Riddhima
Suddenly, a pair of piercing amber eyes appeared out of nowhere. I jerked my eyes open in sheer panic, instinctively pushing him away as my chest heaved with rapid, frantic breaths. He stumbled back slightly, staring at me in total shock.
"I'm sorry, as I'm not comfortable," I mumbled awkwardly, the burning blush of embarrassment rising to my cheeks.
He straightened his posture, instantly softening his expression. "It's ok," he reassured me gently, reaching out to offer me a glass of water.
I took the glass with trembling hands and gulped the water down in one single breath. "We should go now, as it's getting late," I suggested, avoiding his direct gaze.
He nodded quietly in agreement. We began walking toward his parked car. A gust of biting cold wind hit me, causing a violent shiver to run through my spine. But before I could react, a comforting warmth wrapped around my cold skin. I looked down and saw that he had draped his own heavy coat over my trembling shoulders.
My cheeks flushed crimson. We stepped inside the car, riding the rest of the distance in a quiet atmosphere. When he dropped me off outside my house, I carefully lifted his coat, left it resting on the passenger seat, and mumbled, "Thank you."
I rushed toward my house, taking a quick glance back over my shoulder. I waved at him timidly, and he offered a soft, small smile while waving back.
I hurried up the stairs to my bedroom, falling onto the plush mattress with a wide, giddy grin. Remembering his remarkably sweet gestures, a quiet blush warmed my face, and I whispered to myself, "It's not as bad as I thought."
I walked over to my closet, changing into comfortable loungewear before sitting cross-legged on the bed. However, my bright mood soured instantly as memories of the mysterious man intruded into my mind, reminding me of how I had completely ruined our first kiss.
Those heavy, confusing thoughts continued to swirl in my mind until exhaustion took over, and I fell fast asleep while clutching my teddy bear tightly against my chest.
---
I entered my home the next day and was greeted by an absolute silence, with only the housemaids quietly tending to their chores. Being a tiny four-year-old girl, I skipped up to Shila Aunty and asked in my cute, lisping voice, "Kaki, baba aaw dada aagye shaadi se?"
("Aunty, have my father and big brother returned from the wedding?")
She gently shook her head and replied, "Nhi beta, woh sab thodi der me aayenge."
("No child, they will all arrive in a little while.")
I pouted dramatically, murmuring in a tiny, sad tone, "Maine dada ko bawde bhi wish nhi kiya."
("I haven't even wished my big brother a happy birthday yet.")
Kaki affectionately cupped my cheek and consoled me, "Beta, abhi thodi der tak aapke dada aajayenge, toh tab wish kar dena, hmm?"
("Child, your big brother will be here in a little while, so you can wish him then, okay?")
I nodded vigorously, my little pigtails swinging along with my enthusiastic movement. A sudden realization hit my four-year-old mind, and I beamed proudly, "Kaki, meli aai kaha hai? Mujhe unhe meli maksheet dikhani hai kyoki mai first aayi!" I flashed a wide, toothy grin, proudly holding up one tiny finger.
("Aunty, where is my mother? I want to show her my report card because I stood first in class!")
She kissed my cheek softly and exclaimed, "Ohh, meri bachi 1st aayi! Wah, mai kuch meetha banaati hu. Itne tum apni mummy ko dikha lao, woh room me hai. Pata nhi abhi tak apne kamre se bahar nhi aayi, sayad soo rhi hogi kyuki hum bhi thodi der pehle hi aaye hai."
("Oh, my precious girl came first! Wonderful, let me prepare a sweet dish for you. Meanwhile, go show your mother; she is in her room. I do not know why she has not come out yet; perhaps she is sleeping since we also returned just a short while ago.")
I nodded eagerly with an innocent grin, leaning in closer to whisper, "Kaki, mujhe ek toklate bhi milegi? Lekin please aai ko mat batana!" I pleaded, batting my eyes with the ultimate puppy-dog expression, knowing my mother rarely permitted sugary treats.
("Aunty, will I also get a chocolate? But please do not tell my mother!")
She gave me an affectionate nod and conceded, "Lekin sirf iss baar." ("But only this one time.")
I giggled happily and bounded upstairs toward my parents' bedroom to show my mother the pristine report card. I pushed the heavy wooden door open and sang cheerfully, "Aaiiiiiiiiiii!"
("Mother!")
The song died in my throat. I froze completely on the spot. My mother was suspended motionless from the ceiling fan.
I took tiny, hesitant baby steps toward her lifeless form, reaching out my small hands to clutch her cold legs. "Mumma, mumma!" I cried out in terror.
Hearing my distressed screams, everyone rushed into the room. Shila Aunty shrieked in horror as they rushed forward to cut the rope and lay my mother gently onto the floor.
I rushed to her side, cupping her pale cheeks, crying frantically, "Aai, please open youl eyez!" Kaki rushed forward and began dragging my small body away from my mother, but I fought back, screaming frantically.
"Chhodo kaki, mumma silf mujhse gucha hai! Wuko, woh abhi apni aake kholenge!"
("Let go of me, Aunty! Mother is just angry with me! Wait, she will open her eyes in a moment!")
I struggled violently to break free from her strong grip, biting down on her hand with all my strength. She shrieked in pain and released me. I immediately scrambled back to my mother, throwing my tiny arms around her cold body and whispering into her ear, "Mumma, please open youl eyez! I'll alwayz listen to you! I'll nevaw touch sweet again, but please mumma, open youl eyez! Please, fow youl Lado!" I begged desperately.
"Mumma, dekho mai roo rhi hoon, aap mujhe gale kyu nhi laga rhi? Mumma, please!"
("Mother, look, I am crying! Why are you not hugging me? Mother, please!")
I cupped her face again, realizing with a cold wave of dread that her skin felt freezing to the touch. I naively assumed that was the sole reason she was not waking up my mother was simply feeling cold.
I darted over to the bed, grabbed the thick duvet, and spread it carefully over my mother's body, tucking her in up to her neck. I began frantically rubbing her frozen hands between my tiny palms to generate heat, executing the basic first-aid lesson my father had taught me.
Turning my teardrop-filled eyes toward Kaki, who was weeping uncontrollably, I wiped my face and forced a wide, toothy smile to reassure her.
"Kaki, mumma ko na thand lag rhi thi, isliye unki aake band hai. Abhi maine unko blanket udha diya hai na, woh abhi jaag jayegi, thik hai? Toh aap ab roo mat."
("Aunty, mother was feeling cold, which is why her eyes are closed. Now that I have covered her with a blanket, she will wake up soon, okay? So please do not cry now.")
Having logically explained the situation in my toddler innocence, I wrapped my arms around my mother tightly once more.
Without warning, a pair of harsh hands brutally jerked me away from my mother's lifeless embrace. A sharp, stinging slap landed on my cheek, and a voice screamed viciously into my face, "Mar gyi hai teri maa!"
("Your mother is dead!")
---
I opened my eyes with a blood-curdling scream, "Mumma!"
Tears poured down my face as I wildly scanned my surroundings, realizing with a heavy, sickening ache in my chest that I had fallen victim to the same horrific nightmare once again.
"Mai aapko insaaf dilwakar rahungi, Aai," I whispered resolutely to the empty room, wiping the wet tears from my cheeks. I pulled my knees tightly against my chest, burying my face into them as uncontrollable sobs racked my frame.
("I will definitely get you justice, Mother,")
My breath suddenly hitched, becoming shallow and rapid as a familiar, suffocating chest tightness set in. Realizing a severe panic attack was gripping me, I scrambled out of bed, stumbling unsteadily toward the nightstand drawer.
I pulled out a small prescription bottle, my hands shivering violently as I fumbled with the childproof cap.
After a terrifying struggle, I managed to pop the lid, spilling a pill into my palm and swallowing it down hastily. I collapsed onto the edge of the mattress, forcing my lungs to draw slow, deliberate, deep breaths until the racing rhythm of my heart began to stabilize.
When my mind finally cleared, I stepped out onto the peaceful balcony, engaging in slow yoga stretches and deep meditation. Focusing entirely on breathing exercises was the single best method to quiet the lingering echoes of those haunting childhood memories.
Afterward, I stepped into the bathroom to wash up and prepare for the workday ahead. Stepping downstairs into the living room, I noticed Ayush and his mother seated comfortably with my father. I approached them, joining my hands together, and greeted politely, "Namaste, aunty."
She smiled warmly, offering a playful, teasing tone, "Beta, ab toh mummy kehne ki aadat daal do."
("Child, at least start practicing calling me mother now.")
I ignored the delicate comment, offering only a tight-lipped, polite smile in response.
Taking a seat directly next to my father and across from our guests, I listened as his mother broke the comfortable silence. "Samdhi ji, hume shaadi ki date finalise karni hai, aur humare khandani pandit ji ne do date di hai."
("Samdhi ji, we need to finalize the wedding date, and our family priest has provided two suitable dates.")
"Ji, bataiye kya date di hai?" my father inquired attentively.
("Yes, please tell us what dates have been given,")
"Ek toh ab se ek mahine ke baad hai, aur dusri ek saal ke baad," she explained clearly.
("One is just one month from now, and the other is after one full year,")
Hearing the options, I instinctively jumped up from my seat in a rush of panic, exclaiming hurriedly, "1 saal baad wali final karte hai!"
("Let us finalize the one that is after one year!")
My father caught my wrist, pulling me back down onto the plush sofa cushion with a firm yet reassuring touch. Ayush's mother smiled sadly, her eyes reflecting a hint of melancholy as she spoke gently.
"Beta, hume 1 mahine wali date hi finalize karni hogi," she replied sorrowfully.
("Child, we will have to finalize the date that falls in one month,")
"Jab khud hi date finalise karni thi, toh puchne ka natak hi kyu kara?" I murmured under my breath in frustration.
("If you had already decided to finalize the date yourself, then why did you even bother pretending to ask?")
She paused, looking at me attentively, "Kuch kaha beta tumne?"
("Did you say something, child?")
"Kyu aunty ji, hume 1 mahine wali hi date kyu final karni hogi?" I quickly recovered, smoothing over my slip-up with a polite tone.
("Why, dear aunty, do we necessarily have to finalize the one-month date?")
"Kyoki Ayush ke dada ji, woh bohot bimar rehne lage hai, aur unki aakhri khwaish hai Ayush ki shaadi karna. Aur hum bhi chahte hai ki unki khwaish na adhuri reh jaaye," she explained emotionally, a single tear slipping down her cheek.
("Because Ayush's grandfather has been falling very ill lately, and his ultimate final wish is to witness Ayush's wedding. We also deeply desire that his final wish does not remain unfulfilled,")
"Ji, hum samajh sakte hai ki aap par kya bit rhi hogi," my father replied with deep empathy.
("Yes, we can completely understand what you must be going through,")
I found myself quietly agreeing to the arrangement. I simply could not bring myself to disappoint my father. I knew with absolute certainty that if I refused, he would never force me into anything against my will however, I desperately wanted to do this for him.
My father and my elder brother were the two pillars who had poured boundless motherly warmth into my life after she passed, and out of sheer respect for them, I accepted the decision.
After a few more minutes of polite conversation, our guests took their leave. My father was soon called away by urgent business matters, leaving the house empty once again. I returned to the quiet sanctuary of my bedroom, but just as I sat down, a loud notification chimed on my smartphone.
Picking up the device, my frustration spiked instantly. The incoming notification originated from the exact same anonymous phone number that had been relentlessly harassing me with messages the moment my wedding with A
yush was officially announced. I tapped open the message thread, reading the sinister words glowing on the screen:
"Darling, I already told you, don't provoke me."
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