Fates

Part 115- The Unknown Relationship

'No, no, no, it can't be- Princess is a common nickname that- that's all.' Pragya thought to herself shakingly.

'It has to be.' Pragya concluded determinedly, with a false sense of belief, as tears started to stream down her face.

'My fate can't be so cruel- that I've already met my- ba- baby and didn't even recognize her, it can't be that unfair.' Pragya thought, shaking her head at the idea, as her tears fell faster.

'Because if I have, I must truly be a  horrible mother.' Pragya thought dejected, drowning in guilt, as her vision became blurred due to the hot and heavy tears falling from her eyes now.

"Auntie, are you okay?" Pragya heard as she felt someone wipe away her tears, and when her vision cleared she saw Riya crouching in front and her while she was sitting on the edge of the bed, Riya looking at her worriedly, now in new clothes, having showered.

But Pragya didn't say anything, just reaching a shaky hand up to cup Riya's cheek, caressing Riya's cheek gently with her thumb, looking at her with love filled- pained eyes, as a few hot tears fell from her eyes.

"Did something happen?" Riya asked in a mere whisper, confused by Pragya's odd behavior, but nonetheless laying a hand over Pragya's hand that was on her cheek, to bring Pragya back to reality, and reaching up with her other hand to wipe away Pragya's tears, her forehead creasing in worry as she looked at Pragya's devastated condition.

"I am a- bad -mother, I am -the worst  -mother, I must be-." Pragya began to say shakingly, in a mere whisper, as she let out a sob.

"No, no, of course not, you're the best mom. Who said you weren't?" Riya asked with conviction as she sat next to Pragya on the bed holding both of her hands in her own, looking ready to murder whoever had told Pragya such a thing.

"No one had to- it's just a fact." Pragya said in a broken voice with a short pained bitter chuckle.

"No, it's the biggest lie ever. If you're a bad mother then the sun rises from the west, and the earth is flat because there's no way that you're a bad mother. You're an amazing mom, I only met you a few months ago, but yet you love me no less than you do Pikachu. You're always there for everyone when they need you, no matter what. You protected me when you didn't even know me, and you saved me from going to jail, even though the accident was entirely my fault, only a loving mother could have such a heart of gold. Anyone who says or thinks that you're a bad mother is a stupid idiot and-." Riya began to rant with conviction, only stopping when Pragya abruptly hugged her.

"Thank you." Pragya said with a teary chuckle, planting a gentle kiss on Riya's temple, a few of her tears falling into Riya's hair.

"It's just a fact." Riya said teasingly, repeating Pragya's words back to her, as she hugged Pragya back tighter.

"And you know what else is a fact? That someone is getting sick. How about some haldi milk? It'll make all your cold go away." Pragya said teasingly, as she pulled back from Riya to gently flicker her nose, when she heard her cough a little, causing Riya to make a face.

"Ugh no never, haldi milk is forbidden from now on." Riya said adamantly, making a face.

"What do I have to make you forcefully drink it again like last time?... Okay, I won't, but at least let me dry your hair before you actually do catch a cold." Pragya said with a soft smile, as Riya pouted cutely at the suggestion of being forced to drink haldi milk again, Pragya then grabbed the towel that Riya had carelessly thrown on the bed, gently drying her hair with it.

"Tired?" Pragya asked with a teasing smile, as Riya yawned because of the pseudo head massage that she was getting as Pragya dried her hair with the towel.