Raeha
Shens were very smart people. That's how they successfully created many renowned educational institutions: schools, universities, training centres, research centres—they had it all under their name. To the world, they might look like a bunch of smart people building their empire, but they had a secret that very few people knew of.
They were descendants of a mythical creature called 'Werecats'. To simplify, they could turn into a cat or a hybrid at their free will after coming of age. Their skills would be similar to those of a cat: stealth, enhanced smell, hearing, reflexes, night vision, etc.
I, Raeha Mandal, am a part of the Shens. It might be wondered why my surname is different. It's because my father, Alex Shen, dated my mum, Shreya Mandal, during her University Life. Unfortunately, they parted ways after 2 years together.
My mom then got pregnant with me. Thinking my father wouldn't want to take responsibility, she moved away and kept me a secret for almost 13 years. But by then, my features had become very much visible to the outside world. I had breathtaking green eyes and unusually natural silver blonde hair like my father.
The Shens found me and my mum. The leader of Shens, my grandfather, was kind enough to explain the whole mythical creature thing and requested that the Shens would like to take responsibility for me. With a few conditions from me and my mum, I was taken into the family.
I proceeded with my mum's surname for the time being. I wasn't taken away from her, but the hectic study and special training schedule provided by the Shens barely gave me any time to spend with her. Although I liked studying, leaving my mum alone like that was never my plan. However, during that time, Mum also found a new love and got married. I was truly happy for her. She wouldn't have to be alone anymore.
When I was accepted into the prestigious Shen University, my father arranged for me to live in a mansion at the Shen residence. Eventually, he had my younger stepsister, Jessica Shen, who was two years younger than I, move in with me when she was 19. A year later, my youngest stepsister, Josephine Shen, who was three years younger than I, also moved in at the age of 19. One of the main reasons for this was for us to get along.
My stepmother really didn't like me, and so did Jessica, her eldest. However, little Josephine, who resembled my father and therefore me, loved me very much and admired me. But a thing happened during my final year at University.
Father wanted to declare me as the heir and eventually take his position of The Shen University chairman since he too would be taking grandfather's position of Shen leader. Because of being the eldest, and my efficiency in getting jobs done flawlessly, I was chosen. However, my stepmother wasn't happy with it at all.
Honestly, I never really wanted anything in my life other than wanting to keep my mum's surname. So, taking over the Shens was something I never even thought of. In the end, I refused my father's offer and said that Jessica was more worthy of it.
"You think I wasted all these years in training you just for you to refuse me? I won't take no for an answer."
Unexpectedly, my father dearest said that, which angered me. So, he just wanted a perfect heir all along. Though my grandparents scolded him for talking to me like that, it didn't extinguish my anger towards him. It happened almost two years ago when I just completed my honors degree with the highest score.
I moved out from the Shen mansion to a nice cosy studio apartment near the university and applied as a part time lecturer at a renowned private university owned by the Shen's rival, The Parthas, just to piss off my father.
The night when I was done moving in, I was at the apartment's roof smoking, a habit that I picked up to calm my nerves when I fought with my father.
That was when I saw her, a cute chubby girl, also a first year from my department whom I never talked to before. She lived right next door. I had heard some rumours about her but it wasn't really my business so I never batt an eye. From where I was, I could see her sitting by the window and tune her guitar.
And when she started singing...
I felt myself calming down. By the time, I noticed I was already in a trance, just lost in her voice. I shook my head; it wasn't like me to get distracted by some mere voice. But after that night, I unconsciously, found myself going up to the roof every night just to hear that voice. It was stunning and attractive to my ears.
As nights went by, I wanted to take a closer look and by the time I knew it, I had transformed into my cat form and quietly sat by her window to listen more closely. But that didn't last long since she also had been watching me-my cat self by her window.
The day we made eye contact, my heart almost jumped out of my chest that I almost fell off the railings. It was hysteric how she tried to lure me in with cat food. It offended me somehow. However, soon after that I fell in love with her cooking and I became her almost daily dining partner.
She would pat me, hug me, compliment me and even kiss me sometimes...and I wouldn't stop her. From the childhood, I've never been a touchy feely person; naturally cats are like that, however I often let her touch my silver fur and even got as far as to sleep on her lap. It wasn't like she'd know I was also a part human, right?
She would tell me about her day, her life, her likes and dislikes and talk to me when I'd reply; she'd also say something back as if she understood me. It was funny when she acted that way but I found it strangely cute.
I also found out how badly her parents treated her, how her brother would always fight her for the smallest of things when she would be at home, how her so-called best friend who was somewhat suspicious would make her happy, how her thinking that the whole department hated her-she told me everything.
I almost felt guilty for listening but I never really intervened in any of those. She was a hard working girl balancing between part time job and studying. She could very much handle her own business and possibly wouldn't like an outsider like me to butt in.
She was so cute that I wanted to squeeze her, she smelled so good, I liked how emotionally strong she was to handle all the bullying. She was passionate and loyal to her job, she was imperfect but she tried her best, she loved small animals and went as far as to cook for them, she was a good girl who abided by the rules; as time went by, I realized how beautiful she truly was.
She was everything I never thought I would be attracted to, and unconsciously, she became my first love.
My sweet Nilima.
TO BE CONTINUED....