As they saw her, they tried to stop her, but she hurried toward the doctor, who then rushed past them and went inside.

Inside the Room;

The doctor immediately began checking Adira. Her heartbeat was very fast; her breathing was slowing down.

The medical team immediately administered the required treatment, and after some time, her vitals became normal.

The doctor finally came out. Mr. Bajaj rushed towards him and anxiously asked, "What happened?"

"She is fine now," the doctor confirmed, letting out a heavy breath.

"She had a severe panic attack, which spiked her blood pressure dangerously. It was a close call." The doctor looked sternly at Mr. and Mrs. Bajaj.

"Look, you need to understand the seriousness of this situation. The body may heal, but the mind is clearly in distress. She needs professional, constant care.I know you love her, but love isn't enough right now. You need to handle her with more supervision, and her environment must be completely stress-free. If she insists on privacy, one of you or her trusted friends needs to be nearby at all times. This wasn't just a desperate act; it was a cry for help. Please, get the counselor involved immediately. Her life depends on it."

The parents nodded mutely, finally grasping the full weight of the danger. The friends exchanged worried glances, the determination in their eyes hardening.

Inside the Hospital Room

After some time, Adira was awake. She slowly opened her eyes and saw her parents sitting anxiously beside her bed.

She looked at them blankly, her face devoid of any emotion, and her voice was chillingly flat. "Why don't you both just let me die?"

Her mother, Mrs. Bajaj, gasped, tears instantly springing to her eyes. Her father, Mr. Bajaj, leaned forward, taking her hand gently. His voice was a strained whisper, thick with pain.

"Adira, mera bacha, don't say that. You are our entire world. How can you ask us to live without our heart?"

Adira slowly pulled her hand away, her eyes still empty. "I am not your heart anymore, Papa. I'm just a burden. A broken thing. Every time I wake up, the only thing I feel is dirty. It hurts less to be gone."

The door quietly opened, and the three friends—Tamana, Dhriti, and Ayush—walked in, bringing a rush of outside air and forced optimism with them. They heard Adira's last sentence, and the forced smiles vanished.

Tamana quickly stepped up to the bed, her face radiating firm resolve.

"Stop that nonsense, Adira. You are not a 'broken thing.' You are Adira Bajaj. You are the strongest person we know, and you are going to fight this."

Adira turned her head away. "I am tired of fighting, Tamana."

Ayush came forward and said,

"Adira, you don't have to fight this alone. You say I am like your brother, right? Then I am asking you something as a brother: Please, don't do this, Adira. Please." His eyes filled with tears as Dhriti stroked his back.

Adira scoffed and turned to face everyone.

Her eyes were bloodshot red, and she cried out,

"Okay, I will stop doing this! But can you bring back what I have lost? Can you all? Huh? Tell me, can you all?"

She screamed, the sound tearing from her throat.

"You don't know how hard it is for me! Every time I look in the mirror, all I can see are marks—the reminder that I am disgusting! Can you all erase those marks? Can you?!"

She broke down in hysterical tears. Her mother immediately hugged her, while her father, unable to bear seeing his child like this, silently walked out.

Adira sobbed into her mother's shoulder, "I can’t, Mumma! It hurts! Please let me die, please!"

Her mom hugged her even tighter, stroking her hair. "Shhh, shhh, mera bachcha (my child)."

The friends broke down seeing her despair. They quietly turned and walked outside.

They found Adira's father crying openly in the hallway. Ayush immediately crouched down and hugged him.

"Uncle, calm down. Everything is going to be okay."

Tamana and Dhriti were watching them when Tamana abruptly walked away.

Tamana's POV:

Adira, you will get justice. It’s my promise to you.

I took my phone out from my pocket and dialed a number.

"Hello, I need you..."

(POV End)

Author's POV:

Adira was discharged from the hospital. As they reached home, her mother said,

"Adu bachcha, I have made Rajma Chawal for you. Come, sit. Mumma will serve you."

Adira sat down while her father watched her. She was just looking down, not meeting anyone's eyes.

When a plate of her favorite food was placed in front of her, she didn't smile like she used to.

"Adu, bachcha, eat," her mother urged. Adira looked up at them blankly, pushed the plate away from her, and walked away.

Mr. and Mrs. Bajaj looked at her fading figure, their hearts aching.

Meanwhile, Adira came inside her room.

She walked aimlessly towards the washroom and stood in front of the mirror.

She scanned her reflection. All those invisible marks were visible only to her.

She started to rub her skin slowly, then harshly, rubbing her whole body.

"Please, get off from me! Please! Please!" she murmured while frantically rubbing the marks.

She stepped into the shower, turned it on, and began scrubbing herself even more harshly.

Tears were already streaming down her face when a sob broke out.

She fell down, pulling her knees closer to her chest while the shower still ran. She started crying hysterically.

"Please make them disappear! Please!" she begged for those scars to disappear. "Please kill me! Please!"

She was begging for death.

You must be thinking what went wrong that a bubbly, lively girl would beg for her death. It all started when she was in her first year of college.