1. Ladki bhaag gayi

𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐊𝐀

West bengal , kolkata..

It was almost 11:00 pm.

Weddings are usually filled with laughter, music, and chaos-but not this one. Here, an eerie silence cloaked the air, so heavy and unnatural that it felt less like a wedding and more like a funeral.

Black-suited bodyguards were standing with blank, emotionless faces.

At the pavilion, the priest was chanting the mantras while the groom sat motionless. His gaze was fixed on the holy fire, his expression unreadable. No joy. No nervousness. No sorrow. Just a cold, blank face-his silent, grey eyes mirroring the flickering flames. It was as if the fire wasn't just before him... but within him.

Hi, I'm Devika.

It's my younger sister's wedding.

I'm not attending the wedding.

Not really.

But yes-

I'm attending it.

From the top floor of my room.

From behind the curtain that flutters like my shame.

My father made it clear-

"Don't you dare show your face downstairs."

After all, I am the kalank of the family.

A living stain.

I haven't done anything.

But still-I'm the cursed one.

Why?

Because my husband-

sorry, my ex-husband-

left me.

Abandoned me.

But for me...

That wasn't a tragedy.

That was freedom.

And no,

I don't regret being abandoned.

At least-not as long as I am breathing.

The man sitting at the pavilion-he's my would-be brother-in-law.

I don't know who he is. I had just heard yesterday Baba and Dadu talking about Roohi's marriage. No rituals like haldi, mehendi, sangeet, etc. happened. They just decided her marriage. The most shocking part was that no one from the groom's family even came. Only black-suited guards stood behind him.

Me and Roohi aren't that close, so I shouldn't ask about how she's feeling after these sudden things.

Nobody knows about this marriage, just our close ones and some business partners of my father.

"Please call the bride,"

The priest's voice sliced through the air-

And also through my reckless thoughts.

"Ji... ji... I am calling," my mother hurriedly rushed into my sister's room, while my gaze again shifted to him.

His silence, and the silence behind him... I can guess he carries a powerful aura. I wanted to see his face but I wasn't able to, because he was staring down at the holy fire.

"Devika."

I turned only to face my mom, who was standing at the doorway, her eyes watery. She walked slowly toward me.

But her tears couldn't melt me anymore.

I looked at her with a blank, emotionless face as she stammered, "Ro... Roohi... she's not in her room."

"So? What do you want me to do about it, Mom?" I asked coldly.

"P-please... come with me... help me find her..."

A soft, disappointed chuckle escaped my lips as I stood up from my place.

As soon as I stepped into Roohi's room, my eyes landed on a folded chit lying on the couch.

"Here," I said, picking it up and holding it out. "Your daughter left a letter. Maybe she's run away from her wedding."

"Ki lekha achey debika eta te, amaye jana?" she asked, her voice trembling.

(What's written in it, tell me)

"How would I know? I'm a 12th fail, Mom," I said mockingly, handing her the letter.

"Savitri, what are you doing? Everyone is waiting downst-"

It was my father, who stopped in his tracks after looking at me.

"Ji... vo... vo... Roohi... Roohi bhaag gayi hai," Mom said and passed the letter to her husband.

He opened the letter and his jaw clenched while anger flushed across his face.

"Ki... ki lekha achey eta te, amar miye bhalo achey toh?"

(What's written in it? Is my daughter alright?)

"Sorry Baba, I am running from this shit, because I don't wanna be like Boro Di. I don't want to face the hell like her. I haven't failed. I am capable of carrying myself, even if you aren't. Tell Maa that I am safe, she doesn't have to worry for me. And thanks, Baba, you cared a lot for me. But I am not a child anymore who will blindly do whatever you will say. You want to push me into marriage with that monster like 'Ansh Pratap Singh' who's years older than me. Sorry Baba, I just can't.

Your daughter, Roohi."

"𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐩 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡"

The name echoed in my ears. She said he's a monster. How does she know him?

"Tune hi bhagaya hai na usse?"

"Have you gone mad, Baba?!" I snapped, trying to hold back my rising fury. "I don't even talk to her!"

I mocked, not because I don't care - but because I can't take this blame. I won't wear guilt I don't deserve.

"Shut up,"

He one hand hung up as he was about to smack on me. I closed my eyes. But at that same time, I heard some sounds, like someone was shouting. My eyes flew open when I didn't feel his hand on me.

I looked only to find Maa and Baba sneaking towards Roohi's window. I also went and looked at the hall-only to find him pointing a gun at the priest.

The priest was scared and tried to make him understand, "Ye, ye kya kar rahe ho, brahm-hatya paap hai!"

"Chup kar pandit, ab agar tere muh se ek bhi shabd nikla toh saari ki saari goliyaan tere bheje se seedhe tere gale mein utaar dunga."

I felt a hard shiver in my body. How can a man do this to a priest? Doesn't he have any manners?

His gaze swiftly rose to meet mine-his hazel brown orbs locking with mine. A man came near him, maybe one of his guards. He whispered something in his ear while he was still looking at me with an emotionless face.

I felt a burn in my body because his gaze was so intense that I couldn't look at him anymore.

I took a step back. Maa and Baba also turned to face me, sweat erupting on Baba's face, tension lines curling up on his forehead.

"Lock this filth in her room. I have to talk to Baba," he gritted through his teeth while glaring at me-but the word he left for me made my heart cry.

Filth.

How can a father call his daughter filth? Sometimes I feel like I'm not his daughter-that's why he does all this to me.

Maa took me to my room. She didn't even dare to look at me. It's always been like this since childhood. Whenever Baba used to hit me, she never said anything to him.

The door shut behind her.

Neither did she say anything, nor did I ask.

---

Author's POV...

As Mohit (Devika's father) stepped out from Devika's room, he went toward another room that was silent amidst the outside chaos. He knocked, and the door opened. An old-aged man, maybe in his early 70s, stood at the door.

"Baba, Roohi has run away."

That old man didn't say anything, but a mocking smile appeared on his face.

"Tell me something, Baba. Mr. Singh is getting angry outside."

"What should I tell now, huh? I told you earlier-don't give shelter to that abandoned girl. But you didn't listen to me. Now see, that made our daughter run."

"we will talk about it later, You give me an idea, please. I can't afford to make Mr. Singh angry."

" 𝐓𝐬𝐤..𝐭𝐬𝐤...Kya hua chakraborty, ladki bhaag gayi tumhari ."

A hard yet cold voice rang out from behind them, making both father and son freeze. They slowly turned to face the devil himself-Ansh Pratap Singh-now standing there with a menacing smirk curling on his lips.

His gun spun carelessly between his fingers, like a toy. But the chill in the air said otherwise. His very presence sent a shiver down their spines.

The old man stuttered, "Ji... ji nahi... vo... vo... please give us some time. We'll find her... we promise."

"Oh ho, Chakraborty ke baap... tum bhi na, apne bete ki tarah hi nalayak nikle," Ansh said coldly, tilting his head, his tone soaked in menace. "Samay hi toh nahi hota Ansh Pratap Singh ke paas."

His smirk faded into a razor-sharp glare. Slowly, he raised his gun and pointed it directly at Mohit.

"I have to get married right now. Teri ek aur beti hai na, Mohit?"

"N-nahi! Nahi, meri aur koi... koi beti nahi hai," Mohit tried to sound casual, but his voice betrayed him. Ansh's icy demeanor made him stutter uncontrollably.

💥 BOOM!

A deafening gunshot echoed through the hall.

Mohit jerked around in panic, expecting to see blood. His heart stopped for a second when he realized the bullet hadn't hit anyone. Instead, it had pierced the wall just inches away from his father-Rajesh Chakraborty's-head. The bullet had embedded itself into a framed photograph of the old man.

Rajesh stood frozen, his entire body shivering as if the bullet had grazed his soul. His eyes widened in horror as he turned toward the direction of the shot.

Ansh casually twirled his gun and said in a chillingly calm voice,

"Agli baar agar mujhe dhokha dene ki koshish ki, toh goli seedha tere baap ke bheje mein ghusegi, Chakraborty."

With one final glare toward Mohit, Ansh turned and walked upstairs, his footsteps echoing like a countdown.

Mohit and his father instinctively tried to follow, desperation taking over-

But before they could take another step, Ansh's men blocked them, guns raised, eyes cold.

.

.

.

.

.

Upstairs...

Ansh stood before the locked door where Mona Chakraborty had hidden Devika. With a sudden jolt, he kicked it open.

His eyes scanned the dimly lit room.

In one corner, a small figure curled up tightly on the floor-her face buried between her knees, body shaking with silent sobs. The beam of light from the hallway fell on her, forcing her to lift her face.

Red. Swollen. Tear-streaked.

Devika looked up, and their eyes met.

For a moment, Ansh didn't move. He just stood there, staring blankly at her. No emotion. No words. Just that unreadable, terrifying calm.

Then, without warning, he stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her to her feet.

"W-what... What are you doing!?" Devika shouted, struggling. Her voice cracked, her face blotched and red from endless crying.

Ansh didn't respond. He didn't flinch.

He just pulled her with him-

"Kahaan le ja rahe ho? Chhodo mujhe!" she screamed again, her voice choked with tears. But Ansh didn't flinch-he acted like her words never reached him, as if he had turned stone-deaf in that very moment. His silence was louder than her cries.

"Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? Mera haath chhod dijiye, please!" she cried, her voice trembling as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Just shut your mouth and marry me," he growled without even glancing at her, his voice cold and final.

Her body shivered at his tone.

"M...mujhe dard ho raha hai," she whispered through sobs, the pain in her voice halting him for a moment.

He turned to look at her-just for a second. Then, without a word, he lifted her into his arms. One hand held her; the other still gripped the gun.

Startled, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, fearing she might fall.

"Tumhari behen ki galti ki saza tum bhugtogii."

His voice was low. Bitter. Dangerous.

Without another word, he carried her straight to the wedding pavilion.

Ansh placed Devika at the altar and sat beside her. The cold metal of the gun still shimmered in his hand.

"Chal, pandit. Ab apni bakwaas shuru kar," he snapped with that same arrogant edge.

The priest sat frozen, unable to process the chaos unfolding before him. But the moment Ansh pointed his gun at him again, he instinctively began chanting the mantras-his voice trembling, his hands shaking.

"Saat vachnon ke liye khade ho jaayein," the priest said nervously.

Ansh stood.

Devika didn't move.

Without hesitation, he bent and picked her up again-like she weighed nothing. Her breath hitched. Her soft whimpers echoed through the silent hall as he began walking around the sacred fire, carrying her in his arms.

Ansh never looked at her.

His eyes were fixed on the flames-like he was silently saying something only the fire could understand.

When the pheras were over, he returned to his place and sat down, still silent.

"Vadhu ke maang mein sindoor bhariye," the priest announced.

Ansh took a pinch of sindoor and applied it to her hairline. Devika's eyes shut tight. A single tear traced down her cheek. A bit of the vermillion powder fell onto her nose, like a cruel symbol of fate.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a mangalsutra. Without emotion, he tied it around her neck.

Her red, swollen eyes shimmered with pain as she whispered, "𝐁𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐚𝐩..."

Ansh didn't flinch. His voice was chillingly calm:

"𝐇𝐦𝐦... 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐚... 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐣𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐧𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐢."

"Vivaah sampann hua. Var-vadhu jakar badon ka aashirvaad lein," the priest managed to say.

Ansh stood, and helped Devika to her feet.

"𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥 , 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭. 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐚," he ordered again, tilting his gun slightly. The priest rose quickly.

Then Ansh turned to Devika.

He instructed her to touch the priest's feet, and she quietly obeyed.

Ansh pulled out a bundle of notes from his pocket and circled it around Devika's head, as if warding off evil.

Then, without hesitation, he handed the entire bundle to the priest. The priest's eyes gleamed as he accepted it without a word.

Devika turned to go to her parents, but Ansh abruptly grabbed her wrist. She flinched at the sudden touch.

Without a second thought, he scooped her into his arms once again and walked out with her.

No one-neither her mother nor her father-dared to come forward.

By now, she had begun to understand-

The man carrying her was no ordinary man.

As Ansh led her to his car, her vision began to blur.

Everywhere she looked, she could sense the intimidating presence of black-clad guards,

But her head felt too heavy now-too full of chaos, fear, and helplessness.

And then she ended up-

Collapsing her head in his chest , she fainted..

Ansh looked at her, a small psychotic smile curled up on his lips as he whispered "𝐤𝐲𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐢 𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐢 𝐭𝐨𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐡𝐮𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐚𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐢 𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝐛𝐚𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐢",

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Okk so here's the first chapter, tell me about it and I am telling it's genuinely to know how I am writing, my mistakes, if you see any grammatical mistakes or error words you're free to tell,,

Also i want to say that don't judge too quickly give a chance to more chapter and you will feel butterfly in your stomach..

And thanks to you all to complete the vote target,

Radhe radhe sundariyon...