Unbreakable Connections

Hearts in Conflict

“Mom…” Santu shouted. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“It's the truth,” their mother replied, then went into her room.

"Mom..." Santu began to say something but was interrupted by Haseena

"No, Santu, don't argue with her..She's right, I shouldn't have ridden like that."

"Di.." Santu tried to console haseena but

"Leave me alone" She stormed off to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Santu stood frozen. Her mother's hurtful remark had ignited a fire within her. Overcome with emotion, she marched to her mother's door and began knocking insistently.

"Mom..open the door, I need to talk to you"

Her mother flung open the door, eyes blazing with anger, and demanded, "Now, what's wrong with you?"

Santu's voice trembled with emotion. "How could you say that to Di? She's the one person who makes me feel safest in this world, besides you! If she weren't in our lives...the thought alone is unbearable!" Santu's words spilled out in a desperate, outraged torrent.

"I didn't say anything wrong, and yet you're standing here, questioning me?" Her mother's defensiveness ignited a spark within Santu, who was now unaware that her voice had risen to a level, challenging the unspoken boundaries of their relationship.

" You always teach me to own up to my mistakes. Now, when I'm holding you accountable, you're shutting me down?" Santu's voice cracked, her words laced with frustration.

"Now are you teaching me what's right and what's wrong? Don't try to be my mother."

"Sometimes, children have to make their parents understand.. Mom, you need to realize..." Santu stopped as she saw Haseena standing in front of the door  of her room.

"Say sorry, to mom, right now!"  Haseena's strictly said.

Santu stood firm, "No, I won't," she replied daring Haseena to take a step closer.

Santu instinctively backed away, her eyes locked on Haseena's furious face. She was preparing herself for the worst.

"How dare you!" Giving a hard slap to Santu, Haseena demanded.."I say, apologize to her!"

Santu felt a lump form in her throat as tears began to well up. "D..Di..." she whispered, her hand still cradling her throbbing cheek.

Suddenly, a voice inside her snapped. "No," Santu said, her voice firming. "I won't apologize for speaking the truth."

Their mother stepped in, sensing Haseena's escalating anger, and firmly intervened. "Enough! Both of you, leave me alone. I need some quiet," she said, before retreating into her room.

Haseena stormed out and sped away in her car..she wasn't able to control her emotions

"Because you're not safe with her.." Her mother's words echoed painfully in her mind..

Haseena jammed on the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt halt, and let her head fall onto the steering wheel out of desperation and anguish.

As the clock struck 8, Santu and her mother frantically tried to reach Haseena, but their calls went unanswered. A sinking feeling settled in when they realized she had stormed out without her phone.

"Damn!" Santu exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table in frustration. Karishma's unreachable phone only added to her worry. With no other contact numbers for Haseena's friends, Santu felt helpless, unsure of how to locate her sister.