Echoes of MaAn: Love beyond Separation

||82|| Unspoken Love

The next day, the house was quiet, too quiet. Aadhya sat in her room, staring at the ceiling, dreading what was to come. After taking the abortion pill, she knew the side effects would start soon, but no amount of mental preparation could fully steel her for the physical and emotional pain she was about to endure.

Anupama had been with her all morning, staying by her side, comforting her, offering water, and gently reminding her to take deep breaths. Despite her best efforts, Anupama could sense Aadhya's anxiety building as the minutes ticked by.

By mid-afternoon, the cramping started. At first, it was dull, like the beginning of a bad period, but it quickly intensified. Aadhya clutched her stomach, her face contorting with pain. She let out a soft groan, trying to stay brave, but her body was betraying her.

"Mom..." Aadhya whispered, her voice trembling. "It hurts."

Anupama immediately sat down beside her, placing a cool hand on Aadhya's forehead. "I'm here, sweetheart. I'm right here. We'll get through this together, okay?"

But no matter how much Anupama tried to comfort her, the pain kept building, turning sharp and unbearable. Aadhya's breaths became ragged as she shifted on the bed, trying to find a position that didn't make her feel like her insides were tearing apart.

"M-mom, it's getting worse," Aadhya gasped, her eyes filling with tears.

"I know, darling. I know." Anupama's heart ached for her daughter. She stroked Aadhya's hair softly, trying to keep her calm. "I'll call the doctor if it gets worse, okay? Just breathe with me, Aadhya. Slow breaths."

From outside the room, Anuj watched. He had been pacing in the hallway, torn between wanting to go to his daughter and the unresolved anger he still carried. But every groan of pain that escaped Aadhya's lips sent a sharp ache through his heart. He pressed a hand against his chest, feeling the weight of it all bearing down on him.

His little princess, his kiddo, was suffering. And no matter how much he had distanced himself from her over the past days, the love he felt for her hadn't disappeared. If anything, watching her suffer now only made it stronger, more unbearable. Why was this happening to her? Why was his daughter in so much pain?

He clenched his fists, leaning against the doorframe, unable to bear the sound of her agony. Memories of when she was small, when he would rush to her side at the slightest whimper, flooded his mind. He had always been her protector. And now, she was going through something that he couldn't just fix, something that was so much bigger than the both of them.

Inside the room, Aadhya's body convulsed again with another wave of pain. She doubled over, clutching her stomach tightly, her knuckles white. "It's too much, Mom, I can't—" she gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Anupama's eyes brimmed with tears as well, feeling helpless. She tried to soothe her daughter's back, whispering reassurances, but inside, her heart was breaking.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. Anupama looked up, surprised to see Anuj standing there, his face pale, his eyes filled with an emotion she hadn't seen in days—concern, and a deep, unspoken love.

Without saying a word, Anuj stepped into the room. His eyes flickered from Anupama to Aadhya, who was lying curled up on the bed, her face wet with tears. His heart twisted painfully as he watched her suffering, every fiber of his being screaming at him to do something, anything, to take this pain away from her.

He walked over to the bed and sat down beside her, still silent. Gently, he reached out and placed a hand on Aadhya's back. She flinched at first, surprised by his touch, but then her body relaxed slightly. She didn't say anything, but the relief of having her father there with her, even in silence, was palpable.

Anupama watched them quietly, stepping back a little to give them space. She had seen the storm of emotions in Anuj's eyes over the past few days—anger, disappointment, confusion—but now all of that had melted away. What was left was a father who simply couldn't bear to see his daughter in pain.

Anuj didn't speak, he didn't know what to say. All he knew was that his daughter needed him, and for the first time in days, that was enough to pull him from his own internal struggle. He stroked Aadhya's hair, his touch tender, the same way he had done when she was a child.

Aadhya sobbed softly, the pain still gripping her, but the presence of her father beside her, his warm hand comforting her, made a difference. Even though the physical pain was still excruciating, the emotional burden she had been carrying for days felt a little lighter.

Anuj's heart broke every time she cried out, every time she gripped the sheets or clutched her stomach in pain. He wanted to say something, to tell her that he was sorry for how distant he had been, but the words wouldn't come. All he could do was be there, his love shown in his actions, in the way he stayed by her side, refusing to leave her alone in this moment of vulnerability.

At one point, Aadhya turned her head slightly to look at him. Their eyes met, and in that moment, a silent understanding passed between them. She didn't need him to say anything, and he didn't need her to explain. The love they shared as father and daughter transcended the words that had been left unspoken over the past few days.

Anupama came back with a cool cloth, dabbing it against Aadhya's forehead, while Anuj continued to sit with her, never letting go of her hand. He could feel her pulse quicken with each wave of pain, and he wished with everything in him that he could bear it for her. She was still his little girl, the one he had rocked to sleep when she was just a baby, the one he had taught to ride a bicycle, the one whose laughter used to fill their home.

His anger had been so overwhelming that he had almost forgotten that. But now, sitting here with her, watching her in this vulnerable state, the anger seemed to dissolve. It didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was that she needed him, and he was there.

Hours passed, and slowly, the intensity of Aadhya's pain began to subside. The worst of it seemed to be over, though she still felt weak and exhausted. Her breaths came easier, though her body was drained from the ordeal.

Anuj stayed beside her the whole time, holding her hand, never leaving her side. Anupama had brought them both water, making sure Aadhya stayed hydrated, but it was clear the emotional toll was heavy on all of them.

"Dad..." Aadhya whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.

Anuj looked at her, his expression soft. "Yeah, kiddo?"

"Thank you..." she murmured, her eyes closing as exhaustion took over.

Anuj's heart clenched. He leaned down, kissing her forehead gently. "I'm here," he whispered back, his voice cracking slightly.

For the first time in days, Anuj felt a sense of peace. He didn't know what the future would hold, or how they would navigate the aftermath of everything that had happened, but at that moment, all that mattered was that his daughter was okay. She was still his little princess, no matter what.

Anupama, standing nearby, watched the scene unfold with tears in her eyes. She knew this was the beginning of healing, not just for Aadhya, but for Anuj as well.

It wasn't going to be easy—there was still so much they had to work through—but the fact that Anuj was here, that he had come back to his daughter when she needed him the most, gave her hope.

As night fell and the house quieted once more, Anuj remained by Aadhya's side, holding her hand as she drifted into a fitful sleep. He wasn't angry anymore. He wasn't disappointed. He was just a father, watching over his daughter, willing to do whatever it took to make sure she knew she was loved.

No matter what had happened, no matter the mistakes made, she would always be his little girl, and nothing could ever change that.