||MishBir TS: The Aftermath||

Chapter 2

Rajshri Maheshwari is a woman of grit and substance. Anyone who knows her would agree that the matriarch of Maheshwari clan is an epitome of patience and strong will-power. She had seen many ups and downs in her life; the most horrible among it being the loss of her dear daughter to death. But still she survived it. She stood tall and faced everything that life threw at her. However, deep inside she was a heartbroken mother. But she never let the world see that side of her. And then a little angel came in her life. She was like a balm to all her pains. When the innocent child looked at her with those scared question-filled eyes, she forgot all her worries. She busied herself in taking care of the broken little angel. When those petite arms wound around her trying to find warmth, the grieving mother in her found solace. When she held her close and patted her back to sleep after her recurring nightmares, she forgot her own pain & nightmares. She poured out all her motherly love on the lost soul who was in deep anguish herself.

Bit by bit, with great care, she built her girl into a beautiful human being. She imbibed her with all the positive traits she possessed. As she looked on, her daughter grew into a beautiful, strong and independent individual with great compassion for everyone around her. Her heart swells in pride seeing the person she turned out to be. If the daughter she lost was born out of her, this is the daughter born from her heart. She is the one who awoke the mother in her again; her soul-daughter, her Mishti. She knew Mishti always felt indebted to them for accepting her when her own family rejected her. But the fact is that she and her husband too were as indebted to her for accepting them as her parents. She had soothed their aching hearts. She was the medicine to their shattered souls. In a way they three were each other's anchor.

And today seeing her in that condition roused the long forgotten fear in her. The sight of Mishti covered in blood froze her and dragged her back to the night when she lost her daughter. The memories of their anguished search for her daughter in that stormy night played before her eyes. They kept on searching for her incessantly braving the storm and darkness. But everything went in vain. What they found after several heart-rending hours of search was the mutilated body of her daughter. That was the last memory she had of her daughter. And that day something died inside her. Remembering it again made her shiver in horror. She felt the panic rising within her. She dreaded the worst. She had somehow survived the loss of her one daughter. But if she lost her other daughter too, she won't be able to survive. If she lost her Mishti like her Akshara, she would lose herself. And no one will be able to hold her together. But when her dread-filled eyes saw two other people who were in the same state as hers, she had to compose herself. Her husband and her son were in no better condition. Her son Abir; he is another gift God bestowed her with after Mishti. And he was no less for her. Her heart clenched seeing his devastated state. He looked like a child who got lost in the crowd. And her husband as usual was trying to put on a brave facade. He was trying to be the rock for her. But years of companionship had made her an expert in reading him. Nothing escaped her eyes when it came to him. She knew that for both these men, Mishti is their lifeline. Their life resides in her. They were on the verge of a breakdown and this time she needed to be their rock.

So when the doctor allowed a single person to meet Mishti, she asked Abir to go in. She knew how badly he wanted to be near her. His teary eyes conveyed his unsaid thank you to her and he rushed off to be with his beloved. She turned towards her husband and held his shoulder in silent support. He gazed back at her with anxiety. And as always their eyes silently communicated with each other.

Now, as they stood at the door of Mishti's room, her heart throbbed with both pain and happiness - pain of seeing her daughter in pain and the happiness of witnessing her son taking care of her daughter. The immense love he possessed for her was visible to anyone who looked at them. She knew that Mishti was in safe hands. It had been an hour since Abir entered the room. They had gone off to meet the doctor and spent rest of the time waiting outside as they didn't want to disturb Abir. They were eager to meet their daughter, but they understood his situation too. And now they were finally here to meet her.

Abir was lost in his own thoughts to notice anything else. He just kept staring at his Mishti, unconsciously caressing her hair continuously. He was in a trance. All the recent happenings and his own actions had clouded his mind. So when a hand was placed on his shoulder, he was startled. He looked up only to see the kind eyes of Badi Maa. In his reverie he had forgotten that even they wanted to meet their daughter. He mentally slapped himself for being so oblivious and insensitive. While wallowing in his personal hell he forgot that her parents too were as worried as him. They were the only family that Mishti actually had for all these years. He immediately got up from the chair and apologised profusely to them. "I'm really sorry Badi Maa! I'm sorry Bade Papa! In my grief I forgot yours. I forgot that you too had to meet your daughter. I'm really sorry!" He folded his hands in front of them. But Vishamber was quick to hold his hands and pull them down while nodding his head negatively. "You don't have to be sorry Abir. We know that you too were worried. We understand. And it's completely alright. In fact, we are happy that our daughter got such a loving partner." Abir looked down feeling guilty hearing that. He was not a good partner. He had hurt his Mishti. Composing himself, he looked up at his parents. "Badi Maa, Bade Papa, please stay here with Mishti. I have some things to take care of. I will be back soon." He knew they needed some alone time with their daughter. And he didn't want to interrupt. They needed that space after the emotional turmoil they went through. If he trusted anyone with Mishti, then it was them. So he decided to leave without disturbing them. As Abir started heading out, Rajshri called him. "Abir, we met the doctor. He said that Mishti will gain consciousness in another four to five hours. The wounds will take time to heal, but she will be fine. Just make sure that she doesn't strain herself much. The blood loss has made her weak. Her hand and leg needs special care. Make sure that she rests properly and doesn't walk around. With time she will be completely alright. Don't worry son, everything is going to be okay."

Abir gulped the lump in his throat looking at the lady in front of him. She was the mother he always craved for; the one he could never find in his own mother. Mishti is the best gift that life provided him. She had done him a great favour by accepting him and his love. She had not just given herself to him, but had also bestowed him with the best parents he could ever ask for. She is indeed a blessing in his life. Abir nodded positively at his mother with teary eyes and walked out of the room leaving them alone. If he stayed there any longer, he might break down again. And he didn't want to do that in front of them. They have had enough stress for the day. Also, he had some other matters to take care of. He had to have a word with Kuhu. So he set out in search of her.