Thursday 9 April 2015

Hidden

My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is A Reader's Take, where everyday I will be picking out a novel title corresponding to that day's letter and write my post based on it. To make it more challenging, I have decided to write a serial story. The novel I have selected for today is 'Hidden'


Leave Me Never

Chapter 8

(Read the previous chapter here)

“Weird!” That is what they called her behind her back in office. Kayra had sworn not to join the corporate world when she stepped out of college but when she had left home forever, it was this very world that had supported her and given her the bread and roof she badly needed. She had changed companies, switched jobs but in the previous year, she had come back to the corporate world again, surprising even herself. It was not like she was bad at it but she was the girl who had bigger dreams and this hectic corporate life wasn't what she had wished for herself. But that fateful night had changed so many things in her life!

Images of that night started flooding her mind again. It had become a memory that kept on returning to haunt her time and again. No matter how far she had come, how many miles she had put between herself and the past, the memories refused to fade. She had kept the secret hidden, unknown to anyone but her and Shruthi. As much as she tried to escape those wretched memories, they kept on invading her mind without her knowledge and strangled her. The images were still clear; they were etched in her memory and every time she remembered them, a chill ran down her spine.

She jumped out of her seat when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She was about to shout when Ritwik rushed on with apologies. “Relax Kayra. Sorry if I startled you. I was just wondering if something was wrong. You look troubled” said Ritwik, withdrawing his outstretched hand, which had rested on Kayra’s shoulder few seconds ago. Her face was completely white, like she had seen a ghost. “Kayra?” Ritwik asked loudly this time trying to get her attention. That seemed to break her trance. “Uh… Oh… I… Ritwik… Excuse me” and with that Kayra fled out of her cabin to get away from the prying eyes of her colleagues. She needed time to compose herself.

“That girl is weird” said Rhea as soon as Kayra was out of earshot. Ritwik didn't answer. He was preoccupied with his own thoughts. He was sure it wasn't about what he did but there was something else that was on Kayra’s mind which was bothering her. No matter how confident she appeared to be, there was something vulnerable about her. There was something that haunted her; a secret, perhaps, that she kept hidden and a secret that he was hell bent on unravelling! 




To be continued...

About today's novel: Hidden in the 10th novel in the House of Night series by P. C. Cast. The truth is out. Neferet's evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no lonfer on her side - but she is far from done wreaking havoc in the vampire world. First, a mysterious fire ravages the stables. Then, Neferet makes a devastating move that will test them all. With the tension at breaking point and friendships on the line, can the nerd herd come together to stop the spread of Darkness before it's too late?

PS: Linking this post to A to Z Challenge 2015


Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

52 comments:

  1. Wow...I love the quote in the end! Also, the narrative is quite gripping.

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  2. This was an interesting post, and I can relate to someone putting their hand on my shoulder and startling me.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Hanna :) Welcome to my blog :)

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  3. These tiny nibbles make me crave for more. It's slow torture waiting 24 hours for the next bite. Please Ms. Shenoy, may I have some more? ;) Great going

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    1. Aww!! More to follow in the next 24 hours Sundari ;) If it wasn;t for A to Z, I would have published the next post sooner, just for you :)

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  4. I can relate to Kayra changing corporate companies :) Kayra should leave her past behind to start her new life. But easier said than done, no?

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    1. True Prasanna. Some things are easier said than done!

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  5. Love the quote dear, I told you earlier that I have guessed something... :)

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  6. Wow... you have taken up a big challenge I must say.. Writing everyday with ease is itself a tough job and you are going with serial story... Wow... I need to find the 1st chapter asap... great work :)

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    1. Thank you Amrit :) Hope you found the first chapter. If not, here is the link - http://swathishenoy.blogspot.in/2015/04/a-stranger-in-mirror.html

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  7. Absolutely love your narration and the grip you have on each chapter. You have planned this really well. Kudos :)

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  8. Loved the style of your narration. Want to see how this ends. Great planning and every chapter is very interesting.

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  9. Wow.. you are making it more and more mysterious. Am so curious..what is it?

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  10. Another new character..and the narration was good. Loving it..

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  11. Oh-ho, a secret! Loved this scene, and people calling her weird while she's scared what's lurking in her mind.
    My link: http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-h-honesty

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    1. That is to be revealed in the next few chapters Devika ;) Keep visiting :)

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  12. Looking forward to the next part. Love the quote at the end.

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  13. this is getting intense. I so wanna know what's going on!!

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  14. Your writing has so much of depth in them, Swathi :) And it keeps getting matured with each chapter. Great going!

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  15. The story is getting more and more complex each day :)

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  16. Ok, I want to know what happened.. What's hidden! Interesting story

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  17. Progressing nicely, Swathi. Loved the quote at the end.
    *Shantala @ ShanayaTales*

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  18. What are you gal each day..?!! m so curious to know what happened with Kayra..!

    Waiting for the next post.. anxiously..!!

    Till then.. Cheers

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    1. You will find out soon ;) Stay tuned Geetika :D

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  19. Each and every word described so well. Compelling read. We are all vulnerable in our own way.

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    1. True Vishal. How we deal with it is what counts in the end. Thank you :)

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  20. people never leave you alone...do they? everyone wants to know what secrets you are holding in your hearts! But having said that......I want to know what secrets she is holding...:-)

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    1. Yeah. It is called a secret because it is a secret but everyone wants to know what it is! Did I make sense? :D

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  21. Hey, this is getting interesting.. wanna know what happens next...:-) Great quote:-)

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  22. The quote at the end ties well with the story. I loved the suspense yet again but I am restless to know where this is leading. :)

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  23. Leaving past behind is no easy task. Loved the narration here, Swathi. :)

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  24. Very similar to trying to find peace from a place or thing.. no matter where we go if we don't find peace within ourselves, we can't derive it from anywhere. We can never put miles between us and memories because they are within us .. I know it's a "duh" statement :)

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    1. So true Prathima! Peace is always to be found within self. Physical distance hardly matters when trying to run away from memories.

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  25. Am I right in thinking what I am thinking?? No, will wait for you to spill the beans. Loving the way the story is going on, Swathi! Great going! :)

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    1. Thank you Shilpa :) Knowing you, I am sure you would have guessed it by now :)

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  26. I am curious to know what's in her mind.

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Go on, leave a comment. I would like to hear from you :)