Prologue
crash!
Shards of a shattered vase are scatters across the floor as Nathasha falls on it. Natasha, woman in her mid 40s, her eyes filled with fear, hands trembling. kneels on the ground in the middle of the room, her hands raised in the air. Blood trickles down her forehead as her head hit on the table when she fell, staining her clothes a deep red. A man in his forties, Reg, loads a gun and aims it at her. Natasha closes her eyes in terror, trembling with fear. When she opens them, she sees her two children standing nearby.
Will and Henry standing on the other side of the room, both visibly frightened. The only thing Natasha can see is that her children are in trouble.
"Mom!!", shouts Henry.
This causes Reg to turn and attempt to startle him. Natasha quickly rushes towards her children, positioning herself in front of Henry and Will to shield them from harm. Reg now aims a gun at all three of them, intensifying the tension in the room. Natasha's heart stopping out of fear. The only thing she khows right now is that her children's life is in danger. She don't know what to do but she know one thing is that she has to protect her children.
BAMM!!
A sudden gunshot rang out, startling everyone in the room.
Natasha's eyes widened in shock at the unexpected sound.
Reg, puzzled, glanced down at his gun before realizing the noise had come from behind him. Slowly, he turned around to see Alex, Natasha's son, standing there, holding a gun in the air. Alex had just fired a shot into the air and now pointing the gun directly at Reg.
Natasha is taken aback as she locks eyes with Alex. Despite his fear, Alex remains steadfast with his gun aimed at Reg. Alex looks at Natasha. Natasha urgently gestures for him to halt. She does not want her son to do something that he might regret afterwards.
Reg, with a sinister smile, begins to advance towards Alex and points gun at him. A sharp smirk is visible on Reg's face as he is confident that a fifteen yar old boy will not be able to pull the trigger.
"You don't have guts to pull the trigger, but I have!"
Alex's hands are trembling with fear. He is shivering but not putting the gun down.
"If you come any closer, I will shoot you."
Reg smiles at him and continues to move forward.
As Reg continues to approach Alex, the tension mounts.
With the gun now pointed directly at Alex, Reg prepares to fire. Natasha is gripped with fear as the situation escalates. Natasha gets numb with fear her son is in grave danger. She steps forward to stop Reg.
BAMMM!!
Someone pulls the trigger.
Chapter 1: Al & Rose
Present day.
Morning blooms as the sunlight hits the surface, trespassing the window glasses through curtains, to fall onto the face of asleep Natasha, she hides her face with the blanket. But the alarm rings. She unwillingly removes blanket from her face and turns to the bedside table to switch of the alarm. She looks at the clock. It is thirty minutes past six already. It is time for her to wake up or else she will be late. She doesn't have to go anywhere but her children and husband has to go. She turns her face around and sees Arthur, her husband, is still asleep. She forces her body to get out of the bed.
Natasha looks back at Arthur and pulls down the shades of the way out of the room. She walks out of the room to a corridor, which connects to the living room and just in front of the living room there is an open kitchen. She enters in the kitchen and the first thing she does is makes the coffee for herself.
Natasha takes some moments for herself as she enjoys her coffee, sitting alone in the living room, looking through the picture window, looking the pool and a small misty garden through the window. After she finishes her coffee, it's time to start off her day. She goes into the kitchen and times goes by like a bullet.
It is time for children's school. She is finishing off packing their lunch boxes.
"ALEX!! WILL!! HENRY!!! BREAKFAST'S READY!!", screams Natasha.
Alex and Henry comes running down the stairs, that opens in the living room. She Gives them their breakfast.
Alex slaps on Henry's head, as he was biting his nails.
"Mom!!", screams a ten year of Henry, for Natasha.
"Alex! Stop troubling your brother."
"He is biting his teeths.", says Alex in his defence.
"No I am not!!", argues henry.
This is nothing new to Natasha, she ignores this banter and serves them their breakfast as they sit on the chairs, set just infront of the stove. She looks for Will. He is slowly walking down the stairs, with his eyes buried in his mobile phone.
"Will!! Hurry up."
Will looks at Natasha and walks to her. She gives him his breakfast but he is still standing in front of her.
"What!?"
"Mom I wanna talk to you about something!"
"What?"
"I-"
...And Henry spills the milk.
"Henry!!", shouts Natasha and runs to clean the mess that has been created.
Will was going to say something but it spills out of Natasha's mind and she gets busy in cleaning the table.
Arthur enters the kitchen and pours coffee for himself, He is all dressed up and ready.
Natasha looks at him and finds it weird. "Why are you all dressed up early in the morning?"
"Yea. I have to show a house to a client."
"This early?"
"Yea- I'll leave now!", says Arthur as he finishes his coffee.
"But children are not ready yet."
"Can you please drop them to school today? I am getting late."
"But-"
"Okay thank you! Love you! Bye guys...", says Arthur.
"Atleast have a proper breakfast!"
"I will have it on my way!" Says Arthur and leaves.
"Okay then! Get ready fast! I am gonna drop you guys the school today
_________________________________________
Outside the milner's house, there is an unknown man standing, leaning against his motorcycle and gazing at the house. He sports a trimmed beard and a tattoo on his neck, peeking out slightly from under his jacket.
Mrs. Smith, Milner's neighbour, came out to take her dog on walk, notices a stranger gazing at their house, she finds it bit strange, being a good neighbour, she goes to that stranger with her dog.
"Hi!! Are you new here?"
"No... I am not from here. And you?"
"I just live across the street, just in front of the house, you have been staring at."
"So, you are Natasha's neighbour!"
"Yes, I am. You know her?"
"Yes, I do. I am an old friend of her."
"Really? Then why are you not going inside to meet her."
"We haven't met in years. I just want to return her something. Can you do that for me?"
It feels bit strange to Mrs. Smith. That stranger reaches to his pocket, this scares Mrs. Smith but it is just a letter that he takes out.
"Please give this letter to her?"
"But what's that."
"Please. I need you to give this to her."
She take that letter in her hand with hesitation. Al sit on the bike and starts it.
"Thank you. It was really nice to meet you."
He leaves her with that letter.
"Wait... what's your name?"
Before she could inquire about anything he leaves.
Mrs. Smith gazes intently at the letter, pondering its contents. Suddenly, Natasha emerges from the house with her boys.
"Boys!! Hurry up...", says Natasha emerging out of her house.
Mrs Smith comes to Natasha.
"Natasha! Wait...", says Mrs Smith.
"Yes mrs. Smith."
"Good morning boys."
Henry smiles at Mrs. Smith.
"Natasha, this is for you?"
Mrs. Smith gives her that letter.
"What's this?"
"I don't know. There was this man, he gave me this letter to give it to you."
"Really! Who was he?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me his name. But he told me he was your old friend and he had something he wanted to return you."
"Really!"
"What happened mom?", inquires Alex.
"Nothing? You guys go and sit inside the car. I am coming in a sec."
Boys sits in the car.
Natasha carefully unfolds the letter, revealing a collection of photos and a mysterious message. As she reads the words, her expression shifts from curiosity to shock.
The letter reads:
"Rose, I am aware of your true identity. If you wish to keep your secrets hidden, meet me at Alberts Park at 11:00 am. - your devoted admirer."
A wave of unease washes over Natasha, evident in the tension etched on her face.
"What happened?"
"Nothing... i should go now."
Natasha sat in the car and drives away. Mrs. Smith was a bit confused about what had just happened.
Natasha's heart is pounding really fast. Tension is clearly visible on her face that something is wrong and her children can totally sense that something is wrong.
Natasha's car comes to a stop in front of the school. She steps out of the vehicle and hands Henry his bag.
"Henry take your bag."
Will seems bit worried but Natasha seems not to notice it as she is consumed in her own thoughts. Will reaches to Natasha and tries to talk to her, "Mom. I need to tell you something.. its..."
"Not now will. We'll talk about it when you'll come back."
A mid age lady police inspector comes from behind of Natasha. She is agent karla roberts.
"Natasha!", calls out Karla from behind.
"Agent karla?"
"Morning boys. How are you all!"
"We are good.", replies Henry.
"That's nice."
" Bye mom!!", henry waves good bye to his mother.
"Bye dear..."
All three boys go inside the school.
"Well! I was here for the investigation of a case i am working on.", says Karla approaching Natasha.
"Ohh... good. well! I am sorry but I have some work. I'll see you later."
"Don't you wanna know about that case!"
"No... why would i wanna know about your case."
"Good. Not if it is related to you!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Yesterday, a man named Al, a well known smuggler of drugs and weapons, was seen around this school. Twenty two years, twenty two, since we last heard this name. Al and Rose!"
Natasha pauses for a moment, her nerves peaks, face glooms, Karla clearly said something wrong, "I don't know what you are talking about! I have no idea."
"You clearly know what I am talking about, Rose."
"I am not rose anymore. All that is just a past for me. And nothing else. And don't call me with that name again."
"You don't understand. Al is seen here."
"I don't think so he will find me ."
"You don't think so? Al was seen near your children's school, Natasha. Don't you understand it. What you did with him and his people, I don't think he is here for good reasons."
"I dont think he knows anything about it. And by chance if he does. I dont think so he will do any harm to me."
"And if he did find you. I just want you to be safe, Natasha. I thought its necessary for you to know. if he tries to contact you or comes anything near you, I want you to use your brain, not heart. The first thing i want you to do is tell me. Okay."
"If anything happens you'll be the first person to know. I promise. And thank you for informing me."
Natasha sits in the car.
"Take care of you. Natasha."
Natasha drives away.
Agent karla is seems tensed as she watches her car go away.
_________________________________________
Arthur is a real estate agent, eagerly awaiting his client and assessing the appearance of the house.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings.
Arthur promptly opens the door to find a sport trimmed man, he is the same man who was standing infront of their house in the morning. standing on the other side, who has arrived as a client of Arthur's.
"Hello!! Welcome Mr. Carson."
"Hello Arthur."
"So, this is the house. Its old owners has not shifted yet but this house has a lot of space. It can be the right place for your family. This is the hall, and there's a modern kitchen, dining area and three big rooms on the other side."
"It really looks good."
"But its owners are asking for a bit large amount."
"This house deserves it. Dont care about the money. I love this house."
"Good! This house is a dream place for a family."
"No, my girlfriend and I are gonna live in this house."
"Great! Are you gonna marry her."
"Yes. If she agrees to marry me."
"Ohh! All the best!"
"Thank you! I also want to have a family, children and a dog. Well! you have family?"
"Yes, i do have a family. I have a wife and three children. But we dont have a dog. My wife dont like dogs."
"Really!!"
"Yes! Sad but yes."
"I think you really love your wife."
"Yes, i do love my family."
"You are a lucky man to have a family. You have someone to love you and someone you can love."
"Well!! Aren't you gonna show me the rest of the house?"
"Ofcourse. Let me show you the way to the garden."
They both move towards the garden to have a clear and good look of it.
_________________________________________
Natasha siting behind the wheel of her car, the letter is resting on the dashboard in front of her. Her mind is consumed with thoughts of the letter's contents and words. Lost in her thoughts, she absentmindedly presses the brake pedal.
With a deep breath, Natasha reaches for the letter and carefully unfolds it. As she read through the words, her eyes drifted to the photos enclosed within. The images captured a younger version of herself and Al, frozen in time from 22 years ago. A single tear escaped her eye, tracing a path down her cheek.
Feeling a mix of tension and fear, Natasha glances at her phone and realizes it was already 10:30. With a sense of urgency, she starts the car and pulls away from the curb, leaving behind the memories of the past.
Natasha arrives at the park and parks her car before stepping out. As she walks into the park, her eyes wander around, taking in the serene surroundings.
Suddenly, a bike pulls up outside the park, and to her surprise, it's Al It has been Al the entire time. He removes his helmet, revealing a face that Natasha hasn't seen in 22 years. Emotions flood over her, causing tears to well up in her eyes. Al has changed so much over the years. It was Al, he was the one who gave her that letter.
As Al approaches her, Natasha finds herself holding her breath, unsure of what to expect. He stands before her, and she is at a loss for words, not knowing how to react to this unexpected reunion after so long.
"Rose....", mutters Al.
"Al..."
Natasha wipes off her tears.
"You found me..."
"i still love you, even after all these years. i looked everywhere for you.", care and anger clearly visible on his face, "Its been 22 years rose and you never returned. You forgot me but i never did. I looked for you, I tried to find you. Why did you do that to me? Why did you leave me?"
Natasha is silent. She is not able to speak. But Al wants answer from her.
"If you wanted to leave all that, you should have told me once, i would have left everything for you. You should have just talked to me once. You just disappeared one night, and left me alone, you left me alone to fucking suffer."
Al firmly grasps Natasha's shoulder and the back of her neck with his other hand. He leans in, resting his head against Natasha's forehead. Natasha remains speechless, gathering the courage to speak up.
But Al continues to speak, "I love you. I love you a lot. You were my everything Natasha. Please... say something. For god's sake say something. Okay. Nothing matters."
Al firmly grasps Natasha's shoulders and gently intertwines his fingers with hers. He holds both of her hands in his, creating a strong and intimate connection between them.
"If anything matters is that we both are together. i got you back now. This is enough. Now, we will never leave each other."
Al moves closer to Natasha, bringing his lips near hers. As they draw closer, they share a kiss.
However, Natasha pushes him away, stepping back and distancing herself from Al.
"I am sorry. I am really sorry. I can't do this. I... I have a family now, AL. I have a husband. We cant be together now."
"Why? Ohh now i understand. You dont love me anymore."
"No, its not like that. I still love you. But i have a family now... AL. I am not Rose anymore. Now, I am Natasha. I have children, i have responsibilities, Al."
"So what, we all will live together, you, me and children. I have seen an amazing house."
"No...no... you are not understanding. I love my children. I really do. And they love their father. I can't break my family. Arthur is my husband and this is my reality now. And i am happy with my life."
"Are you really happy? You really love your husband?"
"He is a really good person."
"Do you love him?"
"Yes, i do. I do love him."
"Why you did this to me Rose? We were happy."
"I didnt know what to do. I was tired of running. i just wanted to leave all that behind."
"You should have talked to me Rose. We would have figured it out."
I didnt know what to do. I was scared. I am sorry.
"WHY? WHAT HAPPENED. WE WERE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER. WE LOVED EACH OTHER."
"I...i..."
"What was it?"
"I was pregnant."
"What?"
"Yes.."
"You were... And it was mine!"
"Yes. It was your child."
"I was going to be a father?"
"A girl. You have a daughter."
"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME!! You took away my daughter from me. WHY DID YOU NEVER TELL ME?? ROSE... WHY?"
"You didnt wanted to leave and we would never be able to give her the life she deserved. We were good for nothing. We would never be able to give her the life she deserved. So, i found someone who can take care of her and love her."
"What do you mean you found someone. Where is she rose? WHERE THE HELL DID YOU HIDE HER?"
"I cant tell you. I am sorry. I just cant."
"But WHY??"
"I hid her for 22 years, just to protect her."
"You wanted to protect her from me!!"
"No. I wanted to protect her from both of us.I wanted to protect her from our past. We weren't in a situation to take care of a baby. We both were the beasts. We would have ruined her life. She is happy now and i cant ruin that for her. If i tell you now, i'd be risking her's and my family's life. I cant do that."
"DO YOU EVEN REALIZE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING???"
Al angrily grabs Natasha by the neck, causing her to struggle for breath.
"I cant let you take my daughter away from me. WHERE IS SHE???"
It appears like Al may strangle Natasha to death.
"Lea... leave... me.... leave...me. Al.", suffocating for air.
Natasha desperately tries to break free from Al's grasp, gasping for air as she fights for her life.
Finally, Al releases her and she collapses to the ground, coughing uncontrollably. Gasping for breath, Natasha manages to stand up, revealing the marks left on her neck from Al's violent attack.
"You might have understood why? You are still the same beast that you were 22 years ago. Go back to your world Al. There is no future for us. I cant ruin my families life for you. You'll have to go."
Natasha takes few steps back, turns around and walks away. She is crying her heart out.
Al is standing there alone, regretting what he just did. He just tried to strangle her love to death. Why did he do that?
Natasha sits in the car.
Al realizes that Natasha is leaving. He cant let her go like that. He runs out of the park behind Natasha.
"No...no... Rose please stop..."
Natasha starts her car. She is crying badly. She regrets her decisions but she cant undo anything.
Natasha drives away.
Al runs behind Natasha's car.
"Rose...."
Al runs to catch her but she is gone. He falls on the ground and screams out of anger.
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