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Today was my last day of therapy sessions — the one I began six months ago just to tame my fears of having a child and to silence the ghosts of my past.
As soon as I stepped into the flat, I saw Maa and Jay in the living room, laughing over something. I chirped in, setting my bag aside, "Welcome back, Maa! Waha sab kaise hai?"
Maa smiled, her eyes soft, "Thik hai. Tumhari shopping ho gayi kal ke liye?"
"Jii," I nodded and excused myself to change. . . . Next day, the house was filled with excitement. Maa had woken us before sunrise for sargi.
Anirudh and Akshita had joined us too — and like the last two years, both Jay and Anirudh had kept the fast for us.
As I watched them laughing together, a faint memory from two years ago crept in — a version of me who didn’t believe in any of this.
"Lambi umar uski ho or vrat hum kare. Kyu? Apni zindagi k liye khud kare vrat." I had snapped at Akshita over the phone that morning.
"Vidya!" she had sighed, trying to reason with me. "Shaadi ki hai tumne usse… I know it’s not out of love, but ye har patni karti hai or tumhe bhi karna hoga warna sabko explain karti firna kyu nahi kiya."
Later that day, when I went to serve breakfast, I noticed his seat was empty. I frowned, "Maa, Mrityunjay kaha hai?"
"Office."
"Office? Bina breakfast kiye."
She smiled mischievously, "Uska vrat hai tumhare liye. Apne Baba sa se inspire ho raha hai."
Her words had made me choke mid-bite.
°°°
That night, I walked into our room after the function ended— he was standing by the window, the light falling across his face.
He turned, holding a small ring box in his hand.
"I don’t want this," I muttered and turned to leave.
"Vidya..." His voice was calm, "Kya tumne ye vrat apni marzi se rakha tha?"
"Nahi."
"Par humne rakha tha." He stepped closer, offering the box again. "Isliye ye gift laaye hai."
"Humne toh nahi kaha tha. Tumhare vrat naa karne se hum mar nahi jaate, Mrityunjay!"
He smiled faintly, a sigh escaping his lips. "Hume bol lo jo bolna hai… khudko mat bolo."
I turned away sharply, "Hume tumse kuch bolna hi nahi hai!"
