I let out a slow breath, feeling the tension leave my shoulders bit by bit, like something heavy sliding off my back.

Where is Maa?

I look around the house, moving from room to room, checking the kitchen, the small courtyard outside, even the storage room near the back. I've checked almost everywhere by now, except my own room.

How could I forget to check there first?

"Maa!"

I rush toward my room, my footsteps quick against the floor, my heart already picking up speed before I even reach the door.

My heart drops the second I see her.

She's lying on the floor beside the bed, completely unconscious, her body curled slightly like she tried to protect herself even in the moment she fell. There's a small wound near her head, blood matting into her hair.

"Maa..."

I quickly kneel beside her, my hands moving faster than my thoughts, gently lifting her head onto my lap. My fingers automatically check her breathing, pressing lightly against her wrist, her chest, anywhere I can find a pulse.

She's breathing.

Thank God.

Relief floods through me so fast it almost hurts. I carefully lift her, carrying her onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her small frame and tucking it around her shoulders the way she used to do for me.

I stay there for a moment, watching her breathe, counting each rise and fall of her chest like it's the only thing keeping me steady too.

Why does he keep doing this to her?

My hands curl into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms.

For a second, the anger rises inside me, hot and immediate, the kind of anger that makes my whole body want to move, to act, to do something.

But I force it down, swallowing it whole the way I've learned to do so many times before.

Not here. Not now. I can't lose control.

I press a soft kiss to her forehead, brush the hair back from her face, and finally leave the room. I walk into the living room on legs that suddenly feel like they belong to someone else.

Exhaustion finally catches up with me, all at once, crashing over me like a wave I can't outrun anymore. I sink onto the couch, rest my head against the worn cushion, and close my eyes, just for a second.

I only mean to rest for a minute.

But sleep takes over before I even realize it's happening.

In My Dream

I'm eleven years old again.

I hide behind a large tree in the garden, the bark rough against my small shoulder, quietly listening to Maa sa and Rekha Maa talking in low, urgent voices.

The evening air smells like wet earth and marigolds, the kind of smell that still makes my chest ache whenever I catch it now, all these years later.

I peek around the tree carefully, holding my breath.

Maa sa is holding a small bag in her hands, gripping it tightly like it's the only thing keeping her steady.

"Rekha, please... accept this," she says.

"What is this, Rani sa?" Rekha Maa asks, her voice cautious.

Maa sa opens the bag slowly.

"Fifty lakh rupees."

Rekha Maa's eyes widen, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Please take my daughter far away from here," Maa sa says, her voice trembling, breaking apart at the edges.

"If she stays here, she'll never know what a normal, peaceful life feels like. I'm scared, I'm so scared she'll end up following in her father's footsteps."

She takes a shaky breath, her whole body trembling now.

"Take her with you, Rekha. Don't look back. I'll send you more money whenever I can. Just... please, take care of my daughter."

Rekha Maa immediately shakes her head, stepping back like the bag might burn her. "Rani sa, I can't accept this. If Raja sa finds out, he'll kill me."

"He won't," Maa sa says firmly, though her voice shakes even as she says it.

"I promise you. He'll never know the truth."

Rekha Maa looks at her sadly, her eyes glistening in the fading light. "Rani sa, I understand what you're going through. They treat you so badly. But why don't you leave with your daughter? Mere saath kyun bhej rahe ho aap?"

Maa sa gives a faint, almost broken smile, the kind of smile that doesn't reach her eyes at all.

"You think I haven't thought about it? Every single day, Rekha?"

She looks toward the house, her expression darkening.

"My time will come soon. But before that happens, I need to know that my daughter is safe. That's all that matters to me now."

Her eyes fill with tears, spilling over before she can stop them.

"Please. Take her with you. I will follow you soon. I promise you that."

Rekha Maa stays silent for a long moment, looking between the bag and Maa sa's face, before finally nodding, slow and heavy.

"Alright, Rani sa. I'll take her."

She places a hand over Maa's, squeezing gently.

"And I'll raise her like she's my own daughter. I'll give her the peaceful life she deserves. I promise you that, on everything I have."

I stare at them from behind the tree, my small heart pounding, not understanding why Maa sa is crying, why her hands won't stop shaking.

I don't know what she's asking Rekha Maa to do. I only know that something is terribly, terribly wrong.

- Sterling Hospital

My eyes slowly open, the world swimming into focus one blurry piece at a time. The first thing I feel is pain.

Everywhere.

"Sir... please open your eyes."

I turn my head slightly, Arjun is standing beside my bed, his eyes red rimmed, worry etched into every line of his face like he hasn't slept in hours.

"Mm..."

He immediately leans closer, his hands hovering like he doesn't know where it's safe to touch.

"Sir! Are you okay? Does it hurt? Should I call the nurse?"

"I'm fine NOW," I manage, my voice rough, scraping against my throat like sandpaper.

Arjun lets out a long breath of relief, his shoulders sagging.

"You have no idea how worried I was. I told you to let me come with you. Look what that bastard did to you."

I say nothing. There's nothing worth saying yet.

He continues anyway, unable to hold it in.

"Thank God for that girl. She saved your life, sir."

My eyes narrow, sharpening despite the pain.

"Where is she?"

Arjun pauses, hesitating just long enough to answer without me.

"She left before I arrived."

I stare at him, something tightening in my chest that has nothing to do with my ribs.

"Get me her information."

He blinks. "Sir?"

"I want to know who she is."

"Of course. But... may I ask why?"

My gaze hardens, cutting the question off before it goes any further.

"You don't need to know."

I shift slightly against the pillow, ignoring the pain that flares up my side.

"Just do what I told you."

"Yes, sir."

"And I don't want to stay here."

Arjun looks at me like I've lost my mind. "Sir, you just woke up."

"I said I don't want to stay here."

He sighs, defeated. "Alright. I'll arrange your discharge."

"Ten minutes."

His eyebrows shoot up. I give him a look that ends the conversation before it starts.

He immediately straightens. "Yes, sir. Ten minutes."

"Good."

I lean back against the pillow, closing my eyes again.

"Now leave me alone."

"Yes, sir."

He turns and walks out, his footsteps quick and uneven. My eyes close again, but sleep doesn't come. Only her face does, half-formed and blurry in my memory.

That girl...

I don't know who she is.

Yet she saved my life without a second thought.

I wake up with a stiff neck, the couch having done nothing kind for my back overnight.

I look around, disoriented for a second. The couch. I actually fell asleep here.

Then the dream comes rushing back, all at once, like it had just been waiting for me to open my eyes.

Maa sa.

Her voice.

Her tears.

That conversation with Rekha Maa, My chest tightens, that familiar ache settling in.

I miss you, Maa sa..

I love Rekha Maa more than I can even put into words. She has raised me, protected me, loved me like her own daughter without a single complaint.

But sometimes...

I still miss you. The one whose face is starting to blur a little more with every year that passes.

"Oh God... I miss her," I whisper to the empty room.

Then I suddenly remember.

Rekha Maa!

I quickly get up, my stiff neck forgotten, and rush to my room. She's still sleeping, the blanket rising and falling gently with her breath.

I sit beside her carefully and gently touch her shoulder.

"Maa?"

Her eyes slowly open, blinking against the morning light.

"You're awake?"

I smile, relief washing over me all over again. "Are you feeling better now?"

She gives me a tired smile, one that still manages to reach her eyes despite everything.

"Yes, beta. I'm much better."

I look at the bruise near her head, my jaw tightening at the sight of it.

"Why did he hurt you this time?"

She looks away, her fingers picking at the edge of the blanket.

"You know him. He wanted money for drinking. I refused... and things got out of hand."

My jaw tightens further.

"If you hadn't made me that promise, I swear I would've.."

She gives me a warning look, sharp despite her tired eyes.

"Gauri."

I sigh, letting my shoulders drop. "Fine."

She smiles faintly. "Do you remember what happened when you were 15?"

I groan, already knowing where this is going. "Maa..."

"You beat that boy so badly that his parents came to complain."

"He insulted our family!"

"You nearly broke his nose."

I shrug, unrepentant. "Maybe he deserved it."

She shakes her head, though there's the ghost of a smile at the corner of her mouth. "That's exactly why I made you promise me you'd never lose control again."

I look down at my hands, at the faint scars across my knuckles that never quite faded. "Yeah... I remember."

My fingers curl slightly, muscle memory more than anything.

"Besides, I was a boxer. What did you expect me to do? Just stand there and let someone insult my family?"

She raises an eyebrow, giving me a look. "Boxer?"

I freeze.

Shit.

She looks at me suspiciously, her tired eyes suddenly sharp again. "You still remember your training, don't you?"

I quickly smile, trying to smooth it over. "Of course I do."

"Gauri..."

"Okay, okay!" I laugh softly, holding up my hands. "I won't forget the promise. I won't lose my temper."

She narrows her eyes at me. "Promise?"

I hold up my hands properly this time, palms out. "Promise."

She finally smiles, satisfied. "Good. Now go get ready for work. You'll be late."

My eyes widen. "Oh, right!"

I jump off the bed. "Thanks for reminding me."

I lean down and kiss her forehead. "Love you. And you.. rest, okay?"

"Love you too. Now go."

I smile and head toward the bathroom, my steps quick.