Chapter 23

Hello guys 🤍Here is Chapter 23!

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Author Pov

Today was Kashvi's birthday.

A day she both loved...

And hated.

Because today was not only her birthday.

It was someone else's too.

Early morning-

Kashvi quietly got ready for school.

Before leaving-

She informed Saanvi that she was going early.

And Saanvi already knew why.

Instead of school-

Kashvi first went to the temple.

She sat in front of God silently.

Joining her hands-

She closed her eyes.

"Bhagwan ji..."

"Please woh jaha bhi hai usse sahi salamat rakhna..."

"Meri Noor ko salamat rakhna..."

"Please..."

"Main har saal sirf aaj hi ke din yahi maangti hoon..."

"Please usse ache se rakhna..."

While praying-

Tears slowly started falling from her eyes.

After some time-

She wiped them quickly and left for school.

At school-

She came much earlier than everyone.

Quietly sitting on the last bench-

She rested her head on the desk.

Lost in thoughts.

One by one-

Everyone started coming into the classroom.

After some time-

Saanvi, Aarohi, Ishvik, Eshaan and Netrabhan entered together.

The moment they saw her-

They understood something was wrong.

Because she didn't even notice them entering.

Everyone silently sat down.

Then Saanvi smiled softly and said-

"Happy birthday, Kashu."

Aarohi widened her eyes dramatically.

"WHATTT?!"

"Kashvi ka birthday hai aaj?!"

Ishvik instantly looked at her.

"Seriously?!"

Eshaan frowned.

"Bataya kyu nahi?"

Meanwhile-

Netrabhan stayed silent.

Shock written clearly on his face.

Because he didn't know.

And somehow-

That bothered him.

A lot.

Saanvi crossed her arms.

"Abhi bata diya na."

Eshaan deadpanned-

"Isse batana bolte hai?"

Saanvi ignored him completely and again smiled at Kashvi.

"Happy birthday."

Aarohi hugged her dramatically from the side.

"Happy birthday Kashuu babyyy!"

Ishvik grinned.

"Happy birthday, Kashvi."

Eshaan also smiled softly.

"Happy birthday."

Only Netrabhan remained quiet.

Still looking at her.

Kashvi gave a small smile.

"Thankyou..."

"Lekin please dheere bolo..."

"Main nahi chahti kisi ko pata chale."

Eshaan frowned.

"Lekin kyu?"

Kashvi looked away slightly.

"Aise hi."

Aarohi spoke softly-

"Birthday toh special hota hai na..."

"Parents ke sath celebrate karna..."

Ishvik nodded immediately.

"Aur nahi toh kya..."

"Main toh ek hafte pehle se excited hona start kar deta hoon."

Kashvi smiled.

But this time-

It looked painful.

"Sabka birthday special nahi hota..."

"Sab excited nahi hote..."

"Kuch log uss din rote bhi hai..."

"Band kamre mein..."

"Kyuki unke paas koi nahi hota..."

The whole group went silent.

Nobody knew what to say.

And Netrabhan-

For the first time-

Felt his chest hurt hearing her words.

He wanted to say-

"Ab hum hai na..."

But the words never came out.

Classes continued somehow.

Nobody disturbed her much after that.

Meanwhile-

Ishvik suddenly noticed something.

"Vedansh aur Arjun nahi aaye?"

"Kuch pata hai?"

Kashvi softly whispered to herself-

"Arjun..."

"Aaj kaisa hoga..."

Everyone heard her.

Confused.

Then Saanvi quietly said-

"Aaj Arjun shayad nahi aayega..."

"Vedansh bhi shayad nahi."

But right at that moment-

Both entered the classroom.

Everyone noticed Arjun's red eyes immediately.

He quietly came and sat down beside Vedansh.

Not saying a word.

The entire day went unusually silent.

Finally-

Lunch break came.

Everyone sat together in the garden.

But Kashvi didn't bring lunch.

Netrabhan looked at her.

"Lunch?"

Before Kashvi could answer-

Saanvi replied quickly-

"Fast hai."

Netrabhan frowned slightly.

"Kyu?"

Kashvi gave the same answer again.

"Aise hi."

After lunch-

Aarohi finally asked softly-

"Ek baat puchun?"

Kashvi nodded.

"Tu apna birthday hate kyu karti hai?"

Kashvi immediately replied-

"Maine kab bola hate karti hoon?"

Then she smiled sadly.

"Aaj toh uska bhi birthday hai..."

"Main aaj ka din hate kaise kar sakti hoon..."

Ishvik got confused.

"Uska?"

"Kiska?"

Kashvi looked down.

"Meri Noor ka."

Instantly-

Arjun spoke.

"Nahi Kashvi..."

"Please mat bata."

Eshaan frowned.

"Kyu?"

"Hume jaana hai."

Arjun clenched his fists.

"Kyuki tum log jaanne ke baad..."

"Pata nahi humse baat karna bhi band kar do..."

"Ya pata nahi humare baare mein kya socho..."

Ishvik immediately replied-

"Hum aisa kyu karenge?"

"Hum friends hai."

Aarohi nodded softly.

"Hum sabko itne months hogye jaan ke..."

"Abhi bhi trust nahi hai humpar?"

Kashvi quickly shook her head.

"Aisa nahi hai..."

Netrabhan quietly looked at her.

Then softly said-

"Toh boliye."

For a few seconds-

Kashvi stayed silent.

Then finally-

She spoke.

"Aaj sirf mera birthday nahi hai..."

"Aaj meri Noor ka bhi birthday hai..."

"But pata hai..."

"Aaj hi ke din..."

"Her parents sold her."

Everyone froze.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Horror.

Everything visible on their faces.

Except-

Saanvi.

Vedansh.

And Arjun.

Because they already knew.

The moment those words left Kashvi's mouth-

Tears fell from Arjun's eyes.

Without saying anything-

He immediately stood up and left from there.

Kashvi looked towards Saanvi and Vedansh.

"Jao uske paas."

Both nodded quietly and left behind him.

Aarohi whispered in shock-

"Kya...?"

Ishvik looked disturbed.

"Koi aisa kaise kar sakta hai..."

Eshaan frowned deeply.

"Uske parents...?"

"KYU?"

Then slowly-

Netrabhan asked the question lingering in everyone's mind.

"Arjun waise kyu chala gaya...?"

Kashvi looked towards the direction Arjun left.

And softly replied-

"Kyuki..."

"Woh abhi bhi usse pyaar karta hai."

••••

Everyone was still in shock.

Nobody knew what to say after hearing that.

The garden suddenly felt too quiet.

Then slowly-

Kashvi spoke again.

"It was her 8th birthday..."

"She was one year younger than me..."

And with that-

The memories she spent years trying to bury-

Came rushing back again.

Past Flashback---

Little Noor had just turned 8.

And Kashvi was 9.

That morning-

Noor came running towards Kashvi and Arjun-

Who were sitting together near the park side.

"KASHUUUU!"

She ran so fast-

That she almost slipped.

But before she could fall-

Arjun and Kashvi quickly caught her.

Arjun sighed dramatically.

"Noor..."

"Aaram se..."

"Abhi gir jaati toh?"

Noor immediately puffed her cheeks.

"Arey bhuddu..."

"Main kaise girti?"

"Kashu aur aap ho na."

Kashvi laughed softly.

"Chal uth ab..."

"Bas meethi meethi baatein karalo."

Noor's eyes sparkled excitedly.

"Kashuu!"

Kashvi smiled.

"Haan meri Noor?"

Noor excitedly showed a handmade greeting card.

"Happy birthdayyy!"

Kashvi's eyes widened softly.

"Awww..."

"Thankyou..."

Then she kissed Noor's forehead softly.

"And happy birthday to you too meri Nooriee."

Arjun also smiled warmly.

"Happy birthday."

Noor gasped dramatically.

"AREYYY!"

"Aap dono dusri baar wish kar rahe ho na!"

Arjun frowned playfully.

"Aisa kya?"

The three of them sat comfortably on the ground.

But Noor-

As usual-

Sat directly on Arjun's lap.

Swinging her tiny legs happily.

Then she smiled proudly.

"Pata hai?"

"Maine raat mein khwaab dekha!"

Arjun kept looking at her softly.

So did Kashvi.

Kashvi smiled.

"Acha?"

Noor nodded excitedly.

"Haan!"

"Aur uss khwaab mein..."

"Arjun aur Kashu dono mujhe wish kar rahe the!"

Arjun chuckled softly.

"Ohooo..."

"Aisa kya?"

Noor quickly turned towards him.

"Haan sachi!"

Kashvi smiled lovingly at her.

"Haan toh humne kab bola meri Noor jhooth bolti hai?"

"Meri Noor toh humesha sach bolti hai na?"

Arjun nodded.

"Haan."

And just like that-

The whole day passed with laughter.

Playing.

Running.

Smiling.

None of them knew-

That it would be the last happy day of their childhood.

Evening time.

The three of them were sitting together again-

Playing and talking.

When suddenly-

All the adults came there together.

Kashvi's parents.

Arjun's parents.

And Noor's parents.

The atmosphere instantly felt strange.

Then suddenly-

Noor's father grabbed her hand harshly.

"Chalo."

"tumhe lene aaye hai."

Kashvi frowned immediately.

"Lene aaye hai matlab?"

"Kaun lene aaya hai?"

Noor winced in pain.

"Abbu..."

"Hath choriye..."

"Dard ho raha hai..."

Arjun instantly stood up.

And quickly pulled Noor towards himself.

While Kashvi hid Noor behind her protectively.

"Uncle..."

"Kaun lene aaya hai Noor ko?"

Arjun also asked loudly-

"Boliye!"

Noor's father angrily looked at both fathers.

"In dono ko pakdo..."

"Nahi toh Noor ko jaane nahi denge."

Before they could understand anything-

Both Kashvi's and Arjun's fathers tightly held them back.

"Papa chodiye!"

"Kya kar rahe ho?!"

"Kahan leke jaa rahe ho Noor ko?!"

Noor struggled in fear.

"Abbu mujhe nahi jana..."

"Mujhe Kashu aur Arjun ke paas rehna hai..."

But her father shouted angrily-

"Kya matlab nahi jana?!"

"Tumhe jana hi hoga!"

"Paise diye hai unlog ne!"

The moment those words left his mouth-

Both Kashvi and Arjun froze.

"Paise...?"

Kashvi's small voice trembled.

"Paise matlab...?"

"Paise kyu diye...?"

Noor cried harder.

"Abbu dard ho raha hai..."

"Hume nahi jana..."

Arjun shouted at his father-

"PAPA CHODIYE MUJHE!"

"Aapko dikh nahi raha woh Noor ke sath kya kar rahe hai?!"

"Unhe rokne ki jagah hume kyu pakad rakha hai?!"

Kashvi cried loudly-

"Haan papa!"

"Noor ke papa ko roko!"

"Dekho woh kya bol rahe hai!"

But Kashvi's father coldly replied-

"Hume pata hai woh kya kar raha hai."

"Noor ko chodo tum dono."

Kashvi stared at him in disbelief.

"Pata hai matlab...?"

"Papa...?"

"Paise diye hai ka kya matlab hai?!"

Noor cried desperately.

"Abbu please..."

"Hume nahi jana..."

Then suddenly-

Her father shouted furiously-

"CHUP!"

"And tum dono suno..."

"Hume Noor ke badle paise mile hai."

Everything went silent.

Kashvi screamed in horror-

"MATLAB AAPNE USSE BECH DIYA?!"

The next second-

A loud slap echoed.

Kashvi's father slapped her hard.

"KASHVI!"

"Baat karne ki tameez nahi hai?!"

"Woh uski beti hai!"

"Chahe woh kuch bhi kare!"

Noor cried harder seeing Kashvi hurt.

"Uncle Kashu ko mat maro!"

Arjun's eyes filled with tears and anger.

"Matlab..."

"Aap sabko pata tha?"

No one answered.

He shouted louder.

"BOLIYE!"

"AAP SABKO PATA THA?!"

Arjun's father coldly replied-

"Hume pata hai toh kya hua?"

Meanwhile-

Noor's father started dragging her away.

Noor screamed desperately-

"KASHVIIII!"

"ARJUNNN!"

"HUME NAHI JANA!"

Seeing her cry-

Both Kashvi and Arjun struggled harder.

Finally-

Their parents' grip loosened slightly.

And both of them immediately ran towards Noor.

Pushing her father away.

He fell to the ground.

Kashvi tightly hugged Noor.

"Chup..."

"Noor rote nahi..."

Arjun also hugged her protectively.

"Haan..."

"Hum hai na..."

The three kids tried running away together.

But before they could escape-

All three fathers caught them again.

This time-

Noor's father harshly pulled her away completely.

And started dragging her.

Noor screamed while crying uncontrollably-

"KASHVI!"

"ARJUN!"

"HUME BACHAO!"

Meanwhile-

Kashvi's and Arjun's fathers dragged both of them away too.

Noor's cries slowly disappeared.

And that night-

Both Kashvi and Arjun were locked inside their rooms.

Crying.

Screaming.

Begging.

But nobody listened.

And that day-

Two children lost their Noor forever.

Flashback Ends

Silence.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Everyone sat frozen.

Trying to process everything they just heard.

So here ends the chapter...

Thank you so much for reading 💖

𝐁𝐲𝐞 𝐛𝐲𝐞 👋

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 🌷