Chapter - 1

Author's POV

The sun blooms on the horizon, golden color stretching into the rich blue sky with a warmth, symbolizing new beginnings of all kinds. A girl stood there completely in awe and anticipation, as the rising sun conveyed a sense of optimism and possibility of brighter day. Her eyes shining honey due to golden and strong rays touching her face, all radiating. It was none other than mannat, mannat malhotra who didn't had any ounce of sleep due to her nightmares, a reality that always pushed her into the darkness, but still standing their with a smile and a hope.

She sighed looking up in the sky with a small smile still tugged on her face, taking a last glance at the view she turned around and stepped into her room, which was big and the interior had her own touch. Simple yet lavish, giving all positive vibes.

She was lost in her thoughts, the very ones always left her overthink.

Before she could step inside the bathroom, a knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. She smiled faintly, knowing very well who it'd at her door so early in the morning.

"Good morning, my princess." her father, Rithuraj Malhotra grinned widely as soon as she opened the door and took her into a tight and warm hug.

Mannat looked up at his face "Good morning, handsome." wished with her voice as gentle as wind chimes tightening her arms around him, her safe place.

Rithuraj looked down at her face, dark cicrle and exhaustion clearly visible on her face. Something didn't set well and knew what it could be about, he soothingly rubbed her back.

He sighed and asked cupping her face "you didn't get any sleep, did you?" his voice carrying the untold story of past in his wavering tone, intense worry in his eyes and with concern clear on his face. He felt her body shaking a little — tremors which caused deep ache in his heart.

Mannat simply nodded her head while tightening her arms around him, needing the much needed warmth from her father. She didn't had within her to talk about her nightmares, the brutality of her so called mother which still haunts her and about the scars her mother has imprinted deep on her soul. 

Rithuraj looked down at her with moist eyes. He felt so helpless to see his daughter, the sunshine of his house so broken.

"Was it about t-that... again?" His voice tembling a little and emphasizing 'that' which gave him shivers down his body. Eighteen years, Eighteen years and that brutal and terrifying night is still fresh in his mind. If he and his wife wouldn't have arrived early that day, they would have lost their princess, their sunshine forever.

"Mere bacche, you should have come to us." He said trying to be little stern but his voice cracked. He didn't want his daughter to see him breaking and so helpless.

"Kab tak aap dono ko pareshan karti rahu, baba." She said with a tiring sign escaping her lips.

Rithuraj pulled a little, so that he can see her face, teary eyes, exhaustion and pain clearly visible on her face.

"Mannu... kissi bhi maa baap ke liye apne bacche ko dard me dekhna pareshani nahi hoti hai, meri jaan." His voice breaking before he could continue, Renu entered the room with a smile on her face.

She walked towards the father and daughter duo with a glare but as soon as she saw Mannat's face, she took long strides towards them with worry on her face.

"Pari kya hua? Why do you look so pale?" Her voice trailing and now her smile replaced with sheer concern and worry.

Before mannat could brush it off, saying nothing her father beat her to that.

"She had nightmare and our little sunshine here thinks that coming to us at night would bother and disturb us." He voice stern and firmness in his tone, the situation demanded it to make his little princess understand that she, only she is their priority. 

Mannat's eyes widened, she looked at her father with a betrayal, she narrowed her eyes which screamed "you're a traitor."

Mannat glanced at her maa, nervousness creeping inside her because she very well knew what was coming her way.

"M-aa.. wwoo.." before she could continue shattering, Renu cut her off in between showing her palm. 

To say that Renu wasn't hurt would be understatement, but anger overpowered it.

"Why would you think something like that Mannu?" She said with her voice tembling and tears welling in her eyes. Renu felt the shivers down her spine, that one night — one hauntingly terrifying night changed everything but what she was grateful to God was they were able to save their princess, their sunshine from the clutches of her mother.

She felt a pang in her heart. Even the thought of losing her pari was enough to break her.

She wasn't the mother who gave her birth, not her own blood but the love for her ran deeper than blood.

Mannat gulped, it hurt her more than anything to see her mother being upset with her.

She took slow steps towards renu, taking her hands calmly she walked towards the bed and made her sit on the edge of the bed and gesture Rithuraj to sit beside her.

She kneeled down and softly took both her parents hands in her, the hold was tight as if a child was scared to lose her everything.

She swallowed hard and spoke with her voice trembling "I didn't mean to hurt you maa. I'm just tired, tired of the same nightmares and the pain. I'm not strong enough, it hurts... it hurts so much maa." 

She looked up, when she felt a hand caressing her hairs. She felt the warmth of her mother — the warmth that has kept her alive. 

Before she could form any word, she choaked on a sob —  She broke down.

Her loud sobs broke their hearts — Pain of past she has being carrying with her ever since.

Renu looked down at her with pain, guilt and relief.

Guilt because they somewhere blame themselves for not being with her when she needed them the most.

And relief to found her that day.

Mannat clang into her mother, trying to escape from all the pain.

Eighteen years. Eighteen years passed but the pain never left. Brutality of her biological mother, never truly ever left her.

After few minutes when her sobs slowed down, Renu gently cupped her face. Tear-streaked face that only broke their hearts.

"Bacche... please roo mat." Renu said with tears in her own eyes.

Rithuraj who had been sitting beside his wife hated this feeling – this helplessness. He couldn't see her breaking down after every nightmare and thinking of being burden.

"Don't cry my little princess. We can't take away the pain that woman has caused you for seven years.. what you have been through was worst. That woman, she tore you apart and we couldn't imagine the pain that she has instilled and you had bear it all. We can't take away your pain, but your parents are right here for you, sunshine. Your Baba and Maa would never ever let any harm come towards you." Rithuraj spoke gently, finally breaking his silence.

He took her hands in his said gently but with a firm voice when he realised what she said before breaking down.

"Don't you ever say that you are not strong enough. You have been through the worst, bacche. And look at yourself, even being through it all you're here, smiling and never giving up, thriving everyday — as a Queen should. It's your strength, it made you what you are today. You are our hope princess, the one that has kept me and your maa alive. You're our lifeline, our sunshine who bought nothing but light in our life."

"You made our life all bright with your light, pari. And we are right here as your baba said, standing by your side because we are together into this. And we promise you no harm can ever touch you, you're safe and no one can ever take you away from us." Renu added with a faint smile on her face.

Mannat sighed and snuggled more for her mother's warmth.

"I'm sorry, it's just it really messed up my thoughts and I thought would be better not to disturb you guys." She murmured, knowing well the now both her parents were softly glaring at her.

She moved a little and looked at them with a sheepish smile, and before anyone could say something, mannat gave her father a mischievous look, which clearly meant trouble for her father.

She smirked at her baba and said putting up a innocent face "Maa I saw baba sneaking into kitchen last night, he left with a bowl in his hand."

Renu who clearly knew her daughter tring to lighten the atmosphere, she signed knowing her too well.

"Sharam nai aati aapko? Aise choro ki tarah kya khaate hai?" Her glared at him with her voice stern.

Rithuraj's eyes narrowed at his daughter — a stink eye, he could clearly see the mischievous glint that was still plaster on her face.

Mannat gave him a look which well said "Now taste your own medicine."

"Biwi ji, mere haath me paani ka glass tha... mannu ko galatfemi ho gayi hai." He tried brushing it off, he knew if his wife got to know about him stealing sweets in the middle of the night then nothing can save him from her anger.

Mannat gave an offensive look to him "Haww baba you mean to say that I mistook a glass as a bowl?!? I saw you taking a bowl with my two finely working eyes." She waved her hands.

Rithuraj looked down, with a defeated sign he murmured "Maa ki chamchi."!

Renu glared at him before getting up, "sunna mene, and for a week you won't get any sweets and black tea from today onwards." She exclaimed, leaving no space to argue before leaning down and kissing Mannat's forehead.

"Go pari, freshen up. I have made your favourite aloo gobi ke parathe." Her tone gentle and eyes filled full of love.

Mannat grinned happily before hopping and taking her mother into a tight hug.

"You're the best maa."

"Uss nalayak ke liye bhi banaye honge aapne." Rithuraj exclaimed with a stern voice.

Both mother and daughter turned to him with a smirk.

"At least he doesn't sneak into kitchen for sweets." Renu spoke with a teasing smile.

Rithuraj gasped, looked at his wife and than at his princess with a betrayal look.

"Now we are going to take sides?" He says with a betrayed tone, putting up an innocent face.

Mannat walked to him and pulled his cheeks.

"Well baba, this innocent face doesn't suits on a not-so-innocent man." She exclaimed and ran away into a bathroom before her baba could start his lecture about how innocent he is or call her Maa ki chamchi.

Rithuraj looked at his wife and smiled.

"Bacchi humse dard chuppana seekh gayi hai." His tone worried, and his fist clenched, carrying the weight of her past which nor he or his wife can undo.

"She's trying Raj, she's tring to move on from those nightmares, the scars and wants to fight with her demons all alone." She spoke with a sigh.

Rithuraj simply hmmed looking at the close door.

"My princess deserves only happiness and I will make sure she gets all that she deserves and much more." He murmured before moving out of her room with his wife.

Here's the first chapter.

I know it's bit emotional, but simply wanted to give an insight about their relation which is not bond by blood but by heart.

Show  your love and support to this book through votes and comments, so that it can reach the audience.