“But then everything changed. First brother was still unaware about the little life, the symbol of love he and Anna shared, that was growing inside Anna.

Anna had decided to surprise the First brother and then break this happy news, but destiny had some other plans.” Rose said and took another sip, as if preparing herself for whatever she was about to say.

Her smile had disappeared and the air around her was suddenly gloomy.

“Anna must have racked her brains to come up with such a loving method to disclose the news about their child.

She had bought a book about how to take care of children that was made for fathers. She had wrapped the book and kept it on the table with a note saying ‘We are pregnant!’.

She had taken a day off, saying she wasn’t feeling well. First brother must have pestered her a lot before she finally managed to shoo him away.

She was ecstatic about whatever was happening, and was content with the life she was sharing with First brother..

Jason said that Anna had decorated their bedroom in shades of pastel blue and pink, wanting to make it memorable forever.

She was done with most of the decoration work and decided to bake some cookies.

Once she was done placing them in the oven, she heard a knock. She excitedly went to open the door, thinking it must be First brother, but…” Rose said and stopped, as if the next part was difficult to speak.

She had to take a deep breath, calm her chaotic mind before talking again. But this time Nicole didn’t urge her anymore. She knew that the next part must be something extreme for even Rose to narrate.

“It wasn’t the First brother but instead it was the gangster that had threatened Anna’s father before.

Anna didn’t know how that man looked, thus she asked with a bright smile about what the man wanted. But the man didn’t even take a minute before shooting her exactly on the centre of her forehead.

Before Anna could process anything, she had already collapsed on the floor, bleeding from her head.

Since people had heard the gunshot, no one came forward to even help her in her dying state.

Her father was the first person who came to know about this and shifted her to hospital. He then called First brother who was unaware of the tragedy that had fallen upon his dreamlike sweet family.

By the time he could reach the hospital, Anna was already breathing her last. Doctors tried to stop the First brother, but he pushed them all away before reaching Anna.

He held her hand tightly, not wanting to let her go. It was one of those rare moments when he cried, scared that he might lose Anna forever. Anna, even in her semi conscious state, was trying hard to speak something.

She must have been trying hard to tell the First brother to save their child.

But finally the thing that the First brother was fearing ultimately happened. Anna died holding his hands.

Doctors instantly pushed First brother out of the room, trying to resuscitate her one last time, which was useless.

“It was a girl child.” The doctor said after coming out of the room.

“What?” It was Anna’s father who exclaimed while Forst brother just looked blankly at the doctor, unable to process his words.

“Sorry. We were unable to save both the mother and child.” The doctor said apologetically before leaving the two broken men behind.

I still remember Jason saying that the First brother ran like a maniac from hospital to home, knowing that there must be something for which Anna had skipped her teaching lesson for that day. And true to his expectations, he found the book, the decorated room and burnt cookies.

He couldn’t be anymore broken than he already was. Finding his wife dying was already no less pain, and knowing she died carrying his child was even more heartbreaking, that too a child, a life he was unaware about.

It was Anna’s father who did all the rituals while First brother never left there home, or more precisely the four walled space that had witnessed their dreams for forever.

Finally Jason, who had unknowingly witnessed First brother’s condition in hospital, felt that he needed to do something. He had heard that Anna was shot by some gangster, thus he thought that in order to let First brother come out of his state, he needed to avenge Anna.

Thus on the very third day, he approached Forst brother. He knew that revenge was best taken when the iron was still hot.

He understood that though First brother had been traumatised by Anna’s death, somewhere deep down there was this fire inside him that needed to burn Anna’s murderer to death before it could die down.

Thus he approached the First brother and helped him kill the gangster as well as his entire gang. First brother had then at that very moment decided to sacrifice his life for Jason.

Jason had never expected that his single selfless deed would get him his first team member.” Rose said, finally ending the story with a sigh.

Nicole had tears in her eyes by the time Rose was done telling this.

She didn’t say anything, trying hard to not burst out crying. She had never expected that a cold heart would have so much pain hidden behind it.

“That was also the day he decided to not fall in love with anyone again. He had already gone through a lot of pain to come this far, if he was to go through all this again, he was sure to die from it. Therefore love or even the name of love is a total taboo in front of him.” Rose said, knowing that she had done her part to prevent any animosity between Nicole and Victor that could have been fatal to their team in important times.

———————-

Don’t forget to comment and vote with powerstones and golden tickets!! Have a great day!

– Kizy