Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Departure
Parvati Shallow moved briskly around her bedroom, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through her veins. The sun's gentle rays filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as she meticulously packed her bags. Each fold of clothing and zip of her suitcase was tinged with a sense of anticipation, for today marked the beginning of her journey back to the "Survivors" set.
As she checked and double-checked her belongings, Parvati couldn't shake the flutter of nerves that danced in her stomach. The prospect of competing once again thrilled her, but beneath that excitement lurked a deeper, more insidious fear—the fear of leaving her daughter, Ama, behind with her abusive husband, John.
The memory of their altercation from the previous night lingered like a dark shadow in her mind. Parvati instinctively reached up to adjust her blouse, hiding the faint bruise on her neck left in the wake of John's anger. She shuddered at the memory, pushing it aside as she focused on the task at hand.
"Mommy, are we leaving now?" Ama's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling Parvati back to the present.
Turning towards the door, Parvati forced a smile as her daughter entered the room, clutching a stuffed toy in her small hands.
"Yes, sweetheart," Parvati replied, her voice tinged with false cheerfulness. "You're going to stay at Uncle Sam's house for a little while, remember?"
Ama nodded eagerly, her innocent eyes sparkling with excitement. Parvati's heart swelled with love for her daughter, but it was tinged with a pang of guilt. Leaving Ama behind was never easy, especially knowing the danger that lurked within their own home.
"Hey, pumpkin," John's voice cut through the air, causing Parvati to tense involuntarily.
She turned to see him standing in the doorway, his presence casting a dark shadow over the room. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that made Parvati's blood run cold.
"Say goodbye to Daddy, Ama," Parvati said softly, urging her daughter towards John.
Ama obeyed, wrapping her arms around John's legs in a tight hug. Parvati watched with a mixture of relief and dread, knowing that this goodbye was only temporary.
Ignoring the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, Parvati scooped Ama into her arms and headed towards the door. It was time to leave, to escape the suffocating grip of John's control, if only for a little while.
Together, mother and daughter stepped out into the crisp morning air, leaving behind the shadow of their home and venturing towards the uncertain promise of the future.