บท 7: Abha's past -I

**Continuation of the previous chapter...

Despite speaking less both children understood each other better. The old couple was very happy to see the positive changes. Abha spoke less but tried her best to interact with the family. Living with them she learned about medicine.

Rick and grandpa taught her self-defense and many other skills too. Rick started to open up and his lonely personality was changed into a more cheerful one, he talked more but Abha was still trying hard to progress.

When Rick turned 18, he got a scholarship to study advanced medicine courses in-country M. The couples were sad that he would have to stay far from them but were also happy because his hard work was being paid. Rick's dream to study in the same medical college as his parents was fulfilled.

For Abha, she was being separated from her only one friend and brother how could she be happy. Even if she didn't say it, her unhappiness was written all over her face.

Knowing Abha was sad the old couple tried to make out their time to look after her, after Rick's leave. Life was going smoothly. Finally, she thought she found a happy family as she had once wished for but fate had written something other for her...

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As usual, the old couple took her to the lab, and Abha followed the couple and observed the research from a far distance. But suddenly during an experiment, the lab exploded. Cries, horrid smell, and blood were everywhere.

The impact was so high that whoever was present in the lab was all dead. The old couple died and Abha who was far from the lab was also injured but not dead.

Her right part of the body was burned, even after her treatment, a scar remained on her face. the sixteen-year-old Abha's brown eyes had changed into dark colors which look like the eye of a beast. Maybe that was the side effect of the explosion. The beautiful girl turned scary and hideous. When she was being treated, Rick returned to Pliuca and conducted the funeral for his grandparents.

The lab took responsibility for her shelter and studies until she turned 18. Before Rick left for Country M, he went to meet Abha. They both cried and promised to be for each other in need.

For again she was all alone. To distract herself from her thoughts, she fully focused on reading and learning even without taking a break. To hide her appearance she became used to wearing black glasses and covering her face with her hair. Everyone thought of her as a nerd, a freak, and a monster, and no one interacted with her because of rumors circulated around her like she was a jinx, bad luck, hideous, and so on.

She didn't have a friend so became obsessed with computers and medicine. None knew what she was capable of as she always acted like an average student.

During class, she used to sleep, and the teacher ignored her as she was always a backbencher. None knew she could only sleep in class as she had a fear of having nightmares when she was alone and only during the class time she could rest.

One day a young boy named Shauny, who was captain of her school's basketball team proposed to her to be his girlfriend. She rejected but he remained persistent. Just like any teenage girl, she would like to be in love with her prince charming.

Someone was so persistent in pursuing and wooing her, that she had no choice but to accept. He acted as a perfect boyfriend for a week. Even if she hadn't fallen in love some emotions were forming inside her.

After a week, when she was walking towards the canteen she heard the voice and laughter of Shauny in an empty corridor. He was ignoring her for two days so to know what has happened to him she reached for the voice.

In an empty room, there were five-person; two girls and three boys. Shauny had an arm around a girl and he was caressing her hair. The people were having a conversation and Abha heard each and every word they spoke.

The girl asked, "Hey Shauny, I say you pestering that freak Abha somedays ago, what's that about?"

A boy replied, "Oh! maybe you don't know that Shauny had a bet with his girlfriend that if he could make Abha fall for him, they had to go together for a holiday and have a date."

"Oh! then did he win?"

"Yeah, he is my boyfriend how couldn't he win. But baby, you didn't fall for her, did you? Did she not disgust you?"The girl in Shauny's arms acted coquettishly and questioned him.

"Oh, baby what are you talking about. I, Shauny only fell in love with you and no other. But yeah Abha looks hideous, she didn't even show her face. It will be boring to find such an idiot who neither speaks nor is attractive. I doubt she will find someone who will wholeheartedly accept her as a girlfriend. None wants such a freak."

"Shauny you played with her feelings, don't you feel guilty?' the other girl asked

"Here comes the righteous one. I didn't commit a crime, I just acted. So why feel guilty?

During their conversation, one of the boys saw Abha and announced her presence. The room turned silent. Abha didn't move from her position but looked at Shauny with a questioning gaze.

A trace of guilt could be seen in his eyes but also he spoke, "Hey, Abha when did you come? Maybe you heard us as it is the truth, do accept. Everything was an act between us."

Abha wanted to ask a lot of things but she couldn't form a sentence or a word to ask. So, she nodded her head and walked out.

After that incident, some newcomers tried to be close to her but after some days they kept a far distance as if she was a plague. Abha thought of herself as a failure.

Her wish to find a happy family for a lifetime couldn't be fulfilled but she wished for a loving partner who will stand by her side and face the difficulties together. She dreamed some prince will take her away from her suffering as in the story of Cinderella.

But now she began to think all her wishes, she wanted were not right for her in the first place.

Due to the negative emotions rising within her she was starting to feel depressed. She stayed in her room every time with no food and sleep. One day, the principal of her school, noticed her absence. To find the principal went to her room. She was sitting in a dark corner and mumbling. Seeing her situation they called freaked out and immediately called for doctors.

Even Rick who was far away knew about her situation and immediately brought her to country M and admitted her to the hospital. With the help of Rick and treatment, she turned a bit better.

The doctors suggested changing Abha's living environment and sending her somewhere quiet and peaceful. So, Rick decided to send her to a monastery on a mountain.