Chapter 19 : Heartstrings...

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Watching her in such a state of distress was heart-wrenching. The guilt of causing her so much worry was overwhelming. It was never the intention to complicate things this way. Each tear she shed felt like a sharp pain to my heart, a reminder of the unintended consequences of actions taken.

The note left behind was meant to offer comfort, a small gesture to remind her that she was never alone. Seeing her clutch it to her heart brought a mix of relief and sadness. The pain in her eyes, the longing for a lost connection, was almost unbearable to witness.

There was a deep desire to take away her pain, to offer reassurance and solace. But for now, the only option was to be there, silently supporting her. The bond shared was unbreakable, and there was a determination to protect and love her, even if it meant staying in the background.

Her tears, her smiles, every emotion resonated deeply. There was a resolve to be the support she needed, even if it meant living in the shadows. For her, anything would be done to ensure her well-being.

There was a deep desire to take away her pain, to offer reassurance and solace. But for now, the only option was to be there, silently supporting her. 

Yet, the guilt gnawed at me. Seeing her suffer because of my actions was unbearable. I never wanted to be the cause of her pain. Every moment of her distress felt like a failure on my part, a reminder that my presence, even in this new form, was not enough to shield her from sorrow. I am helpless!


.......

The room was quiet, with the soft hum of the ceiling fan providing a gentle background noise. Haseena was working on her laptop, glancing occasionally at the clock. It's late, and Aadhira hadn't come out of her room all evening. 

Concerned, Haseena got up and walks towards Aadhira's room. She knocked softly on the door.

" Aadhira... Aadhira...!! " Haseena called her by her name, but there was no response. This caused Haseena's worry to deepen. She opened the door gently which was unlocked and found the room empty. 

Just then, she heard the sound of heavy rain outside. Her concern grew as she realized Aadhira was out in the storm.

' Is time pe wo bahar kaha jaa sakti hai...! Mujhe batayi bhi nahi. Hum meetimg mei the isliye shayad baarish k awaz aayi nahi humko. ' she thought. ' Bilkul baccha jaisa harkat hai iski... Umbrella bhi leke nahi gayi, ab bheeg ke aayegi. Pata hai mujhe koi nhi lagti wo mera par phir bhi aisa tension ho raha hai na jaise baccha k liye hota tha. ' Haseena sighed.

Suddenly, her gaze fell on her study table and she saw a piece of paper lying there. It read : " Hum humesha aapke saath hai Jiji " . ' Jiji ' this word was enough to cause a shiver run down Haseena's spine, the person who used to call her by this name had gone forever. ' Lekin yeh kaise ho skta hai, yeh toh bilkul baccha k handwriting hai. Yeh paper yaha kaise... Kaise... ' Haseena felt as if her head was about to spin. But her gaze was stuck on that word jiji. 

A flood of memories washed over her, each one more vivid than the last. She could almost hear Karishma's laughter, see her mischievous smile, and feel the warmth of her presence.' Taras gaye hai hum yeh sun'ne k liye. Pata nahi wo ladki, Aadhira sach mei mera baccha hai bhi ya nahi. Par.... Kya kare yeh dil maanta hi nhi k tu... Tu nhi h ab is duniya mei... '

Haseena sank on the sofa, securely holding the paper close to her heart, as if it were a lifeline connecting her to Karishma. The tears she had been holding back for so long finally broke free, streaming down her cheeks in a torrent of grief and longing. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be transported back to a time when Karishma was still with her.

Flashback:

" Padhayi kar na jaake, bas jiji jiji kar rahi hai subah se " Haseena chided.

" Dekhna aap jab hum rahege nahi na tab yaad karna aap k baccha aise bulati thi... Yeh karti thi... " Karishma pouted, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

" Bhagooooo!! " Karishma ran away to save her life as a flying slipper came along with Haseena's glare.

" Ha ha bhaag le... Jab dekho tab yeh sab baatein shuru ho jaata hai iska...! " Haseena muttered angrily.

Present

Haseena's thoughts were broken as she heard the calling bell.

" Aa rahe hai baccha... "  she blurted out, her heart aching with the realization that her baccha was no more.

" Aadat jaata nahi hai dekho " she whispered to herself, smiling through her tears as she got up to unlatch the door.

Haseena's heart pounded as she approached the door, the paper still clutched tightly in her hand. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before opening it. The rain was pouring down heavily, and she could hear the distant rumble of thunder.

As she unlatched the door, she was greeted by the sight of Aadhira, drenched from head to toe. Her clothes clung to her, and her hair was plastered to her face. She looked up at Haseena with wide, apologetic eyes.

" Didi... Woh... I am sorry... " Aadhira said, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

" Aadhira, tum kaha thi? Itni baarish mein bina umbrella ke kyun gayi thi? " Haseena scolded.

For a moment, Aadhira's eyes got fixed on Haseena's. ' Vahi daant... Vahi fiqr... '  

Aadhira stepped inside, shivering from the cold. " Mujhe kuch zaruri kaam tha... I didn't realize it would rain so heavily " she explained, her eyes downcast.

" Theek hai tum andar jaao, aur dress change kar lo jaldi nahi toh sardi lag sakta hai " Haseena said.

" Haan, aate hai hum " Aadhira quickly left for her room, still shivering.



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