Prerish: A Collection of Tales ✔️

~ New Beginnings ~

She was numb, a chilling void where her heart should have been. Her mind and heart were locked in a brutal, silent war, each thought a fresh stab of agony. Before her, he lay—Rishabh, his strong form now fragile, entwined with a grotesque labyrinth of wires, each one a tenuous link to a life that hung by a thread. He was fighting for his last breath, a silent, desperate battle against the relentless tide of death.

He had protected her. Without a second thought, he had thrown himself into the path of a danger meant solely for her, utterly disregarding Kuki, their daughter, his entire world, and his own existence. The sheer, selfless force of his sacrifice was a searing brand on her soul, a love so vast it threatened to consume her.

A sudden, small pressure around her stomach pulled her back, though she barely registered it. She looked down, her eyes blurring. Their daughter, Kuki, clung to her, a tiny anchor in her swirling chaos. Kuki's usually bright eyes were now wide, brimming with a terrifying mix of tears and the raw, uncomprehending fear of losing her father.

Prerna scooped her up, pulling the trembling child into a fierce embrace. Kuki buried her face in Prerna's shoulder, her small body shaking with silent sobs. Prerna held her tighter, tears finally, painfully, tracking paths down her own numb cheeks. Each sob from Kuki was a fresh wound, a reminder of the unimaginable abyss they both faced. The pain was a living thing, clawing at her throat, suffocating her with its intensity. All she could do was cling to her daughter, a desperate anchor in a world that was threatening to drown them both.

"Kuki, nothing will happen to Papa," Prerna whispered, her voice raw, a desperate plea to the universe. She clutched her daughter tighter, the words a fragile shield against the terrifying reality. "He will come back to us, and he needs to come back." She wasn't sure if she was reassuring the lost soul in her arms or the shattered pieces of her own heart.

Just then, the hospital corridor filled with unwelcome presences. Her mother, Veena, and sister, Shivani, appeared, their faces a mixture of concern and awkwardness. Trailing behind them, like a dark cloud, was the Basu family. A cold wave of anger washed over Prerna. She knew why they were here: the Basus to taunt, Anurag to annoy, and even Maasi and Tanvi to offer their hollow, fake sympathy—a facade Prerna now saw through with painful clarity.

"Priyu," Veena began, her voice trembling slightly, "I didn't know how the rope got sliced. I didn't do it." The implication hung heavy in the air, a desperate attempt to explain a past betrayal.

"I know, Maa," Prerna replied, her voice flat, devoid of emotion. "I trust you." The words were a reflex, a habit of a past life, hollow even to her own ears.

"Prerana, leave him, beta," Veena pressed on, oblivious to the chasm between them. "You know too that you are nothing but a deal to him, and now he dumped his daughter on you. Anurag is best for you, beta; he loves you." The audacity of it, even now, left Prerna speechless.

"Mr. Mehra," Prerna said, cutting off her mother, her voice gaining a steely edge, "take Kuki to the canteen and feed her something, please. I'll call you once everything is sorted."

Kuki's small hands tightened their desperate grip on Prerna's clothes. Prerna looked down at her daughter's tear-streaked face, a fresh wave of agony washing over her.

"Don't worry, Baby," Prerna murmured, pressing a kiss to Kuki's temple. "By the time you have something with Mehra Uncle, your Papa will be fine and fit as before. And I promise, I will not go anywhere without taking you and Papa." The assurance, born of a mother's fierce love, seemed to settle the frightened child. Kuki, accepting her mother's word, finally loosened her grip, took Mr. Mehra's outstretched hand, and walked away, her small figure disappearing down the corridor.