WITH YOU...FOREVER!

17. HOPE?

AUTHOR

"M-Mamma..." called Aisha, as she saw the smiling figure stepping back from her, as she desperately stepped towards her, even on her limping & bleeding feet.

"COME TO ME, MY CHILD, YOU'VE SUFFERED ENOUGH HERE. MAMMA CAME TO TAKE YOU WITH HER!" spoke the figure, as a painful smile made it's way on Aisha's face, & a few more tears leaked out of her eyes, now glimmering with a little hope, hope of finding love, in her Mamma, the one who ever loved & cherished her, truly, without any lies, without any selfishness.

The desperate & vicious waves jumped higher & higher, as the cyclone moved faster towards the shores of Mumbai, wanting to gulp the small, trembling figure of the girl, who dared to face it, when all others even left their homes to hide from it's wrath, as the girl slowly-&-slowly made her way towards the figure, or towards her own END, too tired & oblivious to look at the painful end she was approaching to, as all she carved was the warmth of that love, which she got last time six-years back, when she died.

Aisha couldn't see the sea, but all she heard was that voice, overpowering the laughs of the sea, calls of the thunders, warnings of the lightnings, who, by casting it's light tried to make her blind-eyes see the treacherous waves, but she was possessed, her all senses controlled by that voice, as she kept calling that figure, thinking it to be her Mamma, as the figure glimmered under the mid-night lights.

She was too blind to listen to the approaching foot-steps, or the numerous calls, as her badly injured feet moved towards her own end, with determination....

Just as she was about to move in the deceptive waves, she was pulled back by great force, as her trance broke, & with blinking eyes she looked at the strong arms who pulled her back, & then at the worried face of the person who once considered himself her brother, as her mouth hung open, with lips quivering, & her tears spilled out of her eyes, which could clearly be distinguished from the continuous rain-drops, which lashed it's fury upon everyone.

"A-Aisha, P-Princess, w-what were you doing huh?" asked Avi with his eyes bloodshot, as his chest heaved up & down, he was panting, more from fear than from running to her, as he engulfed her immobile figure in his arms tightly hugging her, as Aisha felt the same warmth she felt for the first time & melted in, when he embraced her like this & she closed her eyes, & a sob escaped her lips, as Avi's hug deepened & his heartbeat started running faster, while he caressed her hairs & back.

"I'm so sorry Rose..." spoke he, his voice shivering, thinking of what would have happened if he was even a-half-minute late!

His words brought Aisha back from that day when he declared himself her brother, as a sharp slap resonated in her ears, along with his hateful eyes & venomous words,

'CHEAP WHORE...'

& she pushed upon his chest moving back from him, as she kept her eyes intact upon him, who looked shocked, as his mouth opened, lips moved, but no word came out, & his arms held up in middle air, & his guilt knew no bounds now.

'Why did I do that?' asked he to himself, cursing his each & every action, remembering it in his brain, as he lowered his face, but Aisha spoke nothing & she kept on moving back, limping, when she suddenly collided with something besides her, only to turn & face the person she could no more ever face, as he tried holding her, his face contoured with pure pain, but she rose her palm & placed it upon her heart, pressing it tightly, as she opened her mouth to breathe, which had turned shallow by now, her red-rimmed eyes shedding more tears, due to her conflicted state of emotions, as again that voice called her, louder this time, & she looked back towards the rising sea, at that beautiful figure.