Paayal - His Scarred Butterfly ✅

7 - HIS FEELINGS FOR HER

உன்னை காணாது
நான் இன்று நான் இல்லையே.
விதை இல்லாமல் வேரில்லையே!
(Without seeing you, I am not myself.
There is no root without a seed!)

The dark blue sky unfurled like a celestial canvas with a silvery moon and golden stars. Paayal and Pranav had dinner. Pranav told their cooking servant to take leave for one week with salary. The servant nodded happily and left.

Paayal was sitting on the sofa, holding her stomach. She started to feel motherhood feelings towards the baby. She had accepted to abort the baby. But it was really hard for her to do it in real. It felt like a big sin for her.

Pranav approached her with the tablets and passed them to her trembling hands. While a lot of emotions created a turbulence inside her, she clutched the tablets and water in her hands and squeezed her eyes shut with tears.

"Sorry dear. I know, a mother's womb is the safest place in the world. A mother will safeguard her child even in the worst situations. But look at me. I am not in a position to safeguard you. I am helpless. I am not even mature enough to make my own decisions. I am not mature enough to lead my life on my own. I am myself a liability to my family. Then, How can I bring you up and how can I give you a good future? I promise, if I am mature enough, if I had a permanent job in my hands, I would have never taken this decision. I would have stood alone with you. I would have never punished you because of that filthy pervert's crime. But now, I don't have any other way. I don't know whether I am right or wrong. But I am sure, if you are born from me, then my dark life will affect you too. You too will have a dark life. I don't want it. You deserve a good life. Please, forgive me and leave me. I will pray to God to give you a good mother and a bright life." She cried silently and swallowed the tablets before her mind changes, fresh tears flooding from her eyes.

Pranav sat down near her. Paayal kept the water tumbler on the center table. Then, she leaned on Pranav's shoulders, seeking a solace, holding her stomach.

Pranav didn't know how to console her. He was dumbstruck by witnessing the harsh reality. He didn't even think in his wildest dreams that Paayal's fate would be this bad. His cheerful sister had become a prisoner of a terrible fate. He couldn't even digest the fact that his charming sister was now suffering like this. He just held her shoulder to give her comfort, his own eyes forming tears. His mind was flooded with a lot of questions. Whether she will come out of this or not? Who will marry her? Even if someone marries her, how will he treat her? Will he behave superiorly by thinking that he gave life to a poor fated girl?

His chain of questions broke when he heard Paayal's murmuring against his shoulder, clutching her stomach, "Dada, It's paining."

The tablet has started to work on her body. Pranav didn't know what to do. It was the first time he felt utterly helpless and missed their mother. A mother could only handle this, he thought.

"Paayal, It is normal to have pain. It will be alright soon. The pain will reduce soon. Everything will be alright." Was all he could say.

As time passed, the intensity of the contractions increased which in turn increased the pain. She sat straight, clutching her stomach and whined innocently, "Dada, you told me that the pain will reduce soon. But, It is increasing, Dada."

Pranav's eyes flooded with tears.

"Hmm, But it will reduce soon. You will have bleeding. Go and do the necessary precautions." He said, turning his face away from her, wiping his tears.

Paayal nodded and walked to her room.

"Wait, I will also come to your room." Pranav said, as he didn't want to leave her alone and walked with her.