1.NIGHTMARE

The storm outside was nothing compared to the one in the house.

Rain lashes against the windows like it wanted to get in-like it knew what was happening and wanted to wash it all away.The faint sound of footsteps now growing louder.

He was coming.

She was hiding under her bed , her eyes closed , her hands over her ear , curled up as small as she could make herself.

She heard the vase smashed at short distance of her room. She heard the roar of her name with so much haterd. Her heart beats so fast , sobbing silently as much as she could

The door knob of her room twisted indicating someone is coming. And there he was, standing like a predator. Drunken, messy hair , broken vase in one hand , and other hand still resting on the door knob , red blooded eyes full of hatred, searching for his prey.-Her Father

"Where are you girl?"he growled.

She curled up under her bed. Nails digging into her skin . Praying silently for her life. "Please. Please not again."

But her fear became her worst nightmare. When he spotted her.

"Why are you hiding under the bed , my child?" he questioned her more like a warning.

She didn't move. Didn't breathe. Her heart was pounding out of fear. The sound of thunder cracking outside was less haunting than the atmosphere in her room.

Yes, he was her Father more like a monster.

He ordered her to come out of the bed. She had no choice but to obey. "Come out Sakshi." he ordered her.

"If you don't obey me then I swear I'll make your life more worst than this." he smirked watching her coming out.

She stood infront of him. Her body was trembling. She wanted to beg to scream but words struck in her throat.

He held her hand and dragged her out of her room. "Papa please." She begged. But her pain was not visible to the monster dragging her. When they were near the steps , her eyes widened in horror. She knew what was coming. She was shaking. "Please don't , please papa, I'll obey you , please don't do this." She begged.

But her plea was unheard. And within a second he pushed her off the stairs. She rolled down the stairs, and fell on the pieces of sharp glass shattered on the floor.

Her vision blurred. Blood was flowing from parts of her body, sharp glass was piercing her skin. Her breathe uneven. Her father knelt infront of her smoking a cigar and drawing scars on her skin with burning cigar.

She screamed out of her lungs. Her mother came running. She tried to stop her father but a glare from him made her shut her mouth and she went to her room helpless.

Her father went from there after seeing she is unconscious."You killed my Son." This was the last words she heard from her father before blacking out.

Her eyes flutter open. She took a breathe of relief when she saw she was alone in the hall. She tried to stand but the glass ,blood , and scars of cigar which are still fresh made her scream. She didn't give up . She stood, her legs trembling but still she managed to climb the stairs stumbling. Once she was in her room. She locked the door and cried and cried until no energy was left.

She went to bathroom and cleaned herself. After taking a warm bath she laid on her bed. Her heart skipped a beat when someone knocked the door.

"Sakshi , it's me." her step mother said to clear her misunderstanding.

She slowly went to the door and opened it. She saw her step mother standing there with a soup and medicine in a tray.

She kept the tray on the table. " That's why I told you not to create any problems. Now look at yourself." She scolded her. "Who told you that you have a choice. Your father already decided to change your school as we're are moving to Hyderabad. How can you even think that he'll let you stay in hostel." Her step mother made her understand in not-so sweet tone.

According to her Father this was her punishment for denying to go to Hyderabad with her family. She never had choice after her mother and her brother passed away.

"Now, pack your bags. We're leaving tomorrow morning." Her step mother left after telling her.

Choice? She never had. After packing her bags, she went to bed clutching a photo frame of her , her mother and brother.

"Maa.... Why maa?? Why bhai?? Why you guys left me alone. I.....I..ca... can't live here maa. I miss you both sooo much. You should've taken me with you. It's suffocating here maa. Pa...papa doesn't love me...a...and sunita maa... She never talked to me properly. One day she burnt my ha...hand just because papa shouted at her because of me. Papa shouts at me every time just because I'm clumsy. Maa ho...how can I be perfect in everything. I'm jus...just a child na maa." She stammered while crying. Like that she slept.