A week passed since I joined the restaurant, and every night when I return to the hostel, my body feels completely worn out. I’m exhausted to the point that I can’t even stay awake long enough to talk to Aarthi.
Work at the restaurant is smooth, though. Shanthi sister is very understanding, and she introduced me to all the staff. We exchange quick greetings during our short breakfast and lunch breaks.
Today is my half-day, and I need to wash the pile of clothes I’ve been putting aside all week. I woke up early, had my breakfast, and started with my chores. Aarthi was still asleep, so I didn’t disturb her. I took all my clothes to the washroom and got to work.
By the time I stepped out, Aarthi was awake and glued to her phone as always. I should ask her what keeps her so hooked.
I carried the bucket of washed clothes to the terrace, hung everything neatly to dry, and came back to the room. After a bath, I changed into the only nighty I had left and sat on the bed, massaging my tired hands and legs.
Aarthi looked up from her phone when I settled on the bed.
“Done with washing?” she asked casually and I nodded.
“Hmm… finished. But tell me one thing, What is that in your phone that keeps you glued to it? Every time I see you, you’re scrolling, reading, smiling to yourself.” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.
Aarthi’s cheeks flushed a little. “Nothing… just timepass.”
“Aarthi, I work like a donkey every day, and even I’m curious now. What are you hiding?” I asked her.
She sighed dramatically and sat beside me. “Fine, fine. I’ll tell you. I read novels. On Wattpad.”
“Wattpad? What is that?”, I asked confused.
Aarthi’s eyes sparkled instantly. “It’s an app. A whole world of stories. Romance, thriller, fantasy, heartbreak… you name it, it’s there. I read every night before I sleep. That’s why I’m always on my phone. It’s like… my escape.”
I stared at her, genuinely curious now. “You read novels? On your phone? Without buying books?”
“Yes, Everything is there for free. And some stories… Meera, you will forget the world. You’ll get lost in them,” she said with the excitement of a child sharing her favorite candy.
Before I could reply, she snatched my phone from the pillow. “Here, I’ll show you. At least try it once.”
“Aarthi, wait—” I started but she had already gone to the Play Store, typing fast. She downloaded the app efficiently like she had done it a hundred times before. Once it installed, she set up an account for me, entering my name and email with a small smile.
“You’re officially part of the ocean now,” she declared proudly.
“Ocean?” I asked.
“Yes,” she giggled. “The ocean of novels. Once you dive in, good luck coming out.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re mad.”
“And you’re welcome, tonight, start with a simple romance. I’ll send you a few links of my favourites.” she said and handed the phone back to me.
I looked at the app, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a strange spark of excitement.
Maybe this would be my escape too. A little world just for myself.
“Alright, I’ll take a look at it tonight. For now, let’s have lunch and then I need some rest. By evening, I’m planning to visit the temple to offer my prayers and thank the goddess for my freedom. It’s near my ex-husband’s house, and I really hope I don’t cross paths with anyone from that family,” I said.
Aarthi looked at me with a teasing smirk. “And what would you do if you did?”
“Maybe slap someone, I ‘m not the old Meera anymore to be scared of everyone and everything.” I replied with a shrug.
I pulled her along with me to lunch. After eating, I lay down and slept like a log until Aarthi shook me awake. I gathered my dried clothes, folded them, and then got ready for the temple.
I boarded the free bus and leaned against the window, letting the breeze calm my thoughts. When I reached the temple, it was as peaceful as always, with only a few people scattered around. I bought some flowers, offered my prayers, thanked the goddess, and decided to sit for a while.
That’s when someone caught my attention.
I instinctively moved behind a pillar and peered out. Rakesh walked in with a woman beside him. And she wasn’t “just someone.” She was glowing with happiness, dressed in a silk saree, a fresh mangalsutra around her neck. The way he held her hand, smiling as if he had won a prize, told me everything.
That bastard had married again. His fourth marriage, barely a week after divorcing his third wife.
Another prey for that sex-addicted monster.
I stepped out of the temple not wanting to waste another second thinking about that man. I caught the next bus back to the hostel, leaning back in my seat as the breeze brushed against my face, slowly washing away the discomfort of what I had seen.
By the time I reached the hostel, the sky had already turned a deep shade of blue. Aarthi was sprawled on her bed, munching chips and scrolling through her phone.
“You’re back, Did it go well?” she said, sitting up.
“Hmm,” I replied, not wanting to revisit the incident.
After dinner in the hostel mess, we returned to our room. I washed my face, changed into my nighty, and fell onto the bed, exhausted but strangely restless. Aarthi was already smiling at her phone as usual.
I picked up my mobile and stared Wattpad icon Aarthi had installed for me earlier. I opened the app and clicked on the story she recommended. The cover looked simple, but the title felt soft and inviting. With a small breath, I began reading the first chapter.
The moment I started, something inside me shifted.
The story felt like a world far away from my reality, a place where people smiled, laughed, fell in love without fear… a place where the heart wasn’t something to be beaten or silenced. The male lead’s gentle words, the female lead’s stubborn innocence… I found myself smiling without realizing it.
Aarthi peeked at me. “You like it?”
I didn’t look up. “Hmm, It’s… nice” I murmured, eyes still glued to the screen.
Nice was an understatement, it felt warm. Comforting. Hopeful. With every scene, I forgot my tiredness. I forgot my pain and all the cruelty… everything.
I scrolled chapter after chapter, losing track of time, sinking deeper into the story. The characters’ chemistry made my heart flutter in a way I hadn’t felt in years.
Aarthi giggled. “Told you, Welcome to the addiction.”
I ignored her teasing and continued reading, my heart softening with each line.
After a long time, I felt alive. After a long time… I felt like Meera again. And that night, for the first time in years, I fell asleep with a small smile because of a story… a little world that gave my tired heart a reason to dream again.
A month passed with me working at the restaurant. It was tiring, but I was happy. All the staff except the strict supervisors had become familiar to me, and most of them treated me like family. Shanthi sister always made sure I ate on time. I had told her about my plan to find a place of my own, and she suggested a room near her house.
These days, I barely stayed at the hostel except for a few hours of sleep at night. I ate all three meals at the restaurant, and with my schedule, the hostel wasn’t helping me much. It seemed better to move out. I earned at least 300 rupees a day in tips, so with my salary, I could actually save some money and plan a better future.
I was still managing with three sarees, three salwars, and two nighties. Shanthi sister and a couple of other staff members had noticed and even offered me some of their clothes, but I politely refused. I had spent my whole life depending on others but not anymore. From now on, I would pay for every single thing myself.
But in the middle of all that exhaustion, loneliness, and rebuilding… I found something unexpected.
Wattpad, what started as simple curiosity soon became my silent salvation. Every night, when my body ached and my mind felt heavy, I opened those stories and the world inside them held me gently.
The characters loved, fought, healed, and dreamed in ways that made something inside me stir. With every chapter, I felt myself slipping into the female lead’s place, her fears felt like mine, her happiness warmed my heart, and her victories made me believe I could have my own someday. Her courage became the courage I wished for. Her hope gently stitched warmth into the cold corners of my heart.
I fell asleep feeling something warmth, excitement, a spark I thought I had lost forever.
I may have had only a handful of clothes but the stories wrapped me better than any fabric ever could. In those pages, I found a small piece of myself again.
Today is Sunday and I would be going with Shanthi sister to see the place and check if the rent was something I could afford.
I met Shanthi at the bus stop she had insisted to meet her. She smiled warmly and linked her arm with mine as we walked through the quiet lanes. After a short walk, we stopped in front of a small, neatly painted building.
“This is the one,” she said.
The owner, an elderly woman with kind eyes, welcomed us inside. The house was tiny, just a single room with an open kitchen space, a small window letting in soft sunlight, and an attached bathroom. But despite its size, it felt warm, simple and peaceful. Exactly what I needed.
“I can give it to you for a thousand rupees a month, Water and electricity separate. If you like it, you can tell me.” the owner said gently.
A thousand rupees. It was manageable. And the thought of living in a quiet place, calling it mine brought a small smile to my lips. I barely stayed home anyway, just a few hours at night so the electricity bill wouldn’t be much. And whatever I needed to buy for the house would be a one-time investment… a small price for a peaceful life and a better way of living.
“I like it ” I said honestly.
Shanthi sister squeezed my hand happily. “And I’m just one street away. If you need anything, I will come to you in few minutes “
Her words made my heart feel light. I paid the advance immediately, my savings trembling in my hand but my heart feeling strangely proud.
“You can move in any time within the next week.” she said.
“I’ll shift in a week,” I replied softly.
Walking back with Shanthi sister, I felt something warm in my heart. A small house, a small beginning… but it was mine. My space. My freedom. My fresh start.
And I couldn’t wait.
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A/N:
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