come get me out of here."

But no one came. Just tears... and silence.

I cried the entire night.

I got up, wiped my tears, and stood to pray.

"Oh god, you know everything I'm going through.

You know... ever since childhood, I've loved only one person.

You made me fall for him with a love I can't explain.

if it's written... please unite me with him.

Please return my love back to me.

I know he loves me too,

I feel it in the way he used to look at me.

He may never say it out loud, but I know...

He loves me with the same madness I feel for him.

I believe he hasn't forgotten me.

But if somehow he has...

If the world has made him forget me...

Then please

Please remind him.

Put that love back into his heart.

Put unshakable love in his heart for me again...

Just like mine has never changed.

"Mama..papa why you leave me?" I cried in pillow

I remember those days when I am the princess of my mama papa...

But now

I am like a prisoner in my own house

"Mama why did you leave me?" I cried

2 year later

It's been two years...

It’s been two long years since I’ve been locked inside this room, with only the maid bringing me food to keep me alive.

My stepmom never lets me step out...

She says when I turn eighteen, she'll finally kill me and take everything.

Just two more days left until my birthday...

And she's happy so happy because after that, she'll get the entire property.

She keeps whispering to herself,

"Just two more days... then she'll be gone."

But what about me?

Every single day, I wait for Akaash.

I live on nothing but hope...

Hope that he'll come back.

"Akaash, please come back..."

Maybe you don't know how much I'm dying inside waiting for you.

You promised you'd return in ten years...

You said you'd stand in front of me again, smiling.

But why aren't you here yet?

Why are you making me suffer this much?

Every day without you feels like I'm suffocating.

I don't know how much longer I can take this.

Please Akaash... come before it's too late.

"No... I-I can't break like this. Zmiya... she'll kill me. But how can I escape?" I sobbed.

"You're right. You can't do anything,"

Zmiya said as she entered the room. I froze.

"My sweet, naïve, pretty daughter... just one more day, and you'll be free from this cruel world," she said with a cruel smirk.

"Y-you're evil! God will never forgive you!"

She only smiled.

"When did I ever say I was a good woman?"

Then she turned and walked out,

leaving me alone in the silence once again.

No no!d-did I actually going to die?I die without seeing akaash?

"ager mujhe uski Kismat main kabhi likha hi nhi tha to main us se kyun mili?Kya woh mere Naseeb main nhi?" I cried my fist weakly banging against the wall

("If he was never written in my destiny, then why did I meet him? Was he never meant to be in my fate?")

"No no no! I-i I can't broke like that, I have to run away from here...If Akaash can't come to me, then what?

"I can go to him, can't I?" I wipe my tears, No matter what it takes, I have to escape tomorrow"

"I can't just sit here anymore with folded hands, hoping Akaash will come and take me away"

"What if he's helpless too? What if he needs me just as much as I need him?

I have to go to him... no matter where in the world he is"

My love will find him... somehow

I wiped my tears

"No matter what it takes. Tomorrow I'll escape"

-At night-

I sat at the edge of the bed, my legs trembling beneath me. The room felt colder than ever, like the walls themselves had turned against me.

A soft knock echoed on the door. I slowly walked over, wiping my tears with the back of my hand, and opened it.

The maid stood there, holding a tray. Her eyes flickered to my face-red, swollen, exhausted from crying. She didn't say a word, just stepped inside quietly and placed the food on the bed.

She turned to leave.

please help me" I beg,tear slip from my eye

"I am sorry beta i can't do anything" she said feeling pity for me

"please help me you were my mama bestfriend right you see me as your daughter so plz help your daughter" I said tears streaming down my face

She hestitete "W-what can I do for you?"

"Help me to run away from this..prison.. please help me"

I folded my hands

"I-i am sorry beta i-i can't do that madam Zmiya will kill me" maid said,scared

And like that my last hope was gone..broken into pieces

I didn't eat for 24 hours

I just kept crying

If I am going to die anyway, then maybe it's better to die like this

Later, the Maid knocked on door again she entered my room

"Muskan ji.. your food" she said

"I don't want to eat..if Zmiya is going to kill me, then maybe that's the better option" I said quietly

"N-no Muskan ji don't do that please eat" maid said, worried

"Leave me alone if you can't help me!" I said my eyes fill with tears

"I help you Muskan ji"

"Really you help me to escape?" My lip trembling tears slip from my eye

To be continued°

THANK YOU FOF READING❤️😊