Roshni's POV:

It’s almost night, and I still haven’t gone home. Well, it’s normal—I usually stay late because there’s nothing waiting for me at home. The library or a quiet corner of the campus is where I lose myself, pretending for a little while that everything is fine.

The campus is mostly deserted now, with only a few students lingering around. The streetlights cast long shadows, and the chilly night air clings to my skin as I step out of the library, clutching my books tightly.

The walk home isn’t long, but it feels like miles tonight. My footsteps echo in the silence, a lonely rhythm that only deepens the ache inside me. The street is lined with towering trees, their shadows stretching like dark arms across the pavement.

As I pass an old bench, I hear the faint rustle of leaves behind me. My heart skips a beat, and I glance over my shoulder. Nothing. Just the wind, I tell myself, quickening my pace.

The road ahead seems endless, and with each step, the day’s events play out in my mind like a cruel movie.

“Bloody loser.”

The words sting just as much now as they did then. My chest tightens, and I grip my books harder, as if they’re the only thing keeping me grounded.

Why does she hate me so much? What have I ever done to deserve this?

The faint sound of laughter drifts through the air, and my body tenses. I keep my head down and my pace steady, hoping to get home before anyone else can tear into me like she did today.

By the time I reach the narrow alley that leads to my house, my legs feel heavy, as if the weight of the day has sunk into my bones. The familiar sight of my front gate comes into view, and I exhale a shaky breath.

I push the gate open, the creak of metal breaking the silence. Inside, the house is dark and quiet, just like always. I don’t bother turning on the lights as I walk to my room.

I drop my bag on the floor and sit on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall. The emptiness wraps around me, cold and suffocating.

“Tomorrow is a new day,” I whisper to myself, but the words feel empty, hollow.

I lie back on the bed, clutching my pillow tightly, but sleep doesn’t come easily. The echo of her voice, the sting of her slap, and the weight of her hatred follow me into the darkness.

I got up and picked up the frame of my Mumma. My fingers trembled as I ran them over her picture, the one where she was smiling so brightly, as if nothing in the world could ever dim her light.

“Maa, aapne kaha tha ki jab tak aap nahi aoge tab tak rona nahi… lekin kya karun, Maa?” My voice cracked as tears streamed down my face. “Aap hi nahi rahi… aur ye dard badhta jaa raha hai, Maa. Main marna chahti hoon… aapke paas aana chahti hoon.”

My chest heaved as the sobs I’d been holding in all day finally spilled out. I clutched the frame tighter, as if holding it could somehow bring her back.

“Maa, didi mujhse bahut nafrat karti hai…” I whispered, the words bitter and heavy. “Samajh nahi aata kyun karti hai. Kehti hai maine aapko maara… meri zid ne aapko maara.”

I sank to the floor, my knees giving out under the weight of my pain. The memory of Kaira’s cruel words haunted me, tearing at my heart. How could she blame me for something I had no control over?

The silence of the room felt suffocating, like it was pressing down on me, drowning me in my guilt and sorrow. I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall freely.

“Maa, mujhe apne paas bula lo,” I pleaded, my voice a desperate whisper.

As exhaustion and pain took over, I felt my eyes growing heavy. Slowly, I drifted into a restless sleep, clutching the frame of my Mumma tightly against my chest.

Author's POV:

A shadow stood just outside her window, barely visible in the faint glow of the streetlight. His gaze was fixed on her, his eyes reflecting an intensity that could burn through the thickest darkness.

"I can’t bear a single tear from your eyes, my love," he murmured, his voice low but trembling with emotion. "I can’t. Just wait... wait for me to fix this, to end your suffering."

His hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into his palm as he took a step closer to the window. He watched her fragile form on the bed, her face etched with sorrow even in sleep.

"You’ll never cry again," he vowed, his voice laced with both tenderness and a quiet rage. "Not as long as I’m here. And I will always be here, even if it means burning the whole world to keep you safe."

With one last glance, he stepped back into the shadows, disappearing into the night like a phantom. But his presence lingered—an unspoken promise hanging in the air, binding him to her more tightly than any chain ever could.