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Being Stacey!

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  being Stacey! There are moments in life when everything changes quietly — no thunder, no warning, no dramatic ending. Just silence, and then nothing is the same again. For Stacey, it happened on a humid July evening. Her father’s shoes still sat by the door, muddy from work. The TV was still on, her mother was still humming in the kitchen — and then the phone rang. She didn’t remember dropping the plate. She didn’t remember sitting on the floor. She only remembered her mother’s trembling hands, the way her voice cracked when she whispered, “There’s been an accident.” After that, time blurred. The funeral, the condolences, the empty words from neighbors who didn’t really know them — they all passed like static. Her father’s debts surfaced faster than their grief could fade. Men in dark shirts and quiet threats began showing up at their doorstep. Her mother’s health worsened. And Stacey found herself standing alone beneath the weight of everything her father had left behi...

UNBRIDELY !

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  UNBRIDELY! she was never meant to be a bride! The mirror in the bridal room shimmered back at her. Her magenta lehenga heavy with embroidery, layers of jewelry, the scent of roses filling the air. Kiara stared at herself in the mirror. She looked every bit of the bride she was supposed to be. Supposed to be. Her chest tightened, sitting there on the chair, in front of the mirror, at a massive and beautiful palace in jodhpur - their venue for the wedding. (Flashback) Growing up she had always known her future. Riaan, her father's best-friend's son, was her shadow. He carried her schoolbag when she complained of backaches, he lent her his cycle when hers had a flat tyre, he sat next to her during every family functions. And she liked all this, infact loved all of it. It felt safe. She didn't have to imagine her future. It was already written. As teenagers, when friends whispered about crushes and breakups, she only smiled and thought, " I don't have to think about ...

The Nine Nights !

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Chapter 1 : The first night! She fastened the silver earing, smoothed her dupatta (a long scarf) and stepped back to look at herself. She bid goodbye to her parents and stepped out, excited for the night. Her friends came to pick her up in their car. Every year there was a large celebration of garba at there university campus grounds.  As they entered the campus, five of them - Era, Formi, Helly, Saniya, Anaya, the dhol (double headed drum) echoed through the air, syncing with the hum of voices, laughter and the sharp clink of dandiyas striking together. The air was alive with the sounds of dhol and laughter. Nine nights of Navratri meant nine nights of music, colors and endless energy. Era had always loved this time of year - the chaos, the togetherness, the way everyone seemed to leave their worries at home. Soon the group spun to life. Swirling skirts, clapping hands, the rhythm of sticks striking in harmony. She lost herself  in the  steps, twirling, laughing, moving ...