I woke up early for an important meeting. Before going, I kissed Rehan's cheeks and stroked her hair as she slept peacefully like a baby. On the way, I sent her a message about my meeting.It was a sunny Sunday morning. The sun hadn't risen yet, but the whole city was covered in an orange glow. Next time, I would go to see the sunrise with her and Rehan; they both would love it.

I was in my own world when I entered the parking lot of our building but it was only for a few minutes before the loud boom echoed in the still morning air covering it with dark and thick smoke. It happened too fast that my brain stopped working, I stilled, and I couldn't move as the car tumbled upside down from the impact.

I could hear my heart thumping loudly in my ears, the blood pumping in my veins as the flames licked my car. The pungent, and harsh smell of smoke choking me as I tried to breathe that fresh air again.

I tried to reach for the door handle but it was burnt. I put out my seat belt as I used my shoulder to break the glass but a crack sounded from my shoulder and it lay limp beside me. The orange flames of fire reached me in no time as I twisted and turned to find out the way but I was not able to. I was in a weak state, a vulnerable one.

There's nothing I can do, I am going to die. I closed my eyes accepting my fate as I pictured the faces of my Rehan and Adhvi, my family, my sister, and my friends.

I opened my eyes again as they started to burn from the smoke and my unshed tears, my breathing came more ragged than earlier.I could feel my head getting heavy but I shook my head trying to escape but there was no way, I was in the middle of the fire as it spread around.

My vision was turning black as I felt the fire flames burning my flesh but I wasn't able to scream or do anything. It felt like my hands were tied as my heavy body floated in the sea of fire flames. My eyes closed as my head became heavy and my breathing came out ragged. The surrounding voices were bringing me back but my eyes felt heavier. I could hear them screaming, and the sirens sounding in the calm morning air.

I smiled as I drowned in this sea, remembering my times with my family and the way they treated me, with love and care.

My limbs became loose as my brain fogged and there was nothing except me and darkness. The thick Darkness. The trumpets of death. The way to somewhere else. Away from family. Away from Rehan. Away from Adhvika. Far, Far Away and the only thought fogging my mind was how one's life could change in a matter of seconds and how a happy man can turn into ashes within minutes.

'The number you are trying to call is unreachable, you can try...' I called him again and again, but there was no answer. He was unreachable, and I could feel that something bad had happened to him. I called Anita, and she picked up after two rings.

"Good Morning, Bhabhi." She sounded tired but I was panicking internally. "Anita listen, I think your bhai.....Your bhai...." I was not able to say further as I choked, controlling back my tears. Everything I knew was happening because of me, I told him I was an unlucky woman but he was stubborn and ignored my words, thinking of them as mere air.

"Please...Anita...Come...fast..." I whispered, my voice came out hoarse and dry. "I'm coming, Bhabhi," She sounded breathless and then there was a shuffling sound on the other end, I waited for her to come as I descended downstairs and opened the main door.

"Bhabhi, What happened to bhai? You didn't tell me and why are you crying? Did something bad happen?." Her face was etched with concern when she bashed inside. She was in pain, like me but I couldn't do anything.

"I'm not sure Anita but please could you take care of Rehan? for me?" I plead with my eyes. "I'll but tell me bhabhi, please. I'm begging you." She was on the verge of crying but I was confused, How should I explain to her that her brother was dying?

"Nothing bad happened, Anita. Everything will be fine." I said trying to assure her. This was the only best I could do right now. "I've to go, Anita, Please take care of Rehan." She flinched when my voice reached her as if she were in a daydream. She nodded in agreement.

"See you later," Saying this, I rushed down the building towards my car, starting the engine. I pulled the car over on the highway when my phone buzzed. It was from an unknown number, and I hesitated a bit before picking up the call. Wiping my tears, I took a long breath and picked up the call.

"Hello, Is this Mr. Rathore's wife?" a female voice came from another end."Yes," "Mr. Rathore is currently admitted to Starlight Hospital as he was severely injured. Your number was on the emergency list so we called to inform you." "I'll be there in ten," I said as the call disconnected. My heart was pounding and my head was almost on the brink of flaring like a volcano. I chanted a prayer to the hospital. His family members were calling me, even Maa called me but I couldn't face any of them. I'll not be able to hear them or even tell them anything.

What would I say that my ex-husband wasn't dead and he was so jealous of my second marriage that he burnt their son's car? What would they think that I was some girl who carries bad luck for their sons on her back? I was born with bad luck what could be more concerning than this? My life was full of dramas and now the death of loved ones? I saved Rehan from the evils of this world but how do I save my second husband from this?

My phone went off again dragging me back from my dark thoughts but I didn't pick it up. I don't want to or I couldn't. I was a coward running from my own life and fate but eventually, it was going to be repeated.

A few minutes later I reached the hospital, it stood out tall and modernized. The people in wheelchairs and ambulances could be seen. Without wasting another minute, I reached the front reception after parking my car.

"I'm Mr. Rathore's wife. You called me a few moments ago." My voice came out low and hoarse. As the words left my mouth, the lady over there started shuffling around and came with a half-burnt phone and a wallet. My heart sank deeper as she handed me over the material.

"Mr. Rathore is in an emergency room over there." The lady said with a pitiful gaze and gestured me toward the left lobby. My feet shuffled toward the second corridor before I could think over my problems again. With each step closer to the room, I could feel my head spinning. In this noisy hall, I could hear my heart pounding in my chest, overflowing with distinctive feelings of pain.

I stopped outside the emergency room when a voice brought me back to earth. "Adhvi beta," Maa's low voice reached my ears and I turned around to find her and Raj's whole family rushing towards me except Anita who was with Rehan but I am sure they told her everything. Their faces were covered with concern and worry.

Walking towards me, both Chachi and Maa wrapped me in a hug and my eyes blurred with unshed tears. "This...This was my mistake....all mine..." I tried to speak in between my hiccups as Maa stroked my hair. "It's not your fault Adhvi, He'll be fine... Calm down, Bache." She cooed softly as her warm hands wiped my cheeks clean but my body was shivering as if it had been hit by a tsunami. "Does Maa know?" I asked, my voice low.

"Yes beta, She's coming too," Chachi replied and I could feel her crying too. All the men were sitting on the nearby chairs, waiting for the doctor. They looked tense, I could sense fear on their faces. "Is this Mr. Rathore's family?" A man wearing a coat came into view rushing out of the room. His expressions were neutral as he spoke with Rajveer's dad.

"Yes, Sir," Dad replied shaking his head in a nod. "Is our son, Rajveer fine?" Chachu asked hesitantly, I could see unshed tears in his eyes. "See, Mr. Rathore. We're doing our best but Mr. Rajveer's situation is not so good. So, It might be a little difficult to conclude." Saying this, the doctor left us with our worries. My whole body shook at his words.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and it was a message from the same number. "Oh, my precious, busy putting a good show for your dead hubby, hmm?"

My eyes stung with pain as I typed a reply with burning anger in my heart. "Never Ever try to message me again, I DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING!! I don't know you!"

I switched my phone off as I looked towards the emergency room again. The curtains were drawn blocking our view. We could hear the beeping of machines and the shuffling of feet. My heart rate was spiking with every beeping sound. I held my weight on the nearby wall while Maa and Chachi were sitting side by side tears flowing down their cheeks.

"Adhvika...." A panicked sound reached my ears and I looked up to find my Maa rushing towards me, her breathing heavy. "M...Maa...Woh...Raj..." I choked mid-sentence as Maa hugged my shivering body. I could feel her racing heartbeat too. Anita too would be in a shock, I heard her over on a phone call with Chachi. Earlier, Anvi too, sent a dozen of messages that I ignored due to those creepy texts. 

Now, I regret my decisions, I should have told Rajveer about all this or even filed a complaint regarding the threats but I was naive enough to think of them as mere words until they crashed upon me and my family.

But there was nothing we could do, except be patient and send constant prayers to God. An hour later, the beeping of machines stopped and the doctor stepped out of the emergency room with dismal expressions covering his entire face.

"Doctor..is..my husband...fine?....He is f...fine...right?" I rushed towards him as soon as I saw him coming out of the room and other family members were waiting for his response.

"Sorry to say Mrs. Rathore but we couldn't do anything due to the complications in Mr. Rathore's case." He said softly, shaking and lowering his head in defeat. My heart stopped the moment his words left his mouth. My world turned upside down in a matter of minutes and everything dawned upon me.

My knees buckled in defeat as I became a loser in seconds. My eyes were spilling oceans but I couldn't feel anything, It all felt numb, unrealistic but realistic. My head was whirling, there were voices surrounding me but my inner thoughts were overshadowing them.

The dizziness in my head was enough to make me feel loose but still trapped in this worldly prison and then I was losing it slowly. The darkness started spreading in front of me and I could feel my heart stilling, and my body numb. I wanted to scream my lungs out but now I don't have enough energy in me to even open my eyes, to see this miserable morning.

 It felt like the end of this beautiful beginning.