Maya sat there, her back pressed against the locked door, her body trembling as silent sobs wracked her frame.

The dim light of the single bulb overhead flickered occasionally, casting long, wavering shadows across the cramped room.

It felt as though the walls were closing in, suffocating her with the weight of everything she had endured.

From the other side of the door came the relentless banging of Prachi’s fists, her voice raw and desperate.

"Di! Please, Di, open the door! Talk to me!" Prachi’s pleas rang out, muffled yet piercing, each word laced with fear and urgency.

"I know I hurted you, but don’t shut me out. Please!"

Maya clenched her fists, her injured hand throbbing as fresh blood seeped from the wound.

The crimson puddle beneath her hand grew slowly, the stark red staining the cracked floor tiles, an unspoken testament to the storm raging within her.

Her head fell back against the door with a dull thud as her tear-filled eyes gazed up at the flickering bulb.

The sound of Prachi’s banging mingled with the distant noise of life continuing outside— the faint chatter of neighbors, and the occasional bark of a stray dog. The world felt so indifferent to her pain.

“Di! Say something!” Prachi cried again, her voice cracking.

"You always tell me to share my problems with you. Why won’t you do the same?"

Maya closed her eyes tightly, her tears slipping down her cheeks, hot and endless. She wanted to respond, to assure Prachi that she was fine, but her throat felt constricted, like a noose tightening around her.

Words felt meaningless in the face of the despair she carried.

Her mind replayed the events at the garage in an endless loop—

The rally leader’s venomous words, the taunts, the threats. Why me? Why do they hate me so much? she thought bitterly.

And then came the guilt. If I wasn’t here, Prachi wouldn’t have to suffer. Salim Chacha wouldn’t have to fight for me. Maybe they’re right... maybe I am a curse.

The thought tore through her like a blade, sharp and unrelenting. She raised her wounded hand, staring at the blood smeared across her palm. Even my body seems to echo the brokenness inside me.

“Di!” Prachi’s voice broke through her thoughts, filled with a panic that tugged at Maya’s heart.

Maya inhaled shakily, her chest tightening. She couldn’t let Prachi see her like this. Her little sister had already witnessed too much.

Maya’s struggles, her humiliations, her constant battles with a world that refused to see her worth. Prachi deserved better. She deserved hope.

Summoning what little strength she had, Maya whispered hoarsely,

"Go away, Prachi. I’m fine. Just leave me alone for a while."

"No! I’m not going anywhere until you open this door!" Prachi shot back, her determination unwavering.

"You’re not alone, Di. You’ve never been alone because I’m here. I’ll always be here for you!"

Maya’s heart ached at her sister’s words, the love and loyalty in them cutting through her despair like a ray of light in the darkness. But even that light felt distant, unreachable.

She leaned her head against the door again, her voice barely audible.

"I’ll be out in a little while, Prachi. Just... give me some time."

"Promise me, Di. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid," Prachi’s voice cracked, trembling with fear.

Maya closed her eyes, letting out a shuddering breath.

"I promise." The words felt hollow, but she knew Prachi needed to hear them.

Outside, the banging ceased, replaced by the muffled sound of Prachi’s quiet sobs. Maya remained where she was, her tears flowing freely as the blood from her hand pooled beside her.

The room was silent now, save for her uneven breaths and the distant hum of the world beyond her locked door.

For now, the door remained closed—a fragile barrier between Maya’s inner storm and the sister who refused to let her face it alone.

Maya’s thoughts spiraled back to the events at the garage, playing in vivid, agonizing detail like a film she couldn’t turn off.

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Maya came running, her breaths shallow and rapid as she reached the garage. The scene before her froze her in place—a mob of angry neighbors stood in front of the garage, their voices raised in protests that carried venomous judgment.

Signs bobbed up and down, some scrawled with slogans like

“Bad luck has no place here!”

" Maya should not eirk here !"

Their fury was palpable, a storm fueled by prejudice and ignorance.

At the center of it all stood Salim Chacha, his face red with frustration, his fists clenched at his sides as he argued against the crowd’s irrational demands.

"Are you all mad?!" he thundered, his voice cutting through the noise.

"What’s wrong with you people? She’s just a helpless child! God may not have been kind to her, but does that mean we have to turn our backs on her too? She has a sister to feed and no other way to earn a living. What harm has she done to you, huh?"

A woman in the crowd stepped forward, her face contorted with disdain. Her voice was sharp, piercing through the commotion.

"Enough, Chacha! We respect you, but this time, you’re wrong. Keeping that girl here is a mistake. She’s bad luck—an ominous brat! Ever since she came here, nothing good has happened. Even God doesn’t favor her, so why should we? God knows who her parents were—probably people who didn’t even want her. She’s nothing but a burden!"

The words sliced through Maya like a blade, but before she could muster the courage to respond, Salim Chacha’s booming voice rang out again.

"Burden? Bad luck? Who are you to say that? Have any of you ever given her a chance? She’s honest, hardworking, and does her job without bothering any of you! If you have a problem with her working here, take it up with me because this is my garage, and I’ll decide who works here!"

The crowd erupted into angry murmurs, and a burly man with a thick mustache stepped forward, crossing his arms. His voice was calm but laced with menace.

"Chacha, we’re saying this for your own good. This girl’s presence is ruining your business. People are talking. They don’t want to come here anymore because they believe she’s unlucky. If you keep her here, this garage will go down, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself."

Another voice joined in from the crowd,

"Exactly! We’ve seen it before. Wherever she goes, bad things follow. And you’re putting your entire livelihood at risk for her? It’s not worth it!"

Salim Chacha’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at the man.

"My livelihood? You people are so obsessed with your superstitions that you can’t see the truth. Maya is not bad luck—she’s a hardworking girl who’s trying to survive in a world that’s been unfair to her. And let me make one thing clear: as long as I’m alive, this garage will be a place where she can work in peace! If you don’t like it, that’s your problem!"

The crowd’s frustration boiled over, their shouts growing louder. A woman yelled,

"You’re too blinded by your kindness, Chacha. You’re letting her drag you down with her!"

Another man sneered,

"She’s a curse, and you’re inviting disaster by keeping her here. If you care about this garage, you’ll send her away before it’s too late and we burn down your garage."

Before Salim Chacha could respond, Maya stepped forward, her legs trembling but her resolve firm. Her voice was shaky but loud enough to silence the mob.

"Please, stop this," she said, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"If you’re angry, then be angry at me. But don’t take it out on Chacha or this garage. He’s done nothing wrong except show kindness to someone who needed it. If I leave, will it really solve all your problems? Or are you just looking for someone to blame for things that were never in my control?"

Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I have a sister to take care of—a little girl who depends on me. If I don’t work, how will I feed her? How will I keep her safe? Do you even think about that? Or is it easier for you to treat me like some kind of curse and push me away?"

The crowd murmured, some shifting uncomfortably at her words, but others remained defiant.

"Stop trying to gain sympathy," the burly man snapped.

"The truth is, you bring misfortune wherever you go. This isn’t about us being unfair—it’s about protecting what we’ve built. If you care so much about your sister, maybe you should’ve thought twice before becoming a burden on others!"

Salim Chacha slammed his hand on the hood of a car, the metallic clang silencing the crowd.

"That’s enough! I’ve heard all your nonsense, and I won’t stand for it anymore. Maya will stay, and if any of you have a problem with that, you can take your business elsewhere!"

The leader of the mob smirked, his voice dripping with mockery.

"You’re fighting so hard for her, Chacha. But tell me this—why isn’t she fighting for her family right now? She’s here, arguing with us, while her precious sister  is at home. Doesn’t she know what’s happening there?"

Maya’s breath caught, her face draining of color.

"What do you mean?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The man shrugged, his smirk widening.

"Oh, you don’t know? Maybe you should run back and find out—before it’s too late."

The world seemed to tilt beneath Maya’s feet as panic seized her. Without another word, she turned and ran, her heart pounding in her chest.

The taunts and shouts of the crowd faded into the background as a single thought consumed her: Prachi

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The sound of glass shattering echoed in the air as the mob outside unleashed their wrath on Maya's rented home. Clothes were torn from cupboards and thrown onto the dirt outside.

Kitchen utensils clanged loudly as they were smashed against the ground, pots and pans bent and broken. A torn saree fluttered in the wind, caught on a nearby fence, a symbol of the chaos unraveling.

Prachi knelt on the floor just beyond the door, tears streaming down her face as she begged the men.

"Please stop! Please! This is all we have!"

she cried, her hands trembling as they reached out towards them. But her words fell on deaf ears as one man kicked over a pot, sending it rolling down the street.

The destruction around her was relentless, and the pain of watching their belongings reduced to rubble was unbearable.

But what pierced Prachi's heart the most was Sachin, lying unconscious beside her. His head rested heavily in her lap, blood flowing from a deep gash on his temple, staining her clothes and pooling on the floor.

She pressed her scarf to his wound, but it was soaked through within moments.

"Sachin Bhaiya, please wake up," she whispered, her voice cracking as fresh tears fell.

"You're strong—you have to wake up! Don’t leave me, please!"

The mob ignored her entirely, too consumed with their rampage. One man, his face twisted with anger, turned his attention to her.

A malicious grin spread across his face as he picked up a knife, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light. He stepped closer, towering over Prachi.

"Get away from me! Stay back!" Prachi screamed, instinctively pulling Sachin’s body closer to her, shielding him as best as she could.

But the man didn’t stop. He raised the knife, its sharp point aimed directly at her.

"Prachi!" a voice shouted, desperate and urgent. Maya appeared at the edge of the scene, her heart pounding in her chest at the sight before her.

Without hesitation, she ran forward, throwing herself in front of her sister just as the knife descended.

The blade slashed across Maya's hand, the force of the attack sending her stumbling back a step. Blood gushed from the deep wound, dripping onto the ground in thick, crimson drops. Maya gasped in pain but stood firm, shielding Prachi and Sachin with her body.

"Don’t you dare touch my sister!" Maya hissed through gritted teeth, her voice shaking but filled with resolve.

The man, momentarily stunned by her defiance, sneered and raised the knife again. But before he could strike, a commanding voice boomed through the chaos.

"Enough! Stop right there!"

Salim Chacha stormed onto the scene, his workers from the garage following close behind. Each of them held tools—wrenches, iron rods, and hammers—as makeshift weapons, their expressions fierce and determined.

The mob froze, startled by the sudden reinforcements. Salim Chacha marched directly towards the attacker, his presence radiating authority and fury.

"If you lay another finger on my daughters, you’ll regret the day you were born!" he roared, pointing an iron rod at the men.

The attackers exchanged nervous glances before their leader barked an order to retreat.

One by one, they dropped whatever they were holding and fled, their bravado evaporating in the face of resistance.

Salim Chacha rushed to Maya’s side, his face etched with worry as he saw her bleeding hand.

"Beta, what have they done to you?" he asked, his voice softening.

Maya shook her head, her breath coming in short gasps.

"I’m fine, Chacha. Just... please, help Sachin."

Salim nodded and gestured for his workers to help. Two of them gently lifted Sachin’s limp body, careful to support his head as they carried him towards Salim's waiting car.

Maya turned back to Prachi, who was trembling uncontrollably. Pulling her sister into her arms, Maya whispered softly,

"It’s okay, Prachi. It’s over now. You’re safe. I’m here."

Prachi clung to her tightly, her sobs muffled against Maya’s shoulder as the last of the attackers disappeared down the street.

The damage was done—clothes, untensils, and memories lay strewn and broken around them. But for now, they had survived, and that was all that mattered.

As Salim Chacha’s car sped towards the hospital, carrying Sachin and the battered remnants of hope, Maya closed her eyes, silently praying that this nightmare would soon come to an end.

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The hospital waiting area buzzed with subdued activity as sunlight filtered in through the high windows, casting long shadows on the pale tiled floor.

Maya sat stiffly on the edge of a metal bench, her injured hand resting on her lap, roughly bandaged from earlier. Her face was pale, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and worry.

Beside her, Prachi sat hunched over, her hands clasped together as she stared blankly at the ground. The streaks of dried tears on her cheeks glistened faintly in the afternoon light, though her tears had momentarily stopped.

Salim Chacha stood nearby, leaning against the wall, his expression tense as he glanced toward the door of the emergency room.

The three of them had been waiting for over an hour, and every minute felt agonizingly long. Maya's thoughts were racing-images of Sachin lying unconscious in her lap earlier and his blood-soaked head haunted her.

Though Sachin was not related to her by blood, he was like a younger brother to her, a loyal and hardworking boy who looked up to her with genuine respect.

The thought of him lying in that emergency room, injured because of the chaos caused by her situation, filled her with guilt.

At last, the door to the emergency room swung open, and a doctor in a crisp white coat stepped out. He approached them, his expression neutral but professional.

"Are you here for the young boy, Sachin?" he asked, glancing between them.

"Yes, doctor," Salim Chacha said quickly, stepping forward. "How is he? Is he going to be okay?"

The doctor gave a slight nod.

"He's stable for now. The head injury was severe, but we didn't find any internal bleeding. He's unconscious but out of immediate danger. We'll need to observe him for the next 24 hours to ensure there are no complications like swelling or a delayed response to the trauma."

Maya felt a wave of relief wash over her, though her shoulders remained tense. She looked down at her bandaged hand, still unable to shake the guilt that clung to her.

"Can we see him, doctor?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

The doctor shook his head.

"Not right now. He needs to rest undisturbed. Once he regains consciousness, someone can visit him briefly. For now, I suggest you wait or return home to rest. There's nothing more you can do here at the moment."

The doctor left, his words lingering heavily in the air. Salim Chacha turned to Maya and Prachi, his tone gentle but firm.

"Beta, you both should go back home now. There's no use sitting here and waiting when you've both been through so much. Let me handle things here. I'll stay with him, and the second there's any news, I'll call you."

Maya shook her head stubbornly.

"Chacha, how can I leave? He's hurt because of me. How can I just abandon him?" Her voice wavered, thick with emotion.

Salim Chacha stepped closer, placing a firm but comforting hand on her head.

"Maya beta, listen to me. You're hurt too, and Prachi has been through enough. Go home, get some rest, and clean yourselves up. If Sachin wakes up, I'll let him know you're thinking about him. But staying here won't help him recover faster. You can come back later, after you've had some rest."

Prachi, her voice small and trembling, finally spoke up.

"Didi... Chacha is right. Sachin Bhaiya wouldn't want us to sit here and suffer. He'd want us to be strong for him, wouldn't he?"

Maya hesitated, glancing between Prachi and Salim Chacha. Deep down, she knew they were right, but the guilt in her heart made it hard to leave. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she nodded.

"Okay," she said reluctantly.

"But please, Chacha, promise me you'll call the moment anything changes."

Salim Chacha gave her a reassuring nod.

"I promise, beta. Now go. Take Prachi home and get some rest."

Maya slowly rose from the bench, her legs heavy from fatigue. She reached for Prachi's hand, holding it tightly as they began to walk toward the hospital exit. The bright afternoon sun outside felt jarring against the weight of the day's events.

As they walked toward home, Maya's voice broke the silence.

"We'll come back as soon as we can. Sachin Bhaiya needs to know we're here for him."

Prachi nodded silently, leaning on her sister for strength as they moved forward, their steps slow and their hearts still aching with worry.

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As Maya and Prachi stepped into their rented house, a heavy silence hung between them. The sight before them sent a fresh wave of pain crashing over their already wounded hearts. Their home-their small, comforting world-was in complete disarray.

The plants they had nurtured with so much love were now either uprooted or trampled upon. The vibrant green leaves, once full of life, lay scattered across the ground, crushed and dirt-streaked.

The clay pots that once held them were shattered, their broken fragments mixed with the mud and dust that had been kicked around during the attack.

Inside, the devastation was even worse. Their clothes were thrown haphazardly across the floor, some torn, others covered in dirt and grime. Kitchen utensils lay scattered, some bent and broken, others coated in dried mud.

The scent of destruction-dust, sweat, and something metallic, like rusted iron-hung in the air. The small wooden cupboard, where they kept their few precious belongings, stood ajar, its contents looted or ruined beyond use.

Prachi swallowed hard, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she took in the scene.

"Di..." her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with disbelief. She walked toward the small shelf where Maya had once kept their savings in a hidden pouch.

Her fingers trembled as she reached inside, but it was empty. The little money they had managed to save was gone.

Maya stood frozen for a moment, her fingers curling into fists. The pain of seeing their hard work, their safe space, reduced to this mess was unbearable.

But more than that, the helplessness gnawed at her. Everything they had built, everything they had struggled for, had been trampled as if it meant nothing.

Taking a deep breath, Maya stepped forward and placed a hand on Prachi's shoulder.

"We will clean this," she said, her voice firm despite the storm raging inside her.

The afternoon sun cast a golden hue across the small, broken-down house, filtering through the dust that danced in the air. It wasn't just a house they had returned to; it was a ghost of what once had been their home.

Prachi was kneeling near a pile of clothes, picking them up one by one, shaking off the dust that had settled over them in the chaos.

Every now and then, she let out a small sigh, her hands moving mechanically as she folded each piece and placed it in a neat stack beside her.

Maya, on the other hand, wasn't moving.

She stood still, watching Prachi with an intensity that made her chest ache.

Her little sister.

Her everything.

She tried to capture every detail-every little thing about her-as if memorizing her would somehow make the pain easier.

The way Prachi's brows furrowed in concentration as she dusted off a dupatta.

The way her lips pressed together in frustration when she found a stain that wouldn't come out. The way she pushed her hair behind her ear, only for it to fall right back into her face.

Maya wanted to hold onto this moment. She wanted to freeze time, to stay here with Prachi forever.

But she couldn't.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palm.

With a deep breath, she turned away, her heart feeling heavier with each step.

She needed to make the call.

Prachi didn't notice at first, too busy focused on the task in front of her. But after a few minutes, the silence felt unnatural.

She lifted her head, her hands still holding a crumpled piece of fabric.

"Di?"

No answer.

Her chest tightened.

She stood up, wiping her hands on her skirt, her eyes scanning the room.

Maya was nowhere in sight.

A strange feeling crept over her, an unease she couldn't explain.

Prachi's feet moved on their own as she stepped out of the room, her ears straining for any sound, any movement.

Then she heard it.

Maya's voice.

Soft, but heavy.

Serious.

She followed the sound, stopping just outside the door. The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, she could hear everything.

"Yes, sir, I will fill up the form online."

A frown creased her brows.

"I will keep sending the money for her."

Her breath caught in her throat.

"She... she is too young, and I can't risk her future anymore. She deserves better, which I can't give her..."

She felt the air leave her lungs. For a moment, she thought she had misheard, that maybe Maya was talking about something else.

But deep down, she knew. The realization struck her like a knife to the chest-Maya was sending her away.

To a boarding school Dehradun.

A good school. A better future. A life without Maya.

Her throat tightened, and an overwhelming mix of emotions surged within her-betrayal, anger, fear. Had Maya already decided this?

Had she planned to send her away without even telling her? Why? Was she a burden now? Had Maya grown tired of taking care of her?

Prachi's legs felt weak, but she forced herself to move, stepping closer to the half-closed door where Maya stood with her back to her, still speaking on the phone.

"I know she will be upset, sir, but it's for her good. She needs a better life, better education...."

Prachi's lips parted slightly, a soft, shaky breath escaping her. She can't take care of me anymore?

A hollow ache settled in her chest. The hands that had been scrubbing the floor moments ago now curled into fists.

Her sister, the one person she trusted above all, was making the biggest decision of her life without even telling her.

And worse, she had already convinced herself that sending her away was the best option.

Tears welled up in Prachi's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. This wasn't sadness anymore-it was a deep, gnawing pain mixed with burning anger.

She took a sharp step back, suddenly feeling like an intruder in her own home.

Maya's voice softened, her tone carrying exhaustion.

"Yes, sir, I'll finalize everything soon. Thank you." She ended the call and sighed, running a tired hand through her hair before turning-only to see Prachi standing there, her face pale and her eyes brimming with hurt.

The room fell into heavy silence.

Prachi's lips trembled as she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're sending me away?"

Maya's breath hitched when she saw Prachi standing there, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her hands clenched tightly by her sides. The silence between them was heavy, suffocating.

"Prachi, listen to me-" Maya took a step forward, her voice soft but urgent.

But Prachi took a step back.

"You're sending me away?" Her voice was small at first, but there was something sharp hidden beneath it, something that threatened to break free.

"After everything you promised?"

Maya shook her head quickly.

"Prachi, it's not like that-"

"Then what is it like, Di?" Prachi's voice cracked as she interrupted, her chest rising and falling in rapid breaths.

"You're sending me to an orphanage school in Dehradun! You were just going to send me away and not tell me?"

Maya flinched. "I was going to tell you, Prachi. I just-"

"Just what?" Prachi's voice rose, anger now boiling over.

"Just wanted to get rid of me? Just wanted to send me away so I wouldn't be your burden anymore?"

Maya's heart clenched painfully.

"Prachi, no! It's not like that. I just-I can't give you the future you deserve. You need a good education, a safe place, a better life-"

"A better life without you?" Prachi snapped. Tears finally spilled down her cheeks, but her voice was still thick with fury.

"You promised me, Di! You promised we would stay together, no matter what! And now you're breaking that promise just like that?"

Maya swallowed hard, her own eyes brimming with tears.

"I'm doing this for you, Prachi! I just want what's best for you-"

"Best for me?" Prachi let out a bitter laugh. "You are what's best for me, Di! Not some fancy school, not some rich city, not a life without you!"

Maya reached out to hold her, but Prachi jerked away.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed, her sobs making her whole body shake.

"If you want me gone so badly, just say it! Just say you don't want me anymore!"

Maya's entire world crumbled at those words. "Prachi, don't say that-"

"You're a coward, Di! You're just running away! You always do! You think pushing me away will solve everything? You're afraid of struggling, you're afraid of facing things! That's why you're sending me away, isn't it? You're a COWARD!"

Maya's breath caught in her throat. Something inside her snapped.

"STOP IT, PRACHI!" she shouted, her voice ringing through the walls, louder and more furious than Prachi had ever heard before.

Maya's chest rose and fell with deep, shuddering breaths.

"You think this is easy for me?! You think I want to send you away?! Do you even know what I go through every day?

Every single second, I am breaking apart just to hold everything together for you! I fight, I struggle, I do everything I can-and yet it's never enough!"

Prachi's lips parted, shock and regret flashing in her teary eyes, but Maya wasn't done.

"You think I don't want you with me? You think I don't lie awake every night, terrified of what will happen to us? But I can't let you suffer the way I did! I WON'T!"

Her voice cracked as more tears ran down her face.

"I am not running away! I am trying to save you, Prachi! Because I LOVE YOU!"

The words left Maya trembling.

Before Prachi could say anything, Maya turned on her heels and stormed away, slamming the door shut behind her.

Prachi stood frozen, her heart hammering in her chest, the echoes of Maya's words crashing over her like a storm.

Then it hit her.

The pain in Maya's eyes. The desperation in her voice. The weight she had been carrying alone all this time.

Prachi had never seen it before. Or maybe she had refused to.

Her knees buckled, and she sank to the floor, gripping her chest as guilt washed over her.

"Di..." she whispered, her voice breaking.

She had hurt the one person who had sacrificed everything for her. And she didn't know how to fix it.

Prachi's breath hitched as the weight of her own words crashed down on her. Her legs moved before she could think, carrying her to the closed door.

She banged on it desperately.

"Di! Open the door! Please, Di, I'm sorry!" Her voice cracked as she pounded her fists against the wood, her sobs making her entire body shake.

Prachi rested her forehead against the door, gasping for breath. "Di, please don't do this. I didn't mean it-I swear I didn't! You're not a coward, Di! You're the bravest person I know! Please, just open the door!"

The room was swallowed in darkness, a suffocating silence pressing against its walls. Maya sat slumped against the locked door, her body trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her hand rested limply on the cold floor, the deep cut across her palm forming a small, glistening puddle of blood beneath her fingertips.

The pain was distant, drowned beneath the weight of her exhaustion. The argument with Prachi still echoed in her mind-her sister's desperate pleas, the anger, the heartbreak. "You are a coward, Di!" The words had sliced through her far deeper than the wound on her hand.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, hot against her cold skin. Maybe Prachi was right. Maybe she was a coward. Too weak to fight, too broken to hold everything together. She had tried so hard to protect Prachi, to give her something better, but in the end, all she had done was hurt her.

The darkness around her felt heavier, pressing into her chest, suffocating her. The world outside that door no longer seemed to matter.

Maya lay broken, silent against the door in the dark room as her hand kept making a small puddle of blood.

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𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀𝘿..