Echoes of MaAn: Love beyond Separation

|| 76|| What to Do next?

Dinner that evening was tense. The usual warmth and laughter of the family meal were replaced by a cold silence. Anuj didn't speak a word to Aadhya, his anger and disappointment radiating from him. Aadhya sat quietly, picking at her food, her eyes occasionally flicking toward her father, hoping for a glance, a word, anything. But Anuj kept his gaze firmly on his plate, barely touching his food.

Anupama sat between them, her heart heavy with the burden of trying to bridge the gap that had suddenly formed between her husband and daughter. She had Aadhymaan in her lap, trying to feed him while her mind raced, torn between comforting Aadhya and dealing with Anuj's silent fury. The baby, oblivious to the tension around him, babbled happily, clapping his hands and reaching for the food on the table.

After dinner, Anuj quietly excused himself and went straight to their bedroom without a word to anyone. Aadhya, feeling the full weight of her father's coldness, watched him go with tears brimming in her eyes. Anupama reached over and squeezed her hand gently. "I'll come talk to you later, okay?" she said softly.

Aadhya nodded but didn't say anything. She left the table and headed to her room, her steps heavy with guilt and sorrow.

After putting Aadhymaan to sleep, Anupama went to Aadhya's room. The teenager was curled up on her bed, hugging her pillow tightly, her face streaked with silent tears.

"Aadhya..." Anupama sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her daughter's hair away from her tear-streaked face. "I know it's hard. I know you're scared, but we're going to figure this out together."

"I'm so sorry, Mom," Aadhya whispered. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"I know, sweetheart. But right now, we need to think about what's best for you," Anupama said gently, her heart aching for her daughter. "Your father... he's hurt and angry, but he loves you. He'll come around."

Aadhya nodded weakly but didn't seem convinced. After a few moments of silence, Anupama kissed her forehead and left her room, heading to her own.

When Anupama entered the bedroom, she found Anuj sitting on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumped, his hands covering his face. She could hear the faint sound of his sobs, something that immediately broke her heart. Anuj, the rock of their family, the man who rarely showed his vulnerability, was now crying like a broken man.

She quietly approached him, sitting down beside him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Anuj..."

He didn't look up at first, his voice breaking as he finally spoke. "What went wrong, Anupama? Where did we fail? How could this happen to our little girl?"

Tears welled up in Anupama's eyes as she pulled him into her arms. "We didn't fail, Anuj. We did the best we could. But Aadhya... she's still growing, still learning. She made a mistake, a terrible mistake, but that doesn't mean we failed as parents."

Anuj shook his head, his voice thick with emotion. "I never wanted this for her. I never thought she would... She's just fourteen, Anupama. She's still a child."

"I know," Anupama whispered, her own tears falling freely now. "But we have to face this together. We have to be strong for her."

Anuj pulled away slightly, looking into Anupama's eyes. "How do I even begin to forgive her, Anupama? I can't even look at her right now without feeling... so much anger. And fear. I'm scared for her."

"I know you are," Anupama said softly, brushing the tears from his cheeks. "But we'll get through this. We have to be there for her, no matter how hard it is."

They sat in silence for a long while, holding each other as they cried, both overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation. Anuj tried to sleep, but his mind raced with thoughts of Aadhya, and every time he closed his eyes, the image of her, scared and confused, haunted him.

Hours later, he finally drifted off, only to be jolted awake by a nightmare. He sat up abruptly, his breathing ragged and his heart pounding.

"Anuj?" Anupama whispered, sitting up beside him, placing a hand on his back to calm him. "What happened?"

"I dreamed... I dreamed she was in trouble," Anuj said, his voice shaking. "I saw her all alone, crying... I don't know what to do, Anupama."

"It's okay, it was just a dream," Anupama soothed, pulling him close. "She's safe with us. We'll figure this out."

It took a long time for Anuj to calm down, but eventually, with Anupama's gentle words, he was able to fall back asleep.

The next morning, they took Aadhya to the doctor. As they sat in the consultation room, the tension was palpable. Aadhya sat nervously, biting her nails, while Anupama held her hand, trying to keep her calm.

After a thorough examination, the doctor turned to them with a serious expression. "Aadhya's body is still developing. Carrying a pregnancy at this age can be very dangerous, both physically and emotionally. She has a few options."

Anuj sat forward, his jaw clenched, listening intently.

"She can choose to terminate the pregnancy, which, given her age, is a safer option for her physical health," the doctor explained. "However, if she chooses to keep the baby, we would need to monitor her closely. There's also the option of adoption if she doesn't feel ready to raise the child."

Aadhya's eyes widened, and she looked at her parents, uncertain.

"But, given her age, I would recommend termination. It's the safest option in terms of her physical well-being."

Anupama's heart sank, and she squeezed Aadhya's hand tighter. The room was filled with heavy silence as they processed the doctor's words.

When they returned home, Aadhymaan was playing with his grandparents. Rajesh and Meera immediately asked what the doctor had said.

Anupama sat down with them, explaining everything the doctor had told them—the options, the risks. Both sets of grandparents were visibly shaken but tried to remain composed for the family's sake.

Later that day, Anuj was sitting with Aadhymaan, letting him play with his iPhone to distract himself. Aadhya quietly approached them, hesitant.

Anuj didn't look at her, his attention focused entirely on the baby. "Aadhymaan," he said, in a calm voice but clearly meant for Aadhya, "you should always think before you act. Because one moment can change everything."

Aadhymaan, oblivious to the weight of his father's words, giggled and clapped his hands. But Aadhya understood. She felt every word like a blow to her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she said nothing.

Rajesh and Meera, who had been watching from a distance, saw Aadhya's dejected expression. They walked over, wrapping their arms around her in comfort. "It's going to be okay, Aadhya," Meera whispered. "We're here for you, no matter what happens."

Aadhya nodded, though her heart felt heavy with guilt and fear. All she wanted was her father's forgiveness, but at that moment, she wasn't sure if she would ever get it.