Chapter- 1

In a dim-lit room, darkness hums silent tunes of nature's song while he is completely endeared by the dance of candle flames to the extent that the flame twinges into hastened dance steps. But someone blocks his view of the enchanting flame, which causes the darkness to camouflage while hissing inaudible groans.

That person faces the candle at eye level, her dark brown eyes glisten in the aura radiating from the candle. She confides in the candle's burning warmth," So charming! No wonder, why darkness tends to cling to you because you are simply alluring. And I am myself a big fan of light babies like you. तुमने तो मेरे जन्मदिन केक को और भी सुंदर बना दिया I(You made my birthday cake appear more beautiful)."

Suddenly the silence is muffled by the sweet and cheery voices chanting a birthday song in a booming tone to invite everyone's attention directed towards that girl," Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy… birthday.. to.. you, our dear Hrida, our heart." The song is followed by Hrida's claps echoing her happiness to their ears.

Hrida exclaims," माँ, पापा….( Mom, dad...) जल्दी आइए ! मेरे पेट में चूहे दौड़ रहे हैं इस केक के लिए I ( Come fast, My stomach is roaring out loud in hunger for this cake)."

Hrida's parents stood next to her on either side. Hrida cut out a big piece of cake, pulled out the candle, and placed it beside the table. Hrida feeds that big cake piece to her parents and herself as well.

Hrida's mom asks her in a highly sugary tone," Hrida, tell us what you want this birthday. And this time, you have to tell. Last time, you said that you wanted a cute pet companion and we brought it for you even though Tapish is quite a silent troublemaker. Still, we love you both after all you are precious gems to us. Tell us, बेटा ( Child )."

Hrida's dad equally insisted she express her wish to them and Hrida felt her heart burning in flames while gazing at them with smiley eyes. She inwardly prays like a silent whisper to god, "Thank you god for making them my parents. I just wish for more happy times for our sweet dollhouse."

Hrida's mom calls out her name repeatedly," Hrida, hrida, hrida", Her tone gets anxious with each passing second while Hrida is engrossed in praying. Hrida's mom calls out in a low sharp tone, " HRIDA! Are you listening, we are waiting for your answer.... बेटा ( Child )?"

Hrida gets startled by her tone and realizes her fault. She apologized while constantly rubbing her palms while keeping her hands back.

Hrida lists out her wishes," I want a few things; one knee length long autumn colored shawl, a 500 rupees note for my pocket money and lastly pretty headbands. That's enough for me. Will you fulfill my wish right now at the moment, please?"

Hrida's dad starts laughing like a madman," Hrida, you still are our little innocent and pretty doll. You have always been a good child although sometimes you act stubborn, especially for Tapish. Where is your cute little cat? "

Hrida giggles and innocently smirks," He has been here the whole time. Look up." Both of them focused their gaze on the big wardrobe positioned near the door but the space above the wardrobe appeared vacant.

Hrida bursts into fits of laughter upon seeing their confused expressions and takes off her hat, " Not there… Here above my head, my fur ball of warmth"

Tapish's greenish-orange eyes pierced into their soul. Their eyes fluttered rapidly for a second which they skillfully camouflaged by switching instantly into a goofy mood.

Hrida extended her arms forward and asked him," Jump, Tapish. I will catch you in my arms." Tapish without giving any thought jumped into her arms, and then she danced with him by humming a sweet song and cradling him like holding a baby in her arms.

Hrida's parents informed her that they are going outside to make her wishes come true and till they come back, she can entertain herself with her dollhouse and she needs to be by bed before sharp 10'o clock like always.

Hrida doesn't mind obeying certain rules because she believes in the phrase, 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise'. She announces, " And I want to be healthy and wise. Though sometimes, I wish.. ", She just becomes quiet suddenly and gives out a long sigh and the sentence remains incomplete in the air.

Hrida decorates and organizes each room of the doll house, places the Barbie dolls in separate rooms, and animatedly talks with them.

Her eyes suddenly sparkled at a thought and she unzips her pencil pouch and presents miniature origami roses to each doll. She explains to them," These roses are for each one of you. I made it during the school recess period (lunch break). These are return gifts for you pretty dolls as today is my birthday."

Tapish plunges into the room, lazily sits on his belly beside her and silently observes Hrida. His piercing gaze shifts to those dolls and his gaze changes into something distasteful. He meows sounding a bit annoyed.

Hrida sighs," Tapish, why are you so cold and chatty toward these dolls? I don't understand this particular behavior of yours. Normally, you are silent and friendly towards many things even towards dogs.

However, one fact that will never change is you are the most special being in my heart even more than headbands, dolls, and my parents. Don't worry I will never leave you alone. So, do we agree? " Saying this, she extended her left palm to his paw and Tapish placed his beautiful jet-black fur paw on her palm and cuddled against her palm.

Hrida melts in aww," How cute, Tapish. The deal is sealed within us."

Hrida's phone rings and an enchanting tune of piano music travels in the entire room. Her face glowed and a smile curved on her lips as she received the call," Shashi, I have been thinking the whole day about why haven't you called me yet. You are my best friend that's why I will forgive you for realizing at the last moment that today is my birthday. "

She felt Tapish's attentive gaze upon her face and realized," Oh yes, Tapish is also saying meow to you. Shashi, do you know that Mom and Dad organized a small birthday surprise for me and they have gone shopping to bring my wishes into my hands? I am happy. And the next days are holidays as well- Saturday and Sunday."

She pauses for a while and mumbles lots of 'hmms' and denies it with a tiny amount of guilt in her tone," You know, I get to bed by 9'o clock and mom doesn't like me spending too much time on the phone before bedtime.

And you are asking me to play online games with you till 11 o'clock, which is not possible at all. We can play tomorrow instead at my house with the new video game that you purchased recently.

Bring it here, tomorrow if you can, otherwise, we will play board games or maybe we will take Tapish on a walk. Okay? "

She repeated her question at least 4 times," Is that clear, Shashi? Shashi, can you hear me? Shashi, come on yaar (friend), you can't give me that silent treatment like Tapish does sometimes.

Shashi! Okay, just for you, I will play online mobile games with you till 10'o clock and not a single minute more than that."

Shashi comments something, then she responds, " It's obvious. I can't say this to my mom. She won't let me and I don't want to lie to her.

Wow! You sure are a good friend for advising me to speak the truth to my parents. Truth can be sometimes hard to handle, you know.

Haven't you heard that phrase ' Truth is bitter if you dislike truth? Still, I will request my mom for once to give me extra time to play games on the phone with you.

Okay, I will inform you after an hour or two. Bye."

Hrida is in deep thought thinking of ways to convince her mom for this. Hrida has been glancing at the wall every 1-5 minutes as if within seconds an hour will bypass and her parents would come back home and as soon as they come home, she will ask for permission from her mom.

Hrida combed her hair and placed her favorite wine-colored headband embellished with pearl beads upon her head.

After an hour, Hrida complains in an impatient tone," Why are they taking so long to come home? It's true when we patiently wait for something then somehow it makes us wait longer than we expect. Let me call my Dad."

Hrida called her dad but her dad didn't receive the call which is making her more impatient. She calls on loop at least 7 times. Even then, her calls weren't answered which made her give in. Her mood dampened and she laid on her bed carrying Tapish to her bed.

She covers her and Tapish with a blanket and stares at the window through which stars are visible. She softly hums a strange yet melodic tune which makes Tapish snuggle closer to her and his eyelids shut down and gradually fall into a cozy nap although Hrida was still awake humming her tune. Suddenly her eyelids felt heavy and within seconds, she fell asleep like a baby.

Out of a sudden, Hrida is shivering while clutching the thing covering her and Tapish with a tight hold. She felt cold breezes pinching her face and goosebumps running around her body simultaneously. She kept her eyes closed to fall asleep again but the windy winds were not letting her sleep.

Her lips quivered in fear, and then she felt someone creeping closer to her but she ignored it and chanted a certain powerful deity's prayer," Nothing will happen to me, Hanuman ji ( a respectful deity) will give me strength. I am stronger, I am stronger, I..am…STRONGER."

Her Goosebumps ultimately stopped then the next moment, she burst into tears of relief with her whole body vigorously shaking.

Her eyes are now wide open and the stars are still visible but her shaky body turns into violent movement as she cries out loud with heavy pain nicking her heart," Why… why. why do I feel like this?

I can't explain how I felt during these moments; it is still terrifying and unforgettable. I can't believe I am in this state at the moment.

This was not a bad dream as it is even worse, a living nightmare."

She rose and darted her eyes around finding her and Tapish alone under the stars at a park bench. An autumn-colored shawl tightly clinging to her body and a hand peeking from the shawl holding a pen with dried blood spots on the tip.

Hrida's eyes gawking at the stars with void gaze and her lips mouthing out sad sighs. Tapish sits on her lap and snuggles his head against her torso which brings her attention to Tapish.

Hrida's eyes hollowness diminishes a bit and a dim glow twinkles in her eyes," Tapish, you are my only one true family left, which I can't even think to lose.

I just can't digest anything right now, everything happened so fast that I couldn't decipher anything, so I just did what I felt right at that time.

Although I do feel sorry for troubling those people but I can't turn back the time as well. Despite that, I do not regret my actions and there is no going back from now onwards.

We will find a way to survive and source to build a normal life again, slowly but eventually."

Tapish wraps his tail around her arms and whispers quiet 'meows' while drinking in the stars. A sad smile lingers on her lips while patting Tapish's head fondly.

She whispers with a hoarse tone," Tapish, My mind is stuck on replaying those flashbacks like a stuck record tune. The only way to let it out is to relive those flashbacks and let it go from my mind for some time. "

She shuts her eyes tight and the flashback starts from the moment she fell asleep in wait for her parents.