Aayana's pov -

I take Ira on the couch then I start patting her face. After a few moments, she opened her eyes. She screamed,
"Muuuuuum."
I instantly hold her in my arms, she is still shivering. I didn't release her. I start massaging her back and trying to console her.

Then I said, "It's me, Ira. Shhhhhh. You have me. I'm here. Please don't be afraid, I'm with you." In my words, she cried out loudly. My heart is aching, what happened to her in her past but how is her condition; I don't dare to ask her. I release her then just hold her face and said,
"Are you feeling better than before?"

"I tried a lot but I am always defeated by this phobia. I'm so sorry to bother you. I never wanted to bother you." Ira said.
"What are you saying? You can't bother me. Never. Please don't repeat this to me. Okay?" I said.

"Yeah. I know that." Ira stopped and did not say anything.
Then I took her to my arm and said, "Do you wanna share anything with me?"
"Actually I consulted with a psychiatrist but that really wasn't helping me. Actually, I can't get over that memory, that time. I always told my staff to keep an eye on this dark matter but maybe they just took little time which gave me this." Ira is saying with a cracking voice as she is afraid and crying.

Then I said, "What is this memory? It might be if you share with me I can help you."
"I was very happy with my mum and dad till I was 7. I always told my friends that I have a happy family. But suddenly one day a woman came with a child to our home and she said that she is the mother of my dad's son. The boy was 11 years old at that time.

At first, my dad pretended not to accept them but he was really happy in his mind. After 2 or 3 days, he said to my mum that she should leave him. Then my mum told him that she will leave but with me. After that dad held her hand and took her to their room and left me in my room. I dunno what dad said to mum but when she came back to me. She held me for the whole night and cried.

When I got up in the morning I just got a letter from her and she was not there. I looked for her all over but she wasn't at home." Then Ira again started crying loudly and put her head on my lap then I put my hand on her head and with another hand, I wiped out her face with that I put a kiss on her forehead.

She continued, "In front of my dad, my stepmom and step brother were so good with me but when he used to get outside or at the office; They always bullied me. They used to lock me in a dark room for the whole day and they also beat me a lot. What should I do at that time; I was completely confused.

Then I decided to concentrate on my study as my mum used to tell me that studying makes a person a self-builder. But they also had issues with my study. My stepmother didn't allow me for tuition or anything else and she used to make me do all the housework.

Dad also changed within a few days. So, that also didn't help me to get relief. My stepmother always tried to find loopholes in my work and with that excuse she used to beat me. My step brother was very annoying, he also helped my stepmom to bully me. That is how the days were passing.

Day by day I became a teenager from a girl but my life was the same. One day my stepmother went to a kitty party and dad was at the office; I and my stepbrother were at home. That time I was sixteen and my step brother was twenty. As that time was night, I locked my room and I was studying after completing all household work as I had an examination.

I was in high school at that time. Suddenly I heard a knock at my room's door. I asked who that was... My brother replied that he cut his hand. So I opened the door and I saw ....." Suddenly Ira stopped and cross her leg at her chest then I asked,
"What did you see, Ira ?"

"He was fine and he was with his 3 friends. Who always tried to take advantage of mine. I got their intention. So, I tried to shut down my door but they held me before that. Then they all hold me. I was not strong enough to stop them.

In a few moments, I managed to kick one of them. So, all of their concentration went to him and I ran outside of the home as I knew the home was not safe for me. That time my dad entered at home. I was relieved when I saw him...." Ira again stopped. That time her phone rang but she didn't pick that call.

Then I asked her, "After that? Did your dad scold them?"
"Scold !!! His reaction when he saw me in that state was shocking for me.
He said to them 'why are you so late to complete your will. I thought you all were done. That's why I came back home.'

I was completely shocked. Then I asked him, 'Dad, you knew what they were about to do ?'
He replied, 'Of course. One of these boys is my boss's son. If he will be happy then I will get a promotion.'

I felt like all this world is nothing to me. How can my own dad do this to me !!! Then I stopped feeling bad for that situation and I said to him, 'I'm done. I can't stay here anymore. I'm leaving. Give me some time.

I will pay you how much you spent on me in a few years. But I can't stay at that home where I am always being treated like shit. But what can I expect when my own dad has no feelings for me.'

'What do you expect I will spend my money on you? No way. That day passed. If you are not helping me to gain something why do you expect something from me? And yeah I always counted what I spent on you after your mom left. As she used to earn so I didn't count before that.' He replied that whether I stay here or not he had nothing to worry about.

Then I said, 'Then why did you keep me to you? My mum wanted to take me with her. And yeah tell me the amount you spent on me.'
He replied to me, 'Well the amount is not much, only 7 lakhs. And that time I thought I can use you in this kind of situation so I kept you to me.'

'Don't you think you count much more than you spent on me? As you never gave me a good life. And thanks for giving me a reason to leave this place.' I replied.
'Aww, my girl this all is counted with interest. That's why the amount is 7 lakhs and you only have 3 years to pay me back. And yeah in three years you have to pay me 10 lakhs. If you agree then sign an agreement and leave right now.' He said.

'Now? Where will I go at night? Okay, leave it. I am leaving. And where is the agreement? I have to read that and I will keep one copy to me.' Then he showed me the agreement. We both signed and I packed my bag and left home."

Then Ira stopped and I hugged her and said, "I never thought that you would suffer this kind of thing in your life. I am so sorry to hear this. I can't change what happened to you. But I will try my best to be with you during your bad time. Now you don't need to continue. Tell me later about how you paid your dad and where you were after that time. You are looking so pale. Let's go to the room and take a rest."

"Okay" Ira didn't reply. Then I held her and we both left the theater room.
When we reached our room it was already 7:30 pm. So, I told her, "Lemme bring some food for you." and then I get up to leave but Ira hold my hand and said,
"I don't need food, I need you. Please stay with me. All those flashbacks are blurring my eyes. I want to forget those for now. We can take bread, butter, and juice at dinner as you recommended burger but I can't let you go now. Please stay with me."

I instantly sat beside her and said, "You don't need to say please to me. I am with you always, forever." Then we lay on the bed. I am holding her on my chest, tears are still rolling from her eyes. I don't know how to console her. She suffered a lot. Still, she is so brave if I was at her place; I dunno, would I be able to survive or not.

Then I released her and said, "Do you wanna create new memories in dim light? There will be low light which will help you to overcome your phobia not fully but a little."
"What kind of memory?" Ira asked.

"The memory when I am making love to you. Of course, if you want." When I said she hugged me and said,
"I dunno will that help me to overcome my phobia or not. But yeah that will create a new memory in my mind. I love you my love and thanks for loving me this way. Please never leave me. I won't be able to survive then. Whom I loved in the past they left me or they hurt me a lot. I can't take a new heartbreak. Then I will die."

When she uttered that DIE word I held her mouth and said, "I love you as you love me. I can't think of leaving you and you also promise me that you won't leave me." I said.
"I promise, I won't leave you until it's come on you. I will always keep you before me." Ira's reply made my eyes teary. I never thought that Ira would love me in this way. Then I turned off the switch of her room's common light. Now only the table lamp's light is there. That also makes Ira phobic. So I got close to her and said in her ear, "I love you, honey. Let's make some new memories together." Then she holds me tightly and I put my lips on her.

…

I dunno if this is gonna help Ira or not but if this special memory is gonna help her at least 1% then I am happy.
God please never let this happen with anyone what happened with Ira.
A child never deserves this kind of childhood......
A BITTER CHILDHOOD.....