Species Of Life

38. Echoes of Loss, Anchors of Love 🌌💔(Updated)

Sid stepped out of the washroom just as Avneet walked into the room. She had only just finished putting Abhinav and Khushi to bed. Without saying anything, she came to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He didn't hesitate. He held her back, anchoring himself in her warmth.

She looked up at him and asked gently, "Did the office problem get solved?"

"Yeah," he replied with a tired breath. "Thanks to Faisu. If he hadn't come at the right time, I wouldn't have been able to manage it."

A pause lingered between them before Sid added quietly, "Thank you."

Avneet pulled back just slightly to look at him. "For what?"

"For sending Faisu there," he said, eyes softening. "I know it was you who asked him to come help me."

She didn't deny it. "When I spoke to Sumedh Bhai, I understood how serious the issue was. And after everything that's happened... I just thought you needed him."

Sid nodded faintly, but something inside him remained distant. Avneet noticed it—the way his eyes weren't meeting hers, the way his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

"Are you okay?" she asked gently.

Sid's lips trembled before he whispered, "How can someone be okay after everything that's happened?"

Avneet didn't press. Instead, she slowly broke the embrace and walked over to the wardrobe. She opened it and pulled out a file. A single tear slid down her cheek as she opened the folder and let her hand rest on the sonography reports inside.

Sid walked up behind her and hugged her from behind, his chin gently resting on her shoulder.

"It's been nine years, Sid," Avneet murmured. "Nine years ago, we stood exactly where Bhai and Di are standing today."

He remained silent, but his breath caught.

"How could we ever forget the day our child was taken from us?" she whispered.

A long silence followed before she added, with a bittersweet smile, "You remember how happy you were when you first saw our baby on the monitor?"

"How could I ever forget that?" he said, barely above a whisper.

"You literally kissed the doctor's cheek in excitement," she said, laughing through her tears.

Sid chuckled softly at the memory. It was a laugh born of pain and nostalgia, but it was real.

A few minutes passed in quiet reflection before Avneet wiped her tears and said, "Sid, Bhai and Di haven't eaten anything. Di needs to take her medicine after dinner too."

Without a word, Sid nodded and left the room.

He walked into Abhisek and Vaishnavi's room, where Vaishnavi was sitting on the bed, lost in an old photo album. Abhi sat beside her, blank, unmoving, his face devoid of expression. Sid knocked on the door lightly to get their attention. They looked up, eyes dulled by the weight of grief.

"Come in, baby bro," Vaishnavi said with a forced smile.

Sid walked in and sat on the bed. "I came to call you both for dinner. Everyone's waiting."

Abhi didn't respond immediately. "I'm not hungry," he muttered.

Sid's tone didn't change. "I didn't ask if you were hungry. I just came to take you both downstairs. If you don't want to eat, fine. Just come sit with everyone."

Abhi shut his eyes in frustration. "What is your problem, Ashu?" he snapped. "I said I'm not hungry. Why are you forcing me? Can't you just leave me alone?"

Without waiting for a reply, he stood up and stormed out of the room.

Vaishnavi turned to Sid with a soft, apologetic voice. "Baby bro, please don't mind his words."

Sid stopped her gently. "Bhabhi... don't say sorry. Nine years ago, I stood exactly where Dada is standing now. Just... let it be."

She fell silent, and he reached out to take the album from her lap. Then, like a child seeking comfort, he laid his head on her lap. Vaishnavi ran her fingers through his hair with quiet affection.

"I miss Mumma," Sid murmured.

"I'm here for you," she whispered lovingly.

Sid looked up at her. "Will you feed me dinner with your hands?"

"Of course," she said with a small smile. "Why not?"

"Let's go then," he said, standing up.

Vaishnavi walked toward the door. As she reached to turn off the light, she noticed Sid was still staring at her.

"What happened?" she asked gently. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He walked over to her and stood close. "You know something, Bhabhi? You're very strong."

Her smile faltered. "I'm not strong, baby bro. We just... don't have a choice. We have no option but to accept the truth. Today or tomorrow, we'll have to accept that our baby is gone."

Her voice broke, and with it, the tears came fast. Sid pulled her into his arms as she collapsed into his embrace, sobbing against his shoulder. He held her tightly until her breathing slowed, until the trembling stopped.

When she grew quiet, he broke the hug and gently wiped her tears. "Come on. Everyone is waiting."

But at the mention of everyone, she hesitated. Fear crept into her eyes. How would she face them? What would she say? Sid saw the hesitation and reached for her hand.

"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'm with you."

Vaishnavi cupped his face with trembling hands. "I know. Whether Abhi is with me or not, my baby brother always is."

Sid cupped her face in return. "Not baby brother. I'm your elder son. And it's the elder son's duty to make his mother feel safe—always."

Vaishnavi smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Then, together, they walked downstairs.

Everyone was already at the table. No one brought up the pain hanging in the air. They all behaved as normally as they could. Vaishnavi fed Sid with her hands, and Sid fed her back, nudging her gently to eat. When she had finished, he gave her the medicine and later, helped her to bed.

After making sure Vaishnavi was asleep, Sid stepped out of the room quietly. Avneet was waiting just outside, her face marked with concern.

"What happened?" Sid asked, surprised. "Why are you standing here?"

"I took food to Bhai, but he refused to eat anything," she said, worried. "Can you try once more to convince him?"

Sid looked at her for a moment before replying, "Put the food on the dining table. I'll make sure he eats. You go to sleep—you must be tired."

"You're talking like you aren't tired," she replied softly. "Once you've made him eat, come back and rest too. Okay?"

Sid gave a faint nod. "Okay."

And with that, the house returned to quiet once again, while grief and love silently continued their quiet, intertwined dance.

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