---
Outside the Courtroom
Everyone began leaving the courtroom. Roni and Akshat came and stood beside me. Just then, my lawyer walked up and said,
"We'll need to conduct a bit more investigation… we need to put in some more effort and research. Maybe then… we might actually win this case. But for now, we just need a few more pieces of evidence. You should go home and get some rest. We'll take care of the rest later."
His words gave me a small sense of relief. The way he said, "we might win" — even that flicker of hope brought a little calm to my heart.
But as soon as we stepped outside—
Khushi's mother appeared right in front of us. And then, out of nowhere, she started sobbing loudly, yelling at the top of her lungs —
"How could this court let the murderer walk free? What kind of justice system is this?! Don't let her go… she's a killer!"
She grabbed my arm and yanked me toward her, then gripped my shirt collar and slammed me against the wall.
I was terrified.
I couldn't even pull her hand away… or maybe I just didn't try to.
My body had gone numb… completely frozen.
"Why...? Why did you kill my daughter...? What did she ever do to you...? Was her only fault that she won a scholarship...? Is that why you took her life...?"
"You had the gun in your hand... you're guilty... and yet this court is letting you go... Maybe the court forgives you, but I won't! Remember that!"
She slapped me so hard that my hair fell all over my face. I looked down, tears streaming from my eyes.
Then came her heartbreaking sobs. I slowly looked up at her. Her eyes were filled with tears. Her face was etched with agony.
The pain of losing a daughter... the hunger for justice — both screamed through her eyes.
"Why...? Why did this have to happen to my daughter...? No matter who wins or loses now... my daughter is never coming back. I'll never hear her voice again, never see her face…"
"I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye… How does one survive after seeing their child lying in a pool of blood?"
Her little son stood beside her, crying uncontrollably. I couldn't even bring myself to comfort him.
Their pain... I understood it deeply. Because I've lost people too.
Khushi's mother looked at me with hatred, rage burning in her eyes — and honestly, her anger made sense. She had lost her daughter. And until I proved myself innocent, she would continue to believe I was guilty.
In that moment, I didn't want to defend myself. I just stood there… looking into her tear-soaked eyes.
Then Roni stepped in and gently said,
"Ma'am, we understand your pain, but this isn't the way to behave in court."
Akshat added,
"We may never fully understand your grief… but please, try to understand. Nothing has been proven yet — it hasn't been confirmed that Riya murdered your daughter. Please take care of yourself."
I held up my hand, calming both Roni and Akshat, and then turned to Khushi's mother.
"The pain of losing your daughter… I can't even imagine. But if we can find the real killer — bring them to justice — maybe, just maybe, some part of your pain might ease."
"I promise you, I will put everything I have into this. I will uncover the truth and get justice for Khushi."
I tried to hold her hand, to offer some comfort — because watching her like that broke something inside me.
And at that moment, I swore in my heart and mind — I would not only prove my innocence, but I would also bring justice to Khushi.
No matter what it takes.
But Khushi's mother, overwhelmed with emotion, pulled her hand away and ran off toward the restroom, still sobbing.
Akshat held my hand and gently led me outside. Roni followed behind.
We were walking toward the car. I wasn't even sure whose car it was — Roni's or Akshat's.
But suddenly, I stopped walking.
The two of them had gone a few steps ahead. They turned to see why I had paused.
And then I shouted —
"I have to find the evidence… and I will!"
They just stared at me.
Akshat turned to Roni, then looked back at me and said,
"Yes. We will find it. Don't worry."
But before anything else, there was something I had to do — something urgent.
I had to see Isha.
She was the only one I had been longing to find since last night.
I didn't know what state she was in… but I had to see her.
Without saying a word, I turned and started running away.
Roni called out, "Where are you going?"
I shouted over my shoulder,
"To meet Isha! You two go ahead — I'll meet you later!"
---
At the Hospital
Seeing Isha lying on the hospital bed shattered me completely.
Watching her heartbeat through the monitor… her silence, her stillness — she wasn't even blinking. The girl who used to laugh over the silliest things, who was always so full of life… now lay there like this. Would anyone believe this was the same girl?
My eyes, nose — everything was overflowing with tears. The pain I felt when I lost my mother, the ache of seeing my father paralyzed, or even the grief of losing Rimjhim… I was feeling that same pain all over again today.
Placing my hand on my heart, I whispered to myself —
"My heart, my mind, my soul, even my kidneys — everything hurts. My fingers ache. My eyes have turned from red to blue from crying. My throat feels like fire. I haven't eaten since yesterday — not because I didn't want to, but because I simply couldn't."
This sight… this day — I never wanted to see it. It's like all 365 days of pain have been crammed into one.
When will this day end? Maybe I'll hate this day for the rest of my life. Maybe the day isn't cursed — maybe I am. Maybe I'm the one who brings ruin. Maybe I'm cursed. Maybe I ruin everything I touch. Everyone I care for ends up suffering.
First Mom, then Dad's illness, then going broke, Rimjhim… and now you.
Maybe I should stay away from everyone.
I slapped myself again and again — maybe that's all I deserved.
After losing Mom, suffering abuse from my stepmother and sister, doing multiple jobs, letting go of my dreams, Dad's condition, the death of a close friend — all of this made me believe… maybe happiness was never meant for me. Maybe I didn't deserve joy.
And then… you came. You became my friend.
And things started to heal again.
But then, a storm came… and broke everything all over again.
Just a few days ago I was so happy… and now...
I held Isha's hand.
"I've lost enough people already. I can't lose you. I won't survive it. I broke once before… and I got back up. But if I break again now… I might never rise again."
"I've lost a friend before. I can't lose another."
I screamed through tears —
"Can you hear me?! I know you can!"
"That fall — it wasn't right!"
"Please say something! Look at me! Say anything!"
I rested my head on her shoulder.
"I need you. You're the only one who knows everything. I don't know what's happening anymore… what to do. Please… say something…"
"What does Isha know?"
Suddenly, Akshat's voice came from behind.
I froze. "Akshat…?"
I wiped my tears and turned around slowly.
"You?"
He just repeated —
"What does Isha know?"
I fumbled, looking around —
"She knows me… but look at her. She can't even speak now."
Tears streamed down again.
"Would anyone believe this girl used to light up the room?"
"Say something!" I shouted at Isha.
"Why won't you say anything?"
Akshat had tears in his eyes too. He pulled me into a tight hug.
He tried to calm me, but I knew he was breaking inside too. His fast breathing and pounding heartbeat told me everything.
He didn't want me to see his tears… because he knew if I did, I'd fall apart even more.
He stroked my hair gently, trying to soothe me.
We both knew —
We were broken inside.
"Everything will be okay… Isha will be okay. You'll be okay. We all will be. It will all be just like before. Don't worry."
"If she were awake, Isha would've said the same thing."
"I hate seeing you like this. You were blaming yourself… calling yourself cursed."
"Don't say that. Someone as unique and kind as you… you can't possibly be cursed."
"This is just a rough phase… but we'll fight it — together."
He cupped my face and wiped my tears.
"Just hold on to hope… we're with you."
That was the first time all day… I could finally breathe.