04: The wedding day II

Richard, her betrothed, remained blissfully unaware of the turmoil in Khana's heart. He beamed with joy, eagerly awaiting her arrival. But as Khana drew nearer to him, her unease intensified, threatening to suffocate her.

Time hung suspended as Khana stood there, frozen in the spotlight. The groom-to-be became fully aware that something was amiss with the bride. He rushed in her direction and reached out to touch her arm. His brow furrowed in concern.

Richard gently brushed his palm against his fiancée's flawless arm and asked, "Honey, what's wrong?"

Khana glanced at her fiancé.

She is afraid to look him in the eyes.

She's afraid to meet his pleading eyes and stumbles to utter words, "I-I..."

Too afraid of the consequences her decision would bring, she tried to regain her composure and continue walking down the aisle. However, as she approached the altar, a fear in her heart refused to be contained and locked away.

Khana's footsteps faltered. She felt as if she were walking through quicksand, with each step becoming heavier than the previous one. The world around her blurred, as a maelstrom of confusion swirled within her. The church seemed to close in, its walls shrinking as the pressure mounted.

The bride felt trapped and suffocated by the weight of expectations and the ghosts of her past. She couldn't marry Richard, not when her heart still longed for another. The pressure and confusion in the air became unbearable, threatening to overwhelm her.

In a moment of sheer desperation, Khana made a decision that would change the course of her life. She threw the bouquet high into the air. The petals soared like a symbol of her scattered thoughts. As the bouquet arced gracefully, she turned and ran down the aisle, her gown billowing behind her like an ethereal specter.

Gasps and shocked exclamations filled the church as Khana's figure vanished through the imposing wooden doors. Richard was left standing at the altar, watching in stunned disbelief as his heart shattered. He had thought he would marry the woman.

Khana's escape was a blur of white satin and lace as she burst into the daylight. Khana's breath came in ragged gasps as she fled the church, her ivory gown billowing behind her like a ghostly specter. Tears blurred her vision, and her mind raced with a chaotic mix of emotions that had compelled her to seek this desperate escape. 

She sprinted through the church door, seeking escape from the overwhelming situation she couldn't handle. She simply wished to vanish, to escape from reality.

The sunlight outside was harsh after the dim tranquility of the church. Khana stumbled over the uneven ground, her pace slowing as the weight of her decisions bore down on her. The sound of her heartbeats mingled with the chirping of birds and the whispers of the grass.

As Khana turned a corner, she emerged onto a narrow street. 

Unbeknownst to her, a speeding car approached. Its engine roared as it careened around a bend. The driver, oblivious to the unfolding drama, had no time to react.

The moment played out in agonizing slow motion. The runaway bride, lost in her tumultuous thoughts, didn't hear the screech of tires or the blaring horn.

The car collided with her, causing her to sprawl onto the asphalt. The force of impact was brutal, a sickening thud that reverberated through the air.

The church doors swung open, and the gasps of the congregation turned into horrified screams as they witnessed the unfolding tragedy. The bride, once a symbol of hope and promise, now lay crumpled on the street, her gown stained with dirt and blood.

Father Henry, Richard, and the stunned onlookers rushed to Khana's side. Panic and disbelief etched across their faces as they beheld the scene before them. The driver of the car, realizing the gravity of the situation, stumbled out in shock, with a mix of guilt and horror etched across his face.

"Someone, call an ambulance!" Father Henry's voice cut through the chaos as he knelt beside Khana, his hands trembling as he sought to assess her injuries. Richard, his face drained of color, hovered nearby, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

The congregation, once a sea of joyful faces, now stood in stunned silence. Their celebration had been replaced by a palpable sense of dread. The air hung heavy with regret and sorrow as the reality of the accident sank in.

Minutes later, the wail of sirens filled the air, and an ambulance screeched to a halt. Paramedics rushed to Khana's side, their efficient movements a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded. They worked quickly, stabilizing her and preparing her for transportation to the hospital.

Father Henry, his hands stained with Khana's blood, watched in helpless anguish as the paramedics lifted her onto the stretcher. Richard stood at a distance, his face displaying a mask of shock and grief. The congregation, still reeling from the sudden tragedy, looked on with a mixture of horror and sadness.

As the ambulance pulled away, its flashing lights cast an eerie glow on the somber faces of the onlookers.

The groom snapped into reality as his future in-laws and parents shook his shoulder.

"Get a hold of yourself!" Get in the ambulance and keep an eye on your bride.

The groom is still startled, but he can speak, "I'm the groom! Let me in!" He screamed to delay the closing of the ambulance door.

The ambulance attendant let him in and immediately closed the door to drive away and get to the hospital as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Father Henry stood alone in the middle of the crowd, watching the ambulance slowly fade away. He glanced at the clear sky and softly whispered to the wind... "My only love, please stay safe... I'm sorry, I can't do anything for you."

And then, as if the heavens themselves empathized with his broken heart, the first raindrop fell. It landed on Henry's cheek, cool and gentle. Confused, he looked up again. And then, as if the sky couldn't contain its own sorrow, the heavens opened.

The rain came down in a torrent as if the sky had been saving its tears for this very moment. The drops, each one a testament to the pain he felt, mingled with the tears streaming down Henry's face. The rain intensified, becoming a downpour that mirrored the storm raging within him.