It was well past midnight, and the house had finally settled into a calm quietness after a day filled with laughter and warmth. Mishti had insisted on cleaning up the kitchen herself, leaving me to rest, claiming I had done enough this morning. Her caring nature never failed to touch my heart.

As I was changing the bed sheets, my phone rang. It was Maa calling. I answered with a soft "Ji, Maa."

"Abir beta, kaise ho?" Her concerned voice greeted me.

"M theek hu, Maa. Aap batao, sab thik hai? Itna raat ko call kiya," I replied, wondering why they were calling so late.

"Everything's fine, Abir. I just wanted to ask, Mishti tumhare saath hai?" Baba's voice came over the line, sounding a bit anxious.

"Ji, she's with me," I assured him.

"Okay. Abir beta, her parents want to talk to her," Baba continued, his tone indicating the seriousness of the matter.

"Baba, I don't know, but I think we should give Mishti some time. She's been through a lot. Let her family realize the pain they've caused their daughter," I responded, feeling a mix of protectiveness and empathy for Mishti.

"Abir, par..." Maa started to say, but I interrupted gently yet firmly.

"Please Maa, she's happy with me now. Let's give her the space she needs," I pleaded.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. I knew Maa and Baba cared deeply for Mishti and wanted what was best for her. But I also knew Mishti's wounds were deep, and she needed time and healing.

Finally, Maa spoke again, her voice filled with understanding, "Thik hai beta, hum samajh gaye. Just take care of her, Abir."

"I will, Maa. Thank you," I said sincerely.

After exchanging a few more words of reassurance, we ended the call. I stood there, staring at my phone for a moment, grateful for Maa and Baba's understanding. They trusted me to take care of Mishti, and I was determined to do everything in my power to make sure she felt safe and loved.

As I finished changing the bed sheets, I went downstairs towards the kitchen where Mishti was humming softly to herself while cleaning up. A surge of love and protectiveness washed over me. I knew in that moment that no matter what challenges lay ahead, Mishti and I would face them together, and I would always be there to support her, just as she had always supported me.

____________________________________

It was midnight when I heard whispers coming from Mishti. I looked over and saw her shivering, tears streaming down her face, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. My heart clenched.

Was she having a panic attack?

"Mishti, Mishti, wake up. I'm here, sweetheart," I said urgently, taking her into my arms. "Mishti, open your eyes. It's just a dream. I'm with you, Mishti."

Her eyes fluttered open, but the panic in them was heartbreaking. She clung to me, her sobs wracking her small frame.

"Abir, they all hate me, Abir... Abir, trust me, I didn't know. They hate me." Her voice broke as she buried her face in my chest, her tears soaking through my shirt.

"Mishti, calm down first, hmm? Baby, everything's fine. Look at me," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hey, calm down first." I cupped her face in my hands, wiping away her tears with my thumbs, and kissed her forehead.

She hugged me tightly, her grip almost desperate, and I could feel her trembling against me. I continued to stroke her hair, trying to soothe her. "Mishti, baby, you want to talk about it? Remember, I'm always with you, Mish."

She nodded, her breaths still coming in hiccuped sobs. I reached for a glass of water on the bedside table and gently brought it to her lips. "Here, drink this. It will help," I said softly.

She took a few sips, her hands still shaking, and then set the glass down. Slowly, she broke the hug but held onto my hand like a lifeline. Her eyes, still glistening with tears, looked into mine, filled with so much pain it made my heart ache.

"It's okay, take your time," I reassured her, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm here with you, Mishti. I won't let anything happen to you."

Her lower lip trembled as she tried to speak, and I could see the battle she was fighting to find her words. I squeezed her hand gently, letting her know she didn't have to face this alone. As she began to speak, her voice was small and broken, but I listened intently, my heart breaking for her.

"I... I had a nightmare," she started, her voice barely audible. "They were all there, Abir. My parents, my family. They were yelling at me, saying horrible things. They said they hated me. That I was a disgrace."

Tears welled up in her eyes again, and I pulled her closer, my heart aching for the pain she was reliving. "Shh, it's okay. It was just a nightmare, Mishti. They don't hate you. You're not a disgrace. You're the most amazing person I've ever known."

She looked at me, her eyes searching for mine for reassurance. "But it felt so real, Abir. It felt like I was back there, living it all over again."

I held her tightly, my own tears threatening to spill. "I know, sweetheart. But you're not there anymore. You're here, with me. And I love you more than anything in this world. You're safe now. I'll never let anyone hurt you again."

Mishti nodded, her body slowly relaxing in my arms. We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's embrace, the world outside our little bubble forgotten. In that moment, all that mattered was being there for her, holding her, loving her. As long as I was there, I would do everything in my power to keep her safe and make her feel loved.

As Mishti began to open up about her past, I could see the weight of her pain etched into her features. Her hands trembled slightly in mine, and I squeezed them gently, letting her know I was here, ready to listen.

"It was just an ordinary day," she began, her voice a fragile whisper. "Everyone had gone to a relative's house, leaving me alone in town. I was at my penthouse when I got a call from Naira bhabhi. Her voice was shaking... she was screaming in pain. She told me her water had broken and begged me to come to the house because you know that I was not living with them "

She paused, her eyes distant and filled with memories she wished she could forget. The room felt heavy, her sorrow almost tangible. I stayed silent, offering her the space she needed.

"I drove as fast as I could because bhabhi was in so much pain abir" she continued, her voice trembling. "When I got there, she was sitting on the floor hugging her stomach abir , she was in so much pain. I drove as fast as I could . I took her to the hospital, calling everyone on the way to let them know. The doctors took her in immediately. I thought... I thought everything would be okay."

Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over and streaming down her cheeks. I felt a knot tighten in my chest, my heart breaking for her.

"But it wasn't okay," she said, her voice cracking with grief. "Naira bhabhi  gave birth to a baby girl who... who was already gone. They said it was because of a lack of oxygen. I was the first one to hold her, and she was so tiny, so fragile. Abir she died in my arms . I -I couldn't believe she was gone. I held her dead body in my arms abir . My baby she was gone ."

She choked on her words, her sobs becoming louder and more uncontrollable. I reached out, wiping away her tears, my own eyes stinging with unshed tears.

"Mishti, I'm so sorry," I whispered, but she shook her head, needing to continue.

"When everyone arrived at the hospital, they were devastated. But then, they started looking at me... blaming me. The baby was still in my arms . Her eyes closed . Her little finger in my hand . My bua... she said I was a bad omen, that it was my fault the baby died. She slapped me, Abir. My own parents just stood there, watching. They didn't say a word. And Kartik bhai... he was so broken. I tried to reach out to him to give him his daughter but he just stood there staring at his daughter's dead corpse ."

Her sobs grew louder, and I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her protectively. "You didn't deserve that," I murmured, kissing the top of her head.

"My bua threw me out of the hospital , saying my presence will make naira bhabhi health worse . She said we lost the baby because of me abir..." she continued, her voice muffled against my chest. "I stood outside in the rain, feeling like my world had collapsed. The next morning,I went there and your family was there too the doctors explained that it was a medical issue, that a nerve had been pressed in Naira's womb. But my bua wouldn't hear it. She said it was my fault because I drove fast to the hospital."

Mishti's fingers dug into my shirt as she clung to me. "They all turned on me, Abir. Even I started to believe them. I thought it was my fault. I felt so guilty, so worthless. I felt like a f"cking shit that the first born baby died in my arms abir . She didn't even see the world . She didn't even meet her parents she died . I started taking drugs, trying to numb the pain. I hurt myself, thinking I deserved it and of course I deserved it.  "

I held her tighter, my heart breaking for her. "Mishti, you didn't deserve any of that. None of it was your fault.You did what you felt was right ."

She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "But they all blamed me. Even I blamed myself.If that day I would have driven slowly abir . The baby could have been with us ."

"Mishti," I said, my voice firm but gentle, "you did everything you could. You saved Naira. You tried your best. Sometimes, horrible things happen that are out of our control. It wasn't your fault."

Her tears continued to fall, but she nodded slowly, as if trying to absorb my words. "I don't know if I can ever forgive myself,and when I got to know ki bhabhi was pregnant again and bhai didn't tell me . Abir I - I feel ki bhai thinks the same abir . He didn't even tell me . His princess that a baby is coming . Abir he too blames me right . My parents blame me . You too think the same right " she whispered.

"NO WAY , mishti , bub look at me . I'm with you . I don't blame you for anything because tumhara kuch fault nahi tha . You don't have to do it alone," I replied, stroking her hair. "I'm here with you, every step of the way."

We stayed like that for a long time, her head resting against my chest, my arms wrapped around her. I could feel her slowly relaxing, the tension easing from her body as she found solace in my embrace. In that moment, I vowed to be her strength, to help her heal from the scars of her past. Together, we would face whatever came our way.
___________________________________
I guess I didn't do justice to this chapter .

Leave it !
Let me know how it is ?
Do ⭐ and comment .
How's the story going ?

To the new readers , please vote and comment . Your comment and views on the book motivates me to write more .

Thank you for reading 🤍
~ Author T