Chapter 14: Unfamiliar Walls

The car pulled up in front of Rohit's house, and Aria, burdened by the weight of the rules imposed upon her, unloaded her belongings with a heavy heart. The unfamiliar surroundings only intensified the ache of being away from the protection of her parents.

Rohit, escorting her to the servant quarters, spoke with a stern tone: "This is where you'll stay. Follow the rules, and you'll do just fine."

The servant room, a stark contrast to the warmth of her childhood home, felt like a prison of unfamiliarity. It was sparsely furnished, and as Aria entered, she noticed the absence of a bed. The cold, hard floor awaited her, in adherence to the rules that dictated her place of rest.

Rohit, reminding her of the rules, asserted: "Remember, you sleep on the floor. No special privileges here."

With a weary nod, Aria acknowledged the harsh reality of her new existence. The room, bare and unwelcoming, echoed with the silence of solitude as she began to unpack her belongings.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders, not just physical fatigue but the emotional toll of the day's events. Tears welled up in her eyes as she contemplated the stark contrast between the life she had known and the one she was thrust into.

Alone in the unfamiliar quarters, Aria's emotions spilled over, and she allowed herself a moment of vulnerability. She fell onto the cold floor, hugging herself as if seeking comfort that the room couldn't provide. The invisible chains of rules bound her, and the harsh reality of being away from her parents' protection set in.

As she lay on the floor, sleep eventually claimed her, but it was a restless slumber. Dreams were haunted by memories of her family, the warmth of her childhood home, and the security that had been snatched away.

The night unfolded in silence, with Aria's tears marking the unspoken sorrow of a girl far from home, trapped within the unforgiving walls of her new reality.

As the first light of dawn crept through the windows of Rohit's house, Aria was abruptly awakened by the stern voice of Rohit's wife, Mrs. Sharma. The sudden intrusion into the stillness of the morning jolted Aria into wakefulness.

Mrs. Sharma, with an air of authority: "Aria, it's 5 in the morning. Time to get up. You've got work to do."

Aria, disoriented and fatigued, rose from the hard floor, her body aching from the discomfort of the night. Mrs. Sharma, a formidable woman with an unwavering demeanor, introduced herself.

Mrs. Sharma: "I'm Mrs. Sharma, and this is my son, Rahul."

Rahul, standing in the background with a disinterested gaze, nodded without saying a word.

Mrs. Sharma, setting the tone: "Now, your duties start early. Wash the clothes, clean the house, and make sure the utensils are spotless. By 7 am, I want you bathed and ready. No slacking off. Understand?"

Aria, still adjusting to the new environment, nodded silently, bracing herself for the relentless demands of the morning.

The unrelenting routine began, and Aria found herself immersed in a whirlwind of chores, the hard floor beneath her feet a constant reminder of the stark rules that governed her life. As the morning unfolded, the weight of servitude settled in, marking the beginning of a day bound by the rules of her new reality.