The Rise: Land of the Devils, #1

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the authors’ imaginations. Any resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Note :

Nicknames :-

Love - Shelly, Rani, Little Trouble

Jasmine - Sas

Simrat - Sim

Ayesha - Saavi, Ekiya

Leoluca Santangelo - Yuvaan, Luca

Asif Ahmed Khan - Sultaan

CHAPTER 1

Life has taught me many lessons. You don't have to go out of the premises of the house when you're born into a dominant family. Here! Girls' lives are miserable. It doesn't matter to the elders of the family what your dreams are, they want you to be submissive, obedient. They want you to see wrong happening without raising your voice, without objecting to it. I know something is wrong. I've seen my father doing the wrong things. He didn't raise his hand on me, but he raised his hand on my mother. He doesn't know I've seen him doing it, but I've seen him from my hiding place. My mother loathed him, still, she's staying here because of fear and her marriage's duties. I know, Our fathers aren't merely engaged in the business of transportation. There's more. I've seen them loading bags in the back of the SUV. I tried to peep in hoping to find it to be old clothes for donation. But it wasn't. Whatever yellow, black substance was filled in it. Its smell made me retch. My mother found it out. She was so furious at me. She asked me to make words to her not to share it with anyone and I'm still carrying that promise.

I stare at the small table on the side of my single bed. There are two pictures: one with my parents and brother: and the second with my sisters. Though, they're my friends. We're not related by blood. We're sisters from another mother.

My room is comfortable though it's not the big one like my parents have. There's everything I need, a cupboard, a small bookcase, a desk with a chair and an attached bathroom. I want a window too, but only dry moss color walls with cream color on the ceiling.

Sim is going to marry at the end of this week. I'm not against arranged marriage but I'm also not in favour. I don't wanna marry a man, whom I don't know. They just dropped it on her. I don't think one week will be enough to understand his lifestyle and know him before the wedding. But Sim seems happy and it looks genuine. So I'm not worried about her. I can only hope her husband will treat her like a lady.

Otherwise, it would make her life hell. Life is changing every day after the last day of college. I don't wanna put a full stop to my studies yet. Our mothers tried their best. As a result, we didn't get married at the age of eighteen, but the fear was always there. Sim got betrothed instantly after the last day of college. I can expect it from the records of our families. One of us or two will be betrothed during her wedding. The apocalypse seems imminent. I don't want a loveless life. I don't wanna marry a person who I don't know. Simple!

The pounding on the door startles me, Rani! My father's voice comes from the other side of the door. It's only my father who doesn't use my name written in the government record. Rani means Queen.

Daddy! I'm awake. I say slowly, but I give it enough voice to make it hear him.

I hear his footsteps this time decreasing. I yank the cover away and walk out of the room over the window bare feet. The sun isn't visible in the sky yet. But I can see the orange outline. This is an important day for Sim.

It is private land. It's big enough for four families with a private road.

Exhaling the breath from my lungs, I walk across the floor and open the door of my dark brown cupboard. Daddy installed it last year on my birthday. I rake my eyes on my clothes.

It's extremely confusing what to wear when you have a lot of options, but I love this confusion. Only this one!

I have chosen white-fitting denim jeans and a white cotton top with puffy short sleeves. We aren't allowed in the beauty parlor. I need to shave my arms before bathing.

I love my sisters. Sas and Saavi are really good human beings, with no ego, humble, and down to earth, they love me from the core of their hearts. People around here expect girls to be beautiful, very very beautiful. My skin is ivory, I don't care what others think. I love myself. Sim is a bit egoistic, okay I'm wrong, it's not a bit. I know she is jealous of me. I don't know the reasons yet. She never shares it but I know she does. I can just tell from the expressions that she gives when I'm around. She doesn't like me.

I didn't see a flick of sadness in her eyes that she is going to stay far away from us with her in-laws. It's only two or three hours away by road from here. Our house! I didn't pay attention to who is going to be her husband, but her smile says she likes him.  That's all that matters, Happiness! Ain't it?

I showered, taking my full time. I tuck my hair in a neat bun, no strands are standing out. I pull two strands out brushing against my cheeks. I grab my luggage. Momi and I packed it last night.

Genuinely speaking, I don't wanna attend the function. I know Sim doesn't like me, I can see it every time, when a stranger for some unknown reason without any selfishness, that stranger shows me his good side. She has a problem with it. Unfortunately, we're in such a community, where people judge you by your rank in society, with your pelf and some narrow-minded will judge you, by how good-looking you're. Which is a shameful thing. Such people with this mentality are a stigma on humanity. Can't we see the good side? Money could be earned, status could be changed. It's not permanent. Why don't we value permanent things, like good people from the core of their hearts?

I SHAKE OFF MY THOUGHTS and walk out of the room with my luggage, Good morning, Momi! I kiss her cheek and sit next to my brother. She bends down and kisses my head. She's the best mother in the world, Good morning, Dad, Haughty brother. I smile.

She serves me my breakfast and I stare at it with a little frown. It's my sleeping time, not eating.

Morning, Rani, My dad chuckles.

Raj glares at me and then frowns, Just brother is enough, He rolls the Paratha in his hand and gets on his feet, I'm waiting outside, Little sister. He smirked.

Huh! I snorted.

I'm three years older than you, I hear him in his merry tone.

I'm twenty-one, the youngest among them. My parents laugh. I love my family. They love us and they didn't raise their hand on us. Abruptly, I yawn still staring at my plate.

Your this habit. Momi stares at me, shaking her head in disapproval. Take a nap in the car. She says and puts a glass of chocolate milk on the table.

" You know. I can't sleep properly with blowing horns, sudden brakes, and the smell of petrol and diesel. '' I pout and blink at her.

My dad laughs again, My princess! Soon someone will come and take you to his kingdom. I heard it a lot when I was a little girl. Whenever my father says this to me, I see a strange kind of sadness in his eyes. I couldn't decipher it. It was the old days when he raised his hand on my mother, but he does not do it now and I'm glad. He didn't do it after they found my brother looking at them.

Fighting!

My mother rubs her hand on the back of his meaty hand, She'll be happy after her wedding. She assures him, flashing her beautiful smile.

She will, Dad holds her hand and glances at her with love in his eyes.

They really confuse me when they show love to each other. I can't see hatred anymore in her eyes. I can't understand this bond.

I pretend to cough, I'll be going, Momi. I say as I get on my feet. I didn't touch the glass.

Rani, stop! Dad says.

I stop my hand near the handle of the bag and look at the most beautiful couple. I smile. Momi rushes into the kitchen.

She comes back with a black sipper in her hand. She pours the chocolate milk in it and tightens the lid. She extends her hand toward me, Ain't you coming? I ask them.

Right behind you, Dad smiles.

I grab the sipper from her. Giving them a final nod, I walk out. I stop in the doorway. I glance at them. I always wanna see them happy, no matter what.

My dad is forty-seven years old, tall, and fit. His hair is dark and brown eyes with a sharp jawline. He's handsome. My mother is forty-three years old. She got married when she was eighteen. Her dark brown hair is very long, her skin is creamy white, hazel eyes, and a slim and fit body. She's beautiful, so beautiful. They have maintained themselves very well.

I still can't believe Sim is going to marry and she's so glad about her arranged marriage. Whatever it is. If she's happy then all settled, I'm happy. But I don't see myself in her shoes.

I gaze around, the street lamps are making everything visible. The pitch-black sky is gleaming with half moon, light, and stars. The insects are making noise in the dark, making it a bit spooky. I feel goosebumps on my skin as this time of night is cool.

I spotted the white Toyota