MAHIR
I was busy working and lost the track of time. It's been one and a half hour and Bela is not back. I don't know to which place she went for walk with Mahira. I called her but she is not answering it. God knows when this girl will learn to answer calls. Well it doesn't matter to her, she has been doing it since two years. I was getting worried, Mahira must be hungry. I heard my door bell ringing and I went to open it. I saw my dad, Bela's dad and Yuvi standing. I gave them way to get inside.
"Where are Bela and Mahira Mahir"? asked my dad.
"She took Mahira with her and went for a walk", I told irritated.
"What happened Mahir bhai, you are looking pissed off", said Yuvi and I glared him
"I'm calling her from past five minutes and she is not answering, only god knows when she will learn to attend calls", I said and heard the door bell ringing again. I expected her this time and went to open the door with full anger. I opened the door and saw her looking at her feet nervously. She came inside and looked at everyone.
"When will you learn how to use a phone", I yelled at her with anger. She flinched with fear. Yuvi came and took Mahira with him.
"If you are having a fucking phone, learn to answer the calls", I yelled at her again. She looked around, gave me an angry look and stormed into her room.
Does she think that I'm a mad person asking her something. She always runs away instead of facing it.
"Fuck...damn it", I cursed under my breath after realizing that I yelled at her very badly.
Dad, Bela's dad and Yuvi were giving me an 'you are impossible kind of look'. I took Mahira from Yuvi and went to my room to feed her. She was a bit cranky before taking the bottle in her mouth because she din't get dry nursing now. With a lot of difficulty she drank milk and drifted to sleep.
"Mahir you have to be patient beta, I know being a father is difficult but you should not yell at her like this", said my dad.
I looked at Bela's dad and saw tears in his eyes. They were tears in his eyes but for me they were reminding me that I'm guilty. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I opened my eyes and looked at them, they were seated on the couch. I went near Bela's dad.
"Uncle I'm really sorry for yelling at her like that", I said with guilty.
"Just think about her situation also Mahir, she will always have an explanation for what she does", said uncle while wiping his tears. He is making me feel more guilty.
"If she really has an explanation, she would have told me why she left before two years", I said feeling disappointed.
"She will give that explanation also when the time comes Mahir, she is not so expressive like others", he said.
"Just let her be in peace for now at least", he said with a sad tone.
"She must be very happy these two years without family and friends", I mocked him.
"Mahir you don't know the reason for that, so don't jump into conclusions for yourself", said my dad warning me.
"Then tell me dad, why no one is telling me about her disappearance , you don't know how Bani used to cry for her at times", I shouted at them.
"You will get to know about it beta, don't stress yourself so much on that matter", said her dad.
"Till how many years uncle? I was waiting since two years and I lost Bani in that phase", I said feeling dejected.
"Yuvi? you and Vyom were trying to tell me something on my wedding day, is it somewhere related about her"? I asked with a hope.
He was shocked when I asked and he looked at Bela's dad. They both were talking through their eyes, I can sense that.
"No..no bhai, it's not related to her and it doesn't matter now", he said looking outside the window.
"Mahir beta, she is a little unstable now. Let her recover, but I promise she is not a threat to Mahira in any way", he said with tear filled eyes.
I was shocked at his words. My heart was feeling heavy suddenly. What does he mean by unstable? God what has happened to her? Tears started to pool in my eyes. I blinked my eyes again and again to hide them but I couldn't remove that heaviness from my heart. I will ask him today and he should tell me.
"What do you mean by unstable uncle"? I asked hoping for an answer.
"Mahir....she...she was in depression after an year she left from here", he said choking.
The color drained out from my face. She was a happy girl, an extrovert unlike her sister, she used to be happy and made others happy too. My mom enjoyed her company and she used to be fit and fine. What has affected her so much that she went into a depression.
"What affected her so much that she went into a depression uncle", I asked hiding my tears.
"You will get to know about that part of story when time comes and I'm not the one to tell you", he said.
"But how is she now uncle, we asked you every time about her and you used to change the topic", I said.
"Leave all that Mahir, her health is important now", said my dad. Yuvi went out of the room and I think he is going to meet Bela.
"Uncle, I will never feel Bela as a threat to Mahira, in fact she is a godmother for her who sacrificed her life for her", I said holding his hands.
"I know beta, but please take care of her", he said.
"I couldn't tell you these words on the day of your marriage, but as a father it pains to see my children in that condition", he said wiping his tears.
"I already lost my Bani, I cannot afford to loose her too. I will die the next second if something happens to her", he said making tears pool in my eyes.
The thought of Mahira leaving me during her wedding is only breaking my heart into pieces, and he lost one daughter and trying to protect another daughter.
"I'm married to her uncle, I will never let something happen to her", I assured him.
And at that moment I forgot all my anger which was stored in me since two years. I was only thinking about her. She has really came to save me and my daughter from this situation. I will not let her be in pain. Maybe I cannot be her husband, but at least I can become her friend like I was.
"I assure you uncle, I will never let anything happen to her", I said giving a heart full smile to him. He smiled and patted my cheeks.
"Ok ..take care of my daughter, so that she can take care of your daughter", he said smiling to which I smiled back.
"Talk to her Mahir, we will leave now", said my dad taking me in a hug. I saw tears in my dads eyes.
"Dad you please don't worry about me, I'm fine, you just take care of yourself", I said wiping his tears with my hands.
Yuvi came out from her room and gave me a look. I was confused but din't bother to ask. Soon they all left. I took Mahira in my arms and went into her room. She was sleeping. She was having stress lines on her forehead. I was feeling guilty. I yelled at her for the third time. I yelled at Bani many times but I was always careful when it comes to Bela. She looks like a happy chirpy girl but she is sensitive as a glass. I thought to wake her up for having dinner but she was sleeping peacefully. I laid Mahira in her crib and took my laptop to her room and started working.
BELA
"What the hell is this Bela"? Yuvi asked me with anger showing me the sleeping pills bottle.
"I...I..cannot sleep without them", I said stammering.
"Why do you need this Bela, you are not unstable to take them", Yuvi said with a sad tone.
"I..I..am unstable Yuvi", I said.
"No you are not", he mocked at me.
"I started getting panic attacks after coming....coming out of depression", I said looking out of the window.
"What have you done to yourself Bela"? he asked in a dejected tone. I stayed numb.
"There will be many ways to forget a person, but in my case it was becoming worse day by day", I said while choking.
"The harder I tried to forget him, I used to be hit with more panic attacks", I said while sobbing.
"I wish you could propose Mahir bhai before he proposed Bani bhabi, if it would be like that, today's situation would be different for everyone", he said.
"Nothing would change, because he loves Bani di not me ", I said giving a small smile.
"Bela past is past, now promise me that you will not take these pills again", he warned me.
"I cannot sleep without them Yuvi, I'm not used to sleep alone", I said while sobbing.
"Bela I know it will be awkward for you and Mahir bhai, but try to share a room with him", he said. I glared at him.
"Stop joking Yuvi", I said.
"I'm not joking Bela, you got a second chance to express your love for him, don't let it go away in wain, you got Mahira too, don't loose this chance to show your love for them", he said holding my hand.
"Ok now you sleep, you must be tired, we will talk tomorrow", he said.
"But Mahira.., Mahir bhai will take care of her, you take rest", he said and went out closing the door.
I was worried about Mahira, she needs to drink her milk. Mallika didi already prepared dinner and left. I thought to go out but I was really feeling tired. I laid on my bed and drifted into sleep.
MAHIR
It was half past nine and she was still sleeping. I was working on my system and suddenly Mahira started crying. I took her in my arms from crib and took her to the balcony. We both were sitting on the swing which was in balcony and I started playing with her.
"Mahira is just like that moon..see baby....say hi to the moon", I said while showing her the moon.
It was a night full of stars and a full moon day. Mahira started giggling and clapping with her tiny hands. She should drink her milk now. I took the bottle near her mouth but she started crying again. I was whispering sweet things to her and finally she drank her milk.I did her burp and we again sat on the swing. She liked sitting on the swing and she was enjoying it. I made her sit on my stomach and started making funny faces. She was enjoying each and every moment.
"I wish you could see our baby growing Bani", I said to my self. I felt something warm on my stomach and saw that my baby just peed on me.
"Offo Mahira...you will do susu on your daddaa...?", I asked her with a childish tone. She started giggling more.
"Come, now both Mahira and dadda will get changed", saying that we both went to my room and I changed her clothes first and I freshened up.
I took her and came to lobby. I had my dinner while I laid Mahira in her bouncer. I thought to wake up Bela but I din't feel to disturb her.I finished my dinner and took Mahira with me to her room. We went to balcony and light breeze was coming. Mahira slept in my arms after rocking her back. I took Mahira inside and laid her in her crib.I was still working, as my New York branch had a problem since three days and I was busy due to this and couldn't spend time with Mahira. I was working in her room only and suddenly I heard Bela screaming in her sleep.
"No...no..please...please...don't leave me...I...I can't stay with...without you", she was shouting. I went near her immediately and tapped on her cheeks calling her name.
"Bela...Bela...get up...it's just a nightmare", I said tapping on her cheeks.
"Mahir..Mahir...please don't leave me...", she said holding my hand in her sleep.
"Bela....Bela...get up...I'm not going anywhere..", I said. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. Her eyes were blood shot red.
"Mahir...Mahir..please don't leave me alone...I can't be alone..", she said taking me in a bone crushing hug. I was stunned by her actions. I slowly caressed her back.
"I'm here only Bela...you are not alone...I will never leave you", I said still caressing her back. She was literally shivering making her hold tight on me.
"I'm here only Bela...look at me once..", I said. She loosened her hold on me and looked at me.
"I'm with you only Bela...I will not go anywhere leaving you...Ok", I said cupping her face in my hands. Tears were still flowing from her eyes.
"Mahir...it ...it was..a..it was a bad dream...", she kept murmuring looking at me with worry stricken face.
"It's just a dream Bela..ok..just calm down", I said holding her hands. She looked at me sobbing like a baby. Mahira too looks like her when she cries.
"Bela..I'm with you only..nothing will happen to you ok", I said and she became a bit calm.
"Do you want to eat something? You din't had your dinner", I said.
"No..I..I just want to sleep", she said holding my hands tightly.
"Ok ..sleep, I will be here only", I said adjusting the duvet on her. She was searching for something on the night stand table.
"Do you want anything"? I asked.
"I...I..need to take my medications..I cannot sleep without them..and I'm not able to find them", she said crying again.
"What medications"? I asked.
"My...my sleeping pills...I cannot sleep without them..", she said and my heart was aching looking at her like that.
"You don't need them, I will be here only with you", I said adjusting the pillows. She looked at me with a shock.
"It's ok Bela you can trust me", I said.
"No..no..I ..I din't mean that, you..you can sleep here", she said looking at Mahira's crib.
I slept turning to the other side and she slept turning to her side. Soon sleep engulfed me. After sometime I heard her crying and I opened my eyes.
"Please...don't do anything to him....I..I will leave him..", she said while sobbing. I woke up immediately moving closer to her and tapped on her shoulders.
"Bela...Bela..get up..see..I'm here only, you are with me..", I said tapping on her cheeks again. She woke up with a jerk and looked around.
"Mahir...please..please..give me my pills..I cannot sleep without them..", she said looking at me.
"Bela..you are not going to take them, did you get that"? I said.
"Please Mahir..I..I cannot bear this torture..", she said.
I pulled her to me and hugged her. She hugged me back. I was rocking her back. She was still sobbing. I laid down on the bed with her in my arms. My right hand was under her head and she placed her right hand on my torso and hugged me tight. I kept my left hand on her hand which was resting on my torso. I looked at Mahira, she was sleeping.
"Sleep Bela, I'm with you only", I said caressing her hair.
After some time Mahira started crying and I untangled myself from Bela to take Mahira. I took Mahira from the crib and made her sleep on my chest. I was rocking Mahira's back and felt Bela's hand on Mahira. I smiled looking at her. I need to talk to her regarding this matter tomorrow at any cost. Soon sleep engulfed us.
BELA
I woke up when I felt a hand on my torso. Mahira was sleeping between me and Mahir, and Mahir hugged me crushing Mahira between us. Last night was horrible for me. I had this panic attack again after six months. I take my pills regularly but I din't find them yesterday. I'm sure Yuvi must have stolen it from here. I was thinking about yesterdays incident and Mahir made his hold tight on me, I winced in pain when he squeezed my hip tightly. And Mahira started crying in her sleep. Mahir woke up with her crying sound.
"Mahira...what happened see daddaa and mumma are here only", he said taking Mahira in his arms and making my heart skip a beat.
Did he accept me as Mahira's mother? He was rocking Mahira back to sleep. I woke up and looked at him.
"Sleep Bela..Mahira slept and it's too early", he said while lying back on the bed with Mahira on his chest.
"You sleep..I..I am hungry, I will eat something and sleep", I said getting up from the bed.
I was in kitchen and Mahir came from behind and tapped on my shoulders. I looked back at fear.
"You scared me Mahirrr..", I said placing my hand on my heart.
"You scared me last night Bela", he said making me look at him with a shock.
"Why are you taking sleeping pills Bela"? he asked.
"Mahir...I..I..Mahir..that..pills...", I was stammering and he told me to stop showing his hand.
"You are not going to tell me right? Fine. Don't tell me, I will ask everything to your dad", he said .
"Mahir..please don't ask him anything..please", I said joining my hands and started crying.
"Ok..Ok don't cry now..ok, I will not ask him or you about this again but you have tell me when you are ready to tell me, ok", he said cupping my face. I nodded at him.
"And you are not going to take those pills again, did you get that"? he asked with a serious tone.
"But Mahir..I.., you are not going to take them again", he said. I looked at my feet wondering what to say.
"You don't need to take some stupid pills when there are people around you to whom you can talk", he said sternly.
"But still Mahir..I ...I will get panic attacks", I said looking down.
"I'm there with you now and nothing will happen to you, ok"? he said giving me a smile . I too smiled at him.
"And one more thing Bela, I and Mahira will sleep with you in your room from today",he said making me choke.
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