The morning sky was a prism of colours, as they drove towards the sea, her eyes went to the scenery, holding her captive.  Saahil drove in silence, not bothering her, knowing she needed the space. 

"I hope you wouldn't mind, but I really need to smoke," she said, breaking the silnence, her hands were restless, and she needed to calm down.

Saahil looked around, "I don't think we have any in car right now. Do you want me to stop at the shore?"

She opened the compartment below his hand, "Sure."

As the car came to a stop, he brought out his lighter, helping her walk the steps, she was quiet with him.

"I didn’t want to leave her alone..."

She said blinking softly.

"You can cry if you want to."

Seher felt her face heat up as he said that, "I am not crying. I am not that weak."

Sahil nodded, "It's okay, I cry sometimes, bojh halka hojata hai. It would make you weaker if you don't express yourself."

Seher could smell his coconut scented shampoo from the distance, she handed him the cigarette, "Buri adatein aasani se nahi jaati."

"Mushkil hai na mumkin nahi adat chutaana..."

Seher tilted her head, trying to act cute, " Buri aadat hu tumhari ya acchi?"

"I don't know about good or bad," he said, his voice lower now, thoughtful. "Addicting for sure."

Seher's fingers nervously tapped against the cigarette pack, a frown flickering across her face as she stared at the sea. There was something comforting about the way Saahil seemed to understand without needing her to explain every detail. She hated how fragile she felt, like the sea breeze could sweep her away if she wasn’t careful.

"But sometimes," Saahil continued, his tone softer, "we need the bad habits to survive the moments we can't control. It doesn't mean we're weak."

She exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it dissolve into the air. "I don't know if I'll ever stop feeling like I'm broken," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Saahil didn’t reply immediately, allowing her words to hang in the air, as if to let them sink in. He could sense the vulnerability in her, even if she tried to hide it behind her defenses. Instead, he placed a hand gently on her shoulder, a silent offer of comfort.

"You're not broken," he said, the sincerity in his voice undeniable. "You’re just... learning to heal. And you don't have to do it alone."

Seher's heart skipped a beat, the warmth of his touch sending a ripple of unfamiliar emotion through her. She didn’t know how to respond, but the storm inside her seemed to quiet for a moment.

After a long silence, Saahil cleared his throat and smirked. "And as for me... I guess I’m the one with the bad habits." He gave her a teasing look, hoping to shift the mood.

Seher raised an eyebrow, amused. "Yeah? What bad habits are those?"

He smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Like driving a car without cigarettes."

He took the box of cigarettes from her hand, Seher thought he would throw it away but he didn't, removing a cigarette he lighted it, "You made it"

He cheered with a bright smile, his brown eyes lightning, his dimples peeking as he stared at her.

"Yes, I did", she said, her eyes focused on a distant point, feeling the cold wind embrace her, "I can't imagine, I actually did", she said laughing with happy tears.

"I can run, jump, breathe, do whatever the hell I want." She looked aroubd and with a sudden burst of energy ran straight to the water,"And I think... I’m going to start. Right now."

The ocean she looked over from Saad’s residence was now calling her and she couldn't stop herself. Her inner child jumping with joy as she plopped down on the wet sand and the waves embraced her with love.

Her hands softly dipped inside as she felt the cool sensation engulf her soul.  Cleansing her, the tension- sadness leaving her body.

She dunked her face in the water, splashing it with her legs, The cold water rushed over her skin, sending a shiver through her body, but it was the kind of shiver that felt like release, like the weight she’d been carrying for so long was finally being washed away. Seher laughed, her voice carried by the wind, as she stood in the shallows, the water lapping around her feet.

Saahil stood at the shore, watching her with a mix of amusement and admiration. He couldn’t help but smile, seeing her so free, so unburdened for the first time. It was as if she was shedding layers of herself, and in that moment, he knew she was starting to heal.

“You’re crazy,” he called out, his voice teasing.

Seher turned, water dripping from her hair, her face lit with joy. “Crazy enough to feel alive!” she yelled back, her arms raised to the sky in a moment of pure freedom.

She ran back towards him, barefoot and laughing, the sand sticking to her skin. Her energy was contagious, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Saahil felt his own worries lighten.

“Come on!” she urged, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the water.

Saahil hesitated for a moment, his protective instincts kicking in, but the sight of Seher, so full of life, was impossible to resist. With a chuckle, he let her drag him into the water. The cold hit him like a shock, but he quickly adjusted, his laughter mingling with hers. The waves splashed around them, and for a few minutes, it felt like nothing else mattered—no past, no pain, just the simple joy of being alive.

They stood there for a while, letting the waves rush over them, neither of them caring that they were drenched, their laughter echoing in the open air. The sun was starting to rise higher in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over everything.

Seher paused, taking a deep breath as she gazed out at the horizon. “You know,” she said softly, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this... free.”

Saahil looked at her, his expression soft. “You deserve it.”

She smiled at him, a genuine smile that reached her eyes. “I think I’m starting to believe that.”

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Seher didn’t feel like she was fighting against the world. The ocean, the laughter, Saahil’s presence—it all felt like a step forward, a new chapter. She wasn’t alone anymore, and that thought, more than anything, gave her the strength to keep going.

As they walked back to the shore, their footsteps leaving wet impressions in the sand, Saahil nudged her gently. “Think you’ll come back here tomorrow?”

Seher glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. “I might. But next time, you’re going in first.”

Saahil laughed, shaking his head. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

“Sure you are,” she teased, “we’ll make it a regular thing. And next time, you’ll teach me how to swim.”

Saahil raised an eyebrow. “Swimming, huh? That might take more than one trip.”

“Then we’ll make it a few more,” Seher said, a sense of hope blooming inside her. “I’ve got time now.”

I was born in a shadowed dawn,
A life cast in pain, a world withdrawn.
Bruises etched where laughter should bloom,
Dreams buried deep in a silent tomb.

You thought I’d break beneath your hand,
Fall like sand through a clenched demand.
But pain, you see, is a teacher cruel...
It sharpens the weak, turns tears to fuel.

Each scar you left, a map on my skin,
Each wound a story of battles within.
You lit the fire, but I fanned the flame,
I carved out strength from the depth of shame.

I built my castle from broken stone,
A fortress forged where seeds were sown.
Each brick a memory, a vow, a plea,
Of the life I’d claim, the revenge I’d decree.

Did you think I’d remain your prey,
Shivering beneath the games you play?
No, I am the storm that you can’t escape,
The shadow that rises, the tide taking shape.

I wear my scars like a crown of steel,
A testament to the wounds that heal.
Not as a victim, but victor I stand,
With vengeance crafted by my own hand.

For every tear you forced me to cry,
A piece of my soul refused to die.
Now I walk, unyielding, through your fears,
The echoes of your laughter turned to tears.

The moon you mocked now glows with might,
A beacon breaking through endless night.
And as I rise, unbroken, I see—
The true glory was always within me.

The end.

___

To the Young Readers:

Enduring abuse - whether it’s mental, physical, or emotional - doesn’t make you stronger; it only chips away at the light inside you. The longer you stay, the more you lose pieces of yourself, mistaking survival for strength.

Leaving is not easy, but it is powerful. Walking away from someone who hurts you is not a sign of weakness - it’s a declaration that you deserve better. You are not responsible for someone else’s cruelty, and their actions don’t define your worth.

Strength is choosing yourself. It’s knowing that your scars don’t have to dictate your story. You are not alone, and there is a world waiting to embrace the person you are becoming.

You don’t need to endure. You need to live, love, and grow free from harm.

Choosing to leave is the first step toward reclaiming your power - and that makes you stronger than you’ll ever know.

Take care of yourself. You are worth it.