The rain didn't knock on the windows that night — it slapped them.
Thunder cracked across the sky like the universe itself was angry, and lightning painted the Patil home in quick, violent flashes.
Inside, Khushi sat by the window, textbook open, pen in hand… but her eyes weren't reading.
She was waiting.
For something.
For anything.
For her mother to walk in and say it was all a nightmare.
But the nightmare had already begun.
Downstairs, Sonali stood by the mandir, hands trembling as she lit a diya.
Her lips moved in silent prayer, her eyes holding back tears — not for herself, but for her children.
Pandurang and Namrata sat on the swing in the hall. The old man's hands trembled slightly as he tried to read the newspaper, but the words blurred.
"Namrata," he said quietly, "something is wrong."
"I know," she whispered, staring at the family photo on the wall — the one where Sonali's smile looked real.
Ron ran around with a toy plane, humming happily.
"Zoommm, Tai look! I'm flying!"
Khushi forced a smile. "Wow! You're better than any pilot, Ronu."
She turned to look outside again.
And then it happened.
A phone rang.
Sonali froze.
Her fingers hovered over the screen. It was him. Her brother.
She answered, voice low. "Hello?"
He spoke quickly.
Khushi couldn't hear what he said, but she saw Sonali's knees buckle.
"No… don't say that. No, don't come. I—" her voice cracked.
Khushi rushed to her.
"Aai? What happened?"
Sonali turned away. "Nothing, beta. Go upstairs."
"But—"
"I said go!"
Pandurang stood up. "What's going on?"
Sonali turned to her father-in-law and smiled. That soft, fake smile she'd been wearing for weeks.
"Baba, I'm just… going to my bhau's house. Only for tonight."
"In this rain?" Namrata asked sharply. "Take Khushi at least."
"No," Sonali said gently. "She needs to study."
She turned to Khushi and hugged her tight.
"Study well, beta. No matter what happens… promise me?"
Khushi pulled back, confused. "Why are you talking like this, Aai?"
Sonali kissed her forehead. "Because mothers always know when the storm is near."
That was the last time they saw her.
That night, she jumped from the sixth floor of her brother's building.
The police called it suicide.
They didn't ask why.
They didn't see the bruises hidden under her saree.
They didn't care that her bindi was missing — something she never forgot.
They just filed a report and left.
When the news came, the Patil house broke.
Literally.
Ron's plane snapped in two.
Pandurang collapsed onto his knees.
Namrata screamed, a sound so guttural it shook Khushi to her soul.
Khushi… didn't scream.
She didn't cry.
She walked silently into her mother's room and found the folded science textbook Sonali always kept.
Inside it, a letter.
"Forgive me, my Khushi. I wanted to be strong. But I couldn't watch your light dim every day. I failed. You must not."
"Be fire. Not ash."
That night, Khushi didn't sleep.
She stared at her mother's empty pillow.
Ron cried until his throat gave out.
And Sanjay?
He didn't show up until morning — and when he did, he brought Neha with him.
Wearing Sonali's bangles.
Smiling like she belonged.
End of Chapter 2.