The room was enveloped in a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of Asha's ragged breaths. She sat on the cold floor, her heart pounding in her chest, as Adam's words reverberated in her mind.
"Talaq, talaq, talaq."
The three words hung in the air like a death sentence, each syllable striking Asha's heart like a dagger. She felt as if the ground had been ripped out from under her feet, leaving her suspended in a void of despair.
Adam stood before her, his expression cold and indifferent. "You're free now. Get out of my sight."
Asha's eyes brimmed with tears, her whole being consumed by a sense of numbness. She wanted to scream, to lash out at the injustice of it all, but the words caught in her throat, suffocated by the weight of reality.
"Just... give me a moment," she managed to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adam scoffed, his contempt palpable. "There's nothing left to say. Leave."
As Asha bowed her head in defeat, a voice echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the life she had once known. It was her mother-in-law, her disapproving gaze burning into Asha's soul.
"You were never worthy of my son," the voice sneered. "I always knew you'd bring nothing but misery to our family."
With a heavy heart, Asha rose to her feet, her legs trembling beneath her. She stumbled towards the door, each step a painful reminder of the life she was leaving behind.
Outside, the rain fell in torrents, a relentless cascade of tears from the heavens above. Asha stood in the doorway, her hair plastered to her face, her clothes soaked through to the skin.
And in that moment, as the rain washed away the remnants of her shattered dreams, Asha's thoughts drifted back to a time when the world had been filled with possibilities and hope.
---
Flashback:
Asha stood in line at the college registration desk, her heart pounding with excitement and apprehension. She glanced nervously around the bustling campus, the air alive with the chatter of eager students.
"Excuse me, is this the registration line?"
The voice came from behind her, and Asha turned to find a girl with sparkling eyes and a warm smile. She felt an instant connection to this stranger, as if they were kindred spirits destined to meet.
"Yes, it is," Asha replied, returning the girl's smile. "I'm Asha."
"I'm Sarah," the girl said, extending her hand. "Nice to meet you."
As they exchanged pleasantries, Asha couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was somehow significant, a sign that her college experience was off to a promising start.
Later that day, Asha found herself in the college canteen, her tray laden with food as she searched for a place to sit. Her eyes landed on a group of students gathered at a nearby table, their laughter ringing out like music in the crowded room.
Among them was Sarah, her infectious energy drawing Asha in like a magnet. She approached the table tentatively, a nervous smile playing on her lips.
"Mind if I join you?"
The group turned to look at her, their eyes curious but welcoming. And in that moment, as Asha took her seat among them, she knew that her college journey was just beginning.