•° Agnika°•

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She wasn’t born dangerous, the world’s cruelty made her .

since her birth , her existence had been a cruel lie . her every scream was silenced under the weight of society’s judgement.

Yet− the world couldn’t extinguish the fire inside her ,

She rose despite the hands trying to pull her down.

She was reborn that day – the day she decided to

Ruin the very existence of those who broke her ,

Who tried to write her destiny .

She is still standing , broken – yet stronger than ever.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

The night breeze fluttered around the girl standing in the balcony gazing at the moon , her hair swayed gently with the cool breeze , a strand of her hair coming up to her face – which she tucked behind her ear .

Her serene face bare of any makeup was glowing in the moonlight as if the moon itself was

Enchanted by her, her hollow eyes reflecting the storm of emotions running through her .

She was wearing a white night gown making her look like an angel incarnate – but the Darkness in her eyes spoke volumes of the pain she endured.

She was present there but her mind was running in loops taking her to the past .

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Flashback

A girl could be seen crying running through the streets as people were throwing stones on her .

She ran barefoot covering her face with her scarf , her feet bleeding because of the small stones on the street.

The accusations and insults ringing in her ears .

“slut

“characterless”

“shameless”

The accusations were daggers piercing through her heart , she clutched her heart trying to ease the pain in her heart , her eyes blurring with tears making her unable to see past them .

Her bleeding forehead , was adding to her miseries , before she could run further she feet stumbled on a rock and fell down on the road , the exhaustion because of of running took a toll on her and her eyes started closing .

Her voice −barely a whisper in the midst the insults and accusations hurled at her −

“save me.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Present time

A tear slid down her cheeks .

she didn’t bother to wipe it.

Her eyes were filled with fire− the fire of justice , of destruction.

Her thoughts broke as she heard a gentle voice – soft , sleepy and filled with longing.

She wiped the lone tear and stepped inside the room.

She was AGNIKA .

Only Agnika – the girl with fire in her bones and strength in her soul.

She didn’t burn in the fire of hell –She lived through it ……. To burn those monsters in the same flames.

Agnika stepped inside the room and there on the bed sat the reason her heart still choose to beat.

He wasn’t just her son – he was the very reason of her existence .

The only part of her who is untouched by the cruelties of the world.

He rubbed his eyes gently with his tiny hands looking very adorable , his tiny voice barely a whisper :

“Ma….”

He was Aveer – “ Aveer Agnika”

Her entire world.

She gently sat on the bed and held his tiny hands stopping him from rubbing his eyes .

“ ha ,mumma ki jaan”

(yes , my life )

Aveer looked at her – his eyes squinted , filled with sleep.

“ mumma kahan chale gye the aap”

( mumma ,where did you go).

Agnika smiled at his innocent question , his longing eyes tugged at her heart .

“ mumma kahin nhi gayi thi bache , she was just in the balcony”

(mumma didn,t go anywhere my love).

Aveer snuggled closer to her wrapping his tiny arms around her – as if hiding himself from the whole world .

“ maa , aap avi ko chod kar mat jaya kro , avi ko accha nhi lagta jab aap sath nhi hote ho “

( don’t go away from avi , mumma.

Avi doesn't like it when you are not with him).

Aveer’s innocent demand made her eyes shimmer with tears , her heart ached with the kind of joy only a mother can feel holding her child close to her heart.

“ mumma aapko chod ke kahan jayegi bacha , aap to mumma ki jaan ho ,mumma aapke bina ek pal bhi nhi rah sakti”

(where would mumma ever go without you , baby ? you are mumma’s life .

she can’t even breath without you).

Agnika held him even more closer gently patting his back . Her voice trembling – not with fear but with warmth so real that can make even strongest person tear up .

“ mumma mujhe nind nhi aa rhi ,ek lori sunao na aap”

( mumma, I am not sleepy , can you sing me a lullaby).

Aveer looked up at her with does eyes , demanding his mother to sing for him – and who was she to deny her little prince .

She was the woman who was formidable by the day , but in the darkness of the night – her symbol of light shone within him lightning up the darkness within her.

He was the only constant in her life – who could demand anything from her and she will bring it in a blink of an eye −even if it hurts her to do so .

The woman who only opened her mouth to announce her decision – she was the Agnika the one everyone feared ,the one they respected.

But this Agnika −she was different , she wasn’t the Agnika everyone saw in the meeting rooms , whose name was taken with reverence – right now she was the mother of a son – his mumma −and his demand was the only order she obeyed with her heart.

“ of course , my baby, mumma will sing you a lullaby so that sleep comes to you slowly and gently “

Her animated voice filled the space − aveer giggled at her dramatic expression and animated voice .

Agnika picked him up in her arms –holding him like someone would hold a treasure .

She patted his back and opened her mouth to complete the demand of her little prince .

“ so ja mere sona , raat ho gyi hai,

Aankhon me nindiyan ki baat ho rhi hai.”

Her gentle and soothing voice filled the air , as she kept rocking him back and forth in her arms while moving around in the room and balcony.

“ so jaa mere janu , maa aanchal me chupa le ,

Duniya ki nazron se tujhko bacha le”

“ teri in aankhon me nindiyan bhari hai

Maa ki bahon me sukoon mili hai”

She swayed gently , her voice a soft whisper of wind wrapped in the warmth .

The cool wind blowing gently as if afraid to disturb the moment of peace between the mother son duo .

“ dil karta hai tujhko aanchal me chuppa loon ,

Tere liye ek sundar si duniya basa doon “

“ tu hi toh maa ki aankhon ka tara ,

Tere bina na , dhadkata maa ka dil ye bechara “

“so ja mere jadu , maa ki aankhon ka tara ,

Nind bhari in aankhon ko de tu sahara “.

Agnika kept swaying gently , her voice fading slowly as she looked down at the sleeping figure in her arms – his mouth slightly opened hands clutching her gown tightly afraid to let go .

Agnika smiled – a smile filled with peace , which she only felt when she was with her son .

She gently kissed his forehead brushing aside the locks of hair which fell on his forehead .

Agnika looked up at the moon again , the sleeping child resting peacefully in her arms.

But this time there was a rare softness in her eyes – the kind that came from deep affection.

The fire within her hadn’t dimmed .

But in this quiet moment of peace , it burned silently – letting the softness of the moment to be felt.

The moment – filled with the warmth of a mother and her silent wish for a better world for him.

Agnika stepped closer to the edge of the balcony holding the glass railing with one hand – her eyes drifting downwards to the city lights blinking like glowing stars in the quite of the night .

Far beneath the glass walled penthouse− the Mumbai city kept moving in its rhythm unaware of the storm inside her.

She had earned every inch of this height – every tile , every polished wooden corner was the result of her many sleepless nights – but as looked at the now asleep figure in her arms , she knew it was all worth it ,the sleepless nights , the sacrifices.

This place was her refuge – where she allowed herself to be just a mother.

Here she was simply a mother holding her miracle in her arms.

She kissed aveer’s forehead once more before placing him gently on the bed .

The city outside still pulsed with it’s usual chaos , but inside this glass walled penthouse time has slowed – respecting the love surrounding the mother- son duo.

She stood there for a moment – her gaze lingering on aveer’s face for a moment longer , as if capturing the beauty of the moment in her eyes and memory.

Then , like the moon stepping behind the clouds , she disappeared in the darkness of the room .

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

The next day

The sunlight filtered through the curtains falling on the face of agnika – who sat on the bed , gently running her fingers through aveer’s hair.

Her face was bare − The darkness around her eyes were the proof of the sleepless nights she endured.

Sleep didn’t come to her easily . And when it did it came at a cost – the cost of reliving those horrors once again .

Horrors the didn’t feel like nightmares – they retuned alive , loud and cruel – waiting beneath the surface to drown her in the miseries she had buried.

In a way that crushes your soul quietly …

almost gently .

Piece by piece.

Agnika stood up from the bed and went to the attached washroom to freshen up for the day that lay ahead.

After some time

Agnika stepped out of the washroom dressed up meticulously in a black suit and pant – her shirt neatly tucked in, every crease sharp and clean .

She stepped in front of the body length mirror, adjusting her cufflinks with precision.

The woman in the mirror looked nothing like the one who had cradled a child beneath soft moonlight the night before.

This was the woman everyone respected , whose name was taken with reverence even in her absence.

Agnika tied her hair in a high sleek ponytail , not a strand out of place , gave a final touch to her ensemble –fastening a Rolex watch around her wrist , and spritzing perfume along her collarbone and inner wrist.

She went towards the bedside table −picked her phone and purse kept there and moved towards the door .

She paused for a moment , her gaze drifted to her son sleeping peacefully on the bed ,she went towards him and kissed his forehead brushing his hairs aside – her lips lingering there for a moment savouring the feel of peace .

“ mumma will be back soon ,bacha.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

A car came to halt sharply in front of a tall building −the doors of the car slid open and agnika stepped out , her heels clicking sharply on the pavement .

The guard standing outside the building bowed in respect , not because she told them to – but because they respected her enough to bow before her .

Agnika entered the building , the staff ,the receptionist , everyone bowed before her and wished her good morning – to which she replied with a nod appreciating their kind gesture .

Her PA, sanvi ,came beside her – falling in step beside her.

“ good morning, boss “

Agnika acknowledged her with a sharp nod . they both entered the lift as the doors of the lift slid open , reaching the fourth floor – they stepped out of the lift heading straight to her office – sanvi held open the door of the office as agnika stepped inside her office .

Her office was just like her – sharp , silent and commanding.

Floor to ceiling windows offered a view of Mumbai’s vast skyline , the chaos of the restless city outside could be seen through the office room , people in hurry to reach their office , the horns of cars filled the air below , like a daily rhythm she has become habituated to.

The walls of her office were in the shade of deep greys – like the smoke curling through the air, softened only by the hint of gold detailing ,and a single framed photo of her and aveer hung in the middle of the wall− the only warmth in the room built on power.

Her desk sat at the centre like a throne – awaiting for the queen.

On the desk sat her laptop , some neatly arranged files , a pen holder and a clock , two chairs stood in front of the desk – meant for guests , meetings , or rare personal discussions.

There was nothing out of place − everything was meticulously placed with perfection.

Just like the person – the office belonged to Agnika.

It was a room built on power . A room – where silence spoke more than words ever could , a room which thrived on control , and worked on precision, yet in the middle of the stillness , one photo – of a mother and son – whispered the only truth that mattered.

As Agnika sat on the chair, sanvi opened her mouth to speak− but was interrupted

“ you know , you can sit ,right ? , I don’t bite unless……. The person deserves it “

“of course , ma’am”

Sanvi replied settling on the chair– her posture confident and professional , without a trace of nervousness .

“ ma’am ,we have received an order from the Rathore syndicate – they want us to oraganize an anniversary ceremony .“

Sanvi informed Agnika , keeping her tone professional and respectful .

Agnika leaned back in her chair ,rolling a pen between her thumb and index finger.

She was considering the proposal . and she knew working with Rathore's would benefit the company – both financially and publicly .

Rathore wasn’t just a name. it was a legacy carved in loyalty.

Considering all the pros and cons , agnika made her decision – a decision that was soon going to bring havoc into her life .

whether that havoc will be good or bad …… only time would tell.

“ mail them that we have agreed. ask for advance payment, and the details about the ceremony− and if they have any preference for the decoration, theme or the location.”

Sanvi listened attentively ,nodding along− then after replying with a quiet “okay ma’am” she left the cabin ,closing the door gently behind her .

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

The lullaby ( English version)

Sleep now, my darling, the night has arrived,

Dreams are whispering in your eyes so bright.

Sleep, my sweetheart, let me wrap you close,

Shield you gently from the world’s harsh glows.

Your eyes are filled with sleep’s soft call,

Peace is found in a mother’s arms, after all.

My heart wishes to hide you in my veil,

And build a world for you — calm and pale.

You are the sparkle in your mother’s eye,

Without you, even her heart would stop.

Sleep now, my magic, the twinkle of her gaze,

May your dream-filled eyes find rest and praise.

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