ABHIRA [ON HOLD]

CHAPTER 3: AJEEB DASTAAN H YE

Akshara, along with Mimi, was visiting the temple near their home to pray for their family's well-being and happiness. Though she stood silently, Akshara added her own prayer — to restore the lost love between her and her younger sister.

After the pooja, Akshara sat on the temple stairs, watching as her Mimi conversed with Panditji. Her gaze shifted when a mother and daughter, descending the stairs, caught her attention. The daughter was animatedly speaking, and the mother looked at her with so much love that it stirred something deep within Akshara. A soft smile crept onto her lips, but the moment of peace was abruptly shattered when the mother missed a step, distracted by her daughter's chatter, and slipped.

Akshara's heart raced as she watched in horror, her chest tightening at the familiar sight of the mother tumbling down the stairs. It was as though time slowed, and in an instant, she was transported back to her own past—when her mother, Sirat, had met a similar fate.

Her breath caught in her throat as panic gripped her, but Akshara couldn't let herself freeze.

Without wasting a second, Akshara rushed toward the fallen woman, pushing through the crowd that had gathered. When she reached the scene, the woman lay half-conscious and bleeding, while her daughter sat beside her, crying in panic. The sight struck Akshara to her core, and she felt her body begin to betray her. Her chest constricted, her breathing became shallow, and her vision blurred. No... not now... she thought as she felt the overwhelming weight of her trauma pull her under.

Her ears started ringing, the world around her spinning into a chaotic blur.  Breathe, Akshara, breathe!  She urged herself, but her body wasn't responding. She could feel her knees buckle, and before she knew it, she sank to the ground. Her hands groped for something, anything, and found a handful of soft soil. The sensation grounded her just enough to start focusing on her breath.

In and out... Focus, Akshara.   Slowly, the ringing in her ears subsided. Her breaths, though shaky, began to regulate. She couldn't afford to fall apart—not now. There was a little girl whose mother needed help.

With steely determination, Akshara pulled herself together. She quickly dialed for an ambulance and then moved to the woman's side. She pressed a cloth against the bleeding wound, trying to slow the flow. Her hands trembled, but she kept working, her voice soft as she hummed a melody to keep the woman conscious and calm herself.

Next to her, the little girl was trembling in fear, her face streaked with tears. "Don't worry, beta, apki mamma ko kuch nahi hoga," Akshara reassured her, though doubt gnawed at her heart. She wanted to believe her own words, but the weight of her past made it hard.

The sound of the approaching ambulance brought a wave of relief. With the help of others, Akshara and the paramedics lifted the injured woman onto the stretcher and into the ambulance.

Akshara couldn't leave the child alone. After informing Mimi who told her she would follow her in their car, she climbed into the ambulance with the little girl, holding her hand as they sped toward the hospital. Akshara offered what little comfort she could, though the turmoil inside her continued to brew, threatening to overflow.

At the hospital, the woman was rushed into the emergency ward, leaving Akshara and the child waiting outside. Akshara sat with her, trying to reassure the girl, "Tumhari mamma theek ho jaayegi," but inside, her own fears resurfaced, dragging her back into the painful memories of her past.

Minutes felt like hours, but eventually, a doctor emerged, informing them that the woman would be fine. Akshara sighed in relief.

"Mujhe apni mamma ke paas jana hai," the child said, her tearful eyes filled with hope. Akshara's heart clenched. She didn't want to deny the little girl, but she wasn't sure if the hospital would allow it. Sensing her hesitation, the doctor stepped in, smiling gently at the child. "Come, I'll take you to your mother, but you have to be very quiet, okay? Your mamma is sleeping."