Hey Sweeties ❤️

This is the first chapter of "Blind Devotion"

I am a new writer here so there will be so many grammatical mistakes. So please let me know if you found any mistakes.

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पल-भर ठहर जाओ, दिल ये सँभल जाए

कैसे तुम्हें रोका करूँ?

मेरी तरफ़ आता हर ग़म फिसल जाए

आँखों में तुम को भरूँ

बिन बोले बातें तुम से करूँ

'गर तुम साथ हो

अगर तुम साथ हो

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The night over Bangalore had a strange stillness almost as if the city was holding its breath. The roads that were normally crowded with late night bikers, food delivery vehicles, and buzzing nightlife were unusually empty. Yellow streetlights cast long shadows on the asphalt, flickering occasionally like tired stars. Through that silence, a sleek black Mercedes glided across the empty stretch, cutting through the loneliness of the night. Behind the wheel sat Ekaksh Rajvansh, posture straight, expression carved from stone. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel a habit he had when deep in thought.

He had just come out of a long meeting with his legal advisors. A meeting filled with caution. “Sir, your is cornered. Please be careful.” Ekaksh had only smirked as he walked out of the building. Carefulness wasn’t in his blood. He believed in control of situations, people, outcomes, everything.

Tonight, he believed he was in control too. He had no idea fate was waiting just around the corner. As he approached the Indiranagar signal, the light turned yellow. Most drivers slowed down. Ekaksh didn’t slow down. He hated waiting for anything… even traffic lights.

But just as his car rolled forward, from the dark, almost invisble side lane a truck lunged forward. It wasn’t slow, it wasn’t accidental. It came with the intention to crush, not collide. The headlights hit his windshield like a flashbang. Ekaksh’s eyes widened instinctively, a rare moment of shock cutting through his calm mask. He jerked the steering wheel hard. A violent collision ripped the silence.

Metal screamed against metal. Glass shattered and sprayed across the road like deadly glitter. The car skidded, flipped halfway, then crashed onto its side with a final deafening thud. Ekaksh’s head smacked against the window. Warm blood crawled down the side of his face, his breath hitched in his throat. His body slumped sideways, half-conscious, half-drifting into nothingness. Through blurred vision, he heard footsteps… slow… deliberate. Then a voice deep, mocking, familiar. “Next time, Rajvansh… I’ll make sure you don’t get up. But Ekaksh couldn’t respond darkness dragged him under like a tide.

City Care Hospital had seen emergencies before, but tonight felt different. The paramedics burst through the automatic doors, wheeling in a man whose name alone caused doctors to freeze for a fraction of a second.

Rajvansh…?

THE EKAKSH RAJVANSH? Oh God call the chief surgeon! One of the Doctor said. The room transformed into controlled chaos. Machines beeped, nurses rushed, gloves snapped on fingers, orders flew through the air. His body lay motionless on the stretcher blood on his forehead, cuts on his arms, shirt torn near the ribs. A nurse whispered under her breath, “he’s losing so much blood…”

Doctors worked frantically fixing IVs, stitching wounds, stabilizing him. The antiseptic air smelled of urgency. The clicking of heel echoed through the hallway before Raina (Ekaksh’s secretary) even appeared. She wasn’t composed like usual. Her hair was messy, her breath trembling, her eyes swollen. She pushed past a nurse. “Where is he? Move!” When she saw Ekaksh lying unconscious, something inside her broke. He was always the strongest person she knew unshakable, unreadable, almost inhuman in his control.

Seeing him like this was like watching a titan fall. She held his cold hand with shaking fingers. A tear fell on his wrist. She couldn’t remember the last time she cried for anyone. A nurse quickly came forward. “Ma’am please, come with me” her voice was gentle, soft enough to cut through the chaos of the corridor. The nurse slipped an arm around her shoulder and guided her from the OT doors. Raina sit down on the long steel bench placed outside the OT, the cold metal seeped into her skin, grounding her slightly. “God please… just save him…”

Aariv arrived seconds later, sweaty from running, still in his night suit. His chest was heaving, not from exhaustion, but fear. “Where the hell is my brother?” he shouted on Raina. She didn’t utter a single word her finger simply lifted, trembling. Pointing toward the OT. When Aariv saw Ekaksh through the glass, hooked to wires and tubes, his jaw locked. Rage bubbled in his chest. “Who did this?” he growled. Raina slowly shook her head, her eyes clouding with worry.

He punched the wall hard enough to bruise his knuckles. Raina flinched, but Aariv didn’t feel the pain. His best friend was inside fighting for his life.

Within an hour, the entire country knew. Every news anchor was screaming into camers. “Breaking news! The Ekaksh Rajvansh in a critical accident! Footage leaked! Was this a murder attempt?” Videos of the damaged Mercedes flooded Instagram and Twitter. Clips of the ambulance went viral. Speculations, conspiracies, hashtags everything exploded at once. People who never met him suddenly prayed for him, who hated him celebrated. The entire internet was staring at a man who hated being seen.

Devanshi Rajvansh Ekaksh’s mother, arrived with trembling steps. She looked smaller than usual fragile, devasted. The moment she stood before the ICU window, her world shattered. Her only son covered in wounds, breathing with machines. Lying still like a life lifeless doll. Her hand flew to her mouth as she cried. “Aksh… mere bacche…”

Aariv held her. “kuch nahi hoga maa use.” But his voice wavered. After an hour the hospital corridor was cold, washed in a pale white light that made everything look even more tense than it already was. Nurses rushed past, doctors murmured to each other, machine beeped in distant rooms. Aariv stood outside the ICU hands crossed head lowered. Devanshi Rajvansh, sat on the metal bench, her saree pallu clutched tightly in her trembling fingers. Every few seconds, she looked at ICU door, as if hoping it would magically open. Aariv walked toward her, maa. Devanshi looked up slowly. Her eyes were swollen, exhausted, but she still tried to give him a brave smile. Aariv swallowed hard and sat beside her. “Maa, please… don’t lose hope. Ekaksh is strong. Bohot strong. He’ll open his eyes, he has to.” “Main bas uski awaaz sunna chahti hoon, beta.” Aariv leaned closer, his voice almost a whisper. “Aur aap sunegi. Soon. I promise… main usko kuch hone nahi dunga.”

Devanshi finally broke down, covering her face with her hands. Aariv gently pulled her into a side-hug, letting her cry on his shoulder. “Aap akeli nahi ho maa, hum sab yahan hai. And we’re not giving up on him”

Raina stood near the water dispenser, her back facing everyone. She was pretending to be fine but her hands shook slightly as she filled the paper cup. Aariv knew he had hurt her. He walked toward her slowly. Raina…, she stiffened for a moment before turning around. Her eyes were tired, shimmering with emotions she didn’t show easily. “Hmm?” she replied softly. Aariv stopped in front of her, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry. For shouting at you earlier. I know you were also worried about Ekaksh and I…

Raina lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s okay, Aariv. I know you were worried. “Worried or not, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.” His voice cracked, sincerity pouring out. A small tear rolled down her cheek one she didn’t even realize fell. Why are you crying? He asked.

 Nothing, I just want Ekaksh to open his eyes. Seeing him lying unconscious like that every second feels heavier. It hurts in a way I can’t put into words. “After those words left her lips, Raina wiped her eyes and walked away from Aariv. She walked over to Ekaksh’s mother and quietly sat beside her, trying to hold herself together.” Aariv just stood there and looks at her, heplessy trying to make sense of the emotions she was hiding behind her trembling voice. He wanted to say something but no words came out.

The night market of the small town glimmered like a river of lights strings of fairy bulbs hung between stalls, lanterns swayed gently as the cold breeze flowed between narrow lanes, and the sound of shopkeepers calling out mixed with the laughter of families wandering around. Aarushi guided Drishti through the crowd, her hand loosely, but protectively around Drishti’s wrist. Slowly, Drishti yahaan thoda bheed zyada hai, Aarushi whispered.

Drishti nodded softly, her white cane touching the uneven stone path. The warm smell of roasted corn, masala fries and freshly fried jalebis reached her instantly. She smiled “I can smell everything. Night’s market, it feels alive. Aarushi nodded excitedly “I’ll make sure you enjoy every bit of it.” The vegetable stall was bright, filled with piles of tomatoes shinning like rubies, and coriander sprinkling its fragrance around. Aao didi, taazi sabzi le lo! Aaj sab fresh hai fresh!” Aarushi picked up a bunch of coriander and placed it in Drishti’s hand. “Smell this fresh hai na?

Drishti lifted it closer to her nose “haan bilkul fresh hai.” The vendor watched her with curiosity and a soft smile “Betaji, aapko aur kuch chahiye? Meri beti bhi aise hi smell se sabzi pehchanti hai.” Drishti smiled politely, Aarushi up a tomato in Drishti’s palm “yeh theek hai, firm enough, right? Drishti gently pressed it “perfect, let’s take half a kilo.”

The vendor packed the vegetables cheerfully. Aarushi and Drishti moved forward lights flickered above, casting a warm glow over their faces. Now both of them stop on dry fruits and spices shop, this stall was filled with the rich smell of cardamom, cinnamon, ghee and roasted almonds. Aarushi opened a jar of elaichi and held it near Drishti. Drishti inhaled slowly and smiled it feels like aunty ki elaichi wali chai. Her voice softened with a memory she never spoke loudly about.

 “We’ll buy it, for your elaichi wali chai. The shopkeeper handed them a small aluminium tray with mixed dry fruits, taste kar lo, beta. Aarushi placed a small almond in Drishti’s hand. Arushi tasted it crispy, let’s buy this one. The shopkeeper packed everything while soft Bollywood romantic music played from an old speaker behind him old Rafi songs floating with the night wind. The night had grown deeper now.

People moved around them with bags full of fruits, shawls, bangles, and boxes. Kids ran behind cotton candy stands. Drishti tightened her grip on Arushi’s hand. The sounds were louder here bargaining voices, laughter, auto rikshaws honking somewhere farther away. Are you okay? Aarushi asked. Drishti just nodded.

They entered a brightly lit lane full of steel utensils, colorful buckets, soft bedsheets, and lamps. Aarushi picked up a small lamp shaped like a lotus. Drishti, feel this, she placed it in Drishti’s palm, she traced its carved petals.

“It’s beautiful, it feels like a blooming flower.” “Should we buy it for your bedside table?” Drishti nodded happily. Next, they chose a soft cotton towel, a set of steel bowls, a small bell for the kitchen door and scented candles that smelled like lavender. The lights were slowly dimming as Drishti and Aarushi walked back home, the night breeze was cold enough to make the plastic bag handles bite into their fingers.

As they crossed the quieter stretch near the old shuttered bookstall, Aarushi’s steps faltered. She suddenly felt a presence behind them more than one. The crunch of gravel, low whispers the kind of silence that feels wrong. “Drishti…” Aarushi murmured, anxiety curling in her voice. Drishti stopped immediately. Her heightened senses caught it too three sets of footsteps, slow, taunting, approaching. A sour smell of cheap deodorant mixed with cigarette smoke drifted toward her.

“Oh ho… dekho toh”, one boy laughed, looking beautiful girls another whistled, walking closer “kidhar jaa rahi ho raat ko?” Aarushi grabbed Drishti’s arm tightly. “Drishti let’s go fast.” But one boy stepped ahead and grabbed Drishti’s wrist. “Leave her hand” Aarushi shouted, fear choking her voice. The boy smirked, “kya karegi tu? She is blind, we will do anything what we want.”

 Drshti lowered her head slightly, her tone dropped to ice “leave my hand, you are making a mistake, it will not good for all three of you.” The boy laughed “attitude to dekho is ka? Listen baby…” Drishti didn’t flinch. Instead, she titled her head slightly, listening calculating. The way he breathed, the shift of his weight, the grip strength every painted a clear picture in her mind.

 And then, she moved, with a sharp twist of her arm and a sudden pivot of her body, she yanked the body forward and slammed her elbow into his sternum. The breath whooshed out of him as he stumbled backward, clutching his chest. “What the…?” the second guy shouted. Aarushi gasped, “Drishti!”, but Drishti was calm, eerily calm. “I warned you,” she said, voice low and steady.

“If any girl is alone or blind, it does not mean she is weak. It only means the world has underestimated her strength. People like you who think girls are fragile or helpless just because of their circumstances are completely wrong. Girls are not weak they carry a kind of strength that doesn’t need eyes to see or someone to protect them. They fight, they survive, and they rise again, even when no one stands beside them. Strength is not about sight or company strength is about courage and girls have more courage than anyone can imagine.”

The second man rushed toward her, thinking she couldn’t see him. But Drishti heard the scuff of his shoe, the swipe of air as he lifted his arm to grab her. She ducked cleanly, her cane hanging loosely from her hand until now, swung up in a perfect arc and smacked straight across his face.

 He yelped, the stumbling back as blood trickled from his nose. The third man, angrier than the rest, lunged trying to hold her from behind. “Aarushi, move!” Drishti shouted her instincts razor sharp. Aarushi stepped aside, trembling but trusting. The moment he touched Drishti’s shoulder, she spun grabbed his wrist, and bent it backward. The crack was loud enough to make Aarushi’s knees shake. The man screamed.

 “That’s what happens,” Drishti hissed, her voice burning with controlled fire, “jab tum jaise log sochte ho ki akeli or andhi ladki hone ka matlab bechari hona hota hai.” The first man tried again, charging at her blindly in rage. She sensed him coming his breath loud, steps heavy. Drishti planted her foot firmly, shifted her weight, and delivered a clean side kick straight to his stomach like she had done it a thousand times.

 He fell on the gravel, coughing violently. All three man were now scrambling backward, fear replacing arrogance. They grabbed each other, muttering, “Chal Bhaag! Isse dur reh” they scampered away, slipping in their burry, disappearing into dark lane like frightened rats. Aarushi ran to Drishti, breathless, voice shaking, “Drishti, are you okay? I… I was so scared.”

Drishti exhaled slowly, the adrenaline still humming through her, she reached forward, finding Aarushi’s hand and squeezing it, “I’m fine, Aru. They chose the wrong girl tonight.” Aarushi felt tears prick her eye part fear, part awe, she hugged her tightly, heart ponding. Together, they picked up their fallen grocery bags, the night air still sharp but no longer frightening.

By the time Drishti and Aarushi reached home, the night had settled completely, the cold breeze slipped through the open corridors of the rented house, carrying the faint smell of pine trees. The lights inside flickered warmly, making the place feel safe again after the danger they had just escaped. Aarushi dropped the grocery bags dramatically on the table. “Uff! Drishti, I swear kal se hum online grocery order karenge.”

Drishti narrowed her eyes “online? And who will check if the tomatoes are fresh? Tum to mujh jaisi andhi se bhi bekar ho is case mein”. Aarushi palced a hand on her hip “excuse me?? Did Miss Blind Queen just call me useless at choosing vegetables?” Drishti smirked, “yes. Sach kadwa hota hai, Aru.” Aarushi gasped dramatically.

“Bas! I’m resigning from my post as your official grocery helper.” Drishti raised an eyebrow “permission denied. Contract lifetime ka hai.” Aarushi groaned and marched into the kitchen. “Hai rabba, tere vargi bossy kuri naal taan mera hi paala painda rehnda hai!” Drishti ginned “Tu lucky aa, eh paala sirf tere hi hisse da hai, kise hor nu nahi milda.” She followed Aarushi closely, walking by sound, Aru's footsteps, the rustle of her clothes, the soft click of the kitchen light.

As soon as they entered, Aarushi tied her apron and declared, "Okay Drishti, rules same, tu help karegi, par aag se door rahegi."

Drishti gasped dramatically. "Discrimination!"

Aarushi folder her arms. "Safety!"

"Boring!" Drishti shot back instantly.

Aarushi ignored her tantrum and started unpacking veggies. Drishti moved toward the counter, hands sliding across the surface until she found the cutting board. She tapped it lightly. Aarushi looked at her suspiciously. "Last time bhi yehi bola tha. Aur fir…"

Drishti finished her sentence proudly, "tomato ne bowl se escape paln banaya. Maine kuch nahi kiya tha."

Aarushi chuckled "Aur aaj? Aaj kya plan hai?" Drishti flicked her hair dramatically. "Aaj kisi ko bhi escape nahi hone dungi." Aarushi shook her head and pushed a bowl toward her. "Yeh le cut sabjiya cut kar, sirf cut karna don’t murdered them.

Drishti took one, felt its round shape, then placed it on the board. She sliced it slowly, carefully, she had practised this a hundred times. "Look? Hoon na main professional…" just then the tomato jumped out again, rolled off the board, bounced once on the counter and plopped onto the floor.

Aarushi gasped "Not again". Drishti froze, knife in hand, then said in a tiny voice, "Maine kuch nahi kiya that tomato want to join a biker gang."

Aarushi teased, "Tumhari aur tamatar ki dushmai kya hai." She moved near Drishti to take the chopped vegetables when suddenly Aarushi's phone buzzed loudly on the counter.

"Aru, tera phone vibrating like crazy," Drishti said, titling her head toward the sound. Aarushi wiped her hands quickly on her apron and grabbed the phone and checked it "Uff… Mummy ka phone!" Drishti instantly lifted one eyebrow with a dramatic smirk "phir se lectucre?"

Aarushi pointed a threatening finger at her "chup, aur sun meri peeth padhte hi kuch mat karna! Kuch bhi nahi!" Drishti stood straight, "I promise." Aarushi stepped out of the kitchen, walking toward the living room while Drishti stayed inside, humming loundly on purpose to annoy her.

As soon as Aarushi answered "Aru beta! Kya kar rahi ho?"

"Kitchen mein thi mummy. Drishti ke saath… well, I am still alive."

"Very funny beta. Drishti thik hain aa or tumhara kaam hua ki nahi. Kab aaogi tum dono ghar tumhare papa bhi puch rahe the tumhare baare main, maine toh pehle hi kaha tha koi aur post chun lo nahi par tumne meri baat hi nai maani, now you take Drishti with you also, ghar suna suna lag raha hai.

Aarushi sighed, rubbing her forehead "mummy sans to lo aur meri baat suno mera kaam hogaya hai."

"Toh thik hai kal ke kal tum dono mujhe mere saamne chahiye, otherwise, both of you ki proper pitai hogi"

Aarusi said dramatically "okay mummy, kal hum apni hazri laga denge"

"Bas! Fir theek. Aur haan, mere liye woh chocolate pastry lana lana mat bhoolna."

Aarushi gasped "mummy… pastry ke liye call kiya tha kya?"

"Most important kaam tha yeh. Bye bacche khud ka meri Drishu ka dhyaan rakhna." And with that, she hung up- classic mom style.

Aarushi stared at the phone "seriously… pastry?"

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