MishBir Off-Tracks: Short Stories

The Bliss of Motherhood - #2

The Bliss of Motherhood - #2

"Mishti Kuhu ka dhyan nahi rakh paa rahi hai."

"Kayi baar yeh poori koshish na, adhuri reh jaati hai."

"Kunal, I'm very sorry, tum...tum meri baat ka mera bharosa karo mein aisa phirse kabhi nahi hone dungi..."

"Mein aap dono ko iss responsibility se free kar raha hoon. Ab se mein Kuhu ka dhyan rakhunga, thank you very much."

Kunal sat down on the bed and held his head. All his indirect statements laced with taunts hinted at Mishti had started eating him up from within. Now that the illusion of lies was finally dusted off, Kunal could see how he had ended up ill-treating Mishti with his words all this while, only because he believed in Kuhu.

"Kunal?" Kuhu touched his shoulder, "I know what I did was #BigMistake. Lekin I swear, ismein mera koi personal benefit nahi tha, sirf tumhare liye-"

"Bas isi liye abhi tak tumhare saath hoon Kuhu," Kunal's red eyes glared into her fearful ones, "kyunki tumhe yeh sab meri wajah se karna pada."

"No Kunal," Kuhu creased her brows, "ismein tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Galti sirf Maa ki hai." She gritted her teeth, "Main toh yeh sab karna hi nahi chahti thi, agar Maa ne yeh condition nahi rakhi hoti toh main kabhi Mishti ki surrogate nahi banti." She looked at Kunal, "Yeh property tumhara haq hai Kunal."

"AREY NAHI CHAHIYE PROPERTY." Kunal burst out on her.

Kuhu was too scared to talk to him anymore. His eyes were red and fists clenched, but he controlled himself seeing her belly. He had already lost his brother's respect, he couldn't afford to lose Abir's trust if he failed to even protect Mishti's unborn child.

"Tum..." Kunal gulped a lump and bit back his anger, "Tumhe koi idea bhi hai, tumne aaj bhai ko kitna hurt kiya hai? And God knows how Mishti will react, jab usse yeh baat pata chalegi." He lowered his gaze, "Maine bhabhi ko kitna kuch sunaya hai tumhari khatir," he gave her a disappointing look, "yeh soch ke ki tum apni behen ke liye itna bada sacrifice de rahi ho."

"Thank God tujhe yeh toh yaad aaya ki Mishti teri bhabhi hai." Came Abir's voice from the doorstep. "Hopefully ab Mishti ko apne devar ke taane nahi sunn ne padenge." He thre a look of disgust at Kuhu, "Iske alawa tum dono se koi umeed nahi ki ja sakti."

"Bhai aap -"

"I'm sorry," Abir handed Kunal a packet, "tum dono ki baatein sunn ne ka koi irada nahi tha. Mishti ne Kuhu ki davaiya mangva ke rakhi thi, mujhe message kiya ki tum tak pohocha doon."

Kuhu checked her drawer to find only one strip of all her medicines left.

"Ek aur baat." Abir affirmed, "Mishti aur main tum dono ki life mein interfere nahi karenge, par Kuhu ke pet mein humara baby hai. Mishti ko poora haq hai Kuhu ke paas rehne ka." He said curtly.

"Bhai," Kunal was teary-eyed, "aapka bhi poora-poora haq hai hum dono pe. Please-"

"I'm not done, Kunal." Abir cut him off. Kunal flinched at how Abir addressed him as Kunal and not Nanko.

"Muh-zubani sauda kal legally papers pe ho jayega." Abir looked at Kuhu, "Maa ne jo 50 lakh diye hain, uss se chaar guna zyada, 2 Crore kal tum dono ke joint account mein deposit ho jayenge, papers sign hone ke baad." He said, snatching the earth beneath Kunal's feet.

"Kon..konse papers bro?"

"Surrogacy contract." Abir blankly replied. 

"Contract mein likha hoga ki Mishti Red Pear Travel company Kunal ke naam kar degi, delivery ke baad. Fair enough?"