Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 12

"Has Baba arrived? Is Dadi still angry?" I asked without looking at the person standing on the doorstep.

"Who has the audacity to be angry on the princess?" I turned around to find the most unexpected person there.

Seeing Ishaan Samantray on my room's door step, I was shocked to react anything. Maybe, he forgot the direction to Pratyush and Prajwal's room. Then he was not looking as if he had forgotten the direction. It was like he wanted to come to my room only, but why!

"Back to earth, Princess." Listening to his soft voice, I dropped the comb. He looked at me being surprised.

"Wha..t.. ar..e.. youuu.. do...ing.. in.. my.. roo..m..?" I stammered badly.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you." He genuinely said, and looked at my hand full of scars. I noticed his gaze, and tried to hide them, but the sleeveless dress didn't help me much. Ishaan looked up sensing my discomfort. "If you don't mind, Can I ask you something?" The politeness in his tone confused me. The Ishaan I knew, was full of ego to even greet me properly. Then why suddenly he was behaving softly with me! I had no courage to ask him to leave my room. So I simply nodded my head, approving him to ask me anything he wanted to.

"Why these marks?" He asked showing his index fingers towards, my hands. I tried to read his eyes. Was he genuinely asking me, or it was just another game plan? What if Dadi was hiding behind the door, and Ishaan was asking me all this to provoke Dadi with my true answers! I peeked a little up from Ishaan to watch near the door to check whether anyone was there. Ishaan followed my gaze, and frowned finding my gaze fixed on the doorstep. He went towards it and closed the door breaking my trance. I jumped a little behind. "Your room is sound proof. So no body is going to hear your answers. You can share with me about these scars."

I suspiciously stared him. Why he was behaving so strange today? Was he acting? Then if he was acting, why was I feeling comfortable around him? Unknowingly, I sat on the bed. Ishaan pulled the dressing chair, and sat in front of me.

"I am not faking anything. I have hurted you. So I bring this ointment for you. It will heal the scars." Ishaan said forwarding the ointment to me. "And this won't change my perception about you. I still hate you." I smiled a little hearing him. "Why are you smiling now? Wait... Are you mad?" He asked like a child and I laughed loudly. Ishaan's face hardened, and I stopped laughing immediately. I realised that he was Ishaan Samantray. I shouldn't take advantage of his goodness. Lowering my eyes, I took the ointment from his eyes, and started to apply on my arms.

"Hahaha..." He bursted into laughter. For the first time, I admired his childish side. "Look at you. I just acted stern, you became an obedient child."

"Are you making fun of me?" I glared him.

"What! How can I dare to make fun of the princess?" He dramatically said, raising both his hands up.

Unknowingly I started to feel free around him. After all he was a human, not any sort of monster. Then I was scared of him because, sometimes he behaved worst than a monster. But at that moment, I found a great friend in him. We talked and sorted out our differences. Actually there was no differences, because we never talked our heart out. There were only misunderstandings between us, and the reason was same - we never talked.

"You know, I love Mom more than anything. She literally blackmailed me into this marriage. So I asked you to deny. And when you accepted the proposal in front of everyone, I got this hatred for you."

"I have my own reasons, Ishaan. Dadi asked me to say yes to this proposal. Baba's business is facing a huge loss now, even Aunt Anisha's too. There is a new company in the market, which is becoming popular among the millennial..."

"Which company?" Ishaan asked interrupting me in the middle.

"I have no idea. I overheard Baba's conversation with Aunt Anisha. She proposes our marriage, so that our company relations will reflect more value in market. But, Baba denied saying that, he won't compromise with my choice ever. That's when Dadi caught me outside the room and asked me to accept the proposal. That's why I said yes to marry you, Ishaan. Otherwise, I swear I have no ill intention." In the end, I cried out of guilt.

"Hey! Don't cry. You are no where at fault." Ishaan said, wiping my tears. I looked at him in hope. For the first time, I heard some assuring words from him. "Yes, You did the best for Pratik Uncle. He is really lucky to have you as your daughter. I am a jerk to judge you without hearing the story from your side. I am sorry, Pratyasha."

"This is not true, is this?" I asked sceptically. Ishaan couldn't be this much soft to ask for sorry siding his ego.

"I saw the marks in your hand. I am not an i***t to realise who is the reason behind it." Ishaan said, sighing. I lowered my eyes. "Why don't you tell Pratik Uncle that your step mom and Dadi is physically abusing you?"

"Can we leave this topic?" I asked, looking at the floor. Ishaan understood my discomfort. Shaking his head, He stood up to go out.

"You are a wonderful soul, Pratyasha. Naive and innocent at the same time. I will give you a better future by marrying you." He said, facing the door. I was confused with sudden happenings in my life. His words were genuine. I smiled in happiness. But my smile vanished, hearing his next words. "But I can't promise to love you."

Wiping the tears, I spoke, "Thanks for your kindness, Ishaan." I said faking a smile.

"Put that ointment on your scars and Take care." He said, and went out closing the door.

I pressed my eyes and let the tear flowed over my cheeks. When I opened them again, my heart felt lighter. Still, the heart was heavy. The loneliness was hunting me. Baba was not here to listen my plight. I was about to cry, then one name flashed in my memory - Ashia. But the problem was, I didn't have her number.

At the same time, an unknown number flashed on my mobile and it started ringing. I recieved the call.

"Hello!" I said.

"Hello, Prati. I'm Ashia." I heard from the other side.

Sometimes, God granted our wish in a time, when we needed them most. When I was missing Ashia, she called me and that made me so happy. So that I forgot to ask her about how did she get my number!

The lonely hearts are easy to impress, and easy to be broken into pieces.