Roohdaariyan - Abhira OS and short stories

"Our little family"

Akshara watched the little scene unfolding in front of her, Abhir and Abhinav ji were yet again in the middle of a ludo game and her little doctor was emerging victorious every time.
All these years later, it still left her short of breath whenever Abhir did something that resembled Abhimanyu and it seemed as the years go by, the instances just kept increasing, sometimes she was shocked as to how her lie hadn't already been exposed, as if it wasn't obvious that Abhir was every bit Abhimanyu's.

She then turned her gaze to Abhinav ji, the man who had saved her Abhir, who had saved her, who had stood by her and supported her when her whole world had exploded and she was left alone to salvage the pieces.

The letter she found in her bag was lingering in her mind, she knew she had to talk to Abhinav ji, she could no longer burrow herself in the sand, it was time to own up to her decisions and accept their consequences.

" Chalo, Abhir its getting late now, time for bed" Akshara walked towards the bed ready to tuck Abhir for the night. Nights were her's, she would tuck her baby in and regale him with tales of astronauts and space missions, not lullabies never lullabies.

Abhir used to ask her to sing and she had to watch her baby unlearn that habit because she could never get more than a note out before a panic attack came on. Because her music was always tied to her love, to her Abhi and he had left her, so did her music. He was so much like his father though, much like how Abhi had been her cure, her baby too quickly realised music calmed her down and picked up the harmonica when he was barely 4. 
And her Abhir was so calm and assured, she didn't know where he got that strength from, God she was terrified she would mess him up, she didn't want him to struggle his whole life with traumas she had inflicted on him, like how she had struggled, like how his father struggled.

Being a mother had changed her perspective, it made her understand Abhi and Manjiri aunty's bond more, and as she saw the way the same anger resided in Abhir, the way he was so quick to protect her, she had realised she had to break the cycle. She would not let her son be her shield, he had to see that his mother was capable of taking care of herself, he had to know his anger could destroy the ones he loved if he was not careful.
Her line of thought broke with Abhir struggling in her arms

"But Mumma"
"No, no but mumma, bed time Abhir" Akshara said sternly, sometimes she was surprised at her self, she had never thought she would be the strict parent, that was always supposed to be Abhi's thing, the one who made sure the kids ate healthy, and went to bed on time, she figured she would be the good cop, she would dress herself and her babies in matching clothes and be the kind of mother who brought cookies to  their football games.

But like she had realised, she had to break the cycle, she had to make sure her son knew to choose and fight his battles and stand up for himself. To chase after his dreams and be successful. To not let life knock him down like it had his mother.

After the initial struggle, Abhir went down quickly, she was gonna miss this, when her baby would no longer her need her to tuck him and tell him stories, when he no longer needed her - God the thought itself broke her out in a cold sweat, all she had was Abhir, all she is - is Abhir's mumma
What else did she have ? What was she going to do when he eventually left her and he would, she would ensure it- she would never be the reason her son was held back in life.

She motioned Abhinav ji to step out of the room with her
"Abhinav ji, we need to talk" Akshara choked out, this was going to be a difficult conversation, but she owed it to him, she owed it their little family to do it right.

Abhinav ji to his credit didn't seem alarmed, but then again the man never was, he was always gentle, always supportive, always standing behind her - never beside but behind as a silent support.