Ira navigated the crowded street, her slippers scuffling against the rough pavement. The sunlight was casting a warm orange hue over the vibrant market.
She kicked a stone, sending it rolling into the throng of people. The sounds of honking autos, crowds' chatter, and vendors calling out their wares enveloped her.
Ira's gaze trailed the stone as it weaved between feet and wheels. The scent of mustard flowers from the nearby field blended with the smells of exhaust fumes and street food filled her nostrils.
The stone skipped across the pavement, its clatter lost in the urban din. Ira's footsteps slowed, her eyes locked on the stone's erratic path.
She halted mid-stride as the cacophony of angry voices and screeching tires pierced the air. Her feet seemed to move on their own accord, drawn toward the commotion.
Outside the two-story house, raised voices cracked through the evening air. A man's face contorted, spit flying from his lips as he jabbed a finger at the accused.
The accused stood a mid-aged woman panting in rage, arms falling by her sides with clenched fists, and eyes flashing defiance.
The crowd shifted, uneasy, as the argument escalated. Some onlookers leaned in, eyes wide with excitement, while others retreated, hands covering their children's ears and eyes. Ira slipped in, unnoticed, her gaze locked on the commotion.
The man's voice, shrill and desperate, cut through the din. "You have no shame!" he trembled, one fist clenched by his side while other was in a state of ready to throw any time.
The accused sneered, lips curling upward. "You're one to talk!" Her words dripped with venom.
The air vibrated with tension. The crowd held its collective breath.
The argument erupted into a vicious brawl. The woman's face twisted in rage, spittle flying from her lips. "You're a monster! Your brother was not only your brother, he was my husband as well! " she screamed at man, Ira supposed was her brother-in-law.
He retaliated, his voice dripping with venom. "You're a witch! You've ruined this family!"
There was an old man who tried to intervene, but they shoved him aside. The man's face turned red, veins bulging. "I'll kill you before you destroy everything!"
A boy around eight or ten, tears streaming down his face, clung to the woman's leg. "Taai ji, stop! Please!"
Two teenage girls stood frozen by their sides, eyes widened with horror. The younger girl approached them, her voice tremble in fear. "Chacha, please don't say that!"
The air reeked of hatred and desperation. Threats hung like daggers, ready to strike.
Ira watched, her heart racing, as the family imploded. The children's cries pierced the chaos.
Ira clutched her notebook tightly, shaking her head as she turned to leave. "Marriages hold ninety percent shares of a person's problems," she muttered to herself.
As she walked away, the family's heated argument faded into the distance. The evening's calm demeanor had returned, but her own peace was shattered.
Ira's thoughts drifted back to that one night, three years ago...
FLASHBACKS
Ira was scribbling physics numericals on her notebook, the scratch of her pen echoing through the sweltering summer night. The unfinished room, with its exposed brick walls and dusty floor, seemed to trap the heat, making her every breath feel like a struggle.
YOU ARE READING
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆
Narrativa generale"Life is like a rollercoaster, it has its own ups and downs, but it's your choice to scream or enjoy the ride... When life's rollercoaster throws you off track, do you scream or hold on tight? For Ira and Rudraksh, the journey is far from smooth. O...
