The morning Sahana left for the USA, the Ramaswamy house in Tirupati smelled of jasmine, filter coffee, and tears.

Her grandmother tied a turmeric-smeared thread on her wrist.

Her grandfather blessed her with trembling palms on her head.

Her mother hugged her too tight and cried..

Her father avoided her eyes so she wouldn’t see his tears.

Her 17-year-old brother Arjun pretended he wasn’t crying,and pulled her long braid to tease and lighten everyone’s mood…

Her aunt Vani slipped a tiny Lakshmi idol in her suitcase.

Her uncle Subramanian whispered,

“ Go and win .. have courage sahana..That’s all you need.”

When she touched their feet one last time, her grandmother murmured,

“America is far, but a good heart makes the world feel close , kanna” - her grandmother whispered while hugging…

When sahana hugged her mother for one last time “ be careful kanna… I heard boys are not well behaved there… and it's foreign country… don't talk to boys .. okay ? “- Sahana’s mom said , feeling a slight fear to send her daughter away for the first time in 23 years…

Sahana gave a slight smile and bid bye to everyone….

She carried those words with her.

She checked in and sat in the plane that directs her to her dreams … She joined her palms to Lord Venkateshwara to make her journey easy and successful…

---

✈️ Landing in a New World

New York was loud, cold, and fast — everything Tirupati wasn’t.

The first week for sahana was survival..

Finding a room with limited savings?

Stressful…

She can't ask for more money from her parents because she has a brother to take care of and medical expenses of grandparents …

She checked dorms — full.

Shared apartments — too expensive.

Indian aunties renting basements — too far.

Finally, she found a tiny room in a student apartment — barely enough space for a bed, but safe and affordable.

She took it without thinking twice.

Finding a part-time job wasn’t easier.

For the first 2 months she knocked on every restaurant door , gas station and what not…

And at last , during an unexpected time - she got a job in a fine dining restaurant…

She worked there.

She slept only 6 hours some nights, balancing work, assignments, and homesickness.

But she never complained.

Her determination was louder than her struggles.

---

In two months, she built a small circle:

Tara – Indian origin settled in the USA from childhood..

Lily – Korean, shy but sweet..

Aaron – classmate, sarcastic, secretly caring

Bella Knight – sunshine in human form

They all were impossible to ignore…

And Bella has more bonding with Sahana..

She met Sahana in the campus café during a rush hour.

Sahana was juggling trays; Bella offered to help without being asked.

“Are you new here? You look like you’re trying not to scream,”-- Bella said, smiling.

Sahana laughed for the first time in days.

That was the beginning.

Within weeks, they were inseparable—

study buddies, food explorers, late-night talkers.

Bella loved how grounded, simple, and kind Sahana was.

Sahana loved Bella’s fearless honesty and warm energy.

Bella called Sahana her “Indian bestie.”

Sahana called her “sunshine.”

.

.

.

One day –

It was almost 11 PM when the two girls left a small party from Tara's home which is a walkable distance … but a little too far…

The pathway was dim. Windy. Almost empty.

Bella froze first…

A man stepped out from behind the bike racks — drunk, staggering, eyes fixed on Bella.

“Hey sweetheart… come here…” he slurred, reaching for her wrist.

Bella stepped back, terrified.

Sahana didn’t think.

Didn’t wait.

Didn’t fear.

She pushed herself between them.

“Leave her,”--- she said, firm but calm.

The man laughed and grabbed Bella’s arm again.

In one swift motion, Sahana yanked Bella away and shoved the man backwards with all her strength.. And that's it , Sahana lifted her leg in the air and kicked in between his legs…

“Aouchhhhh”- That drunkard sighed in pain when Sahana kicked him with her wedges on his balls …

“I'm Karate kid bro…”- Sahana said with a proud smirk , flipping her long braid back…

He stumbled and fell onto the cold pavement with a groan..

She grabbed Bella’s hand with a naughty smile and wink…

“Run! Bella…run !!” - Sahana said and pulled Bella's wrists to run with her…

They ran through the pathway, breathless, hearts pounding, not stopping until they reached the safety booth near the dorm.

Bella clung to her, shaking.

Sahana held her tighter…

“Are you okay?” Sahana whispered..

Bella looked up, tears in her eyes.

“I would’ve— I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”- Bella said..

“You’re safe,” – Sahana said softly.

“I’m here.”-- She cooed Bella giving a warm hug…

And Bella hugged her like she would never let go…

“You know karate ?”- Bella asked her..

Sahana rolled her eyes and a nasty smirk adorned her lips..

“ I lied to him “- Sahana said with a sheepish smile..

“Gosh..Sahana .. You just kicked – my god “ - bella gasped …

“ You know , I had a bucket list … And one of my dreams is to do a street fight .. and I did it …yahooo”- Sahana said with giggles and even bella laughed at her madness…

---

The next day, Bella didn’t leave Sahana’s side.

She brought her breakfast, held her arm while walking, and told everyone in class,

“This girl saved my life yesterday.”

Sahana blushed every time.

From that day on, Bella treated her like family.

Not a friend.

Not a classmate.

Family.

They studied together.

Shared lunches.

Shared secrets.

Shared laughter.

Bella trusted her more than anyone.

And Sahana realized that in a foreign land, she had found her own version of home.

What neither of them knew then…

was that saving Bella meant stepping unknowingly into the path of a man whose world was made of power, control, and shadows.

Damien Knight.

And Sahana’s life would never be the same again.

.

.

.

The day after the attack , in the evening – it's off for Sahana's part-time duty…

Bella picked up Sahana from Sahana's congested apartment…

And they drove to Bella's house..

Sahana and Bella sat in Bella’s cozy two-bedroom rented house — the one she insisted on living in, far from her powerful family name, far from her overprotective elder brother.

Bella handed Sahana a cup of hot chocolate, her hands still trembling ever so slightly.

Sahana touched her arm.

“Bella… we should report it. Or at least tell your parents.”

Bella’s eyes widened instantly.

“No. No, Sahana. We can’t.”

“but .. Why?” Sahana asked softly..

Bella swallowed hard.

“Because I know what my brother will do.”

Sahana blinked.

“Your brother?”

Bella nodded, voice dropping lower.

“Damien Knight… he’s not like normal brothers. If he finds out someone touched me— even by mistake—he doesn’t stop at police cases.”

She looked straight into Sahana’s eyes.

“He destroys people. Their lives. Their families. Their future. Completely.”- Bella said.

Sahana felt a chill run down her spine.

Bella continued, whispering,

“He once wiped out an entire college gang’s future because they followed me after a party. Expelled. Identified. None of them got into any university after that. Damien didn’t even blink.”

Sahana’s heart tightened…

Not with fear… but with curiosity.

“What kind of man carried that level of control?That level of obsession with his family?”- Sahana’s intrusive thoughts hovered over her mind like dark clouds..

Bella took Sahana’s hands in hers.

“You saved me last night. But if Damien hears even a hint of what happened…”

She shook her head.

“He’ll ruin that man’s existence. He’ll fly down. He’ll turn this campus upside down. And I don’t want that kind of chaos.”-- Bella said ..

Sahana stayed quiet, processing.

Then Bella said the most important line:

“Promise me, Sahana. You won’t tell anyone. Not even my parents.”

Sahana looked into Bella’s earnest eyes and nodded slowly.

“I promise .. I won't ”- Sahana said with a warm smile..

Bella exhaled in relief — like she’d been holding the world on her shoulders.

As Bella leaned back onto the couch, Sahana looked at her .. Not knowing whether to ask or not…

“Bella .. Can I ask you one question… only if you don't mind.!!”- sahana said in a soft spoken tone…

“ Why are you living away …? I mean – your brothers , your parents, everyone stays in newyork… ?? Mhmm “- sahana hummed not knowing how to complete the question..

Then Bella spoke softly, almost guilty.

“I live here because I needed space from my elder brother Damien . He loves me… but his love feels like a cage sometimes.”

Sahana smiled sympathetically.

“And also because I want to prove myself .. I can be independent?”- Bella said with a proud smile…

“ To explore myself … Not under the shadows of money / power my brother or my family have “- Bella said ..

“ Independent girl “- Sahana said with slight giggles…

Bella nodded again, smiling weakly.

“I wanted to learn about life on my own. Cook my own meals, drive my own car, pay some of my rent… Damien hates it. But I need this.”

Sahana admired her even more for that.

Bella squeezed her hand.

“And I need you in this life too. Yesterday showed me that.”

Sahana hugged her gently.

Two friends — one broken from fear, one trying to hold her together — sat quietly as dawn seeped into the room.

Neither knew that a set of green eyes, that shines like a cursed emerald — sharp and unforg

iving, would soon turn toward Sahana because of this secret.

Neither knew that Damien Knight would enter her life like a storm.

But it was already decided.

Some secrets don’t stay buried.

Especially from men like Damien Knight – who holds power , who loves to control everyone…

Hey dear readers 💚

How's the chapter ??

Chapter 2 and the blurb of this Trope will be out by today night... ( Free chapter )

Happy reading...

Please comment what you're thinking about those green cursed emerald eyes of Damien ?? 🤭

I'm already feeling they have some daddy issues...💀

Comment down , if you want me to continue with this trope or should I shift to

Indian smut one shorts /

Tribal smut one shorts/

His second wife trope ...!

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