It’s been a week since everything happened. Something that I can’t still register in my mind. I was greeted by deathly silence when I entered to Bansal mansion. It looked empty and like a void.
I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair.
I have seen deaths before. I know how much it can affect the loved ones. When my grandfather died I was there and I had seen it all. That would be the first time I cried like a little child but I had my family, brothers to comfort me and in a unknown way we all gave strength to each other. What I did to escape from it was to work more and be away from home. I joined the gym class in school, engaged myself in long dreadful hours of studies until the security came and told me that school is going to be closed. My life moved on that way and somewhere I also moved on from his death.
×××
I still can remember how that day was. I was wrapping my meeting when my phone ringed. It was Anika and when I attended it the only thing I could here was her shaky breathing.
“Anika, what happened?” I asked with concern filled voice and I was worried.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
“Dad…not… moving…come…” She sobbed and I quickly hung the phone assuring her I will be there and everything is alright.
In the next hour I was there and they all were in the City hospital. I drove there as quickly as possible imagining the worse.
“Excuse me, Can I know if a patient named Madhav Bansal is here. He may had reached here a hour ago. Please?” I asked the lady at the reception desk and she went through the register.
She lowered her head and said “Sorry sir, the man is no more and his body-”
This have to be some sort of joke playing in Anika’s life. My hands were shaking as I ran towards Anika stopping the lady and the word ringed on ears reminding me again “no more.” All I wanted to do is take Anika in my arms.
I saw a few familiar pale faces. A few them nodded me acknowledging my presence while my eyes wondered in search of Anika and Sahil. At least I had my family there but for Anika and Sahil they don’t have anyone else in this world apart from his assistant.
There she was curled up in the corner. The color on her face drained out and her eyes red shot and with no more tears on the cheek. She sat there numb with no more expression on her face. I wanted to run to her but my feet couldn’t move and I stood there frozen and realizing it is the bitter reality.
A crying Sahil was in her lap and he looks scared to face the truth that his adopted father doesn’t exist in this world. His puffy eyes lifted and they met mine. He came running to me and wrapped his little arms around my waist sobbing. Anika didn’t move and is still staring into the darkness. I wished I have some super power to make the dead ones come back to life.
“He..he went away. He…didn’t take…us…with..him…I…want..him..bac.. back!” The poor boy cried and I sat on my knees and he sobbed into my chest.
“Sssh, Sahil..” I didn’t know what I was supposed to say and I stayed there for a minute and then I patted his back.
The loudness of his cry increased and from the corner of my eyes a tear escaped when I saw his body come into the hall in a stretcher wrapped in white clothes. It was only two or three times I saw him and yet it pains me. I couldn’t myself face it and I just wish my brothers would come and throw a bucket of water on me telling it was just a dream.
Sahil left me and ran to his father. The father who brought and loved him as his own. Everyone shed a tear on the scene but Anika didn’t do anything and if anything I wanted her to scream, cry or yell. She didn’t even flinch but after a long time she slowly stood up and like a Zombie she walked towards it. My heart ached for her.
She stared at him for a long time until tears brimmed in her eyes. They raced towards her cheeks one by one and then she did it. She cried and kissed his forhead before taking back her old place.
Sahil was being taken care off by Raj so I slowly went to Anika and sat beside her. She turned her head to me and whispered “Why me?”
I shook my head and cupped her face with my hands but she shove it away and stood up. I followed the same and stood next to her. Her face expression turned from pain to sorrow to scared then to anger.
“Anika, listen to me.” I said turning her head to face me.
She jerked my hand away and held my collar. ” Why me? Why me, Shivaye? What did I do to deserve all this? I never thought bad for anyone and if anything I only wished that everything should be nice. Forget about me, what about dad? He never hurt anyone and not to mention he won’t even hurt animals. Then why him? See there Sahil,” she pointed to Sahil and continued with choked words yet trying to be held back herself. “Sahil didn’t do anything too and why us? My mom went away from us then now my dad…” She cried and her head fell to my chest and then slowly she slipped to the floor breaking down completely.
Slowly her eyes closed and it became completely dark for her. She was exhausted from everything. I scooped in my arms and laid her down on one of ward bed letting sleep take her.
I walked out after a minute to find my family standing outside. Mom came and wrapped her arms around me and I kept my head on her shoulder. Nodding my head reassuring her that I’m okay I left from there with Om and Rudra following me behind.
“Shivaye, go home with Anika and Sahil. We will take care of things here.” Om offered patting my back and I shook my head.
“No, the least I can do is this. I have never thought this would happen so soon.” I said and I found my voice breaking and I choked the words out.
“Bhaiya, how is Anika Didi?” Rudra asked and he was on the verge of crying. He hadn’t met Mr.Bansal now but the little good heart in him cried thinking the pain of Anika.
“I don’t know. I seriously don’t know what I’m supposed to do. She is not even reacting much and well I suck in comforting.” I blamed myself and pulled my hair in frustration.
“Be there for her Shivaye. That’s all you need to do.” Om said and gave a small smile. My eyes pricked with tears and I closed them tightly trying to forget the situation for a moment. two pair of hands wrapped around my shoulder and I sinked in the comfort of my brothers. We stayed there like that for sometime and all I needed was my brothers, my lifeline.
“Thank you” I sadly smiled before leaving them and I know I don’t need to say it but I still did. I don’t know what am I supposed to do without them in my life.
×××
Anika has completely shut everyone of her life and stays alone in her room or Mr. Bansal’s study room whole day. It is sad to see her like that everyday. Sometimes she screams at night and I have to put her back to sleep. Sahil is trying his level best but the poor boy is also affected so much. Rudra and Om had stick with me for everything and was there the whole time during the funeral. Rudra cheers Sahil up by convincing him to play video games and all. Thanks to them or else I don’t know if I will ever survive out of this.
I went to the kitchen and filled a glass of water. Gulping it down and looked around I realized how much of a great man Mr. Bansal was and it hurts everytime when I use the past tense for him.
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I don’t know if was able to write this one in a good way. I couldn’t bring myself to write this since Mr. Bansal is one of my favourite Character in it. He will be surely missed and oh my gosh I’m speaking like he existed too. I’m not planning to drag the tears but do let me know what you think about the chapter and what you think is ahead for them together. I would love to read from you all. Thank you so much for showering love to this story and also for the OS too. I love you all, hugs and kisses.
Sana ?