Hrudayam-part 2

Aftermath

(For better experience play the song while you read this chapter.)

Aditya's pov

"Stay with me, Siya.—somebody Please help!"

"Adi, I-I don't have m-much time...." Her voice became weak, hands trembling as she reached for my cheek, drenched in her own blood.
"Promise me you will take care of our daughter P-promise me..p-please—

"Siya, please love, don't talk, you are losing so much blood." Tears started to roll down from my eyes as I tried to pick my wife in my arms.

"I will not let anything happen to you," I said reassuringly.

I felt her blood in my hands as her wounds bled unstoppably.

"S-stop...look a-at me.." She said clutching my shirt with a weak grip.

"I need to take you hospital—

"No..I-i don't have time much left listen—please.." Tears dropped down her cheeks, making my heartache.

"I..l-love...you...So...much...I am sorry if I ever hurt you...please take care of yourself and our daughter...I am...sorry...Adi...I l-love Yo—

"No! Siya! no! Please open your eyes!!"
Her body was lying lifeless in my arms, I held her close to my chest. Her beautiful face changed into an expressionless one, her black hair was matted and ruffled messily, her yellow sari was now covered in her blood and her hand stayed in mine, stilled. Cold.

"Siya!" I woke up abruptly, panting and sweating cold. I rubbed my face anxiously, trying to relax but I was unable to do so. Frantically, I grabbed a glass of water and drank it in one go...

I threw the duvet aside and walked to the balcony to get some fresh air...I closed my eyes when my uneasy breath started to calm down in the presence of cool night breeze...

'She is dead! Siya is dead!' Tia's words echoed loudly in my head still causing the same pain as it did five years ago...

"I wish I could have saved you that night, Siya! Then maybe today I—" I stopped in mid, thinking that, this wouldn't change the past but I wish it did.

Every breath that I have been taking without her felt like a huge burden...reminding that how incomplete my life is..that how miserably-lonely I am..that despite being alive how dead I am!
The only thing that was keeping me alive all these years, was that one promise that I had given to my Siya...to protect and give a good life to our Savi...just that!

I closed my eyes and collected my thoughts before going back to my room.

"Dada...can I sleep here?" I stopped in a midway and turn towards her before cradling her in my arms.

"Of course sweetie.." I kissed her forehead softly.

"Dada...can you tell me yours and mommy's story? I can't sleep.." She asked snuggling against my arm.

"As you wish my little angel!" I caressed her hair lovingly, and she gazed at me eagerly with a heartwarming innocent smile.

I turned off the main light and lit the table lamp beside the bed and covered her up with the warm duvet.

"....so where were we last time?" I asked trying to remember.

"Ummm when you, Daada(grandfather) and mommy went to the palace?"

"Oh yeah!...so we all went to this party..your mommy dressed just like your favourite princess Bella from beauty and beast!..." I continued telling her with a little enthusiastically smiling and she was smiling back with an evident true joy twinkling in my daughter's beautiful amber eyes.

This story was the only closest thing that could tell her how amazing her mother was...and what she was like...While telling her the story I was so engrossed that for a moment I forgot all my pain...

"....and then one day the god decided to call back his favourite angel to heaven..."

"So that's why mommy left...can't she come back, Dada...for me—for us..?"  Her words made my heart ache in agony, but I didn't let that show to her. Instead I smiled and hugged her.

"Savi, you know mommy is always with us...we can't see her but she's here..."

"Really dada?" She asked innocently.

"Of course, sweetheart!" I nodded. "Now lets sleep...tomorrow we'll be visiting your Tia Aunty!"

"Yay!" She smiled cutely.

Gently, I adjusted her pillow, caressing her head, softly and humming her a lullaby until she fell asleep.

'I wish you were here Siya!' I sighed.

_____

Next day...

"I am glad Adi, that you and Savi came..." Tia said with a warm smile.

"Thank you for inviting us."

"You are family, Adi. You can come whenever you like..."

"Where's Rajveer?" I asked.

"Umm he went to..he went..to his parents home." She replied hesitantly.

My heart leaped a beat when I understood the reason behind her hesitant response...

Three years ago Tia moved here with her husband Rajveer Sharma and coincidentally we met at a mall. She was very emotional to see me and Savi...that day I asked her not to talk about my past or mention anything related to it in-front of Savi.

"It's okay, Tia." I assured her. "Anyway, it's getting late, we should go.." I stood up from the sofa and Tia followed me to the hall, where Savi and Tia's Son, Nanu were playing.

"Savi, come on it's time to go home." I smiled.
"Okay, Dada! Bye Nanu!"
"Bye.." Nanu replied.

"Okay Tia, take care.." I started.

"You too. Bye and do visit us soon!" She said.

"Sure!" With that Savi and I went to the parking lot.

My phone rang in my coat's pocket, before sitting in the driver's seat, I took the phone out and answered the call, looking at the unknown caller ID...

"Hello? Who's this?" I inquired in a serious tone.

"Aditya..is that you?" A familiar voice asked.

"Mr.Verma? How did you get my number?" I closed my eyes, anxiously trying to stop all the memories from the past that came rushing in my mind as soon as I heard his voice.

"That doesn't matter, beta. there's—

"—I am sorry, please don't ever call me again!" I interrupted him, thinking about my past how he didn't show up on his own daughter's funeral when I and Savi needed him the most.

"Wait! listen—at least listen to me for sake of your dad!" He said.

"—What?!" I asked frustratedly.

"The king trusted your father—your dad always respected him...if you could help the king— ." His words cut through me like a knife.

"—What will I need to do?" I asked interruptingly.

"I can't tell you on the phone. Come back, as soon as you can. And Adi I know it's very hard for you to come here—

"—Mr. Verma, let's not talk about my past. I have moved on...and I think you should too! Anyway, I will see you in two days!" I cut the call immediately.

'I can't take Savi there! It's not good for her—I can't risk her safety.' I thought whilst raking my fingers through my hair, anxiously.

To be continued...

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Until then #staysafe!
❤️Swati