The Desert Lily

Chapter 20

Two months passed at the speed of a light. Samaira and Ayush were growingly supportive to each other, understanding each other and finally ends up wiping each other's tears.

They were good friends like always and both of them never felt anything beyond friendship to each other.

Being with their babies was pure bliss for both of them. Their heartwarming smiles, naughty chuckles, cute mischieves and unconditional love were just heaven. The couple felt like they were let loose in thin air without anything to worry about, without any burden on their backs.

But life can never be easy. They were often pulled out of their cheerful world to deep trenches of harsh reality. But still, they had each other.

Ayush was still not able to get over Praniti or at least spending sleepless nights. Whenever he tries, he fails,her serene face glows in front of his eyes all the time. At nights, the moments they spent together haunts everything out of him.

Though he had read her diary, deep inside he felt like he cheated her, he broke many promises that he made. But then, Samaira's face would fade in. He then starts feeling like he have done absolutely nothing for her in return to everything she did for him.

Was anyone of them at fault for all this?

No. Nobody.

He was currently clueless and confused about life as a whole. What should he do with it?Till a month before, he was living only for the sake of his kids.But he had come to realise that he had more things to do. He have a lot to repay. But will he ever be able to do so? Will he ever be able to forget Praniti and start a life with someone else? Will his wife want this?

.................
It was a fine Saturday morning and Ayush was on leave while Samaira had to go for a twenty four hours duty in the hospital.

"Ayush! Feed Prarthana at correct times. Don't give her a lot of bottle milk, I have kept mine in a bottle for both Reyan and her. Please make sure Kevin does his homework and you please heat up the sandwiches I've made for lunch. And... "Samaira was making a buzz and was going on blabbering without a halt.

"Okay.. Okay...Its not the first time you are leaving me and the kids alone. I know all this. "Ayush was all cool.

Samaira smiled at him and made her way out of the apartment.

Ayush stood up from the couch he was sitting on and strided towards a shelf of books in the corner. He grabbed a novel and started flipping through its pages. As he turned the pages, he found a photograph inside two of them. He took it out and observed them carefully. It had him, Praniti,Samaira and Naveen, a picture clicked during their college time. All of them were facing the camera except Samaira. She was looking at Naveen, immeasurable love oozing out of her eyes. She had intertwined her fingers with his and they looked inseparable.
He felt really bad for her. He can be at peace as his wife had loved him sincerely till her death. But what about her? Can anyone ever decipher her feeling of melancholy? Can anyone heal her wounds?

"Mummy! "he heard Kevin's voice from the bedroom. He kept the picture inside the book swiftly and took quick steps to the bedroom.

He saw Kevin sitting upright on the bed with his arms stretched out. He took the child in an embrace and the little boy wrapped his hands around his neck.

"Mummy went to hospital,baby."Ayush said as he patted Kevin's back.

"Oh.. I tought I can play with her todhay."Kevin replied.

"No problem. We can play na! "

"Hm. I'm hungly. "Kevin said as he held his tummy.

"OK. First let's brush and then eat breakfast. "Ayush smiled.

They were about to step to the washroom. Then,

"Maaamaaaaaaaa!!!"Reyan woke up and screamed.

Ayush facepalmed and took the baby to pacify him.
..............

Ayush leaned on the headboard of the bed as Prarthana lay asleep on his lap. He slowly stroked her hairs and kept looking at Reyan who was playing with building blocks.
Kevin skipped to the room in merry. He had a delighted face. He saw that the smallest baby was sleeping and silently got on the bed. Ayush smiled and put a hand around his shoulder, plopping a kiss on his forehead.
Kevin touched Prarthana's cheek softly, a loving smile playing on his lips.
"She's shooo cuche. "he said.

Ayush smiled in response.

"She looks like Pranichi aunthy."he said as his smile slowly faded away.

"Where ish she,daddy??"Kevin asked as his face looked gloomy.

Ayush's eyes moistened lips quivered.
"She's... In a very beautiful world... Away from us.. "he said as his voice faltered.

"Won't shle come backkk? "the boy asked.

"No."

Kevin was quiet for sometime. He had seen his aunt, laying motionless in a white cloth. His mother had told him that she was sleeping. But he never saw her waking up. Now, his father is saying she's in another world. When did she go? How did she go? What is that place?
His little mind filled with a lot of questions.His eyes travelled to a large portrait of his Pranichi aunty on the wall. He felt sad that he will never be able to see her again.
'I mish you, Pranichi aunthy.'he told in his mind.

"What will Plalthana call me, when she grow up? "Kevin asked out of the blue after a long time.

"Maybe Bhaiya, bro, mostly Chettan (malayalam of elder brother) ."Ayush replied.

"Mm... I'm shoo bigger than Reyan and Pralthana."he said as he widened his eyes.

"Yes. You're this big. "Ayush chuckled as he spread his hands apart in the air, his long hands had a lot of distance between them.

"Hihihi. "Kevin laughed out.

"Daddy... "Kevin called.

"Hmm? "

"My friendsh asked me if my parents shleep on the slame bed. I shaid no. Then they shaid all their parents shleep on the same bed and they lay in the middle. Why are you and Mumma in two roomsh? "he asked, very eager to know the answer.

"Umm.. Uh.. Because there is no space on the bed for you, me, Mumma and Reyan. "Ayush managed to clear his doubt.

"Oooohhhhhh..."

Ayush sighed. Deeply.
....................
Samira yawned as she stretched her whole body. She had finally reached home in the morning and was now standing in the balcony, looking at nothing in particular. She looked down to see Ayush driving their car out of the building. He had an emergency call.
As the vehicle vanished from her sight, she looked elsewhere.
...............
"Hello!"Samaira said as she balanced her phone with her shoulder and ear while washing dishes.

"Hello Sam! it's me Jannat. "Jannat's voice was shivering.

"What happened Jannat?Your voice doesn't seem right. "Samaira was alert and stopped what she was doing.

"Sam.. Ayush... ''

"What happened to him? "Samaira felt her heartbeat rising.

"He met with an accident.. He's now in the hospital, under observation. "

"What! "The cellphone slided down and fell on the floor. Samaira was motionless, unable to react.

______________________________________
Pheww ...... After a looonnnggg time. Do vote and comment. ❤❤❤