Aadhya's POV

"Please leave me," I yelled, trying to run for my life, but Dhruv and his gang laughed evilly, then one of his members slapped me hard, making me land on the ground and his hand reached to tear my clothes.

"Nooo," I gasped and jerked back from sleep.

Sweat dripping from my forehead, my hands and legs are trembling with fear. I can hear my thumping heart as I was struggling to breath.

It's only a dream. It's only a dream. Chanting this continuously, I concentrated on my breathing. It's a panic attack again... I need to control my breathing.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

Finally, after half an hour of struggling, I calmed my racing heart and controlled my breathing as well.

These nightmares are never gonna leave me alone. I glanced at the watch and it showed 3am.

3 am again. Every night I woke up at 3 am with a nightmare, as if someone was ringing a bell to wake me up at the same time every night.

I want to sleep a whole night peacefully without any nightmares, panic attacks, sleep paralysis... I just wanna sleep. Is that too much to ask? Don't I deserve a good night's sleep?

I don't think I will ever sleep the entire night peacefully.

I took the bottle to have some water, but it was empty so I removed the duvet and stood up from the bed, then walked downstairs to have some water.

After drinking water, I went to Rose. She is sleeping peacefully, holding her stuffed toy. I covered her properly with the duvet and kissed her forehead before exciting her room.

It's my routine to check up on her whenever I wake up.

She is the reason I am still living. If not for her, I would have died a long time ago. Rose is my responsibility and I have to live for her, to protect her, to guide her, mainly, to love her.

I can endure anything for her.

I always wish it would've been better if I died instead of Anshu. The guilt I am carrying is not small. Every time I see Rose, I blame myself for taking her mom away from her.

I am dealing with the survivors' guilt along with this depression, anxiety, panic attacks and there are so many.

Will Rose also blame me when she find out that I am not her mother, but Anshu and her mom died to save me?

Will she hate me?

With so many wild thoughts running through my brain, I sat on the bed and opened my laptop.

I work whenever I can't sleep. The work will be completed, at least.

I worked till 6 am, then I did my morning business and took a shower.

I wore my usual black business suit and tied my hair in a bun. These dark circles made a permanent place below my eyes. Using a concealer, I tried to hide them as dad will feel bad if he knows I was not sleeping well.

I went to Rose's room to wake her up, but dad was already there.

"Good morning, dad," I greeted him

"Good morning, Aadhya," he greeted back with a pleasant smile, which I can never give him back.

"Rose is taking a shower. I will help her to get ready for school," Dad remarked.

"Ok, then I will go and prepare breakfast then," I commented and turned around to leave, but Brownie barked, stopping me.

Brownie is our dog. I got her 2 years ago for Rose. At least she will be loyal, unlike humans.

"Hey Brownie," I pet her head while kneeling down in front of her and she licked my hands as she came into my embrace.

Sometimes I feel like she understands my pain as she gives me hugs whenever I feel low and she even barks to take me to the normal state when I am getting flashbacks sometimes.

"Let's go feed your tummy," I kissed her head, took her downstairs and gave her food.

Then I went to the kitchen, and maids greeted me. I just nodded at them and started preparing breakfast.

I like to cook for my daughter and dad as Rose enjoys the food I prepare. I prepare breakfast everyday even though I can't prepare lunch or dinner for her because of my busy schedule.

After half an hour, I completed cooking and put the dishes on the table while the maids arranged the plates and water.

"Rose, breakfast is ready," I yelled for her.

"Coming, mamma," she yelled back and within a few minutes, I saw her running down the stairs.

"Slowly," I muttered as she threw herself into my embrace.

"My angel," I mumbled and kissed her head as I picked her up.

"Mom, put me down, I will be heavy," she wiggled in my hold. She likes it when I carry her still, she says put me down, Mamma.

"No, my baby, you are not," I replied, carrying her to the dining table.

"Mamma, I am not a child anymore. I am grown up now," she remarked, and I put her down.

"Yeah, you are a 6 years older girl, very grown up," I tickled her.

"Mamma, don't tickle me." She ran away from me, making me smile a little. Only because of her, I still remember how to smile.

"Please, don't stop smiling, Aadhya," dad remarked, patting my head.

I gave him a blank smile and walked to the dining table.

"Come on, mamma. I am hungry," Rose exclaimed as she sat on the table and started banging the table for food.

I served them and myself, and we started eating.

"What is it?" I asked with raised eyebrows as the grandfather and granddaughter were whispering something and elbowing each other, signaling something.

They both looked at each other horrified, like caught in the act.

"Tell me?" I demanded.

"That—Aadhya, it is," dad stuttered.

I put my spoon down, eying both of them while folding my hands to my chest. They are up to something for sure.

"Rose will tell you," He exclaimed.

"Grandpa, you are older than me. You have to speak if it is an important matter," she exclaimed back.

"But it's your mom," dad remarked, looking at her.

"And she is your daughter." Rose rolled her eyes and flipped her hair.

My sassy queen.

"Like mother, like daughter," he scoffed, glaring at Rose.

"You two stop and spill the tea," I commented, gazing at both of them.

"It's nothing, mamma. Your dad arranged a blind date for you," Rose stated, and I glared at both of them.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to arrange matches for me, dad? I am not gonna marry again," I remarked.

"I am not forcing you to marry, Aadhya," dad said and drank some water before speaking again.

"You don't even talk to any man. I don't believe you would ever find a man for yourself. That's why I am searching for a perfect man for you. You just go and meet him, just get to know each other like friends. Take as much as time you need"

"We can only go further if you like him completely," he informed.

"Dad!" I called helplessly.

"Aadhya, I don't want you to end up alone," he stated.

"Yes, mom," Rose agreed immediately.

"Who said I will end up alone? I have both of you with me," I tried to say.

"But I can't be with you forever, Aadhya. I am getting old," he sighed.

"Dad, don't talk like that," I raised my voice.

How can he say that? I can't handle another death.

"I mean, I am getting old, so I will go for a world tour," he tried to cover up.

"Then I have Rose with me," I replied.

"No, mamma, I will not be with you forever," she said like an adult.

"I am going with my darling for the world tour," she winked at dad. 

This naughty girl.

"After that, I am going to find my soulmate and marry him."

"See, your parents or your child, no one will be with you till the end. It's only your partner who will be with you forever," Dad explained.

"But dad you know better why I am being like this and I really don't trust men," I said.

How can he expect me to trust again after what I have gone through?

"You don't trust me either?" he questioned.

"Of course, I trust you, dad," I sighed.

"Then just know that not all the fathers are like your biological father and not all men are Vikram or Dhruv," he tried to explain.

I signaled him saying that Rose is still here, so think before talking and he blinked assuredly.

"Dad, I will think about it," I said, finally not able to argue with them. 

I will never say yes to another man. I don't want to ruin my life again. 

It's perfect as it is.

"Yay, mamma agreed," Rose squealed.

"Come on, Rose. You are getting late," I remarked and stood up, not making eye contact with dad.

Why do they have to irk me so much? I know they are thinking about me, but I don't want anybody else in my life. I am happy with my daughter. I don't need anyone.

"Good morning, madam," Siya greeted as soon as we walked out.

Siya is my bodyguard. I mainly arranged for her for Rose. I know I can't trust anyone, not after those dreadful betrayals from my own people, but she proved to me that it's ok to trust her. And I hired her from an agency where loyalty is their first priority. If the people from that agency betray ever then, they only kill those people.

She opened the car back door for Rose and she climbed in after saying thank you. Then I sat on the passenger seat as she took the drivers.

I never hired a driver again after Damu. I drive myself and from these 8 months Siya has been driving.

"Bye, Rose," I kissed her head as we climbed down the car in front of her school.

"Bye, mamma," Rose kissed my cheeks and ran into her school.

"Was she learning well?" I asked Siya.

"Yes, Madam. She is so smart and strong; always catches every move quickly and delivers it perfectly," Siya replied.

I asked Siya to teach martial arts to Rose as I want Rose to be strong enough to protect herself.

I don't want my Rose to become a princess who needs a prince charming in shining armor to protect her. I want her to become a queen who can protect herself. A queen who is not only defensive but an attacking queen.

I don't want her to need a man who will tell 'touch her and I will kill you...' I want her to say, 'touch me and I will kill you by myself.'

My Rose is not a delicate flower.

After dropping Rose, we drove directly to my office.

Siya is the head of our security team, so she looks after those works.

"What is my schedule today?" I asked Kavya once I reached my office.

Kavya is not my personal assistant, but takes care of my schedule. In these two years, I appointed many assistants and fired them all. No one worked at least one month under me.

It's sometimes their mistakes and sometimes they can't cope with me, so they left the job willingly.

I can appoint Kavya as my assistant, but she is so confusing and can't work under pressure. Mainly she is so afraid of me, she can't even talk without stuttering in front of me.

"Madam, you have a meeting with clients at 11am and you have a lunch appointment with Mr. Nayak at 1pm," she informed, holding her breath while I was listening to her carefully.

"And our team selected a person for your personal assistant post after the interview and our HR department is doing the final round now."

"Ok, you may leave," I said, and she nodded before taking long strides to get out as soon as possible.

"Kavya," I called, and she stiffened in her position.

"Where is the interview ongoing? and give me his resume as well." I remarked when she turned around.

"Madam, here is his resume," she put a resume on my table from the file she is holding. "And the interview is ongoing on the 12th floor," she said respectfully.

Shourya, 23 years old M.

I read his resume, and it seemed ok then I looked at his picture. It seems like I saw him somewhere.

But where?

Then I went to the 12th floor to see how the interview was going.

I walked to the conference room and opened the door slightly. Three of the HRs sat there interviewing him. I can't see his face as his back is facing me. I can only hear his voice.

"What do you think is the most important thing to have for a position as a personal assistant?" one of the HRs asked him.

"Loyalty," he answered.
"Loyalty is the most important thing one should have. And for an assistant, he is the one who knows all about his boss and about the business, so if he is not loyal, then the company can collapse," he completed confidently.

And our HRs started discussing themselves in an inaudible voice.

"Mr. Shourya?" I called and all the heads snapped towards me. They haven't seen me till now.

"Miss. Aadhya," the HRs greeted as they stood up.

I nodded a little as I walked to them and leaned on the desk, looking at him.

His eyes moved to my face as he was looking at me confidently.

"You are selected," I stated and then walked out from there.

****

Hey Homies ❤

Here is the 1st chapter

So, did you like the chapter? Tell me in comments 😇

Is there anyone who is reading this book directly without reading the first book?

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