Fragments of Ruhi

In the Shadow of Loss

The Birla residence, once vibrant with joy and warmth, now echoed with sadness following the recent tragedy that had shaken their family to its core. Ruhi Birla, a bright-eyed six-year-old, whose bubbly laughter could light up the darkest days, now wore a cloud of confusion and loss over her small shoulders.

Ruhi's world had crumbled with the loss of her mother, Aarohi. She found herself at the center of a devastating storm. In a matter of weeks, she transitioned from the comforting embrace of her family to the solemn confines of shadowed rooms, surrounded by relatives who hardly knew how to mend a broken spirit.

Aarohi had been everything to Ruhi—a kind-hearted mother, a fierce protector, and a doctor who cared deeply for her patients. Ruhi closed her eyes, recalling the comfort of her mother's hugs and the warmth of her laughter. The memories felt distant and haunting now. Her Maasi had cost her everything, and Ruhi felt a raw, gnawing hatred towards Akshara, who had inadvertently turned her world to ash.

In the days following the accident, the Goenka house was filled with hushed whispers and sorrow. Akshara had confessed, tears streaming down her face, that she had been behind the wheel, unable to control the car during that fateful moment. The Goenkas were both devastated and furious; their anger was directed squarely at Akshara, the woman who had brought misery into their lives.

"Leave now!" bellowed Manish Goenka, his voice trembling with betrayal as he pointed towards the door. The love he had once shown Akshara was forgotten in the wake of that devastating loss. "You've caused enough pain."

Abhimanyu, Ruhi's uncle, stood silently by her side, his heart torn. He had married Akshara years ago, only to lose his beloved brother Neil in the chaos resulting from her reckless chase to save a stranger. As he stood there, he felt the weight of two worlds colliding: his estranged responsibilities towards Ruhi and the inexplicable bond he still shared with Akshara.

As Akshara slowly gathered her belongings, Ruhi felt an irrational flight of anger and despair. "You did this!" she shouted, her voice breaking like glass. She wasn't supposed to feel rage at such a young age, but the loss of her mother felt like a betrayal, and her young mind searched for someone to blame.

Abhimanyu knelt down beside her, his eyes echoing the pain she felt. "Ruhi, listen to me. Akshara made a mistake, but it wasn't intentional," he said gently. "We can't remain in this anger forever." However, Ruhi turned away from him, not wanting to understand, not wanting to forgive.

In a desperate act of self-preservation, Akshara took Abhir and left the Goenka  house. Abhimanyu, torn between his loyalties, decided to follow her. He left Ruhi behind—a painful choice he felt forced to make. As he walked out with Akshara, a part of him stayed with Ruhi, pleading for her understanding.

Meanwhile, the Birlas grieved as well, each member bearing the weight of their shared losses. Manjari Birla, Ruhi's grandmother, blamed Akshara vehemently. The once harmonious family was shattered, and the fracture would take years to mend.

Days turned into weeks, and a month passed since the accident—the day Akshara Sharma's reckless mistake had stolen away the last glimmer of happiness in her life. Ruhi's world remained swallowed by grief. Accustomed to hearing the laughter of her cousin and the gentle hugs of her family, now all she experienced was absence. She would often clutch her doll, pretending it was Aarohi, imagining her mother would return and sweep her into her comforting embrace.

"B Nanu, tell me a story," Ruhi would plead, her tiny voice cracking with longing. Manish would smile gently, kneeling to tell her stories of Aarohi's childhood.

On night, when the stars twinkled like distant hopes, Ruhi sat quietly outside. Whispering her mother's name into the breeze, she felt a flicker of warmth—a belief that perhaps, one day, all the missing pieces would come together.