55:  Isn't he dead?

Richard and Bettina rushed to the marital bed, but Khana wasn’t there. Then, they headed to the baby’s room only to find a piece of paper…

Richard read it, “I need time to reconsider this marriage. I beg you not to look for me. I don’t want to see the face of a man who consecutively lied to me and harmed me physically.”

Richard was speechless and stood frozen in the doorway of the baby’s room.  He crumpled the piece of paper in his hand. Bettina’s hand rested on his shoulder, trembling, as she absorbed the weight of Khana’s message. 

“She left…” Richard whispered, the words escaping his lips like a hollow echo. “She's gone," he added, tears flowing from his eyes.

Bettina didn't see this coming. She thought Khana would not do such a thing. All she did to make Richard achieve his love gone in vain. She said, “We have to find her. She’s not safe out there alone, not with Kharl in her arms. She needs us, Richard.”

Richard’s face hardened. “But she doesn’t want us. She’s made that clear.”

They both knew the danger Khana could be in, but something in Richard’s tone hinted at something darker. He can't remove how Khana showed resentment in her eyes during their last argument which had haunted him ever since.

“Richard, we have to try,” Bettina insisted. “For the sake of your marriage.”

Richard nodded grimly. “Get the search team ready. But we need to be careful. She’ll disappear completely if we’re too forceful.”

Everyone has gone crazy looking for Khana and Kharl, but the mother refuses to go back to the house full of deception and she’s afraid that Richard will harm her.

“Once a man raises his arms to harm a woman, you will never know what more he can do," says a voice from Khana's head. 

She had withdrawn all her money from the bank to avoid getting caught by his parents and her husband’s men. 

Cradling Kharl close to her chest. She could feel the weight of people’s eyes on her, their silent judgment burning into her back. She adjusted the blanket around her baby, ensuring he was warm and comfortable, yet their gazes didn’t falter. 

Khana was criticized by people in public transportation for not taking care of the baby well. Feeling ashamed by the sharp eye cast on her, she decided to get off. She didn’t care where she ended up; she just needed to escape the suffocating air of judgment. Clutching her baby, she stepped off the bus and into the street, her heart pounding in her chest. She needed somewhere to think, somewhere safe, even if only for a moment.

Khana rented a hotel and stayed there, she spent the whole night caring for the sick Kharl. Khana found herself in front of a modest hotel. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it offered shelter. After paying for a small room, she settled in with Kharl, her mind swirling with thoughts of guilt and regret. 

She couldn’t stop thinking about the past, about the sins that had led her here. She had carried the weight of her affair with the priest for so long, and now it seemed like her punishment had come full circle. Her unhappy marriage, her fears, her distrust of Richard—all of it felt like divine retribution for her past mistakes.

Kharl whimpered softly in her arms, his small face flushed with fever. Khana’s heart sank.  She spent the night tending to him, soothing him with cool clothes and gentle words, praying silently that he would recover soon.

When the sun rose, Khana felt the urge to go out, to find some semblance of peace amidst the chaos in her mind. She wandered the streets, Kharl bundled against her chest until she stumbled upon a small church. The building seemed to call to her, its doors open wide as if inviting her inside. She hesitated for a moment before stepping in, her feet moving almost of their own accord. The lady doesn’t know why she was brought to enter the church by her feet. 

Surprisingly, Kharl behaved and stared at the colorful interior of the church. The church was quiet, the soft glow of candles illuminating the colorful stained glass windows. Khana felt an unexpected wave of calm wash over her as she stood there, breathing in the scent of incense and wax. Kharl, too, seemed to sense the tranquility of the place, his little body relaxing in her arms as he gazed up at the light.

"Sister, do you want to pray? I can hold the baby for you," says one of the nuns.

Khana smiled warmly. She hesitated before nodding. She handed Kharl over to the nun, her hands lingering for a moment longer than necessary as if reluctant to let go. “I’ll be quick,” she promised softly. She promised she'd pray quickly to prevent Kharl from crying.

Kneeling before the altar, Khana closed her eyes, her thoughts racing. She hadn’t prayed in years, not since the incident with the priest. But now, in this sacred space, she felt the need to unburden herself. In her mind, she spoke to a higher power, pleading for guidance.

In her mind, she had a lot to say, 'I know I wronged you. I committed an unforgivable sin with the priest back then. I want to change my fate, please bring me to light. I will now hand over my future to you. Please guide me to your path. Also, please have mercy on my child. Please make his sickness go away.'

Tears welled up in her eyes as she poured out her heart. She didn’t know if anyone was listening, but it felt good to finally release the guilt she had carried for so long. When she finished, she took a deep breath and stood, feeling lighter than she had in years.

She thought that the priest died due to god's wrath. Khana was guilty, all because of her. She seduced the priest to sin back then. The priest paid with his life, and she on the other hand paid by having an unhappy marriage.

The baby was handed back to her, then she left the church. However, the small pond caught Kharl's attention. She sat on the bench and let Kharl watch the fish swimming in the pond. 

Suddenly, when she looked around, familiar eyes met her. She gasped, her mind racing. “That guy… isn’t he dead?”