Fading In The Sun

Chapter 8: Dream

She was the oldest, the first child of her parents. She is Shahana- sweet, cheeky and protective Shahana. Despite being so young, a baby, she likes her name and responds instantaneously to it. Much like her title, she loves her parents and adores the way they look at her; like she was their whole world. In many ways, she was. Shahana made sure to keep track of the two people who centre her world. Too bad that, a couple of years from then, her beloved caretakers would leave the world, not just hers.

Still, she adds two to her small world.

Her brother was younger, the second child of her-their- parents. He is Saransh- focused, quiet and nerdy Saransh. Shahana loved her younger brother. But she feels that she isn't special anymore. Adding another person to her orderly toddler life is a little upsetting. He takes up half the attention of their parents and as the toddler comes to realise, she wasn't the centre of their world anymore even if that remained unchanged for her.

Still, she adds one to her small world.

Her sister was the youngest, the third child from another mother. She is Prachi- mischievous, caring and bossy. Shahana, used to having a younger child around, doesn't mind another edition. Besides, she was excited to have another girl around. She was a light sleeper so Shahana had to be quiet during afternoon play sessions with Saransh. It was an inconvenience.

Still, she adds one to her small world.

With her youngest sibling came an aunt, Pragya Massi. She takes care of the three of them when her parents need to head off somewhere over the weekend. She pampers them with good food, cuddles and moderated screen time. Shahana is cautious initially but she warms up to that woman, who she found out was her parent's friend, fairly easily. Her aunt's strictness scares her sometimes.

Still, she adds one to her small world.

Somehow, one weekend trip turned into an indefinite leave of absence and Shahana wonders when the exile would come to an end. She waits with bated breath and only three cots of bodies covered in white clothes come through the door. She doesn't know if life could have gotten even worse but she was determined for it to not.

For the first time in her life, in an instant, she subtracts three from her small world.

For a few years, no addition comes by in Shahana's life. But now they know the truth and Shahana can honestly say that she did not see that coming. Riya, Abhishek and Meera come guns blazing and immediately her life's turned upside down. Forced to play her favourite childhood game once again, happy family, she essays the role of the oldest child of her pseudo-parents, a role she had mastered since the day she was born.

For the first time in her life, she refuses to add three to her small world.

Pragya Massi doesn't remember her and Shahana feels like water is slipping from her hands. Recognition is a fleeting sight and she grasps every little indication she can get.

This time, she refuses to subtract one from her small world.

Shahana grumbled under her breath as she dragged Abhishek by the arm out of the house and to the car. The latter wasn't thrilled to be walking out of the house in the outfit Shahana had whacked together to play out their cover story, a fancy dress competition at work. She had to admit, the outfit did make him look like an overgrown dinosaur- it was amusing.

"A fancy dress competition. Really? You couldn't have said anything else?" The squirming man hissed, the bright neon shirt he adorned blinding his own eyes for a moment. "I look like a buffon!"

"I didn't see you giving any useful input other than stuffing your face with food." The girl snapped back, a furious glare set on her face. For one, she was late and Abhishek couldn't seem to get a move on. Prachi was alone with Riya in another car- a recipe that brewed nothing short of destruction. There was the new driver whose name slipped Shahana's mind but she didn't trust the two farther than she could throw them.