Not Yours To Keep

Chapter 1

“Hey, wake up!”
A loud knock on the wooden door snapped Aariya out of sleep.

She opened her eyes slowly, still caught between dreams and reality. Her aunt Sushila’s voice came through the door—loud and impatient, cutting through the quiet morning.

Aariya sat up, pulling the thin blanket off her shoulders. The cold air touched her skin, reminding her that summer hadn’t reached this part of the house yet. She folded the worn-out blanket neatly and placed it to one side, then smoothed the old mattress lying directly on the cracked floor.

She didn’t say anything. She never did in the mornings.

The room was bare—faded paint on the walls, a rusty window grill, and a small hope that maybe tomorrow would be kinder.

She walked out slowly, her feet used to the chill of the cement floor. At the end of the narrow corridor was the bathroom, lit by a tired yellow bulb that flickered now and then.

The mirror inside was cracked, but it didn’t bother her. She was used to broken things—walls, routines, even dreams.

She changed into her dress and stepped outside. Her aunt and uncle had already gone to work—they were vegetable sellers at the market. Her uncle left early, and her aunt followed after.

She took her bicycle and rode off. The morning breeze felt fresh and comforting, and this quiet ride was one of her favorite parts of the day.

Soon, she reached the hotel where she worked. It was a three-star place, and she’d been working there for almost three months now.

But deep down, she didn’t want to do this forever. One day, she wanted to move to the city, get a better job, and start a new life. This job was just for now—just to keep her uncle and aunt from complaining.

She parked her bicycle and walked quickly to the workers’ room. After changing into the hotel uniform—a neat green shirt and pants—she heard someone walk in.

“Good morning, Aariya,” said Rani.

Aariya smiled back. “Good morning.”

“Today’s going to be a busy one.”

“We’ve got to clean all the rooms on level three,” Aariya replied. “Let’s not waste time.”

“Let’s go,” Rani said, and they both headed out with a small laugh.

After three long hours, they finally finished all the rooms on the third floor.

They sat down to rest, wiping their foreheads and sipping water.

“Hello, ladies,” said Mr. Rohan, walking in with a smile. “Tomorrow, the boss’s son is visiting the hotel. So make sure everything is clean. No mistakes.”

He paused and added, “He runs a big hotel in the city. If you impress him, maybe he’ll offer one of you a job.”

Both Aariya and Rani looked at each other, eyes wide. For Aariya, this felt like a chance—a real one.

Mr. Rohan continued, “This hotel was the first one his father opened, so he still visits now and then. They’re planning to renovate it soon, make it more modern.”

Aariya felt her heart beat a little faster. Maybe tomorrow could be the beginning of something new.

“But be careful,” Mr. Rohan added with a chuckle. “He’s known to be a bit of a flirt.”

Aariya and Rani exchanged cautious looks.

The rest of the day passed quickly. By 5 p.m., Aariya had finished her work and was heading home.

The house was too quiet when she reached. Not a sound. Not even the usual creaks. Her aunt and uncle weren’t back yet… or at least that’s what she hoped.

She pushed open the door slowly. The hallway was dim and full of shadows. She stepped inside, the door creaking shut behind her.

Without wasting time, she started cleaning—moving from room to room, wiping everything like she always did. Her hands moved on their own, but her ears stayed alert.

Once she was done, she went to the kitchen. Dinner had to be ready on time. It always had to be. If not… she didn’t want to think about what could happen.

As she stirred the pot, a loud knock suddenly hit the front door.

She froze.

The spoon slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor. Her breath hitched. The knock came again—louder, harder.

Her heart pounded. She stepped into the hallway, legs feeling heavy.

Another bang.

Whoever it was wasn’t just knocking—they were forcing their way in.

With a trembling hand, she reached for the latch.

The door burst open.

She was pushed so hard, she fell straight to the ground.

Pain shot through her side. Dazed, she looked up—two big men were storming into the house. They looked rough, their faces cold and scary. One of them slammed the door shut and locked it.

Behind them, her uncle and aunt stumbled in.

Aariya’s eyes widened in shock.

Her uncle’s face was beaten, covered in blood and bruises. He was limping badly, barely able to stand. Her aunt was crying nonstop, though she had no marks on her—just fear written all over her face.

“U-Uncle …?” Aariya whispered.

Her aunt dropped to her knees, shaking and sobbing.

Then one of the men turned to Aariya. He stared at her with a strange grin that made her skin crawl.

To be continued