The morning passed like every other ordinary day.

And perhaps...

That was the cruelest part of tragedies.

They never announced themselves.

Rajesh adjusted the rearview mirror of the family car while Sunita checked the list on her phone for what felt like the tenth time.

"Medicine for Pooja."

"Done."

"Mahendra Papa's BP tablets."

"Done."

"Ananya's hostel snacks."

Rajesh smiled.

"We'll courier those tomorrow."

Sunita nodded before looking toward the house.

"Where is Aradhya?"

As if on cue, Aradhya came running out of the house, slightly breathless, carrying a white cloth bag.

"You forgot this."

"What is it?" Rajesh asked.

"Papa, your office documents."

Rajesh slapped his forehead.

"I would've had to return halfway."

Sunita smiled.

"Good thing our daughter remembers everything."

Aradhya laughed.

"Someone has to."

Rajesh took the bag.

"Thank you."

It wasn't a big sentence.

Just two words.

But hearing "thank you" from her father always made her smile.

Sunita gently tucked a few loose strands of hair behind Aradhya's ear.

"Did you eat properly?"

"Yes."

"Don't spend the whole day studying."

"I won't."

"And don't let Aarush eat too many chocolates."

Aradhya glanced toward the veranda where the little boy sat playing with toy cars.

"I'll try."

Sunita laughed softly.

"I know that look."

"What look?"

"The 'I'll secretly give him chocolates anyway' look."

"I don't have that look."

"You absolutely do."

Rajesh looked at his watch.

"We're getting late."

Sunita nodded.

She leaned forward and kissed Aradhya's forehead.

It wasn't something she did every day.

Perhaps because they were in a hurry.

Perhaps because mothers simply felt things they couldn't explain.

"Take care."

"You too, Mumma."

Rajesh started the engine.

The car slowly rolled toward the gate.

Aarush suddenly looked up.

"Mumma!"

He ran as fast as his tiny legs allowed.

"Bye!"

Sunita rolled down the window immediately.

"My baby."

She blew him a flying kiss.

He laughed loudly.

"Didi!"

Aradhya lifted him into her arms.

"Wave."

Both siblings stood together at the gate.

Rajesh raised one hand from the steering wheel.

"Study well."

"I will."

The car disappeared around the corner.

Neither Rajesh...

Nor Sunita...

Looked back again.

The house slowly settled into its usual rhythm.

Mahendra sat reading the newspaper.

Savitri counted prayer beads.

Pooja rested in her room because of her pregnancy.

Ramesh prepared for school.

Suresh left for work.

Aradhya cleaned the breakfast table while humming an old song her mother loved.

Aarush followed her everywhere.

"Didi."

"Hmm?"

"Milk."

"Coming."

"Didi."

"Hmm?"

"Car."

"I'll bring it."

"Didi."

"Hmm?"

"Hug."

She smiled.

"Always."

She bent down.

He wrapped his tiny arms around her neck.

He had no idea...

This would become the only hug keeping her heart alive in the days to come.

Around noon...

Aradhya sat in her room solving Physics numericals.

Her biology books surrounded her.

Sticky notes covered one wall.

A timetable was pinned beside her study table.

Every hour was planned.

Every chapter scheduled.

Every dream carefully organized.

Doctor.

That single word was written neatly on a paper above her desk.

She stared at it for a moment before smiling to herself.

"Just one more year," she whispered. "Next year is going to be my NEET year. I have to be ready."

Her voice was soft, but her determination was strong.

"I'll do it."

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Didi!"

Aarush barged inside carrying a broken toy truck.

"It broke."

She examined it.

"The wheel came off."

"Fix."

"Of course."

She opened her drawer.

Inside were glue, tape, thread, batteries...

Anything someone in the house might suddenly need.

Within minutes...

The truck was repaired.

Aarush gasped.

"You magic!"

"No."

She tapped his nose.

"Engineering."

"I also do engineering."

"You will."

He proudly drove the truck across the floor.

At exactly 3:17 p.m...

The landline rang.

Its shrill sound echoed through the quiet house.

Tring...

Tring...

Tring...

Savitri frowned.

"Who could it be?"

Mahendra picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Then...

His expression changed.

"What?"

Everyone looked toward him.

His hand tightened around the receiver.

"No... there must be some mistake."

More silence.

The color slowly drained from his face.

"No..."

The newspaper slipped from his lap.

Savitri stood immediately.

"What happened?"

Mahendra couldn't answer.

His lips trembled.

The receiver fell from his hand.

It swung from the wire.

Tick...

Tick...

Tick...

"What happened?" Savitri asked again, louder this time.

Mahendra finally whispered...

His voice barely audible.

"Rajesh..."

The entire house froze.

"...Their car..."

Another pause.

"...met with an accident."

Everything stopped.

Even the air seemed to disappear.

Aradhya stepped out of her room.

"What happened, Dadu?"

No one answered.

She looked from one face to another.

Fear.

Shock.

Disbelief.

She had never seen those expressions together before.

"Dadu?"

Mahendra looked at her.

His eyes...

Were filled with tears.

"The hospital called."

Her heartbeat quickened.

"Papa and Mumma..."

No.

No.

No.

"They met with an accident."

The words echoed endlessly inside her mind.

As though the world had suddenly become underwater.

She couldn't hear anything else.

Only one sentence.

They met with an accident.

Her pencil slipped from her fingers.

It hit the floor.

Aarush looked around innocently.

"Didi?"

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Because deep inside...

Every person in that house was praying the same desperate prayer.

Please let them be alive.

Please.

Please.

Please...

To be continued...