THE IMPERFECT PERFECTIONS

•∆21~ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭

☆ .♡‧₊˚ ☆ .♡ ‧₊ ♡‧₊ ☆ .♡ ☆ .♡‧₊˚ ☆ .♡

"Yeah, I'll check on that tomorrow," Taniya assured the nurse with a nod

"Okay," the nurse responded, her voice trailing off in the busy corridor.

Taniya's shift had ended, and she lingered in the lobby, waiting for Aditya. He had warned her he might be late, caught up with work. As she made her way to the entrance, a commotion erupted from the maternity ward.

"You monsters! How could you let my son die?" A distraught voice echoed through the halls, accusing the staff as they scrambled to pacify the situation.

Meanwhile, Aditya had arrived at the hospital, expecting to find Taniya outside. He waited, glancing at his watch every few minutes, but there was no sign of her. Concern crept in after half an hour passed. His calls went unanswered, and the receptionist confirmed she hadn't left the building, though her shift had ended over an hour ago.

Aditya's worry deepened as he searched each ward, finding no trace of Taniya. A silent prayer for her safety accompanied his footsteps until he reached her cabin. The washroom door was ajar, soft sobs spilling out. He knocked, but when no answer came, he pushed the door open.

In the dim light, he found Taniya curled up in a corner, her body shaking with tears.

"Nia, breathe," he urged gently, kneeling beside her without caring about the dirty cold tile floor.

"I di-dn't-" she gasped between sobs, unable to speak.

"Just try to breathe," Aditya soothed, pulling her into his embrace. His arms wrapped around her, offering a warm embrace as she wept, her words lost in grief.

Time seemed to stand still as he held her, whispering reassurance until her tears subsided. When she finally looked up at him, her eyes searched his face, seeking solace.

"You okay?" he asked, his smile a tender balm.

She nodded, her grip on him tightening. "Can you hold me like this for a while?" Her voice was a fragile whisper.

Aditya held her close, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "It's okay. You're not alone, baby. It'll get easier, bacha. I'm always with you," he murmured, his words a soothing rhythm against the storm of her emotions.

Gradually, her trembling ceased, and his comforting presence lulled her into calmness. He picked her up in his arms, her arms still clinging onto his neck , and gathered her bag. Together, they walked to his car, Taniya resting her head against his chest, not caring about the world around them as if it was fading away leaving the two of them alone.

Settled in the backseat, Taniya nestled into Aditya's protective embrace once again. "What happened?" he finally asked, his voice soft.

With Aditya's support, Taniya found the strength to share her pain, her story unfolding in the quiet of the car.

"I had a twin brother," she began, her revelation striking Aditya with a jolt of surprise. Her hand fisted his shirt while his hand was squeezing hers in silent encouragement.

"My mother had complications at the time of child birth. My brother couldn't come out alive.The umbilical cord that was attached to me... it strangled him before we were born. My mother, she couldn't bear the loss of her son-her son who was meant to mend family ties. And when she learned that he died because of me, she rejected me."

Taniya's voice broke as she recounted her mother's refusal to nurture her, the coldness that had greeted her arrival into the world. Aditya held her tighter, his heart aching for the little girl who had been denied a mother's love, for the woman in his arms who had carried this burden alone.