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A Shadow’s Sacrifice

 

It was a breathtaking morning, the kind that made you pause and appreciate the beauty of life. I woke up to the gentle hum of a melody playing in the background, a habit I had cultivated to start my day with tranquillity. Outside my window, the birds chirped joyfully as they pecked at the food and sipped the water I placed for them daily. Their carefree fluttering filled my heart with warmth, a reminder of the innocence that still lingered in the world. My little rabbit, with his soft fur and bright eyes, bounded toward me, eager for our morning ritual. I picked him up, feeling his small, rapid heartbeat against my palm, and smiled. Life felt perfect, if only for a moment.

After playing with him for a while, I got ready for the day. Today was special; not only was I expected at work early, but I was also going to meet Priya, my first love, after what felt like an eternity. My heart raced at the thought of seeing her again. As I finished getting dressed, a sudden loud knock at the door startled me. Opening it, I found Abhilash, my oldest friend, grinning widely. “Don’t forget, we have the party tonight,” he reminded me. I assured him that I’d be there at sharp 9 PM and hurried to the office, my mind filled with the anticipation of the evening.

The day passed in a blur. Thoughts of Priya kept me smiling, and I worked with a lightness I hadn’t felt in years. By 8:45 PM, I was ready to leave. I headed straight to the Peridot Palace, where the party was being held. Driving through Mandana Lane, a deserted and dimly lit road, I caught sight of a fleeting black shadow slipping into an alley. Something about it gripped my attention, and without a second thought, I stopped the car and followed.

The figure was slender, wrapped in a tattered black shawl, moving hastily as though carrying the weight of the world. I tried calling her out, but my voice was swallowed by the heavy silence of the night. She didn’t seem to notice me trailing her. The curiosity within me grew stronger as I saw her turn a corner and disappear. I quickened my pace, desperate to know where she had gone. The darkness closed in around me, and the silence became oppressive.

Suddenly, the piercing sound of a gunshot shattered the stillness. My heart leapt to my throat as fear gripped me. For a brief moment, I debated running away, but something compelled me to move forward. My legs trembled as I followed the sound, and then I saw her.

She was lying on the ground, her black shawl soaked in crimson, her lifeless eyes staring up at the indifferent sky. Her frail body looked even smaller now, crumpled and broken. My breath caught as I stood frozen, paralyzed by the sight of death so raw and immediate. Who was she? Why was she here? My mind raced with questions, but there were no answers.

I knelt beside her, my shaking hands searching for a pulse, a sign of life—anything. But it was too late. Her warmth was already slipping away, leaving behind a haunting stillness. As I tried to compose myself, my gaze fell on a small bag lying just inches away from her hand. Hesitantly, I picked it up. Inside, I found 50,000 rupees and a crumpled note, scrawled hastily in trembling handwriting.

“If anything happens to me, please give this amount to my children. I have put everything on stake to save them.”

Tears blurred my vision as I read the words over and over, the weight of her sacrifice crashing down on me like a tidal wave. Her desperation, her love for her children, her final act of courage—it all hit me at once. I looked around, hoping to find someone, anyone who could explain what had happened, but the alley was empty. The culprit had vanished into the night, leaving behind only this tragic scene.

I stood there, my heart heavy with sorrow and guilt for not being able to save her. Who was she? What had led her to this dark fate? And what about her children—waiting, perhaps even hoping for her return? The questions clawed at my soul, but there were no answers, only the crushing silence of the empty street.

Summoning what little strength I had left, I dialled the police, my voice breaking as I explained the situation. Then, clutching the bag tightly, I decided to fulfil her final wish. I proceeded to the address scribbled on the note, each step weighed down by the enormity of what I had witnessed.

The narrow lanes of Mandana stretched endlessly, and the thought of her children waiting for a mother who would never return haunted me. With every step, I felt a newfound resolve bloom in my heart—a commitment to ensure that her sacrifice would not go in vain. Though I couldn’t save her, I could honor her memory by protecting the ones she had fought so desperately for.

Dr. Mallika Tripathi