Siddharth stopped his car in front of my house. He turned towards me, took my left hand in his, and gazed into my eyes. In that moment, his eyes softened, filled with unspoken emotion."Babe, I don't want to leave you," Siddharth murmured, his voice thick with longing. "But... ugh, it feels like I have to. I can't wait for our wedding, the day you'll officially be mine,
My Wife."
He gently took my hand and placed a soft kiss on it.A soft smile tugged at my lips as his words lingered in the air. His gaze softened, tracing the curve of my face with a tenderness that made my heart skip. He paused, eyes searching mine, then whispered, "Babe, can I kiss you?"
In that moment, a familiar dream from the morning flashed through my mind-like a déjà vu. A glimpse of a future I knew was inevitable. My eyes instinctively dropped, as if the intensity of that moment had overwhelmed me. I didn't respond, yet I could feel him draw closer, his presence magnetic. He gently cupped my chin, pulling me closer, so close that I could feel his breath near my lips, as though he were about to kiss me.
Just then, his phone rang. He clenched his jaw, annoyance flickering across his face as he glanced at the caller ID. I turned toward the window, gazing out at the night. My house stood in the distance, bathed in light, but the eerie shadows creeping across the yard made it seem like something from a horror movie.
I was waiting for him to answer his call, but instead, I heard his voice: "Babe, I have to go to the office. It's important. I'll call you later, okay?"
I smiled and nodded. As I was about to open the car door, I paused, turned back to him, and hugged him. He smiled warmly and hugged me back.
"Sid, I'll be waiting for your call," I said softly.
"Don't worry, I will call you. And I love you," he replied.
I broke the hug, stepped out of his car, and gently closed the door. He waved goodbye, and I watched as he drove away.
When I reached home and was heading to my room, I suddenly heard a noise. My footsteps halted as I turned toward the sound.
I heard my mother's voice. She was holding an old photo album. As I glanced at it, my father's picture came into view, clear as day, and tears welled up in my eyes.
I walked over to her, knelt before her, and softly whispered, "Maa..."
My voice was so faint, but it caught her attention. She turned her gaze from the album to me. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, the stains of earlier ones still visible on her face. For a fleeting moment, her eyes softened, but she quickly masked it. Her gaze fell to my hands resting gently on her lap. Without hesitation, she removed them harshly.
In an instant, her eyes filled with hate-an undeniable hatred meant for me.
She stood up from the couch, preparing to leave. Desperately, I grabbed her hand and pleaded, "Maa, I'm sorry. Maa, please maaf kar dijiye mujhe!" My voice cracked as I started sobbing uncontrollably.
She yanked her hand away, her voice cold and sharp. "Mujhse door raho. Mat chhuyo mujhe."
"Maa... Maa, please listen to me. I'm truly sorry," I begged, tears streaming down my face.
Her face twisted in anger as she shouted, "Forgive YOU? How can you even ask that after killing your own father?"
I shook my head vigorously, my voice trembling. "Maa, I didn't kill him! I swear, Maa, please trust me!"
"Par woh mare toh tumhari wajah se hai, na?" She yelled, her voice trembling with anger. I flinched, taken aback by her tone. My lips parted to respond, but no words came out.
Suddenly, I heard Bhai's voice. "Ma... Ma, kya hua aapko?" He rushed to her side and wrapped her in a protective embrace. She broke down, sobbing into his chest.
Bhai turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. "Aakhir problem kya hai tumhari? Tum chahti kya ho?"
I remained on my knees, tears streaming down my face. "Bha... Bhai... woh-
"Dur raho meri Maa se, samjhi tum?" he snapped, cutting me off. He turned away, guiding Maa with him as they started to leave.
"Maa!" I called out, my voice barely above a whisper. They stopped in their tracks. I wiped my tears hastily and continued, my tone steady yet soft, "Maa, duniya wale sochte hain ki Baba ki maut ek accident tha. Par yeh sach nahi hai."
A heavy silence hung in the air. Gathering every ounce of courage, I added, "Baba ki maut ek planned murder thi... aur yeh baat aapko bhi achhi tarah pata hai. Main unke murderer ko aapke saamne laake rahungi."
I stood firm, my tears now replaced with determination. "Aur yeh VANYA SHARMA ka vaada hai, Maa."
The door creaked open as Vanya stepped into her room, the faint smell of lavender lingering from the incense she had lit earlier. The room was quiet, but the silence felt suffocating. The walls seemed to close in, and every shadow felt like it carried a secret she couldn't escape.
Her breath hitched, a familiar tightness gripping her chest. She froze in place, her hands trembling as the weight of everything crashed down on her at once. Her heart pounded wildly, echoing in her ears, louder than any sound around her.
"No... not now," she whispered to herself, clutching the edge of her desk for support. But the memories, the pain, and the overwhelming guilt refused to stay buried. Images of the past flashed before her eyes-Baba's laughter, Maa's tears, Bhai's anger-all colliding into a chaotic storm inside her mind.Her breathing became shallow and rapid, each gasp clawing at her throat. She stumbled backward, her legs giving way beneath her. Her back hit the cold wall, and she slid down until she was on the floor, knees pulled to her chest.
Her fingers dug into her arms as if trying to anchor herself, but the trembling only grew worse. Tears streamed down her face, hot and unrelenting, as sobs racked her body. The room spun, the corners blurring into an abyss that threatened to swallow her whole.
"I... I can't... breathe," she choked out, her voice barely audible. Her vision darkened at the edges, and a numbness spread through her limbs. The weight in her chest became unbearable.
And then, everything went still. Her body collapsed to the floor, her cheek pressing against the cold tiles. The tears had stopped, but only because her body had surrendered to the exhaustion of fighting itself.
For the first time in months, she was completely vulnerable, alone with her broken pieces scattered around her.
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