1.The Day Everything Broke

[time ,

*6;15pm]

After sunset, the evening sky melted into shades of gold and violet. Clouds slowly gathered… as if the world itself was preparing to mourn.

On an empty road, A bride in a red dress walked alone. The dress had once been beautiful—

delicate embroidery, soft fabric, pearls that shimmered.

But now…

dust and dirt clung to it like old wounds.

Her eyelashes were wet. Tears stained her cheeks. Her makeup was ruined.

Her face—

Her face no longer looked like a bride…

But like a girl whose heart had been shattered.

She lifted her tear-filled eyes. And started looking at the sky. As if she wants to talk to someone on the other side of the sky.

"Why… why is it always me?"

Her voice was soft—

more tired than life itself.

The cold wind lifted her disheveled hair ,

but it felt like the wind was whispering , Something terrible is about to happen.

Her memories floated up—

Her parents' laughter.

Their love.

Their warm embrace.

And then—

the sound of breaking glass,

the screech of brakes,

blood.

That accident had taken her family away.

And today…

she had believed she would gain a new family. A new love. A new beginning.

Raj—

The boy she loved with all her heart.

And Shalini…

the friend she had trusted more than a sister.

Yet today—

Shalini's voice kept echoing in her mind:

"Raj doesn't love you. He loves me.

And I'm carrying his child."

{ ****FLASHBACK**** }

A few hours earlier…

Today morning, Riya had dressed carefully and arrived at the court.

She waited outside, thinking maybe Raj was delayed by something urgent. The court clerk told her the marriage registrations were over for the day…

But she didn't leave.

She waited.

Clouds slowly covered the sky. She called Raj again and again— but he didn't answer.

At last, exhausted, she sat on the courthouse steps and called Shalini.

Ring… Ring… Ring…

On the third ring, the call connected.

"Shalini…?"

Her voice trembled. Tears spilled instantly.

"Yes, Riya." Shalini's voice was cold. Emotionless.

"Raj isn't answering… " Riya whispered, sobbing.

" Today was our wedding… what should I do?"

"Stop dreaming about marrying Raj."

Shalini's tone turned sharp. Bitter.

"He's mine now. I'm carrying his child."

That's it. This was the moment when everything was taken away from me...

In a second, my breath stopped. The words struck like lightning.

Then, A message popped up on Riya's phone screen—[ a pregnancy report.]

Shalini had sent a pregnancy report, and it clearly stated that she was going to be the mother of Raj's child.

Riya froze.

"You… you were my closest friend…

How could you do this to me?

And Raj— he loved me!

Then how… how did you get pregnant…?!"

Shalini laughed. A cruel laugh filled with jealousy. "Raj never loved you.

He only stayed with you for your property.

Now that everything is in his name…

why would he need you anymore?"

Riya couldn't breathe.

"So… all of this… was a plan? You both… used me?"

The call ended.

Her phone slipped from her hand and shattered , just like her heart.

A broken laugh escaped her lips…

It wasn't laughter , it was pain.

She had given everything—

her love, her trust, her heart—

And still… she was left with nothing.

Her tears fell, but they no longer held any warmth. Only emptiness. The wind blew again—colder, heavier.

As if whispering— "This is not the end.

Your story is only the beginning."

But Riya didn't know that.

All she knew was— Her heart had died.

And when a heart dies, even if it beats again… it never returns the same.

Riya finally understood—

Raj was never going to come back.

{ FLASHBACK END }

Present…

The night had grown darker. The wind grew harsher. But no rain fell. Only the wind was blowing fast.

Suddenly, screams echoed nearby.

People were running. Some thugs attacked a nearby shop. Knives flashed. People fled in fear.

Two young girls ran out.

One stumbled and fell—her ankle twisted.

"Sister, help… they'll kill me!" the girl cried.

"Hey! Ugly girl! Leave her and run!

Or we'll cut you first!" one of the thugs shouted.

Riya tried to lift the girl. Her leg wouldn't move. But Riya had never learned to run away.

"Don't come closer!" Riya shouted.

"I'll call the police—" Then she remembered.

Her phone… was broken.

The thug smirked.

"No phone?

Then no one will save you."

He stepped forward and shoved her.

She fell to the ground, scraping her knees and hands.

"Sister, please… run… you don't have to save me…" the girl wept.

Riya wrapped her arms around her.

"No one ever tried to save me…

But today… I won't abandon someone who needs me.

I'll protect you." She stood up again.

The thug yelled—

And—

Shhk!!

The knife sank into her abdomen.

"Ah—!" Riya cried out.

The thugs panicked and ran away.

The girl pressed her hands on the wound, crying uncontrollably.

"Sister! Don't close your eyes! I called for help!" Riya's strength was fading.

The cold spread through her body.

"Are you OK... " Riya whisper.

The girl was staring into Riya's eyes.

" Yes.. I'm okay.. " girl says.

Soon, the ambulance arrived and began to take Riya to the hospital, with the girl beside her. She was refusing Riya to close her eyes.

"I… don't think… I'll make it…"

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I'm… tired now…" With a faint smile,

she closed her eyes.

___

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