Starting Of An Ending

Broken

Guys, first of all, I am really sorry. I completely zoned out. I have been going through some health issues. I know that does not justify anything but I really am sorry. Now I am back and here is a new chapter. Sorry if it is a little foggy because it has been a while since I have written.
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It had been three days. Three whole days since Maha came home. Three days since Radhika came out of her room except she felt like suffocating. Three days since anyone had a smile on their face. Even if everyone was worried about the girls, they knew that the both of them needed plenty of time.

Swara and Ragini had been trying to contact Maha at least for two hours once but she never picked up. Their only reassurance were their parents taking care of their daughter.

Radhika on the other hand seemes to lose all her motivation and lie on bed all the time. Trying to think why did she not know about this but she got to know about Maha? The Universe must have screwed up.

Just then her mobile started to ring. As much as she really wanted to avoid communication, she would never do it to her brother.
"Hello?"

"Radhika?, How are you?"

"Do you know what happened?" Radhika felt her voice starting to go timid.

"Yes, I was told. I am sorry, I know how that feels." Ajay said with genuine regret.

"Bhaiya, how to handle this?"

"Take time Radhika. Talk to them. Talk to Maha." Ajay put in gently.

"She forgot me. She forgot her sister." Radhika said crying a little harder.

"Have it occured to you that she might have thought that you forgot her?" Radhika could not utter any more words. Her brother was right. Maha is dealing with a way bigger shock.

"Bhaiya, thank you." Radhika put down the phone trying to muster courage to call her sister.
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Maha was staring at her grandmother drying clothes when the older woman decided to try her luck.

"Maha, you want to know a story?" Maha nodded.

"When Swara found out that the name in her birth certificate was not her father, she was silent the whole day. I never figured out. Until one day, she had to tell me and she cried very hard. Hard for the father that left her and hard for the father living accross her." Maha became silent.

"I am glad that at least I can help you this time." the grandmother caressed Maha's cheek.

"Dida, I miss everyone. But I am not sure if I or they want to see me after leaving the house."

"The missed calls in your mobile proves other wise. I have already folded your clothes. Go pack your bag beta. Its time to go home. Afterall you have colledge tomorrow." Maha never answered back but she knew she has to go.
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When her grandfather dropped her off telling her reassuring words, she felt like entering war zone to the place she called home. The first who landed eyes on her was Parineetha. She muttered something about her being back before casting out of the living room.

As Maha was going towards her bedroom, she saw her grandparents. All four of them. Annapoorna was the first to see her and she burst with joy while hugging her. Maha repeatedly asked sorry from everyone and shed a few tears. She silently asked her grandparents not to tell anyone about her arrival yet before going to meet the actual person she owed apologization for.

When entering her room, she saw Radhika standing infront of a framed picture of both of them and talking about asking sorry.

"Let me do it first." Maha choked out.

"Maha?" Her voice came off as a suprise before she sprinted towards her sister and hugged her.

"I wanted to call you. I am sorry." Radhika started.

"Don't be. I wanted to call as well but I didn't. I am sorry Radhika, I just needed time to process all these." Maha said while sitting on their bed.

"Anyone saw you yet?" Radhika asked wiping away her tears.

"Haan. Just all of our grandparents and Bademaa."

"What did they say?"

"They were happy well except for Bademaa who always has something snarky when it comes to me. Leave that. I missed you so much. I am going to bother you today for the three days I wasn't here. It will make you wish why I came back in the first place."

"I will never wish that Maha. Ever." Radhika said as the girls hugged again.

"How are you? You look like a zombie Radhika. Has anyone been talking to you?" Maha chuckled.

"They try but I don't. I am just glad you are back."

"Me too. Okay, I want to get water. I will be back." Maha promised as she left not to the kitchen but to find the other members of the family.

As she left, Radhika once again turned to the framed photograph and said something " I promise you Maha, you will be treated equally in this house, anyone who does otherwise, no matter who it is, will go through me."
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Laksh, Ragini, Swara, and Sanskar were sitting together with mixed emotions. They were all in Sanskar's bedroom and as Laksh was about to speak something, a knock echoed.

Swara scambered towards the door and when she opened it, her breath got caught. The four of them quickly got up from their sitting position and dragged Maha inside, hugging her.

Laksh was the first to notice that she was not responding to the hugs.

"At least you could have picked up the phone." Ragini said crying.

"I wanted to speak to both of them." She said referring to Sanskar and Swara.

"But since you all are here. I am very sorry. I should not have left. But now I  am back and I want to promise to all of you that Radhika will speak to you all again.I know that she's not talking to anyone her. So, I promise and I assure you."

"Nahi beta, that's okay. We all can work together for that." Sanskar started as he tried to hold her but she flinched back breaking his heart.

"One more thing, this does not belong to me. Once Radhika starts talking again, give it to her. She is the that has rights." Maha said as she laid the chain on the table that Swara gave to her.

Before anyone could utter anything else, Maha left.

"She did not even call us maa or paa." Ragini told.

Swara was just staring at the chain and knew the girl was going through immense amount of pain.

"Swara, Ragini, I know these are hard times. But the best part in this is, both the girls are under this roof with us. Now, we are going to do whatever it takes to make them happy again. Everyone in?" Laksh said with Sanskar.

And without a hearbeat miss, all the replies were yes.