FF: Darkhaast / Tum Se Hi |PreRish| Updated: Ch 11 on Pg 17 | 17/9 - Page 9

That was to cute hell he is lucky she did not kick him out of his own house he reached late for his wedding ,and the three ladies in his life have him wrap around their figures loved the updates.

Priya Bose is something else 🤣

Poor rishabh 😆

Can’t wait to read more

Thank you 🤗

I’m so hooked. I read all the chapters in one go so everything felt like it came together so nicely.

A Prerna who refuses to let herself be used as a pawn and is real is so engaging to read and even empathize with. She is absolutely hilarious with her antics especially when she wore that white saree had me laughing hysterically in public and I had to smother it down!!

Bajaj. Uff... that man has my heart. No joke. Yeah he might seem brutish right now but I’m sure he’s going to make up for it and anyway I’m unabashedly biased when it comes to him!!

Unres

Chapter 5: Kookie is an adorable sweetheart. Her thoughts are always entertaining to read. Ignore Kookie beating his best friends baby up. Bajju does give little Kookie a little too much leeway. And what better way to let your mother know about her (possible) future daughter-in-law than let your toddler babble about it? ‘ Rishabh Advay Hritesh Bose Bajaj’ Que: Who’s Hritesh? Or is it just a middle name?‘

‘Why did Prerna feel like she was stuck in an Ekta Kapoor serial with birth secrets? ‘ I think Prerna too watched an awful lot of ITV. Like me. Unfortunately. Sigh. I like Priya Bose. She’s one awesome, independent fiery woman.

“The bun is out of the oven and out there terrifying at kindergarten boys.” I love your one-liners. Who would believe these two were a couple? While I ship them, I don’t believe it either.

DROP IT HELL NOOOO ! Don't know how I just never came across this SS. Sorry otherwise would've showered praises much earlier. I absolutely adore how witty this narrative is. There's obviously so much more going on with the characters and some deep wounds that characterise them but there's this air of lightness (gosh rolling my eyes at myself sorry for this shitty vocabulary my brain isn't working after reading today's WU for the episode🤣) I love the baby girl's perspective, it is adorable and she is such a rich spoilt baby already 🤣 Although I have to say I'm a little confused about the familial relations....(side note: will we get a kuki and her lover boy's spin off as well , the 20yrs later version to this plot?? ahah Im down for it)

AAAAH I cant wait for the vibe to develop between PreRish, don't know what it is about these alpha men that is always so attractive despite them being problematic. I really appreciate the fact that you want your characters to be misunderstood as well....that's just who we are as humans aren't we bound to be selfish, make mistakes. These caricatures on telly just annoy the heck out of me. Anyhow wowowowo your updates have been so super quick love it! I promise I'll list out the specificities of what I love very very very soon when I get the time!

Cheers!

I really feel for RB with three women in his life that are so hyperactive, contradicting his own personality. It's like watching a domino lineup enthusiastically even when you know it is going to fall. 🤣

I so much love Kookie and Prerna ganging up on Bajaj. It's a balm to my sore eyes because they are so adorable. Like you mentioned, he does not know if Big Kookie is imitating little Kookie or vice-versa. 🤣

But Prerna is Kookie's mother so that explains it all. The female lead is so vivacious and alive in here.

When is the reveal going to happen for the biological relation? 😲

Priya Bose is my spirit animal. Period.

Riya.

I think I love Priya Bose. She gives 0 f*cks! I love it! I am intrigued by the equation of this Bajaj and his Big Kookie. He is already taking cold showers, hey the man has needs, right! Little Kookie is cute but tethering on the spoiled line. Ofcourse, having Bajaj as a father, which toddler wouldn’t be spoiled? Hoping Mumma will help keep her feet planted solidly on earth!

Its awesome story. Priya is love. Big kookie , small kookie is amazing and rb is superb

Interesting story

Read it in a go

Waiting for next

Chapter 8

Kookie Bajaj had a roo-teen she followed.

She woke up early morning to accompany her daddy as he went to the gym. She then sat in his gym and semi dozed off as he worked out. On good days, she fussed over her gym clothes and sprang across the hall going wheeeeeee. She then went to have brekkie with her daddy. Basically sat there cuddled in her daddy's arms as he caught the news or maybe, her cartoons. She then fell asleep in his arms after brekkie. And then found herself at Daadi house where she fought with the other baby. Sometimes, Kookie would go to her daddy's office with his lunch. And then go to her office in daddy office. She would go, play, meet people, talk to people, tewify them, but mostly have fun.

But Kookie was different now.

Kookie had a mommy now. And Kookie lurrved her mommy. Kookie mommy was the best.

And because Kookie had a mommy now Kookie had a new roo-teen. Kookie now stayed with her mommy. Kookie ofkosh spent time with her Daddy. But she lurrved her mommy. So she spent extra time with mommy. She cuddled her, played with her hair, loved her, and rolled in her arms. Kookie was a wittle baby to her mommy.

But Mommy started sending Kookie to school much to her annoyance. But Kookie didn't need pwe-school. Kookie was a smart baby (just like her daddy!). Mommy didn't listen, though. Mom said Kookie still needed to go to pwe-school. Kookie was a good baby who listened to her mommy. So Kookie went to school.

Kookie new roo-teen was difewent. Kookie woke up every morning, played with her daddy then sent her mommy to school. Then Kookie went to school.

OfkoshKookie hated school. Stupid boys, silly kids and then their mommies. Gah! Why couldn't just Kookie stay at home with Daadi like always?

So Kookie stayed in baby school. She played stupid baby games, glared at her teacher during naptime (Who napped during the day?!!! Wasn't that bad manners?), and made a special effort to glare harder at the silly baby’s mommy-daddy who complained about her. Wait till she told Daddy about it?!

Kookie stomped all the way to her car, stared at her Yaya all grumpy, plonked her Barbie bag off her shoulder and raised her hands for her Yaya to pick her and put her in the car. She hated pwe-school. So Kookie teacher called her Daadi and compwained about her.

They said Kookie sat in a corner, Kookie didn’t talk, Kookie made no fweinds, and kookie was too quiet. Well, Kookie could be a mischewious baby. But that would make mommy mad. Daadi got it, though. She just let the teacher wamble, checked her nail, Kookie nail and said that Kookie needed to get her nails fixed. Kookie made a very, very, very sad face as if telling her Daadi: Daadi see! This is what I deal with daily! Now Kookie had to wait till Daadi told Daddy. And off Kookie went out of school.

Now Kookie sat in the silly car seat mommy made her wear and stared out the window missing her mommy. She munched on her chokies but it just made her sadder. Why was Mommy not home?

So Kookie waited for her mommy to come home. Sometimes Mommy was late. And that made Kookie even madder. How could these silly people keep her mommy in school more than needed? Didn't they know Kookie missed her? Why was baby life such a stwuggle? Kookie couldn’t do anything!

But was too scared of these big people? Papa said they could just pick Kookie up and take her coz Kookie was so adorable. So Kookie stayed put in her Mercedes-Benz and glared out of the window as she waited for her mommy to come to the bus stop. Silly Mommy.

Prerna Sharma sat at the bench at the park as she killed time. She still had an hour to go before she had to be at the bus stop where the driver came to pick her up.

Was this what it felt to sign your life away? She wondered.

Being rich didn't feel as good as she thought it'd be. Though she wasn't rich in cash. She was still Mrs. Bajaj legally. She could get out of the marriage with a legal lump sum. She could still learn Bajaj's weakness and use it against him. Like pride.

But Prerna felt none of that. She felt empty. She didn't feel like going after Mohini Basu, waving the marriage papers in her face and telling her she had done it. She had married into a rich, regal, desi family with none of the drama. She had done well.

But she didn't.

She just sat on the couch blowing the last of the cash she had on a soup parcel of her favorite chicken soup hoping it would cure her soul. But it didn't.

Prerna Sharma felt like no Bajaj. She felt stupid. She missed her mom, her dad, siblings, and grandparents. She missed her old room, the rundown house and the life she had built. She missed the life she lost.

Prerna Sharma was 23. She didn't feel like a mom. She loved Kookie, there was no doubt about that, but more than the love she was afraid. Of the responsibilities, the pressure, Bajaj and mostly afraid of the sneaky thought that crossed her mind. The thought that screamed that she had used Kookie to get to Bajaj.

It was funny how life changed. She didn't know Kookie a few months ago. Or met her even. But when she did she had fallen love with the little spitfire. She had fallen love with every bit of her baby. Like how annoyed she got at the dropped at a hat, how clingy she was, how she got hurt at the tiniest things, how much she loved her family, how she scrunched her nose most of the day or flooded Prerna with love.

Prerna hadn't been loved before. Not by her parents, siblings, or anyone else. Love, to her, had been a scary emotion reserved for fantasies. You dreamt, got over it, moved on and never let it get to you. She had hoped for a future with Anurag. She had closed her eyes a million times and pictured how their future would be. For years. For eight long years. And not once did she see a future with him.

And then she saw one with Bajaj. The one that showed her that marriage wouldn't be as scary after all. She would raise Kookie, keep her distance, have a family and when one-day Kookie didn't need her - she would leave. She didn't expect Bajaj to keep to his vows, be attracted to her or ask anything of her. And he stood true to his expectations.

The city knew of Bajaj and Aahana Kapoor. The Kapoor scion's daughter. They were often pictured in clubs across cities, in pubs and marks on their bodies that screamed of their activities. She knew of them too. And so did everyone else.

But for some reason, it hurt.

Prerna couldn't figure out what exactly hurt. Was it her family? She lack of worth? Anurag? Kookie's love? Bajaj? Or everything at once? But it hurt. And it hurt back. And the irony lay in the fact that this is what she wanted. To fu-king hurt because life hadn't been cruel enough to her yet.

Prerna felt her pain turn into anger. She hated her childhood. She hated going to hospitals, being stabbed, having to spend hours, dancing around waiting rooms so someone's princess could be saved. Empathy? Prerna had none. Would you? If you had to live your life administered by doctors, hooked to machines, undergoing painful procedures when you weren't sick neither was someone you loved. But rather, someone who fulfilled your parents wish for a better life.

Someone who paid your parents enough to send their other kids to private schools, start off businesses which failed, squander money in the name of social class, and ruin your childhood in the name of treatment. Why was she getting treated? Why did she grow up having meals meant for sick patients? Why did she have no freedom, childhood memories or love?

Prerna Sharma was a pawn. A pawn that didn't give her parents enough. A pawn meant to gain wealth. And she hated every bit of it. She when she heard that her services were no longer needed, she rejoiced. An embryo? Sure, whatever. Whatever to get rid of the family that plagued her life. Whatever to give remind her parents that their life so far came at her cost. And that was the limit till where it went. Marry Anurag? Live under the thumb of the Basu's so that her parents lived off the skirt tails of the creamy sure. Sure not.

So when Prerna watched her family fight with the family that usually paid them because she was no longer needed. Prerna stayed quiet. When her mother bossed her father to make risky purchases for better profit. Prerna stayed quiet. When her family squandered all that they had. Prerna stayed quiet. And when her mother tried to arrange her marriage with Anurag. Prerna left.

Love? She scoffed before reminding herself of the little doe-eyed baby that doted on her.

Love. Maybe the love she craved wasn't the one she wanted but it didn't mean she couldn't shower it on Kookie.

And Bajaj may as well go to hell. Why was she mad at him even? Prerna wiped the stray tear as she boarded the next bus. Feelings were meant for morons.

Kookie jumped into her mommy's arms the minute she saw her. She snuggled closer, sniffed her mommy's perfume and stayed in her embrace for the longest time she could. She then fussed over mommy, fed her mommy, made mommy feed her and cuddled her mommy to sleep. Mommy was a baby. Kookie's baby. Kookie patted her sleeping mommy's head. Baby. Baby. Baby.

Prerna and Bajaj occasionally met. And when they were under the same roof, they put serious effort to avoid each other. It couldn't be helped that Bajaj was busy. And when he wasn't he stayed in his room. Kookie, on the other hand, paraded around the house like a proud kitty cat often peeking into her daddy's room and then his office and other times, the gym. Prerna stayed in her room, mostly.

Bajaj found her annoying. Too chirpy. Too noisy. Too loud. And too bubbly. She was scared he'll find Kookie annoying too. Just like her.

"Don't fall for men, Prerna," Priya Bose said to her. Priya had locked her arm with Prerna as they'd grabbed coffee together the next day when Prerna skipped class once again. She had taken her to a park, seated her by her side and rested her head on Prerna's shoulder as she sighed. Prerna had watched Priya Bose's mask fall for a brief moment as her usual ignorance was replaced with sadness.

"Do you know how I had Rishabh? In an abandoned woman's home, in the middle of the night in unsanitary conditions. Bajaj heir?" she scoffed. "Do you know how his father found me a year earlier? Lovelorn."

"He said he regretted marrying his first wife. That he realized he loved me. So he divorced her. He said he would marry me. That I was archaic in my principles. So he would marry me, take me home and keep me happy forever. I loved him. For the longest time I knew. Since my childhood, the first time I realized what love was, it was him."

"I couldn't wait to marry him. So we got married at this famous Chapel in Las Vegas where marriages solemnized are said to last forever. And at this mandir I had prayed forever to marry him at."

And then Prerna saw the tear that escaped. "I should have known it then. It was too perfect. Too perfect to be real. I got pregnant in weeks. I thought it was the pills. That the family plan wasn't working. Or maybe I was ill somewhere in between that the pills didn't work. But nothing made sense. Hritesh cared more about the pregnancy than about me. I told myself it was normal. Every man wanted to be a father. And every man loved their child. Maybe it was meant to be. And I'd always have time with him. He loved me."

"The marriage contract I signed had a clause; a clause I was too blinded by love to read. Or maybe hidden in the series of paperwork we signed. A clause that said the marriage would be terminated the day I gave birth. And the child would be his. He didn't want me. He wanted an heir. So I ran. As far as I could with Rishabh in my belly. I didn't reach far. I didn't have anyone besides me: an orphan kid with dozens of relatives fighting for a share of her inheritance. He found me in two days. And he took Rishabh away from me. And flung me in the same ditch he picked me from to walk away with my child."

"His wife, you see, couldn't have kids. But they had one, defying all odds, only to have the kid be born with a severe genetic condition mimicking a rapidly growing cancer. Every other fetus that grew in his wife's belly was malformed. So he found me. A week cub left behind by her parents with multiple times of everything he married his first wife for."

"It took me years to claim back what I lost: my kid, my wealth, myself and my love. So I say it's a plan now. My plan. My kid. My love. My life."

"You become orphaned twice, Prerna," Priya said. "When you lose your parents and when you lose everyone. And you might have lost your parents. But you have me."

"And boys? Raise your kid. Gain your education. The best of everything money can offer. Secure your future no matter the cost. A kid? Faking love? Money? Wealth? Struggle? And then live life at your terms knowing I'll always be at your side."

When Prerna walked out of the theatre that day, she locked her arms with Priya for the first time ever, as they picked their interval snacks. And a little caramel popcorn pack for her sugar bunny Kookie to eat. And one for Priyansh before Kookie revolts. It had been ages since Prerna had felt parental warmth. It made her wonder just how long had it been before Kookie felt the same.

"Ayee, baccha," Priya had said.

They didn't know each other that well yet. Prerna wasn't even sure if Priya would shower her with the same love she did. Or the reason she showered her with so much affection. But for the first time that night, Prerna felt home. So when she went home for dinner that night and was introduced to an annoyed Kookie who couldn't be pacified with the popcorn Prerna got her.

Prerna faced Bajaj with the same coldness her braced her with. When Kookie firmly sat beside her father, fingers crossed, a sad smile, eyes droopy and on the verge of tears. Prerna felt her heartbreak a little. She gave Kookie a smile after realizing her efforts at pacifying her seemed futile. What if Kookie complained to her father?

Prerna closed her eyes, breathed in and braced herself for the situation to unfold. May be Bajaj would call her to his office the next day or his study when Kookie was asleep and blast her head for upsetting his daughter.

Instead, he whispered something in Kookie's ear. A whisper loud enough for Kookie to hear: "What if Mumma goes because Kookie is upset with her? That's what happens to fairies right, Kookie?"

No, fairies disappear if you (say you) don't believe in them. Kookie glared at her father. He knew nothing.

But it seemed to work as Kookie plonked off from her father’s side and scurried to her Mommy trying to find ways from under the table, over the table and side of table much to her father's displeasure at her table manners before telling her father to skoot (that Bajaj thought was cute for a moment) before rushing to her mommy's arms and staying there for the longest time.

After dinner, Prerna found Bajaj on the couch catching up on sports with Kookie in his arms. She practiced her glare on him. And Bajaj being Bajaj helped her perfect it citing all the times it wasn't 'perfect enough'. Then the genius taught her to growl and flare her vampire teeth. It got to scratching and clawing before Prerna put a stop to these weird Bajaj trademarked self-defense classes before picking Kookie from his lap and giving him a stern glare of her own.

Kookie, on the other hand, was very impressed at being lifted by her arms into the air as she squealed "hawwwkieeee" and squirmed like a wittle wormie trying to escape the hawkie before it pecked her with sweet kissed and cuddled her to sleep.

Truce?

Of course not, Bajaj, thought Prerna. She wasn't here for him. She was here for Kookie and would stay until Kookie grew up a little bit. And could be an independent baby of her own.

Prerna decided that she would spend the time in that duration to grow, better herself and eventually be strong enough to be independent on her own. Bajaj was just a means for her to be with Kookie. Security and provision for the darker days to come. A husband, he was not. Friend neither.

And as Prerna tucked Kookie to sleep a dark thought crossed her mind: what was she to him?

A pawn.

How do you kill a serpent with multiple heads, no weakness is known (or unknown), a massive immunity and predefined immortality? That's what the Bajaj empire was and had been for centuries. Akin to the Rothschilds or families similar.

The empire grew deep with ties several. Ties that built nations destroyed more and formed the crux society was built on.

But empires after victories lay low, built defenses and prepared for the next war.

They locked their treasures: their emotions, grief, and weakness in a place no one could touch.

And to Bajaj it was his heart. And Kookie.

And there was nothing he would do to protect his cherub.

Even if it meant getting a Mrs. Bajaj and putting her in the line.

Rishabh Bajaj stepped out of the shadows; a preamble for war.

To suck out every drop of blood left from the ones who dared to harm his family. To show them how it felt to lose the ones they love: painfully, pitifully, brutally, knowing that the reason their loved ones suffered was them.

So he would set a reminder to anyone who dared to look at the Bajaj name. The legacy. That Sneha Bajaj would never be the pawn Shnehal Bajaj had been. And if she were, it would be he who decided her fate and not some man she brought home and definitely not for love.

A/N

Aloha, mi amors. What is up? Thank you for the nice comments. I weaaaweeeeeyyy wuved them. *Ahem ahem * Please leave nice comments after this. I’m on page number 8 in replying and will get to the new ones soon. Going to the next update before I get buried in more paperwork! Let me know you’re reading, please!