She sighed and turned to him, her fingers resting lightly against his chest. "It still feels so real," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"I was ten when it happened..." she continued, her gaze distant as memories pulled her back in time. 

FLASHBACK: 

Little Maya could barely contain her excitement as she bounced in her seat, her wide eyes shining with joy.

Her grandparents were taking her to the fair. With her parents away visiting Samay at his hostel, it was just the three of them. 

"Thatha, how many rides will there be?" she asked, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. 

Vikram chuckled, his eyes crinkling with affection as he reached out and pinched her chubby cheeks. "So many, putta. We’ll go on as many as you like." 

"Promise?" She extended her tiny pinky finger, her expression serious despite the grin on her face. 

"I promise." He hooked his finger around hers, sealing the deal. 

Radhika watched the exchange and smiled warmly. She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on Maya’s forehead. The air was thick with love, a moment of pure happiness that would shatter in an instant. 

Without warning, a convoy of black SUVs screeched to a halt around their car. The hum of the fairground disappeared, replaced by a deafening silence that sent shivers down Radhika’s spine. 

Vikram’s smile faltered. He exchanged a quick glance with Radhika before placing a steadying hand on Maya’s head. Then, without a word, he stepped out. 

Radhika tightened her grip on Maya. 

"Ajji, what’s happening?" Maya’s voice trembled as fear took hold. 

"It’s going to be okay, putta. Don’t worry," Radhika whispered, but her tone was anything but certain. 

Then, BANG. 

The sound of the gunshot ripped through the air like a violent storm, and Vikram’s body crumpled to the ground. 

Maya’s heart stopped. 

"Thatha!" she shrieked, reaching for the car door, desperate to run to him. Tears blurred her vision, and her tiny fingers fumbled against the handle. 

But Radhika yanked her back, covering Maya’s mouth with a trembling hand. 

"Shh," she whispered, her own tears streaming down her face. "Stay quiet, my love. Please." 

Maya’s cries were muffled against Radhika’s palm, but nothing could silence the horror burning into her soul. The image of Vikram’s lifeless body, blood pooling beneath him, seared itself into her mind. 

And just like that, the fair, the laughter, the pinky promises, everything was gone. EVERYTHING.

A sudden, sharp knock on the window startled them. Radhika's breath hitched as she turned, her heart pounding. A man stood outside, his lips curling into a sinister smile as he gestured for the others to come forward. 

Before they could react, several men swarmed them. Radhika fought with all her strength, her nails clawing and her fists swinging, but it was futile.

A rough hand pressed a chloroform-soaked cloth against her mouth. Her struggles weakened, her vision blurred, and she slumped into unconsciousness. 

Maya let out a terrified scream, her small frame writhing as she tried to escape the grip of the man holding her. She kicked and thrashed, her voice raw from screaming.

But the men were relentless. Another cloth covered her nose and mouth. She gasped, inhaling the sickly-sweet scent, and soon, darkness engulfed her. 

Maya awoke to the sound of agonizing screams. Her grandmother’s screams.

Her eyes fluttered open, panic seizing her as she saw a group of men surrounding Ajji. Their laughter was cruel, their hands merciless as they tortured the old woman. 

“NO! STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!” Maya pleaded, her voice breaking. She yanked at the ropes binding her to the chair, her wrists raw and bleeding. 

A man turned toward her, his expression irritated. “Somebody shut that brat up.” 

But no one moved. 

Maya’s gaze darted across the dimly lit room, searching for anything that could help. Her eyes landed on a jagged shard of mirror lying near her feet. 

Carefully, she moved it toward her with her toes, desperation fueling her precision. Once it was within reach, she clutched it tightly, ignoring the sting as the glass bit into her palm. With frantic movements, she sawed at the ropes until they finally gave way. 

Heart racing, she crept toward the table where the men had carelessly left their weapons. Her fingers trembled as she wrapped them around the cold steel of a gun. 

She turned, aiming at the nearest man. Her breath caught in her throat. Her hands shook, but she didn’t falter.
“One. Two Three,” She whispered as she mustered the courage.

She pulled the trigger. 

The gunshot echoed like thunder. The man collapsed. Her hand recoiled. The force threw her off. She screamed as pain burst through her. For a moment, the room stood still. Then chaos erupted. 

Maya didn’t hesitate when she saw another man coming closer to her. She fired again. And again. Each shot was precise. Each bullet was fueled by fury and anguish. 

When the last body fell, silence consumed the room, except for the harsh gasps leaving Maya’s lips. Pain shot through her arm, but she barely registered it as she clutched her arm.

Her gaze snapped to her grandmother. 

Radhika lay still, her clothes torn but untouched. Relief surged through Maya, she had saved her. She had stopped them, right? It was all over, wasn’t it?

She stumbled forward, collapsing at her grandmother’s side, shaking her gently. 

“Ajji… wake up. I killed them. They can’t hurt us now. No one can.” 

But Radhika didn’t move. 

Tears blurred Maya’s vision as she clutched her grandmother’s frail frame. 

“Ajji, please,” she sobbed. “Please wake up.” 

A shaky breath left her grandmother’s lips. Weakly, she reached for Maya’s face, her trembling fingers brushing against her tear-streaked cheek. 

“Maya…” Ajji’s voice was barely a whisper. “Avenge us, my child… avenge us.” 

And then, she was gone. 

Maya let out a choked cry, pressing her forehead against her grandmother’s still chest. The weight of the moment crashed down on her. 

Footsteps thundered in the distance. Moments later, Surya, Vijendra, and Janardhan burst into the room, their eyes widening at the sight before them. 

Five men lay lifeless, bullet wounds clean through their skulls. A gun rested beside Maya, its barrel still warm. And in the center of it all, a little girl, broken and grieving, clung to the lifeless body of her grandmother.
Sure, Maya had watched her Vikram and Surya shooting in the shooting ground outskirts. But she wasn’t allowed to touch any of the firearms. She used to watch quietly with headphones and glasses. Initially, she wasn’t allowed to accompany them but Maya made a big fuss, clinging on to Vikram for dear life.

Surya rushed forward, his heart clenching as he took in the scene. “Maya,” he whispered, kneeling beside her. At the sound of his voice, she jerked awake, her tear-filled eyes meeting his. 

“I tried, Appa,” she cried, her tiny body trembling. “I tried. They killed her.” 

Surya felt his chest tighten, his vision blurring. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she sobbed into his shoulder. 

Then she let out a sharp cry of pain. 

“My hand… it hurts…” she whimpered, clutching her injured arm. 

Surya exchanged a glance with Vijendra and Janardhan. They nodded in silent understanding. 

Without hesitation, Surya lifted Maya into his arms. 

“Appa… Ajji…” she choked out. “We need to take her with us.” 

Surya’s heart shattered at the plea in her voice. He stroked her hair gently and pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

“It’s too late, princess,” he murmured, his voice thick with grief. 

Maya sobbed, burying her face in his chest as he carried her out. 

The night had stolen something from her. Something she would never get back. 

The next day, Maya stood still, her eyes fixed on the two biers of wood burning in front of her, ignoring the pain in her arm. The flames crackled, consuming what was left of her world. Her glossy eyes reflected the flames, but there were no more tears. Only anger and determination. 

She didn't blink or look away. The fire before her was nothing compared to the one raging in her heart. 

A fire that would never die.