The Diary ~

Vikrant ji locked the door while I sat on the bed, breathing deeply, trying to calm myself.

I have to overcome my trauma, a thought whispered silently in my head.

I moved backward on the bed, and Vikrant ji turned, moving closer until he sat in front of me. His presence felt heavy, almost too close.

He took my hand in his and kissed it softly.

“Mujhe kuch jaana hai… aur woh sirf tum hi bata sakti ho. Ishu, I am your husband, so don’t hide anything from me, okay?”

(“I need to know something… and only you can tell me. Ishu, I’m your husband, so don’t hide anything from me, okay?”)

I lowered my face, my thoughts tangled, while he kept his gaze fixed on me. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to know.

“Ab mujhe jawab chahiye, Ishu,” he said, his voice firm.

(“Now I need an answer, Ishu.”)

I slowly lifted my eyes, silently asking about what.

“You take depression medicines, am I right?”

My throat went dry. I couldn’t hide my expression, couldn’t shake my head, because his stare was merciless. I had never seen his this expression before.

I lowered my gaze. This time, I knew I couldn’t hide anything. His eyes made it clear. I was caught red-handed this time, may be...

“Ishita, main kuch pooch raha hoon aur mujhe jawab chahiye. Aur is baar mujhe jhooth nahi sunna. Samjhi?”

(“Ishita, I’m asking you something, and I need an answer. And this time, I don’t want to hear any lies. Understand?”)

Trapped, I nodded.

He took a deep breath and leaned closer, so close that I broke into a cold sweat. Yet he didn’t let go of my hand.

“Okay, then tell me....why didn’t you tell me about this when I asked you earlier so many times, why did you keep me in dark?”

I got up and walked toward the table to pick up my phone. As I turned, he was already behind me, probably thinking I was trying to leave without answering.

I unlocked my phone, typed slowly, and showed it to him.

“I thought you would worry about me, so I didn’t tell you. Sorry, Vikrant ji.”

The only lie came to my mind...

He studied my words for a moment, his gaze softening ever so slightly, and I felt a strange mix of relief and lingering tension wash over me.

I saw his eyes softening after reading the message that apparently made me relieved too.

Vikrant said, “I am your husband, Ishu, and I don’t like it when you hide things from me. Especially after I’ve been asking for days. Agar tumhe kuch ho jaye aur tumhe hospital le jana pade, to kon batayaga tumhari pareshani Doctor ko, huh?”

(“I am your husband, Ishita, and I don’t like it when you hide things from me especially after I’ve been asking for days. If something happens to you and you end up in the hospital, who will tell you what’s wrong to the doctor, huh?”)

Just giving her an excuse to justify himself.

I lowered my eyes, feeling guilty that I still couldn’t tell him the truth.

“Alright, ab batao mujhe, ke aisa kya hua hai jo tumhe trauma aur depression ke medicines khani pad rahi hai?” he asked, handing me, my phone.

(“Alright… now tell me what happened that you need to take these medications?”)

A chill ran through me at his words. I couldn’t bring myself to take the phone from his hand.

“Kya hua?” Vikrant pressed.

(“What happened?”)

I shook my head.

In a cold, deep voice, he said, “Oh, so you don’t want to tell me what happened with you?”

I shook my head again.

“Mujhe na sunna pasand nahi hai Ishita. Ab chup chap phone lo aur batao,” he said, his tone sharper this time.

(“Ishita, I don’t like not hearing the truth. Now take the phone and tell me.”)

I stepped back, shaking my head again.

Vikrant moved closer, pressing his hands gently but firmly against my arms. “Aisa kya kiya hai tumne jo mujhse chhupa rahi ho, huh?”

(“What did you do that you’re hiding from me, huh?”)

This time, I couldn’t hold back. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I began crying uncontrollably. Anything connected to my past makes me break down like this every single time.

Vikrant stepped back, his voice rising with frustration. “Wah, ab rona shuru ho gaya. Mere saath yeh women card khelna band karo, samjhi? Tumhe bas bachchon ki tarah rona aata hai. Sach mein, Ishita, aaj tak kisi ne mujhe utna frustrate nahi kiya jitna tumne kiya hai. Sach mein!”

(“Wow, now the crying has started. Stop playing the woman card with me, got it? All you know is how to cry like a child. Honestly, Ishita, no one has ever frustrated me as much as you have. Honestly!”)

His loud voice became unbearable. He was continuously taunting me. Suddenly my vision blurred, my breathing grew shallow, and I fell backward.

Fortunately, Vikrant caught Ishita in his arms. Her hair flowed down over his arms like a dark river.

“Ishita? Ishita??? Aankhe kholo, Ishu,” he urged, patting her cheeks, but it was no use. Her eyes wouldn’t open.

(“Ishita? Ishita??? Open your eyes, Ishu.”)

Vikrant, "Oh god, holy shit!!"

Without a second thought, he lifted Ishita in his arms like a feather and rushed outside.

“Ishu, Ishu!!! Open your eyes, Ishu. Driver, gadi nikaalo jaldi!” he roared as he came downstairs.

(“Ishu, Ishu!!! Open your eyes, Ishu. Driver, get the car out quickly!”)

He placed her carefully in the car and ordered the driver to hurry. Panic gripped him as he noticed blood coming from her nose. He sprinkled water on her, but it did nothing.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the hospital. Vikrant rushed inside, still holding her, his heart pounding. The doctors checked her pulse and immediately took her inside.

After a few tense minutes, I slowly woke up. My eyes opened gradually, and I realized I was lying on a hospital bed in an unfamiliar room.

Outside, Vikrant was speaking seriously with the doctor.

“How is she now, doctor?” he asked, his voice sharp but tense.

The doctor said, “Her blood pressure was high when she was brought in, which caused her to faint. Don’t worry, Mr. Vikrant, she’s absolutely fine now there’s nothing to worry about.”

After hearing this, Vikrant went inside and saw Ishita lying on the bed, both hands on her stomach, looking at him with wide, anxious eyes.

He came closer, sat beside her, and gently took her hand in his, kissing it softly.

“How do you feel now?” he asked.

Ishita gestured that she was alright.

“Ishita why don’t you want to tell me about your past, huh? What are you so scared of?” he asked gently.

Ishita turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

“I’m scared… of you, Vikrant ji,” she thought silently.

“Ishita, tum meri wife ho, Vikrant Malhotra ki wife phir kya rok raha hai tumhe sach mujhse batane se?” he pressed.

(“Ishita, you are my wife, Vikrant Malhotra’s wife what is stopping you from telling me the truth?”)

Ishita continued ignoring him, not looking at him or responding.

{Koi bhi aur itna bold nahi ho sakta ki Vikrant ko ignore kare… sirf uski wife hi kar sakti hai, aur woh bhi usko frustrate karke aur gussa dilake. Khair... filhal Vikrant ignorance deserve karta hai.}

Vikrant sighed in frustration, “Theek hai… agar tum nahi batana chahti, toh main ab force nahi karunga. Par sach toh mujhe phir bhi pata hi chal jaayega.”

(“Alright… if you don’t want to tell me, I won’t force you. But I will find out the truth, no matter what.”)

Just then, a nurse entered. “Sir, Miss Ishita is fine. You can take her home now.”

“Let’s go home, then,” Vikrant said.

He helped her to stand. “Can you walk comfortably, or shall I carry you?”

Ishita gestured that she was fine and could walk on her own. They both got into the car, and the driver headed toward the villa.

"Maut ko main khushi‑khushi gale laga lungi,

par apne past ka sach kabhi aapko nahi bata paungi, Vikrant ji,"

she thought, staring silently out of the window. 🌙

(I will embrace death willingly, but I can never tell you about my past, Vikrant ji, she thought, staring out the window.)

Vikrant, “Koi baat nahi, mat batao, kal tak tumhare past ke file mere haathon mein hogi, Miss Ishita Vikrant Malhotra,” he thought, looking at her. 👀

(“It’s alright, don’t tell me. By tomorrow, the file of your past will be in my hands, Miss Ishita Vikrant Malhotra.”)

The next day ~

Vikrant woke up as usual, went to the gym, got ready, and left for his company. He was growing impatient to learn about Ishita’s past.

Ishita woke up late, completed her morning routine, and went downstairs.

She asked about Vikrant and got to know that he had left without eating again.

"Kahi aaj fir to gussa nahi hai ye? Pata nahi ye meri teekhi mirchi baat baat mein hot chili sauce kyun ban jaate hai? Lagta hai kharush ka muh fir full gaya. 🌶️ "

(“Is he angry again today? I don’t know why my spicy chili turns into hot chili sauce over the smallest things. Looks like I’ll have to put in some effort to make him happy.”)

She went back to her room and began writing in her diary. An hour later, she got up, stretched, and walked downstairs.

Hmm… for this spicy little chili, maybe I can make something sweet, she thought, heading straight to the kitchen.

She opened the refrigerator and took out some carrots.

A servant approached her politely. “Bahu Rani, if you need anything, please let me know.”

Ishita shook her head and typed something in her phone and showed it to the servant.

"I am making halva will you help me with chopping the carrots?"

The servant looked at her in surprise,

“Malkin, aapko karne ki kya zarurat hai? Main kar deti hoon na. Aap toh raj gharane ki bahu hain, aur aap kitchen mein kaam karein, yeh thoda accha nahi lagega, na...”

(“Malkin, I can do it for you. You’re the daughter-in-law of a royal family, and it wouldn’t look right if you’re working in the kitchen.”)

Ishita typed with a smirk,

“Kyu? Raj gharane ki bahu ko ab halwa banane ka bhi haq nahi hai?”

(“Why? Is the daughter-in-law of a royal family not allowed to make halwa?”)

The servant quickly replied, almost flustered,

“Nahi, nahi Malkin, aisa nahi hai! Main toh is liye keh rahi thi ki agar malik gussa ho gaye toh… kyunki woh apni maa ko bhi kitchen mein jaane nahi dete! Toh… yeh sab aap karo…”

(“No, no, Malkin, it’s not like that! I was just saying, if Malik gets angry… because he doesn’t even let his own mother go inside the kitchen! So… that’s why…”)

Ishita typed again, tone of her words turning more confident,

“Leave it to me, main handle kar lungi.”

(“Leave it to me, I’ll handle him.”)

With that, Ishita rolled up her sleeves and started making halwa. After one and a half hours, her halwa was ready. She served it to the gods as prashad with care, offering her silent prayers, before walking back to her room.

In Vikrant’s Cabin:

Vikrant sat at his desk, flipping through the files of Ishita’s past. The more he read, the more confused and intrigued he became.

“So, her parents died when she was really young. She had a brother too, but they never found his body... strange...

But what’s even more stranger is that she only went to school till 8th grade, and after that, she took home tuition and just went to school to give exams. And she could speak before then why the sudden change? What happened?” Vikrant thought, tossing the pen in his hand.

He stood up, walking around the room, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he mulled over the documents.

“Na jaane kitne raaz aapni kabron mein dafan hain… Yeh ladki aur iska past me kuch to bat hai, kuch to mystry hai jo hume aapni taraf khich rahi hai. Aur mysterious cheezein hamesha humein pasand aayi hain. Ishita ka past kahin se bhi simple nahi lagta. Na jaane kya ho gaya tha, ki humari aardhangani ki duniya hi ulat-pulat ho gayi...

Aur yeh kuch bataati bhi nahi hai, sabse badi dikkat toh yeh hai.

Kahi parents ki death ke wajah se trauma... nahi - nahi, kuch aur hi baat hai. Varna ye bachpan se medicines leti. But still this can be a reason too.”

He muttered to himself, a mix of frustration and fascination in his voice.

(“Who knows how many secrets are buried in graves... This girl and her past are so mysterious. And I’ve always been drawn to mysterious things. Ishita’s past doesn’t seem simple at all. I don’t know what happened that turned her entire world upside down. And the biggest problem is, she doesn’t even share anything. Maybe it’s the trauma from her parents’ death, or maybe there’s something else altogether.”)

At 7 p.m., Vikrant arrived at the Villa:

He entered his room and paused for a moment. Looking at Ishita, he noticed that she was sleeping soundly, snoring softly, her peaceful expression contrasting sharply with the chaos he felt inside his mind.

“Oh, toh aaj humari sahiba bed pe so rahi hain...varna inhe to sofa he pasand aata hai.” Vikrant thought with a soft smirk.

(“Oh, today my lady is actually sleeping on the bed... otherwise, she always prefers the sofa.”)

He approached her gently, adjusting the blanket and tucking her in with care. But then, his eyes fell on an open diary lying on the bedside table. His curiosity piqued, he couldn’t resist picking it up.

“Oh, toh humari aardhangani yaha apne dil ki baatein likhti hai,” Vikrant thought, a mix of intrigue and possessiveness stirring inside him.

(“Oh, so my beloved writes her heart’s thoughts here.”)

He flipped through a few pages, scanning quickly. His heart skipped a beat when he saw something strange.

He kept reading, his eyes narrowing. The entries seemed like private thoughts raw emotions, things Ishita had never said aloud. He could feel her vulnerability in every word. There were mentions of him, moments when he was a bit rude with her, when she felt lost, or when she felt that something about him was too overpowering and things about her past were also written there but not in detail.

He took the diary with him to another room, where he could privately read her thoughts and uncover more about her past.

Naina.writz ~

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