CANVAS OF COURAGE [Ongoing]

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Beside her, Sanvi's mother stood motionless, her dry eyes fixed firmly on the floor as though holding back an ocean of tears. Sanvi's father, standing beside her, wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a warm hug. His voice, heavy but comforting, filled the heavy silence. "See? I told you na," he said, his words tinged with quiet pride. "She is strong. She will overcome this. Akhir beti kiski hai?"

She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. A smile broke through storm of emotions on her face, and a soft laugh escaped her lips as she responded, her voice trembling but warm. "Hamari" she said simply, but word carrying the depth of their love and shared hope.

As he held her close, his arms steady around her, she let out a shaky breath and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.  They both laughed softly, their voice mingling in the quiet of the room, the laughter was gentle, almost fragile, almost hesitant, tears began to escape from their eyes.  But these were not tears of sadness, they were tears of relief, of joy, of happiness.  

The group stood there, the weight of their fear finally lifting, replaced by a cautious relief.

SANVI POV

The air felt thick, suffocating—like I was caught in a storm of smoke and memories. My chest heaved, desperate for breath, but the air didn't come. Darkness pressed against me, but in the middle of it, a light flickered.

I found myself in a small, cozy house, familiar. This is house of my biological parents, the feeling wrapping me in a sense of belonging.

"Sanvi," a familiar voice called out, soft yet bright. My mother's voice. My head turned as though I had no control, and there she was—standing by the stove, her hands gracefully stirring a pot. She glanced at me with a smile so tender it made my throat tighten. Beside her, my father stood by the counter, laughing at something she said while chopping vegetables.

They are my biological parents.

"Look who's here," my father said, his laughter rolling like music through the room. His eyes sparkled, the way I remembered from a lifetime ago.

"Am I...?" My voice barely escaped, trembling as though it didn't belong to me. "Is this real?"  But She did not reply to my question.

My mother wiped her hands on a cloth and reached out to me. "Oh, my love, you look so tired," she said, her tone gentle and full of love.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "I missed you," I whispered, the words falling like fragile glass. "I didn't... protect you both."

My father chuckled, the sound so alive, so vibrant. "Protect us? Oh, sweetheart, that wasn't your job. We've been watching over you, even from here."

But something felt... wrong. The warmth began to waver, like ink spreading through water. I blinked, and the golden light faded into an angry red glow. The smell of spices was replaced by acrid smoke that burned my nose and stung my eyes. The cozy walls now cracked, flames licking their surface like hungry beasts.

My throat tightened, the air turning to poison. I stumbled, gasping, "No, no, no—this can't be happening again!"

My feet heavy like lead, only to see my father lying on the floor, his face pale, too still. And his shirt is soaked in Red color-Blood, blood is seeping out of him.   A sob escaped my lips, raw and jagged. "Dad!" My voice was barely audible over the roaring fire. I moved toward him, but the sound of splintering wood stopped me.

"Sanvi! Don't—stay back!" My mother's voice pierced the chaos, pulling my gaze toward her. She was pinned beneath a burning pillar, her face twisted in pain, yet her eyes shone with an unbreakable fierceness.