Something Broken
Sharmishtha returned home from the office just now. She entered the door to her apartment and switched on the lights. She looked at the empty apartment that she had been calling home for the past seven years. Closing the door behind her, she went to the washroom to freshen up. Despite having a family house in the same neighbourhood, she chose to live alone. It was better to live alone than to entertain the miserable company she had back home. Sharmishtha's mother was an independent woman. She lived with her son in their family house. She wanted Sharmishtha to stay away from their life. So she never bothered. She could never forget how her mother threw her into a childcare centre after getting divorced when she was only eight. Sharmishtha's biological father, Prasun Mishra was an abusive and alcoholic person. Immersed in drinks and gambling he rarely cared about the household so her mother divorced him. Her mother, Meenakshi later married a businessman named Amarjeet Singh with whom she had two children, Urmila and Prabir. Sharmishtha lived in the childcare centre for two years after which she was sent to boarding school. She spent three years in boarding school after which a man came to meet her. He approached her with a sweet smile on his face. But Sharmishtha was scared due to her childhood trauma with her biological father, she started shivering. Looking at her, the man halted. His eyes were full of worries and kindness. He took out a giant plushy penguin and tried to give it to her. Little Sharmishtha hesitated. She wanted to run. In a gentle voice, he said, "I heard you love penguins so I brought it. Don't you like it?"
"I-I like it," stuttered Sharmishtha. "Then why won't you take it?" asked the man softly. Suddenly, she teared up and said, "I don't know you. Please don't come near me."
The man could only guess what the little girl had gone through all these years. He could see the faint bruises and scars on her. He was mad at Meenakshi for not telling him that she had a daughter from her first marriage. He was actually astonished at how she abandoned her. If only he knew, he would have come sooner. Seeing the girl, he felt something breaking inside his heart. He was devastated. The girl was in desperate need of love and care.
Stepping behind a little bit, he kneeled and spoke in a fruity voice, "My child, my name is Amarjeet Singh and I am your Papa."
"Papa?" she gasped.
"Yes, I have adopted you to be my daughter. I promise I will always love you and take care of you. If you accept this toy I will be assured that you have accepted me to be your Papa," he said gently.
Little Sharmishtha looked frightened and confused. Amar lightly approached her to pat her head when he saw her crossing her arms in front of her face trying to defend herself. His eyes welled up. He still patted her head lightly to let her know that he was not going to hurt her. "I would never hurt you. I promise I won't let anyone else hurt you either," he said pulling her into his embrace. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so warm. He caressed her gently. After some time she stopped shivering and he realized that she was a bit relieved. He then cupped her face and wiped her tears. "So do you want the penguin?"
She nodded. Amar gave her the penguin and picked her up keeping her in his embrace he walked to the car. "Where are we going?" she asked cautiously.
"To home. To your mum."
"Mum hates me," she claimed.
"Don't worry Papa is here," said Amar reassuring her.
They entered the car and went to Amar's home. She was astonished to see the place. A big home with a beautiful water fountain at the front. It had a mesmerizing garden. The car entered from the curved pebbled road. At the front door, the other three members of the family were waiting. Sharmishtha clenched Amar's shirt as she looked at her mother. "Don't worry, Papa is here."
Those were the words she heard every time she felt uneasy, afraid or anxious. Those words could take all her pain away. She took off the worn-out garland from the picture and put on a new one. She sighed. It had been over ten years since the death of her father. After which her family cut off all ties with her. There was not another person she knew who was as kind as her father. She probably would not have taken a job at 'The Sight' given its faltered reputation in the media industry if it weren't for her father's friend, Mr. Lalmohan Chatterjee. She met him when her father was alive. They often invited him over for dinner. He knew about the internal matters of the family as well. How she didn't get along well with them, how she was treated after her father's death, Chatterjee knew everything. Maybe that was the reason for his generosity towards her. It was a surreal feeling when he promised to stand by her side if anything went wrong. He gave the same vibes as her dear 'Papa'.
Sharmishtha took a hot bath and sat down to eat the food that she had bought from a restaurant nearby. Who was going to make her dinner? She had no one. She lived alone. No one would be disappointed or worried if she came home late or didn't eat on time or even if she never came back to this apartment at all. She finished her dinner quietly and went to the balcony and sat down on a swing chair looking up at the stars. She was thinking about her life. Everyone who loved her was taken away. Everyone else she knew hated her with all their hearts. There was not a person in the world who would sit down and listen to her and love her without judging, no one who would care about her. Why her life had to be like this! Would she spend her entire life being broken like this!
Tears rolled down her eyes. She could never explain to anyone how she felt. The loneliness that captured her struck her like the cold gust of wind that cut through the skin as a sharp knife. Her heart felt heavy. Even though she put on a cold attitude on the outside, on the inside she was truly broken waiting for the warmth of love to save her from the sharp knife of her cold forlorn.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Aarnaa
Aarnaa This is a little insight to the personal life of Sharmishtha. Comment and let me know what other insights you wound like. Don't hesitate to convey your ideas and thoughts to me. I am always open to reviews!(^///^)
Sorry for not updating chapters. I was sick. Even today I am suffering from allergic reaction and my lips are swelled up and I have hives on all over my body including face. I look ghastly.
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