Pulse

Aruna

Maya Aruna , has spent all her life running from her own heart - both physically and emotionally . The scar on her chest was a reminder of the open-heart surgery that saved her at 13 ,sponsored by a renowned children's foundation.It saved her life, but what came after never felt like living. Now 22, Maya juggled college classes in ICT, a draining course she had little passion for, a body she hated, a past she couldn't escape and a future she couldn't imagine . Maya Aruna had always been told she was a survivor, but that label felt like a cruel joke.

Her days were monotonous :classes she barely paid attention to , meals that blurred together , and nights filled with self-loathing . Food was her only solace though every binge ended with tears . She binged on cheap food to fill the void, knowing every bite would add to the weight she despised. Once she started eating, she couldn't stop. The mirror was her worst enemy, and the word "self-control" felt like a stranger.

Her family only made things harder . Her father's apathy was suffocating , his indifference was loudest in his silence . She had long stopped asking him for anything , especially after he ignored her need for regular checkups . "You are healed , you have faith " his so called faith , hypocrisy. When her annual post-surgery checkups had stopped, he didn't even notice. And traveling alone to another town for medical care? The thought made her stomach churn with anxiety.

Maya chose silence ,never asking for anything from anyone even if you want it and need it just stay silent ,you will find something else to substitute . After highschool she got to train at a phone repair shop as suggested by her cold ,unfriendly only to her " mother " . A disciplinarian ,a teacher by nature ,never show affection or care for her . She worked there as an errand girl for an year and was sucked through a call to her mother not her almost at the end of that year .

During her time at that shop she got her first tattoo the only permanent thing in her life , meaning freedom something she craved for . Maya a listener ,and obedient kid with the strongest faith known . After failing her highschool final exam she just didn't know what to do ,where to start she felt stuck in an unknown state she could never put into words .

Maya also carried the scars of a shattered love life.Her love life wasn't any better it was worse : played by two boys in quick succession , her faith in relationship and love was shattered . Daniel one of her exes, refused to let her go , manipulating her into moments of intimacy that left her feeling used and worthless . Daniel, was like a vulture circling her emotional carcass, swooping in for his needs and leaving her emptier every time. She wanted to break free, but every time he texted, her resolve crumbled. She hated herself for letting him back in and hated him even more for exploiting her.

Trapped in her own mind, Maya toyed with the idea of giving up all together , wondering if the world would be better off without her .

One morning , Maya woke up drenched in sweat , her chest tight and her breath shallow . Panic set in as the familiar ache spread across her body . Her first thought was denial. It's just stress, she told herself, clutching at her chest as the sharp ache spread. But by the time she staggered to her tiny kitchen, she knew this was more than stress.

Terrified, she sat down and weighed her options.Her many missed regular checkups and her everyday pills , she missed ignorantly knowing a day like this would come .Asking her father for help was out of the question; he'd scoff and tell her to "stop imagining problems ." Yet the fear of traveling alone almost stopped her. After hours of indecision, she finally threw on her backpack .

With no one to turn to , she decided to face her fears and visit the hospital in the city . The thought of travelling alone terrified her , but the pain left her no choice . This wasn't the usual pain she'd ignore . She boarded a rickety bus to the city. The journey was a nightmare, the noisy crowd making her chest feel tighter with every bump on the road.Every bump on the road felt like a stab to her chest.By the time she arrived at the hospital she was trembling .

The cardiology out patient department was bustling, and Maya felt small as she gave her details to the receptionist When she was finally called, she was met by Dr. Elias-a young cardiologist in his late 20s greeted her . His sharp features softened when he noticed her discomfort. He introduced himself calmly, noticing her nervousness, and began asking about her history.