---
"AKSHIT"
I had recognized him. It was Akshat.
Tears streamed down my face as I broke down completely.
I still hadn't turned around — I couldn't bear to see the person who risked his life for me lying wounded.
But then… I gathered my courage and turned.
I cupped his face gently with my trembling hands and whispered,
"No… Akshat, why? Why did you do this? Why did you come here… why did you take that bullet… why did you save me?"
I sobbed uncontrollably.
And then, when I looked up…
Another shock hit me like lightning.
It wasn't Roni who had fired the gun.
It was his own father.
A father had shot his own nephew.
Roni stood frozen, staring at his father.
And me… I couldn't think of anything except Akshat's condition.
Maybe his father would've done more…
But just then, the police arrived — Akshat had already called them.
Perhaps when I spoke to him on the phone… he had figured it all out.
They say movies are dramatic, but sometimes… life mirrors them.
The police always arrive after everything is over.
But now…
I hadn't just lost…
I hadn't just broken…
I was completely shattered.
Sometimes I wish… I had taken that second bullet too.
Why did the police save me? Why didn't they just let me go?
Akshat was rushed to the hospital.
Roni and his father were dragged away in handcuffs.
But just as the police started to leave…
I spoke up.
"Your mother must be so proud now, right Roni?"
My eyes were wet, but his face had turned ghostly pale.
"Wait — don't forget to take a souvenir with you."
I pulled out the same key…
And stabbed it into his other eye.
Blood started pouring again.
But this time… it wasn't Roni's eye.
It was the Principal's.
"You won't need this eye anymore," I said coldly.
"And one's still left, right? Good.
You'll need it — to watch your own destruction unfold."
The cops didn't stop me.
They just dragged the two of them away —
To rot behind bars.
They deserved a long sentence.
Attempted murder, drug trade, destroying lives…
And then… trying to kill his own nephew?
Thanks to Akshat's father's confession, the sentence became even harsher.
But what good was it now?
So many lives had been lost.
And now… I stood outside the operation theatre.
Akshat's surgery had started.
I couldn't even bear to look.
Why did he come? Why did he save me?
Everyone I ever got close to… either died or got hurt.
Didn't I tell him I was cursed?
And yet… he still came.
His parents sat quietly in the waiting area.
They didn't even glance at me.
Of course not — it was because of me their son's life now hung by a thread.
My tears wouldn't stop.
My family tried to console me… but their words fell flat.
The only place I could find peace… was the temple nearby.
The same one Akshat used to visit.
There I knelt down and cried…
"Oh Kanha… oh Lord… I leave everything in your hands now.
I can't lose anyone else…
Please, just be with me."
---
"Didi… Isha didi has regained consciousness," Anshu said softly.
But I didn't feel anything.
I just sat there… blank, hollow.
Isn't it strange? One wakes up… another falls unconscious.
I should have been happy for Isha. I had waited for this for so long.
But what would I even say to her?
What would I tell her?
About the wound on my forehead?
About Akshat lying in this very hospital, battling death?
About how the person who betrayed us… was our own friend?
No.
She had just regained consciousness.
I couldn't give her another shock.
"No visitors yet," said the doctor.
"She's awake, but her body still needs rest."
Thank you, God…
For a moment, I could finally breathe.
But I couldn't take any more risks.
I didn't want to bring more pain into anyone's life.
So I made a decision.
I was leaving.
I would never meet them again.
Isha… Akshat…
Please forgive me.
---
One week later.
"Didi, it's been days… You really don't want to see them again?" Anshu asked gently.
"You're not visiting them, and you're not letting me go either. Even Mom and Dad keep telling you to go…"
"No, Anshu. Just forget everything."
---
But I know my sister.
She pretends she's forgotten.
She acts like she doesn't care anymore.
But I've seen her.
I've seen her every day — standing quietly outside that hospital.
Staring through the glass doors.
Longing to go in…
But never gathering the courage.
Like she'd made a vow to never enter again.
She just watches.
I can't see her like this anymore.
I've been sneaking in to see Isha and Akshat.
They're still not discharged.
Not allowed to leave.
And they ask about her every single day.
I never have an answer.
They've called her — so many times —
But she declines every call.
---
Then one day, she said something that shattered me.
"I'm leaving. I can't take this anymore."
"But… where will you go, beta?" Mom asked.
"I'd applied for a college scholarship… and I got selected.
I have to leave the city."
"But why now? Why so far?
Stay here. We'll miss you. Suhana will miss you…"
"No. Please don't stop me.
This is final."
"When will you come back?"
"I don't know.
Maybe when I've healed… truly healed — from inside."
---
Is this really the end of our story?
Yes.
She packed her bags.
Booked her flight.
And left…
Without looking back.
---
"Just once… please, just once… let me see them one last time."
Riya stood outside the hospital, eyes brimming with tears.
"No… I need to go now.
If I stop here… I'll never be able to move on."
Just as she turned…
She saw someone standing there —
Roni's mother.
The woman who once loved her like a daughter…
Would she blame her now?
Would she say it was all her fault?
Their eyes met.
Neither of them blinked.
Riya turned to walk away.
But fate had other plans.
"Beta… how are you?"
The woman placed a gentle hand on her head.
"Why haven't you come to see Akshat?
He and Isha… they wait for you every single day.
They keep asking for you."
Her eyes fell on the bag in Riya's hand.
"And this? Where are you going?"
Riya broke down.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry.
Because of me… Roni can't play basketball anymore.
His one chance — it's gone.
Everything is my fault.
So I'm leaving.
Forever.
Nothing bad will happen because of me again."
The woman stood there, stunned.
"What? No, beta… don't say that.
Why are you blaming yourself?
It was never your fault.
Forget what happened. Think of what lies ahead.
And basketball? He's still young. He'll play again.
But you know what I'm sure of?
There's only one thing Akshat loves more than basketball…
And that's you."
Riya cried harder.
"Please… don't try to change my mind.
You've always been kind…
But I have to go.
Take care of yourself.
And tell them to take care too."
She turned to leave…
Tring Tring…
The woman's phone rang.
Her face turned pale.
"What?
What do you mean Akshat's condition…?"
Riya froze.
Panic overtook her.
She turned around and ran back behind her.
"They said… his heartbeat is slowing…"
The woman rushed in.
Riya followed, her breath ragged.
She couldn't see them at first.
So she ran straight to Akshat's room.
He lay on the bed — unconscious. Pale.
"You… you're okay, right, Akshat?"
She burst into tears.
"So much pain… and now this again…"
She stood there — unable to move.
And suddenly…
Two arms wrapped around her from behind.
Held her tight.
"W-who…?"
She turned — shocked.
Isha.
Yes… Isha had woken up.
And after all these days… she had hugged Riya once again.
Riya collapsed in her arms.
And then — another embrace, from the front.
Akshat.
He had woken up too.
Both of them held her.
So tightly.
Like they'd never let go.
No one said a word.
Just the three of them…
Wrapped in each other's arms.
And the tears that flowed this time…
Were not tears of pain —
But of healing.
---
"No more running."
"No more hiding."
"We'll face everything — together."
---
I melted in their arms.
I didn't want to go anywhere.
Not anymore.
Now I just wanted to…
Stay.