10th May, 2012 –
A strong wind blew across the open field. Aryan and Sonia lay side by side on the soft grass, eyes fixed on the drifting clouds above.
> "Hey Aryan..."
"Hmm..."
"What do you want in your life?"
Aryan turned his head slightly, surprised by the sudden question.
> "What I want in my life... huh! It's nothing much... I just don't want to be alone..."
Sonia frowned and smacked his shoulder lightly.
> "Hey..! You're not alone at all. I'm here with you. Or am I nothing to you, huh?"
Aryan flinched, flustered.
> "It... It's not like that..."
> "Ha...ha...haha... Silly boy... Don't need to panic. I was just kidding."
He gave a nervous laugh, watching her carefree smile.
> "Hmm... What about you, Sonia?"
> "Me...!" Sonia smiled softly.
"It's simple. I just want to be with you forever."
---
Present Day –
The news report echoed in Aryan's head like a curse.
"Room number 302… Sonia… fire… dead..."
Without hesitation, he bolted out of his house, running like a madman through the crowded streets. The hospital couldn't be far.
---
At Apollo Hospital –
Staff huddled in small groups, whispering.
> "Hey... Did you hear the news? Do you know what happened tonight at Room No. 302?"
"Hey, I'm also on day shift. How am I supposed to know about it?"
"I just heard about it. But I don't know the details."
Suddenly, the hospital doors burst open. Aryan ran inside, panic and pain etched into his face.
> "Hey, he's running inside the hospital. Is he crazy?"
He rushed straight to the reception desk, gasping for breath.
> "Can you tell me about the patient of Room No. 302?"
The nurse gave him a sympathetic glance.
> "Oh… Room No. 302? Her family already took her body last night. I think they're at their home now."
> "Oh… thank you..."
Aryan didn't wait. He sprinted out the doors, heading straight for Sonia's home.
---
At Sonia's House –
Grief hung in the air like smoke. Some relatives wept softly; others sat in silence, staring into space.
The front door suddenly opened.
A boy stepped forward.
> "Hey... Who are you?"
Before Aryan could answer, Sonia's mother spoke up.
> "No need to worry, Sohan... He is the one who took Sonia to the hospital."
Aryan walked into the room. His eyes fell on Sonia's framed photo, a garland draped around it.
He dropped to his knees.
> "I'm sorry...!"
Tears streamed down his face.
An old man stepped into the center of the room, his voice cold and sharp.
> "Everyone in this world will be gone in time. No need to cry. It's not a big deal. And she is just a girl. Girls are a family's burden."
The room went silent.
Aryan's body tensed. He stood up, eyes blazing.
> "Hey! Who the hell just said that?! Come in front!"
> "It's me. Sonia's grandfather. Do you got any problem with that?"
---
10th May, 2012 – Flashback
> "I just want to be with you forever."
> "Hey, you dumb boy... After hearing something like that from a girl, boys have to say something..."
Aryan smiled.
> "I'm here with you, and I'll be there with you in the future. No matter where you are and how you are, I'll be with you forever."
Sonia blushed and smiled.
> "And?"
> "And what?"
> "You dumb... It's nothing... I'm going home."
> "Hey, I was kidding. Don't get angry, please."
> "So...!"
> "So what?"
> "So my foot. I'm going..."
> "I... I love you..."
> "Hmm... You're lying..."
> "Hey... I'm telling the truth..."
> "Yea. Yea... Yea... I got it."
They both laughed. Their innocent joy filled the fading afternoon.
Later that evening, Aryan dropped Sonia home. As he turned to leave, he heard a voice from inside.
> "Hey, you brat… Where were you? A girl should always stay at home and do housework. You're nothing but a burden. Now go do the housework."
> "But Grandpa… I need to read..."
> "Heh… What will you do by reading? There is no benefit in educating girls. Only boys should read..."
> "It's not true! Girls also can do many things by reading."
> "You brat... You can argue with me now, huh? Go do the housework!"
---
Back to Present –
> "It's me. Sonia's grandfather. Do you got any problem with that? You're not our family member. So know your place, brat."
Aryan's fists clenched.
> "Huh… So you're that old man who always behaved badly with her..."
He lunged forward, grabbing the old man by the collar, and threw him to the ground. Rage consumed him.
Aryan punched him—again and again.
> "I... I'll kill you, you damn old man... You always behaved badly with her. Even after she's dead, you're speaking this nonsense. If you were the one trapped in that fire, burning alone, what would you have felt, huh?!"
Gasps erupted around the room.
> "Hey... why are you punchi...ng... m..me... S...stop..."
> "Stop! Please! At this rate, he'll die!"
People rushed in to pull Aryan back, but he was unrelenting. Blood pooled from the old man's mouth.
Then—
> "I said... STOP! Stop it right now!"
Sonia's father's voice thundered across the room.
Aryan froze. He slowly stood up, trembling, eyes wild.
Silence filled the house.
A few people helped the old man up and took him away.
Aryan turned to Sonia's father.
> "Hey, Uncle... Ten years. It's been ten years since I last talked to her. Since I saw her. Even when I saw her by chance, I pretended not to. But yesterday... just yesterday... why did I have to leave?"
Sonia's father lowered his eyes, unable to answer.
> "I see... You don't have any words, huh? Never mind... I'm sorry, everyone..."
Aryan turned and began to walk away.
---
Outside Sonia's House –
As Aryan stepped out into the street, a voice called behind him.
> "Hey, stop… I've some questions for you..."
Aryan turned.
> "Sorry..! Huh... You're that boy from earlier..."
---
To be continued…