Flashback..

The night sky bled rain, pouring down heavily as the cries of a six-year-old girl filled the grand hall of Shekhawat Mansion.

"Sir, inn dead bodies ka kya karna hai?" A heavy voice questioned. After a few seconds, a voice dripping with every ounce of cruelty and authority answered,"Aag laga do iss jagah ko. and make sure koi bhi evidence nahi bachna chahiye."

Another of his men asked,"Boss, iss bachi ka kya karna hai?" He pointed at the six-year-old whimpering with fear hugging the lifeless bodies of her parents.

The man looked at the little trembling form and bent down to her level. He grabbed her chin forcing her to look up at him. He stated to his men,"iski aankhon ne aaj bahut kuch dekh liya jo ise nahi dekhna chahiye tha. Jala do ise bhi apne mare hue maa-baap ke sath aur aaj inn sabke sath Shekhawat's ka naam-o-nishan mitt jaana chahiye." His voice was devoid of any emotion as he gazed in those beautiful dark honey brown eyes.

He stood up to leave as his men came with barrels of gasoline to fire up the place, they started throwing the liquid around, over the dead bodies. Over the little girl who still sat there, shaken to her very being of existence.

The man lighted his cigarette and took a long drag before exhaling. He threw the lighter in the air and all of them walked out. At first, the sofa caught fire, and then one by one, everything was becoming the meal for the flames which only arose more and more.

The little girl suddenly gained her senses back and started running back to save herself from her demise. She reached the last window of the mansion's hall and looked back inside one last time before swinging her little feet off of the window sill. Her feet stepping on the side pipe, which was adjacent to the window frame.

She hang there, her small hands and legs clutching the pipe tightly. One more time, her eyes lifted up to see the flames inside. Small hiccups started in her throat that shook her tiny frame. With a slow, terrified pace, she slid her feet the evil men were gone and she was far away from their sight. She crept down the pipe cautiously.

As her feet landed on the cool cement road below, The sky roared with thunder scaring the little girl. Her honey brown eyes, which were so full of life in the morning, were now full of the flashes of her mother and father being brutally murdered in front of her eyes. All in one day. Just one night—and nothing would ever be the same again.

Her little body, soaked to the bone, gave way beneath her—and collapsed on the cold wet ground as She cried hysterically. The sky thundered again as if crying with the little girl. That day, She swore to herself, She swore to her Shivji, that she will take revenge. Revenge of her parents death. Everyone will see the consequence of today's night.

As she bawled her eyes out, a pair of shoes stopped infront of her. She looked up through her tear blurred vision—a boy, about 12 year old. Her honey dark brown eyes met those majestic hazel green eyes. He held an umbrella over her head, shielding her from the chilling rain. He took out his one hand, which cradled some candies. When she didn't respond and just kept staring at him, he tilted his head in confusion and bent down to her level.

His voice, barely above a whisper filled with warmth,"meri mumma kehti hai ki, rone se humari tabiyat kharab ho jaati hai. tum rona band kardo na, pleaseeee.."

His voice was pleading as he offered her some candies,"Tumhari aankhein bahut hi pyaari hai, abb tum aise royogi naa.. tohhh—"

She stared at him like a clueless puppy, urging him to continue,"tohh?"

He scrunched his small nose, unable to find words, he spoke up with mild irritation,"Dekho tum naa please rona band kardo! tumhari aankhon mein aansu ache nahi lagte.."

He offered his hand to her, and both stood up together, he gently placed the candies in her little palm,"mujhe jaana padega.. mujhe nahi pta bacha, tumhare sath kya hua.. par mujhse ek promise karogi? kabhi rona mtt! aur haan—" Before he could finish himself, A voice called him out. "Acha byee! mujhe jaana hai!" He ran off in the direction from where the voice called out.

She just stood there, completely dazed, She slowly brought her small palm up and waved it a little in a gesture of saying goodbye to the boy whose hazel green eyes just gave her a hope. But sometimes, The cruelest thing a person can give is hope.

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Present timeline..

Author's POV

The scent of rain mixed with pain and longing to be held, brought back those unpleasant memories as Nandini kept running. Her steps only fastened as a familiar voice, called out,"Nandini!"

His voice dripping from pain and heavy from restraint but still decided to follow her, his voice echoing her name into the rain, but she doesn't looked back for even once.

"Mujhe akela chhod do, Dhruv! kyu mere peeche—" Before she could even say something more, Dhruv immediately kept his palm on her lips, stopping her from saying further. One arm snaked around her waist, holding her in place.

She wriggled out of his grip, taking a step back. He immediately pulled her in wrapping his arms around her.

"Tumhe kya farq padta hai, Dhruv!? Main kuch bhi karu, kuch bhii! tumhe farq nahi padna chahiye!", Nandini shouted, voice cracking in her throat as tears blurred her vision.

"Mujhe farq padta hai, Nandini.. pyaar jo kar baitha hu tumse..", Dhruv's voice dropped to a whisper, heavy with something he could no longer hide, cupping her face in his palms he gently wiped the tears with his thumb.

"kyu? kyu karte ho itna pyaar, huh?! Mujhe akela kyu nahi chhod dete tum!" Every word she threw at him only rooted him deeper—he wasn't leaving.

"Pyaar kisi cheez ka mohtaj nahi hota.. Pyaar," his voice trailed off.. as if afraid that he would ruin the moment. Her dark-honey brown eyes, swollen from crying, searched his face as if urging him to continue.

His voice coming out soft as he wiped that lone tear threatening to escape her eyes,"Pyaar—bss ho jaata hai.. aur vo pyaar mujhe tumse hai, Nandini.." His lips curved in that soft smile which always, somehow calmed her racing thoughts.

She just stared into his majestic hazel green eyes which held depths and so many secrets, yet, whenever they landed on her, they soften. Only for her.

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