Page 5 of Mrs. Rathore

A shadow. A blur. A flash of white.

THUMP.

The impact jolted through the car like an explosion. I slammed the brakes, and the SUV screeched, skidding sideways, tires screaming against the asphalt.

My heart shot into my throat, my pulse hammering against my skull. The seatbelt yanked me back violently.

Silence.

Complete, suffocating silence.

My breath came in short gasps. My hands trembled as I stared ahead, frozen. The headlights illuminated the road like a spotlight revealing a figure sprawled across the tarmac.

No.

No, no, no.

I threw the door open, stumbling out. My knees hit the ground hard as I collapsed beside her. A woman. Mid-twenties, maybe. Pale skin. Long black hair soaked with rain. Blood trickled down her temple, mixing with the wet road.

“Miss?” My voice cracked. “Hey… Hey! Can you hear me?”

I touched her shoulder gently. She was still warm, breathing barely.

Her eyes fluttered open, only for a second. Glassy, distant. Like she was staring at something far beyond me. Then they closed again.

My buzz disappeared. Replaced by terror. A cold, paralyzing terror.

Hands shaking, I fumbled for my phone, finally managing to unlock it. I dialed emergency services.

“Please, I… hit someone. I didn’t see her. She came out of nowhere, please send help. Fast. She’s bleeding, and I think… I think she’s dying…”

I rattled off my location, barely able to form the words.

I looked at her again. Blood pooled beneath her head. Her chest rose in shallow, struggling breaths.

And then, the realization sank in.

My wedding was in two days.

And I just ran someone over.

What if she dies?

What happened to me?

To Ira?

To us?

The night had started like a dream. And now it felt like the beginning of a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.

______

Chapter 2

ARYAN

“What the hell did you do?”

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