The way I used to live

Authors POV:-

Daksha started narrating her past while remembering all those happy moments with a teary smile on her face and Arjun just sat beside her silently.

"Before telling you about my past, you have to know about an important person in my life. Back then, my family was not like this. We were so happy and we didn't even know how it felt to be sad. At that time, I met her here, in this same orphanage, as it was her home. Her name was Tejaswi. My Teju.

"From that day onwards, she became my friend and later she became my elder sister. Eventually, I introduced her to my family. As she didn't have anyone to call as her own, she used to consider my parents as her own and even my parents started to treat her as their own daughter.

"As for my silly brother, he fell for her at first sight itself. When I got to know about his feelings, I convinced him to propose to her and he did the same but who was she! She was my teju. So, she didn't accept his proposal right away,” she said while laughing lightly but if one would look closely, they could see the pain in her eyes.

"I got fed up with her behavior and asked her the reason. She said that she wouldn't match my family's status and she never had any thoughts of getting married in her life. So, after a lot of persuasion from my parents and me, she finally gave in to our requests. Their wedding day was the happiest day of our lives.

"I thought, every day would be like that only but how wrong I was," she said while rubbing the tears formed at the corner of her eyes and Arjun just side hugged to console her.

"Ever heard about the fashion brand 'Felicità'?" She asked and Arjun nodded at her slowly.

At that time, this fashion brand created a huge sensation in the fashion world. Many celebrities used to rush to book their appointments but nobody knew the real creator and mastermind behind that brand. Everyone was surprised when that brand discontinued its operations and disappeared so suddenly.

"Teju was the creator of that brand. She was a fashion designer and wanted to make everyone happy with her designs. So, after her marriage, she started that brand on her own without the support of my family as she didn't want anyone to condemn her to be a gold digger that got married into my family for the money. It was one of the reasons why she didn't disclose her identity.

"As for me, I completed my MS in cardiology and started my career as a doctor under the guidance of my Dad's friend, Lakshman Uncle, who is a senior cardiologist. Even Yuktha too started working in the same hospital. Everything was going well and we were so happy but God must have felt that it was unfair. So, he decided to snatch our smiles,” Daksha said while controlling herself to not break down and Arjun sat there helplessly not knowing what to do.

"One day, I finished my work soon and thought to visit Yuktha in her department. So, I went there and was greeted with the sight of a man arguing with Yuktha and the girl who accompanied him was crying inconsolably while looking at that guy fearfully.

"I immediately intervened in between and that was the biggest mistake of my life. Yuktha explained the situation and I got to know that man was forcing that girl to get an abortion and that girl was unwilling to kill a life. Yuktha too was opposed to his idea which led to an argument and she scolded him badly while threatening to file a case against him.

"So, when he was about to slap Yuktha in anger, I slapped him and called the security to drag him out by asking that girl to stay behind. He left from there after warning us to not interfere in his matters or else the consequences wouldn't be good.

"But we didn't consider his warning seriously. After he left, We asked the girl about her story. She said that the man's name was Rahul, heir of RS enterprises. He was pretty rich and a playboy. His family even had a hand in politics too. His grandfather was ex-home minister of our state and his Uncle is a central minister. Trust me, I thought him to be an ordinary man and never expected him to have a powerful background.

"That girl's name was Swathi. She was working as a maid in his house. When there was no one in the house, Rahul forced himself on her and threatened her to never say a word about it to anyone. Then she became pregnant. So he dragged her to abort the fetus.

"How inhumane. I was so disgusted by his deeds. We both asked Swathi to stop working at his house and even suggested filing a case against him. She said that she already thought of doing that and even informed her family about his deeds. Instead of supporting her, they forced her to stop going against him," Daksha said with a slight disgust on her tone.

"We encouraged her to file a case against him and Indra Anna helped us a lot. Going against him was really difficult as he never left any clue behind him. One day, when this news got published in the news channels, many women came forward bravely, saying that they were the victims of Rahul and his friend's evil deeds and revealed everything in front of the court. That day I came to know that, not only Swathi, but there were many others who were facing the same situation but were afraid to reveal everything. Some feared the society while some feared their own families.

"When we were happy that everything was going in our favor, the court suddenly dismissed that case,saying that we intentionally filed to defame Rahul and the proof that we had produced in the court were all fake. They even asked us to pay the penalty for defamation and the next day we heard the news of Swathi committing suicide. Though, we knew it wasn't a suicide but a murder. Still, we couldn't do anything about it.

"I was so helpless at that time. I was the one who encouraged her to stand up for herself and assured her that nothing would happen but she lost her life while fighting for the truth. Later, I heard that Rahul got kicked out of his family. Though his father used all his means to save him, he disowned him. From then, he kinda held a grudge against us and I used to get a lot of threat messages.

"Adi Anna and Teju used to assure me that nothing would happen. Though it took some time for me to recover from that incident, I resumed my duties as a doctor as usual and my family wanted to introduce me to the public as their heiress for the first time. Even though I was reluctant about it, I agreed with them at last.

"They wanted to introduce me to the public on our company's anniversary. So preparations were done and soon that day came. I thought that Rahul's chapter was a closed one in my life but how naive I was!" She scoffed at herself and explained the details of that fateful night to him.

*Flashback*

On the day of the party:

Daksha's family was all set to head over to the hall where the celebrations were going to happen. The restaurant came under the GV groups, Daksha's family business.

all his partners and friends. When she got bored from all the formalities, she excused herself and went to Teju who was sitting on the couch afar while sipping on to a fruit punch

don't you mingle with everyone?"

another planet. So, I am better this way." She said in an exaggerated

aren't aware of your true identity. If they knew about it, they would definitely worship the place where you have walked," Daksha said while pinching

materialistic people who calculate a person's worth by seeing their bank balances. So, it's better if they never know about my identity," she said with a

going to the restroom." Saying

want a breather. It's so suffocating here,"

then, Teju's mobile pinged with a message, and knowing very well who it might be, Daksha shook her head

Daksha asked her and Teju nodded at

already throwing glares at me for stealing you from him," Daksha said teasingly while pointing at Adi who was

in a while," Teju said and was about to leave

today.? What's the matter.? Did you change your

soon. Go go." Saying this, Teju left from there hurriedly with a smile on her face. Daksha

she was on her way to the washroom, she

problem with the water supply in the washrooms on this floor. Our team is working on it. So ,can you please use the washrooms on the upper floor.?" He asked

for the inconvenience, Ma’am." Saying this, the waiter bowed his head in an apologetic manner and Daksha just mumbled an

just a floor away. While climbing, she messaged the same to Teju and asked her to come to the

that this floor was under renovation. She suddenly thought about something and tried to rush back but her hand was caught by someone, making her

started to drag her

you want? Leave me," she screamed and tried to wriggle

call her Anna for help with her free hand but her phone was snatched away by that person and he smashed it

her to a corner room on the far end of that floor, he revealed his

exclaimed

are enjoying your life after spoiling mine. It is not fair. If I go down, I will

she asked him calmly, even though she was freaking

said and went close to her. After that he caressed her cheek lightly, making her step back in

beating around the bush and come to

laughed at her and held her hand while running his hand on it softly . When Daksha tried to pry her hands away,

only you dared to spoil my reputation but because of you, I got kicked out of my

I do the same. Let's see who is

he took out the folding knife from

you going to do?" She stuttered and tried to go out of the room but he was fast to catch her and pinned her to

who was saving the damsel in distress. So what will you do when you become one of them? I already warned you to

her mouth and threatened her with the knife. Tears started to flow from her eyes at her helplessness. Yet she didn't stop her protest. In that process, her arm accidentally got cut deeply by that knife and she

yourself. So, stop struggling." He said while roaming his filthy hands on her back and grabbed

brought his face closer to her but she turned her own face aside and his mouth landed on her neck. Being furious at her resistance,

wounded arm, she tried to stand up weakly but before she could do it, he lifted her from the floor by gripping her arm tightly while tearing the sleeve in that process. When she felt his hold, she hissed

she took the pin from her hair bun and pierced his arm with it. Being caught off guard by her action, he immediately left his hold on her and held

of that room and escaped from there with him behind her who was trying to

climb down the steps, he caught her pace and tried

let me go." She pleaded him

made them stop their actions. Daksha looked

go away from here. Call for help." Daksha shouted at her but Teju didn't listen to her and marched to

them, she slapped Rahul and tried to pry his hold on Daksha. Rahul just