💟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡

𝐕𝐀𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐀

𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐

"It was murder, Vaanya."

The words echoed in my mind, even as the rain battered against the windshield, blurring everything outside. I could still hear them, clear and cold, shattering the fragile reality I'd clung to for so long.

Murder. My parents hadn't died in an accident. They were murdered. 

My grip on the steering wheel tightened as those words replayed in my mind, a relentless mantra of betrayal and rage. The speedometer climbed—80, 90, 100—but I didn't care. I wasn't just driving; I was hurtling down the slick, rain-soaked Pune-Mumbai Expressway like a missile with no destination. The road was notorious for its dangers during the rainy season, but fear had no place in me anymore. The truth I had uncovered was far more terrifying than any reckless speed. My world had shattered the moment I learned it. 

All my life, I believed that my parents had died in a tragic car accident. But today, I learned it was all a lie. Murder. The word echoed in my head, the cold, brutal truth. They had been murdered. And the one responsible? Aditya Oberoi. He had taken everything from me—my parents, my unborn sibling, my peace.

Rage simmered inside me, threatening to boil over. My feet moved on their own, pressing the accelerator harder, pushing the car faster and faster over the treacherous road. 

Aditya had worn a mask of kindness, hiding his true nature. My mind was fogged with thoughts of revenge—revenge for my parents, for my lost sibling, for my stolen life. What had been their fault? What was my fault? Why did he murder them and leave me to suffer alone? I wanted to hear it from the murderer's own mouth. I wanted to rip away his mask and expose him to the world for what he truly was—a monster.

Blinded by rage, I barely noticed as the car skidded on the slick road. Suddenly, there was a loud thud. Everything happened so quickly that I had no time to react. The car veered off the road, tumbling down the hill. Glass shattered around me, slicing into my skin. My head throbbed with sharp, relentless pain. The world spun, and nausea overwhelmed me. The car came to a violent stop as it crashed into a tree.

The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth,  It dripped from the cuts all over me, warm and stuck. Tiny shards of glass pricked my face and limbs, like a thousand needles embedded deep. My legs felt heavy, and lifeless, as if they were no longer part of me. Panic clawed at my chest when the sharp scent of gasoline stung my nose, its fumes wrapping around me like a noose. I tried to shift, to pull myself free, but my body stayed still, refusing to listen. 

My throat tightened, and no sound came out. Rain pounded outside, drowning out any hope of being heard. I was stuck, and no one would find me until morning. By then, it would be over. 

At that very moment, I remembered my Baba's words: "The person who forgives is greater than the person who seeks revenge. Forgive, no matter the sin, and trust that God will bring justice. Revenge binds you with hatred, he'd said. Forgiveness sets you free."

Baba was right. I let the thought of revenge take control of my mind, and now... but I didn't regret it. He took everything from me when I was only eight. My maternal uncle and aunt took me in, but my uncle's absences left me alone with her. She tortured me, beat me, and even tried to sell me to an old man. I had to run away to save my life. Did I deserve it? No, I didn't deserve that.

All I had wanted now after finding out the truth... was to expose his real face to the world, to bring justice for my parents but... my body was giving up. The pain was slowly fading, my eyes grew heavier. Maybe it was time to reunite with my parents after all. Isn't this what I had asked for when I found out my parents were murdered? I accepted my fate.

Images of my parents, the memories of us together, flashed before my eyes. A smile tugged at my lips. My eyes slowly closed, and a tear slid down my cheek. I didn't pray. I was leaving, fading into the darkness forever...

⇜ ♥ ⇝

Thank you for diving into the prologue of my debut book! I'm thrilled to have you on this journey from the very beginning. If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to vote, comment, and share with friends who might love it too. Your feedback means the world to me and stay tuned for the first chapter—where the adventure truly begins. Happy reading! ❤️🙏