The Last Note [ON HOLD]

34. THE AFTERMATH - I

aftermath (noun)
.
the consequences or after-effects of a significant unpleasant event.

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-"We are officially done with your treatment, baby. You did so well, congratulations, little Gayatri!!"
A woman the same age as Gayatri exclaimed jovially.

The little girl sitting infront of her just smiled a tight smile muttering a little "thankyou" after.

-"Gayatri, I get it, she has gone through everything of such sort at such a tender age. It was difficult, I know that. But look at you guys now! Everything is getting better, time surely heals everything."
The woman said, removing her white medical overcoat.

-"I know, Pratibha. And I can't thankyou enough for helping my little girl recover. I don't know how will I ever pay you back."
Gayatri said in a grateful tone as a few tears glistened in her eyes.

-"Aww, you don't need to do that, Gayatri! Trishika is as dear to me as my own son, I could've never given up upon her. The pleasure is all mine."
Replied Dr. Pratibha Katiyar, smiling sheepishly as she embraced Gayatri into a warm hug.

A few minutes later, Trishika and her mother sat on the chairs across the doctor's table in her clinic as Dr. Pratibha read through all of Trishika's report for the one last time before they left for home.

Dr. Pratibha Katiyar : Was one of Gayatri's oldest friends from college who was currently running a hospital of her own. She was also the doctor hired for Trishika's treatment, post the tragedy.

It had been almost a year now since the tragedy occurred. It was painful. Very very painful.

No doubt it took a toll on Trishika's mental health, she wasn't the same bubbly girl anymore.

The now five-year-old Trishika had lost all her interests and was physically and emotionally damaged. She didn't even like Polaroids anymore! Not even chocolates, and dancing? There's no question about that.

But for some reason, not much difference was seen in her academic performance. It was still the same.

The overachiever kinda girl whom everyone was jealous of without actually knowing the whole story.

Though she was at a distance at the time of the bomb blast, but she being the youngest one present at the sight, the gunpowder and moreover the hydrogen peroxide released in the atmosphere had caused her many risks of having some serious health issues in future and Akhil and Gayatri in noway were letting that slide away.

Akhil had already lost his father because of some fucking bastard who couldn't even be called human. He wouldn't be able to handle the loss of his precious daughter now, he had concluded.

-"Alright then, I guess we shall leave now. Once again, thankyou so much for helping my daughter out, Pratibha! I owe you alot."
Saying this as Dr. Pratibha flashed a sweet smile before giving a chocolate to Trishika, Gayatri moved out with her daughter.

-"Trish beta, you wanna have something to eat from outside?"
Asked Gayatri to Trishika moving out of the hospital building hand-in-hand with her daughter, as the little one shook her head in negative.