Chapter 1

"So finally you've arrived." Rajeev Ghai said welcoming his employee Reyansh Singhaniya.

"I'm sorry for making you wait for long. I was stuck at the traffic."

"Ah! No worries my boy. It's fine."

"Your house is beautiful sir."

"Thanks son. It's decorated by my daughter Kriya. She's an interior designer."

Smriti arrived there with the tray containing glass of water.

"Rey meet my wife Smriti and Smriti he's Rey, our company's newly recruited employee more like my son. He's perfect at what he does."

"Nice to meet you ma'am."

"Same here. You guys continue with your work, I'll arrange for some snacks." Saying this Smriti left.

Both Rey and Rajeev got engrossed in their office work. They were discussing about some presentation. Just then Kriya passed by them and proceeded towards the kitchen to fetch herself water. She had wrapped a shawl around her covering her arms and neck. Rey saw her going.

What's wrong with this girl? It's a hot sunny day and she's roaming around wrapped in a shawl. She doesn't look ill either. Weird girl. Rey wondered.

As Kriya was about to exit the kitchen, smriti stopped her. 

"Kriya take these snacks and juices out." Smriti requested.

"But mom..." Kriya tried to argue as she didn't like meeting new people.

"No arguments. Take this and leave." Saying this Smriti handed her the tray. She and Rajeev tried to make her normal again after that incident but Kriya was adamant on staying like this. She shut herself in a bubble away from the world. She had no friends. She was scared to meet people.

Kriya placed the tray and was about to leave when her father spoke. 

"Rey she's my daughter Kriya and Kriya this is Rey our company's best employee." Rajeev said hoping that at least this time Kriya would try to get along with someone as Rey was a person who could mix with anyone.

"Hey Kriya, nice to meet you."

"Hi." She said sternly. He found this quite strange.

"Uh, are you fine? I mean it's a sunny day today and you are wearing a shawl...is every..."

"That's none of your concern." She said sharply interrupting him and left.

Strange yet interesting girl. He thought.

After completing his work Rey left. The next again he was at the Ghai place. It was evening. Rajeev asked him to wait for a while until he get the file from his room. It had been ten minutes since Rajeev left. Rey was getting bored so he thought of exploring the house. As he was passing by he came across Kriya's room. The door was slightly ajar so he peeped inside. 

Kriya was sitting on her study table busy in writing something. She was wearing jeans and full sleeves shirt covering her arms. He slowly sneaked inside and stood behind her. He couldn't see what she was writing as her hairs acted as the hindrance. But the way she was deeply engrossed in her writing made it evident that she was writing something personal, maybe a diary.

"Writing a diary?" He asked out of curiosity making her jerk in her position. She turned around to see who it was and then immediately turned front. 

She picked up the muffler lying nearby and covered her neck with it. He was confused and puzzled with her actions. Then she faced him and questioned "what are you doing here? Don't you have any manners that you should knock before entering someone's room?"

"Hey chill. Why are you being so hyper? I've just entered your room, and haven't committed a crime." He replied annoyed.

"For me it's no less than a crime. Now leave." She said angrily.

"Why are you so rude?"

"I am like that and why the hell do you care? Just leave from here." She almost yelled and moved away from him. 

He caught her arm and pulled her towards him. She winced in pain due to his grip. He hadn't clutched her arm tight, but the state in which she was hurt her.

"Here I'm talking to you politely and you're showing me attitude. I wonder how your parents and friends bear you arrogance." He hissed.

"Please leave me." She said slowly at the verge of crying. He didn't know why but he hated seeing her cry. So he yanked her away and left the room banging the door. 

Once he left, Kriya rubbed her arms whilst tears made their way down her cheeks. She locked the door and lay on her bed crying over her fate.

"I'm not bad. I'm not a person who shows attitude. The truth is I don't have any friends. I've no one except my parents. The people who claimed to be my friends left me alone on knowing my bitter truth. Nobody likes me." She said in between her sobs.

Two days later around nine in night, Rey visited the Ghai place. He had come there to hander over an important.

"Why don't you have dinner with us?" Smriti insisted.

"No ma'am it's fine."

"What fine? You are having dinner with us and that's final. I'm your boss and you ought to listen to me." Rajeev said. 

Having no other option, Rey agreed. Smriti was in the kitchen and Rajeev was busy in attending a call. Only Kriya and Rey were alone in the living room. Grabbing this opportunity Kriya approached Rey who was avoiding her. 

"Hey." She said meekly.

On getting no response from him, she continued. "Rey I'm sorry for my behaviour that day. Please forgive me." She said looking down feeling guilty.

Rey looked at her for a moment and then spoke "It's alright." He smiled at her.

"Thanks." She replied smiling.

"Friends?" He asked forwarding his hand. She became nervous at that moment. Hesitatingly she accepted his offer.

"Why are you so hesitating?" He asked.

"I...err...I don't have any friends. No one wants to be friends with me."

"I don't know about the rest but I promise to be your friend forever." He replied assuring her. Her heart felt contented a bit.

Smriti and Rey observed this from a distance. They were really happy with this decision of Kriya. Their hopes that Kriya would break her shell, again raised.

Days passed by and Kriyansh's friendship grew even stronger.

"Why aren't you attending the party? It's your party after all. Your dad's company has yet again managed to get the contract." He asked her over the phone.

"Because I'm not interested."

"You mean you aren't interested in becoming a part of your dad's happiness? You don't want to be a part of my success?" He asked.

Kriya didn't have any answer for this. The truth was she so badly wanted to be there with him when he would be promoted. She wanted to be there with him during all the times. 

"I'd be extremely happy to have you there." Saying this he disconnected the call.

She wanted to go there but she was scared. She was scared to face the people and their taunts. Gathering courage she took out a green full length gown with full sleeves. She tied a matching scarf around her neck in a stylish way so that it looks good as well as covers her neck.

She reached the venue. She had an option of backing out but she preferred to ignore it. Taking small steps she entered inside. Everyone was shocked to see her there. Nearly after a year Kriya Ghai was making a public appearance. People started gossiping about her. Those who were unaware about her truth came to know it from the others.

"So finally miss. Ugly duck has decided to appear in front of everyone." One of the girls, who always secretly envied Kriya whispered to the other. Kriya heard it and it somewhere lowered her confidence. Taking a deep breath she reached near her parents and Rey who were smiling feeling elated on having her there.

"Thank you for coming." He whispered in her ears and kissed her cheek while they danced.

Kriya blushed a bit and enjoyed the dance. After a while she excused herself and went to the washroom. There were two other ladies present there. On seeing her there they started gossiping about her.

"Poor Kriya. Once Reyansh comes to know her truth he'll leave her." The first one whispered.

"Obviously. Who would like to be a girl covered with scars?" The other one said. Little did they know that their conversation was audible to Kriya. Giving her a fake smile they left.

"I will never let Rey know about me." She made a decision after hearing their conversation. She pitied herself. This world is full of negativity is what she learnt in all these months. People only know how to point other's weakness rather than acknowledging their strengths.

"Rey I don't feel good. Can we heed back home?"

"Yeah sure."

Rey and Kriya were alone in her house. Kriya was showing him her designs that she had prepared recently. Rey put her papers aside and stood up. On seeing him stand even she got up.

"What's wrong? Didn't you like them?" 

He made her sit whilst he got down on his knees. Taking her hands in his, he spoke "Kriya you remember I promised to be your friend forever?" Kriya nodded a yes at this.

"I'm sorry but I won't be able to keep up my promise." Kriya looked at him with wide eyes which were at the verge of breaking down any moment.

"I'm sorry but I cannot be your friend because I want to be someone more than your friend. I love you Kriya. I really do."

Kriya couldn't believe her ears. Saying that she was shocked would be an understatement. Her worst fears came true.

"No never. This just can't be." She said pushing him away.

"But why? Your eyes clearly display your love for me."

"You can't love me Rey. You'll run away when you see the real me."

"What do you mean?" 

"Come with me." Saying this she led him to her room. Though she had promised herself that she would never let him know the bitter truth about her but this situation turned the tables. She felt that he had the right to know every minute detail about her. She had a hope that he wouldn't leave her.

Rey was waiting for her while she was in the washroom. He was admiring her photos that were hung on the wall. The sound of the washroom door gained his attention. He turned around and found her standing there wrapped in a thick piece of cloth covering her from her neck to toe. Taking a deep breath she unveiled herself from that cloth. She stood there in her garments covering her essentials only.

Rey was shocked to see her in such a state. There were scars or more precisely burns all over her body. Starting from her neck those burns ran down her arms and spine till her thighs. This was her truth; a bitter truth that made her shut her within. People stopped hanging out with her and taunted her for being ugly. A year back everything was fine. She had just started her career in interior designing when that unfortunate incident occurred. 

She was at a party organized by one of her clients. Suddenly due to short circuit a fire incident occurred in the area where the kids were present. In order to rescue them she risked her life. She managed to save the kids but unfortunately herself got stuck inside.

Later she was admitted to the hospitals. In a month she recovered but the burn marks were still left. Since her body was allergic to creams and lotions, the doctors advised to let them heal on their own. There will be a day when all her scars would vanish away but it might take months and years for that day to arrive.

"This is my truth Rey. You don't deserve to be with an ugly girl like me." She said avoiding his sight.

"Shh...the only girl I deserve is you." He said pulling her closer.

He kissed her eyes whereas she tugged her onto his shirt. His lips trailed towards her cheeks with his hands securely wrapped around her waist. His hands stroked her blemishes trying to erase them off her body. He bit the tip of her ear making her moan with pleasure and sucked at that area.

"I love you what you are and not how you are. Your beauty lies in your heart and that's what matters me the most."

He tenderly kissed the burn scar on her neck. "I don't care what people think about you. For me you only are the most beautiful girl, and will always remain the same." Saying this he seized her lips with his kissing her feverishly, showering all his love and care on her. Kriya dithered to reciprocate the kiss but Rey's constant nibbling made her give up. For once she forgot everything about her and drowned into the depths of his love. His tongue entered her crevices, exploring every inch of it. After an ardent and zealous kiss, he pulled back allowing her to breath. His lips traced down towards her curves kissing every inch of her skin. He carried her towards the bed and carefully placed her down. She was precious for him and he wanted her to know this.

"Give us a chance Kriya, I promise to be there by your side and protect you from the world even if it costs my life." All she could do was stare at him, wondering how a person can love someone so immensely. This time she was the one to engulf him in a kiss trying to vent out her feelings. "I love you Rey." She purred in his ears as they parted away. The words that he longed to hear finally became audible. Pecking her lips, he kissed her all over her body fondling her scars with his lips making her feel special. His hands hovered towards her back trying to unfasten the piece of garment that hindered her mounds. But before that he attained her permission. She simply lowered her lashes avoiding him. Whilst he was undoing the hooks, her hands involuntarily detached his shirt from her body. Her hands were quivering a bit and she was shy at doing so. Her shyness was something he liked the most in her, He kissed her all over making sure he doesn't hurt her. Their bare bodies stuck to each other. If he wished he could have made her his, but didn't do so. She respected him for not crossing the bounds. He didn't find the need to invade her chasteness only to make her his for the rest of the life. All they did was shower their love on the other the whole nights staying in their limits,

Kriya felt extremely elated on having him. She knew she didn't have to be the same old Kriya who was scared to face people from the past few months. With him beside her, she was sure that very soon she'd be the original Kriya who was more confident and lively. His love was more precious than a gem. He was her prized possession,

How's it? i hope it wasn't boring.

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