ᴍɪʜɪᴛʜᴀ-𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷

chapter 52

   
                     Author's pov

A month had passed since the accident, but for Rudransh, it felt like an eternity. Each day blurred into the next, a repetitive cycle of despair and longing. The sterile scent of the hospital mingled with the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the window, casting soft shadows on Mihitha’s pale face. He sat beside her, his hand cradling hers, unwilling to let go even for a moment. He hadn’t left her side not for work, not for sleep, and certainly not for anything that didn’t revolve around her.

“Rudransh,” Jiyaan said softly one afternoon, stepping into the room with a hesitant smile, “you need to take a break. You can’t be here all the time. You have Nila to think about, too.”

Rudransh looked up at Jiyaan, the weight of exhaustion evident in his eyes. “I can’t leave her. Not now. Not when she needs me the most.” His voice trembled slightly, and he felt the familiar ache in his chest as he gazed at Mihitha, her face so still and unresponsive.

Jiyaan approached, placing a supportive hand on Rudransh's shoulder. “I know. But you’re not doing anyone any good by wearing yourself thin. Nila needs her father, and you need to take care of yourself. You can’t be strong for them if you’re breaking down yourself.”

Rudransh clenched his jaw, the tension palpable in the air. “I don’t care about work or anything else. Mihitha is all that matters to me right now.” The pain in his voice was unmistakable, a raw wound that refused to heal.

“Then let me help,” Jiyaan said, his tone gentle but firm. “I can take care of her. Just a few hours a day. You need some time to recharge. She misses you, Rudransh. And so does Mihitha. I’m sure she’d want you to be happy, too.”

The thought of leaving Mihitha even for a moment twisted his insides. But he knew Jiyaan was right. Nila had been through so much in her short life; she deserved her father’s attention, too. Rudransh finally nodded, a silent acknowledgment of his friend's concern. “Alright, just a few hours,” he relented, his voice barely above a whisper.

As Jiyaan left to fetch Nila, Rudransh turned his attention back to Mihitha. He leaned closer, brushing his fingers gently over her forehead, wishing for a sign that she could hear him, that she was still with him somehow. “I miss you, love. I miss your laughter, your warmth. I need you to come back to us. Please, don’t leave me like this.”

He could feel the tears threatening to spill again. Each day without her felt like a struggle, a battle he was slowly losing. But he refused to give up. He needed to stay strong for Nila, for Mihitha.

When Jiyaan returned with Nila, Rudransh felt a surge of mixed emotions. His little girl had grown accustomed to this routine visiting the hospital, seeing her mother lying in the bed. She cooed and giggled, oblivious to the weight of despair that hung in the air.

“Daddy!” Nila exclaimed, reaching out her tiny arms, and Rudransh scooped her up, holding her against his chest. The warmth of her small body was a balm to his wounded heart. “Mamma?” Nila asked, her eyes wide with innocence.

“Yes, sweetheart. Mamma is here,” he said, trying to sound reassuring despite the heaviness in his heart. “She’s just resting.”

Rudransh carried Nila over to Mihitha’s bedside, where he gently placed her down, allowing Nila to reach out and touch her mother’s hand. “Mamma, wake up!” Nila chirped, her voice bright and cheerful, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere.

Rudransh watched as Nila leaned in closer, her tiny fingers brushing against Mihitha’s lifeless hand, her innocent hope a painful reminder of the reality they faced. “Mamma, play with me! Please wake up!” she begged, and Rudransh felt a fresh wave of tears prick at his eyes.

He knelt beside Nila, wrapping his arms around her. “We need to be strong for Mamma, okay? She needs us to be brave,” he whispered, his heart breaking as he spoke the words. Nila nodded, her small face serious as she continued to hold onto her mother’s hand.

The hours passed slowly as Rudransh focused on Nila, playing with her, reading her stories, and trying to create a semblance of normalcy in their lives. He often found himself talking to Mihitha as if she could hear him, sharing little anecdotes about Nila’s day, her laughter, and her antics.

“Did you see how she tried to put on her shoes today? She struggled so hard, and then she got so frustrated!” Rudransh chuckled lightly, a bittersweet smile crossing his lips. “I can’t wait for you to see it. You would have laughed so hard.”

He stroked her hair softly, wishing he could feel her warmth against him, wishing for one more moment of her laughter. “Nila needs you, Mihitha. She needs her mommy. I can’t do this without you. I’m trying, but it’s so hard.”

As he spoke, he felt a sense of isolation creeping in. He was torn between being present for Nila and being here for Mihitha, the weight of both responsibilities crashing down on him. The emotional turmoil was almost suffocating. How could he be strong for his daughter while his heart was shattered for his wife?

Later that evening, after Jiyaan had taken Nila back home, Rudransh found himself alone with Mihitha again. The room was dimly lit, and the beeping of the machines echoed in the silence. He leaned forward, resting his head on the edge of the bed, feeling utterly drained.

“Please, Mihitha,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I need you to fight. For me. For Nila. We’re lost without you. I’m lost without you.”

He closed his eyes, feeling the tears slip down his cheeks. “I can’t keep pretending everything is okay when it’s not. I need you to wake up. I need you to come back to us.”

Hours slipped away, and the weight of grief settled over him like a heavy blanket. He could feel the exhaustion pulling him under, but he refused to let sleep claim him. Not now. Not when he could still be with her, even in silence.

As the night wore on, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. It was as if Mihitha’s spirit lingered in the room, whispering reassurances that everything would be alright. “I’ll be here, waiting for you,” he murmured, clutching her hand tightly. “Always.”

And in that stillness, amidst the beeping machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic, he vowed to continue fighting for her for their family, for their love. He wouldn’t abandon her, not now, not ever.