𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

Chapter Forty-Five: Love Through Light

As they hurried to Anamika's room, they found her in tears, clutching her husky toy tightly. As soon as she saw her parents, she reached out to them, crying "Mama, Dada."

Geetanjali and Shubman hurried to her side, embracing her in a hug as Shubman rubbed her back. "I want to stay with you, Dada and Mama, not with my real Mom, Bhumika," Anamika sobbed.

"No one will take you away from your Dada and Mama, trust me," Shubman assured her, planting a kiss on her shoulder.

Geetanjali tightened her embrace around Anamika, feeling her daughter's tears dampen her neck. Anamika buried her tear-stricken face in Geetanjali's neck, her voice barely audible as she murmured, "Please, I want to stay with Mumma, not Bhumika. Please, the dream was so bad."
A realization struck Geetanjali, realizing that Anamika had called her and accepted her as Mama. Overwhelmed with emotion, she pulled her daughter's little body closer, kissing her forehead tenderly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Anamika's sobs intensified, her cries becoming more desperate, which made Shubman's heart ache even more. Geetanjali gently wiped away Anamika's tears and asked softly, "Sweetheart, what happened in your dream? Can you tell us about it?"

Anamika nodded, her voice shaky as she recounted her dream, "I dreamt that Bhumika Mum took me away, and I couldn't find you and Dad. I was all alone, and it felt so scary."

Shubman's grip tightened around his daughter, a mixture of sadness and protectiveness swelling within him. "Oh, sweetheart, we're here with you. We won't ever let anything like that happen. You're safe with us," he reassured her, planting a kiss on her shoulder.

Anamika clutched onto Geetanjali's hair, her cries escalating. "No, no, it was so real. She took me away for her selfish reasons, and I was then sitting all alone in the dark, shouting for you both while she didn't even care," she sobbed, her words muffled against Geetanjali's shoulder.Feeling Anamika's distress, Shubman gently lifted her from Geetanjali's arms and cradled her close, wiping away her tears with a gentle touch. "Darling, it was just a dream. I won't let that happen, trust me," he said softly, his voice filled with reassurance.

Despite Shubman's comforting words, Anamika's mind couldn't shake off the distress of the dream. Her thoughts remained fuzzy, clouded by the memory of the frightening experience. She threw tantrums, crying inconsolably, and between sobs, she managed to express her lingering fear.

"I don't want to go with Bhumika Mum, ever!" she cried out, her voice trembling with emotion.It was the first time Shubman found it incredibly challenging to calm Anamika. She was in such a state of distress that she seemed almost uncontrollable. Her hands were everywhere, even pulling at her own hair, as she continued to cry and murmur, "I don't wanna go to her."

Despite his best efforts to soothe her, Shubman felt a sense of helplessness creeping in.Geetanjali took a deep breath, steeling herself for what needed to be done. She knew she couldn't let Anamika succumb to her fears and anxieties, especially not when it involved the person she loathed the most. With determination in her eyes, she pulled Anamika tight against her, her embrace strong and restricting, limiting her daughter's movements.

Anamika continued to cry, tears soaking into Geetanjali's shoulder as she clung to her mother for comfort. Amid her sobs, she muttered words of fear and resistance. "I don't wanna go to her," she repeated, her voice quivering with emotion.

With a gentle yet firm tone, she whispered into Anamika's ear, "Don't you trust your Mama and Dada?"

Anamika nestled into Geetanjali's chest, her voice barely audible from exhaustion and tears. "I do trust you, but the dream was so scary."

Geetanjali continued to gently rock back and forth, holding Anamika close to her chest, comforting her daughter in her arms. "I understand, sweetheart," she murmured, her voice soothing. "Dreams can feel very real sometimes, but I promise you, we're here with you and won't let anything happen to you. You're safe with us."

Anamika's tiny fingers traced the delicate petals of the lily brooch she had made for Geetanjali, her expression still marked with a pout as tears continued to form in her eyes. "I want you and Dada in my every first thing. You couldn't be there on my first day of school, but I want you with Dada in my first of everything from now on," she whispered, her voice wavering with emotion.

Geetanjali leaned down, her heart overflowing with love for her daughter. She gently kissed Anamika's nose, her tears dropping onto the little girl's face. "I love you so much, my little flower," she whispered.

Anamika reached up with her little thumb, gently wiping away Geetanjali's tears as she whispered, "It's lily, I am your lily."

Shubman moved forward, leaning in to kiss both of his girls' cheeks tenderly. "And you are my lilies," he murmured, his voice filled with love and affection.

Anamika settled herself comfortably on Geetanjali's lap and then asked, "Can you sing me one of your favourite lullabies?"

Geetanjali smiled through tears as she remembered her baby sister, Naina, asking her the same question years ago. "Di, can you sing me a lullaby? I cannot sleep," Naina would say, her voice filled with innocence and vulnerability. Geetanjali recalled how she would softly sing to Naina, comforting her and easing her worries, especially during difficult times when their parents were preoccupied with their own problems.

Geetanjali gently caressed Anamika's hair as she replied, "Sure, sweetheart. It's a song I used to sing as a lullaby, my favourite one."

Anamika closed her eyes, preparing to embrace the melody from her mother. But before Geetanjali could start singing, she glanced at Shubman, who was watching them with a smile. Understanding the weight he carried and the comfort he also deserved, she gestured for him to join them. After all, he too was enduring a difficult time.

As Shubman approached, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he quickly realized the invitation extended to him. With a warm smile, he settled himself beside Geetanjali and Anamika. He rested his head on Geetanjali's chest, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat beneath him, while his hand tenderly caressed Anamika's brown locks. Anamika turned towards him, a smile creeping onto her face as she circled one arm around his neck. Shubman reciprocated, wrapping his arms around both of them, pulling them closer in a loving embrace.

Geetanjali began to sing, her voice soft and soothing, filling the room with a melody that seemed to wrap around them like a warm blanket. As the gentle notes floated through the air, both Shubman and Anamika closed their eyes, allowing themselves to be carried away by the comforting embrace of the music.

"Laam, le chal charkhe noo moorkha oye..........

As Geetanjali finished singing, she noticed that both of her loves had drifted off to sleep, their soft snores filling the room with a gentle rhythm. Smiling tenderly, she leaned down and planted a kiss on each of their foreheads, feeling an overwhelming surge of love and gratitude for her family.

Resting her forehead against the headboard, she looked up and silently prayed to the heavens, asking for strength and protection. She prayed for the safety of her family, hoping that the challenges they faced wouldn't overcome them, and that love would always prevail over darkness.