Determination

Yash silently left from there. But, as he remembered something, he was standing behind a near tree and watching Lian. His thoughts were in disarray.

His father's decision to adopt Aalia when she was only four years old was a truly life-changing moment for both of them. From the moment she came into their lives, Aalia became an integral part of their family.

Although his mother and sister despised her to the core, he truly loved this lively little sister of his. So, as he doted upon her, his bond with Aalia was quite strong. As a little girl, she depended on him mostly, when his other sister bullied. So, although not bound by blood, the love between brother and sister was unmistakable.

If not for the incident on her engagement day, which she abruptly left without any explanation, and his father fell in a coma, he would never have imagined himself so angry with her. The weight of disappointment settled heavily upon his shoulders.

But now, something seemed not right about the whole thing. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered in the depths of his mind.

He had never imagined that there was anyone who could make her suffer like that. The thought of her in pain, both emotionally and physically, gnawed at his heart.

He had been still green, believing in the simplicity of the human nature. He wanted to make things right, to erase the pain she had endured, but he felt lost and unsure of how to proceed. His eyes poured out few drops of tears. As he casually wiped away his eyes, he looked at the lone soul that was struggling nearby with a dark face and red eyes. He sighed and Left there.

Meanwhile, Lian found solace on a rugged rock, a stoic companion amidst chaos. Retrieving a cigarette from his coat pocket, he struck a match with resolve, igniting the tip with a flickering flame. The smoke, like a delicate wisp, began to weave around him, creating an ethereal cocoon. As each inhale intertwined with his troubled thoughts, his mind became a tempestuous sea, a tumultuous storm brewing within.

Lina's words kept playing in his mind, like a broken record on repeat. Each syllable echoed through his thoughts, leaving an indelible mark on his soul.

"she was raped. It was probably a gang rape. She had suffered for a few days. After that she was left in the forest, her loneliness, pain and fear made her despair and frustrated."

"If she had memory, she might be dead because of shame and humiliation"

His eyes rimmed red, drowning in a sea of unshed tears. The weight of sorrow hung heavy in the air, swirling around his weary soul. Deep within his chest, his heart felt shattered, broken into a million jagged pieces. Each beat echoed with pain and longing, a constant reminder of what once was and what could have been. Memories of three years ago danced like ghosts.

"How dare you barge in to my washroom?"

"Shh! I'm hiding."

"Can't you just see, I'm bathing? Get... Get out."

"Shhh! Don't be so loud. I'll be found out. So what? Don't worry. I'm not interested in your feeble body."

"You!"

"Of course, let me hide in here for a while. I'll take the responsibility."

"Ohh? Responsibility?"

"Yes, I'll marry you, alright?"

"You? Marry me? I'm not interested in your flat body."

"You dare?"

"You're ridiculous!"

"As you say!"

'A proud girl like her, how can she accept the reality? What should I do? What should I do? I can't let her suffer forever.', Lian murmured to himself.

''Aalia I'll make sure you live your life comfortably.", he told to him with a determination.