BELA

Today we were on the way to our so called 'home',Mahira was sleeping in my arm's and I caressed her hair.

"Bela..Mahira slept?"dad asked.

"Yes dad,she fell asleep immediately",I said looking at her.

Her hair's,her eye's,her pouty lips,she inherited everything from her father.I beared her in my womb for nine months for her only to come out as her dadda.

My Mahir's Mahira!

I smiled and kissed her pout.She will be very happy for going back to her dadda today.Since three months,she must be thinking that Mahir went for a business trip,she don't know what happened in between her parents.

"Bela..we reached..come on",dad said and I looked around.

We were in our parking lot,I slowly got down helding Mahira in my arms.Mom and dad were taking out our luggage,mostly Mahira's stuff was there.

Sumi maa and papa's car was also seen here,even they are present,
"Bela..come",my mom said and I nodded.

We got into the elevator and reached our floor,it's like I'm having a deja vu,the first time Mahir showed our condo.

"Mhmmhh...",Mahira groaned.

"I'm here baby..I'm here,sleep..",I patted her back and she snuggled into me.

She feels her dad's presence very well than me!

Dad rang the door bell and I looked at the name plate,
'Bela&Mahir Sehgal'.

I looked away and tried to blink back my tears,the door opened and Sumi maa was standing in front of me,
"Bela beta...Mahira",she smiled looking at us.

I smiled back and she took Mahira from me,
"Aww..my Mahira..",she hugged her and Mahira groaned in her sleep.

Everyone laughed looking at them and I stepped inside.This house is looking dead!

"She slept so soon..?"Sumi maa asked kissing her head.

"Yeah..the car sickness,it's getting better now",I said and she smiled kissing her.

Mahira is really lucky to have grandparents who loves her,but her dadda?

I turned around and looked at Mahir,he gulped looking at me,tear's brimming in his eye's.

"Bela beta..come",papa said and I walked towards the couch.

"Bela..I will make Mahira sleep in her crib and come",maa said.

"But maa it's not...",Mahir cut me off.

"I cleaned her crib...I cleaned our room",Mahir said and I looked at him.

Maa went and made Mahira sleep in our room.I was sitting in between my parents and Mahir was sitting in between his parents,opposite to us.

"Bela..Mahir..whatever has happened..it's already done,we can't change that.But now..you both have to change you're future together,for Mahira",papa said.

"Just not for Mahira,but even for you both.We know how much you both love each other,don't try to spoil it with small small mistakes and misunderstandings Bela",my mom said.

I looked at Mahir and he was already looking at me.

"And about Mahir's work..that was the main problem and now he will be taking some break from it.He will spend time with you both",maa said.

"I applied for my job and I got it.Work from home",I said and they all looked shocked.

I am a housewife.Not anyone's pressure,it was my choice!

But I started searching for a job again after I parted from Mahir.I sacrificed my carrier for him and Mahira,and what did he do?

"But Bela..now Mahira needs you both and Mahir is also taking a break",dad said.

"Dad..even I'm educated and I have to earn for my daughter.What if something happens to her in future?I should beg others?"I said rudely and Mahir's eye's were showing anger.

"Bela..she is my daughter too.Why will you beg other's when I'm here?"Mahir said gritting his teeth and I looked away.

"Whatever I'm earning..it's for my daughter..you..my family",Mahir said.

"You earned so much..so much that you lost mine and my daughter's love",I raised my voice.

"Bela..stop",mom said and I looked away.

"This is what we are trying to say.Stop fighting like this and talk it out properly,and don't forget that you have a daughter in this house",Sumi maa said.

"Bela,marriage comes with a lot of responsibilities and you did your part,we are proud of you.Even the parenthood,you are very strong.You will overcome this also beta",papa said.

Mahira have her mother and father,but still she was raised all these days by a single parent and that's me!

"Mahir realized his mistakes Bela,give him one more chance",maa said.

How many more chances?

"One last chance Bela,this is the only last chance you both have.We can't see you both like this..all broken.Please don't take wrong steps",my mom said.

"Mahir,a man will be loaded with many responsibilities after becoming a father.But you should know to balance them,and I know you realized it too.And between all these fights..somewhere your love is hidden,it's time to show her your love,again",my dad said and I looked at him.

Love?

He even remember that feeling?

What is it?How will it be?

"We are leaving to US today evening Bela,Yuvi and Vish will come here next month.Mahir will not go to his office,Andy and Yuvi will handle everything from there.He is all your's..and please clear your misunderstandings.We all know..you both cannot live without each other",maa said.

I did,with a lot of difficulty!

From his perspective,love is the reason I came back for him.

But from my side,Mahira is the only string attached in between me and him!

"Even we will not disturb you both,but we will talk to our grand daughter daily,I can't be without talking to her",my dad said and I smiled.

"Yes of course,you both continue your collage love story,we will enjoy with our Mahira",papa said.

They all laughed,except me and Mahir.

"Now both of you take care..and Mahira too.We will be in touch,these six months are very crucial for you both",mom and dad told us.

They all met Mahira once again and left,leaving us both alone in home.Just me and Mahir.

There was an awkward silence in between us!

I was silently sitting on the couch and Mahir was staring at me,
"Bela...",he called and I looked at him.

"Bela..let's not be selfish..let's be selfish for our daughter now.I know I did some mistakes and I'm ready to mend them..please give me another chance",he said kneeling in front of me.

Tears were flowing from my eye's.I sniffed and he came to wipe my tear's,
"Bela..please don't cry..",he said and I moved back wiping my tears.

"You are making me cry Mahir..it's you",I cried.

He kneeled in front of me and held my hands,I sighed feeling his touch on me.

I sobbed looking at our hands and looked at him,
"Bela..I want to work on myself with you by my side and I want you to work on yourself with me by your side.Life ain't easy,let's do this together",Mahir said.

I sobbed looking at him,his eye's were also flowing.He was about to held my face,we heard Mahira crying.

I stood up with a jerk and ran to our room,
"Mahira baby..why crying?I'm here baby..mumma is here..",I cooed her.

I took her and walked back to lobby,I sat on the couch and she was still crying,hugging me.

She needs to feed!

I hesitantly looked around and Mahir sensed it,
"Bela..give her to me..and you prepare for it",Mahir said.

I nodded and Mahir took her from me,trying to make her calm,
"Mahira..where did Mahira come back?"Mahir asked in a baby tone.

I turned the other side and removed my top,I removed my breast pads and turned towards him,
"Here..give her to me",I said.

Mahir looked at me and his eye's were glued on my chest.I cleared my throat and he looked at me,
"Yeah..",he said and gave Mahira to me.

"Aww..Mahira is hungry baby?Mum..mum...",I said taking her in my arms.

She was crying so much,I made her lie on me and Mahir kept a small pillow under her head.Mahira immediately took my nipple in her mouth and started sucking,still closing her eye's.

"Calm down..mumma and..dadda are here baby",I said running my fingers in her hair.

She opened her eye's and looked at me,I smiled looking at her and kissed her forehead,
"Mahira is so hungry..",I said looking at her.

She is fifteen months old,but still she is not off from breastfeeding.

She pulled out and looked at me,putting her little palms on my breasts,
"Dadda..?"she asked.

She didn't realize all this time,she was crying!

"Ahem..ahem..",Mahir cleared his throat and she sat up with a jerk.

"Mahira...",I said and tried to cover my breasts.

I know it's just Mahir..but...

I immediately kept my breasts pads and Mahira looked at him,
"Dadda.....",she shouted looking at him.

"Dadda..aaahhh....",she shouted looking at him.

"Dadda is with you only baby..I'm with you",Mahir said taking her in his arms.

"Aaa..aaa...dadda...",she was screaming in excitement.

She sat on his stomach and started kissing all over his face and Mahir was having happy tears,
"Dadda..Maiiaa..lobes you...",she shouted hugging him.

"Dadda also loves you baby..a lot",Mahir said pecking her pout.

"Aa..aaa...dadda...",she shouted hugging him and kissing him.

Both were involved into each other,forgetting my presence around them.

Three months of morning sickness,swollen feet,sore breasts,weird cravings,fourteen hours of labor pains,back pain,sleepless nights for her...and all I get to see is this!

She forgets her own mother when Mahir is with her.

And Mahir couldn't feel her love in all these months!

MAHIR

"Dadda..aaha..aa..",Mahira was shouting,hugging and kissing me.

"Mahira..baby",I sobbed helding her.

"Dadda..don..go now...",she said cupping my face with her little fists.

"I won't baby..dadda will not go anywhere..he won't go",I sobbed hugging her to my heart.

My baby,my solace!

All these months,I can't even expect how much my daughter needed me,Bela needed me.

Things got into my head and heart after Bela left taking Mahira with her.Bela was also sobbing turning the other side.We are not meant to be in this situation!

"Dadda..Maiiaa...miss youu..",Mahira said kissing my nose.

"Dadda also missed you baby..I missed you so much,I will not leave you and go anywhere now..I will not",I said hugging her.

"Mumma..mumma..",Mahira was calling Bela.

Bela looked at us wiping her tears,
"Mumma..you me and daddaa...",Mahira clapped her hands.

We three are back together after so long!

"Mahira..you should have mum now..I will get your food",Bela said caressing her face.

"Mumma..no..I don want..",Mahira whined.

"Mahira..today mumma and dadda will make you eat..we will play while eating also today",I said kissing her hands.

"Reely dadda?"she asked looking at me and Bela.

"Yes baby..mumma and dadda will play with you today",Bela said and I looked at her.

Bela looked away and went to kitchen,I and Mahira sat on the floor while Mahira was showing her toys to me,
"This..togo seeps wid me and mumma",she said showing a rabbit doll.

"From today dadda will also sleep with you",I said and Mahira giggled jumping on me.

"You...me..mumma...",she was shouting.

All these months,Bela tried her best to make Mahira feel home.She did it single handedly,and me?

The way Mahira is excited for us three being together,it says all of it!

Bela came back with food for Mahira and Mahira was jumping in my arms,
"Mumma....you me and dadda...",she was shouting in excitement.

Bela gave a sad smile,
"OK come..first mum mum",Bela said making her eat a morsel.

I forwarded my hand to wipe her mouth and Bela also did,our arms touched each other.Bela immediately moved back as a reflex and I was hurt.

She is still hurt,she will be!

No wife,no...no women will forgive a men for their actions.And I really feel shameful for what I said to her when we fought.

"Mumma..aa..",Mahira said and Bela made her eat one more morsel.

"Dadda..you eat...",Mahira said ticking her finger on my beard and I smiled.

"First you eat baby,then mumma and dadda will eat",I said.

"Mumma..make dadda eat...",Mahira giggled and Bela narrowed her eye's at her.

"Mahira..you should not talk when you are eating baby.You forgot?"Bela asked.

I looked at Bela with so much hurt,she was looking emotionless.

She is not the Bela I loved,not the Bela I got married to,not my girl.She has changed..no...I changed her like this.

I made her suffer like this!

Now Mahira is the only communication in between us both.

Mahira,our love.Mine and Bela's love.We both never planned for kids so soon,but Mahira happened to us,with lot's of love!

Now she is my only ray of hope.Mahira is the only string attached in between us right now.

Only she can get the love out of us both.We both turned into stone hearted persons,now only Mahira can make it.I'm trying from my side,but Bela is not budging.

I don't want to end my marriage with her like this.We both love each other and we still do,it just got dissolved somewhere.

But I won't let that happen anymore.

My problem?

Once I get attached to someone,my mood starts to depend on how that person treats me.And all these months also,my mood and my actions were a reaction of Bela's actions towards me.

Which destroyed our relationship into pieces.

"Good girl..Mahira is a good girl",Bela said wiping her mouth.

"Yes..Mahira is a good girl",I said kissing her forehead.

"Dadda..our sing..sing..",Mahira was pointing towards our balcony.

"You want to go to our swing baby?Come on",I said getting up.

"You will walk or should dadda carry you?"I asked in a baby tone.

"Dadda..",Mahira laughed.

"Walkey..walkey..",she said standing up slowly.

"Yeyy..Mahira is a strong girl",I said helding her hands.

I held her hand and walked towards our balcony slowly,I missed watching her like this,
"Mumma..",Mahira shouted for Bela.

"Mahira you go with dadda..mumma has work",we heard Bela's voice.

"Bad mumma...",Mahira said and walked towards our balcony.

I sat on the swing and made her sit on my lap,
"Mahira..mumma is not bad.You should not say like that baby",I said caressing her cheek.

"Mumma loves you so so much,more than me.She is good mumma",I said.

Mahira was staring at me and blinking,Bela came to our balcony and looked at us.

"That..it's cool,she will catch cold",Bela said and started making Mahira wear her socks.

"Dadda..mumma good..you bad",Mahira said out of blue and I was shocked,Bela halted her actions.

"You bad..you leave..mumma and me..mumma cry..you bad",Mahira said and my heart pained.

Tears pooled in my eye's and I looked at Bela,even her eye's were glistening with tears,
"Mah..Mahira..you should not say like that..",Bela said.

"Mumma..you cry dayey..dadda no come whe you cry..bad dadda",Mahira said.

A lone tear slid from my eye's and even Bela was hurt with Mahira's words,
"Mahira..you should not say like that.Come with me",she shouted and took Mahira in her arms.

"Mumma..I wanna go..dadda..",Mahira shouted.

Children are a little form of god,who shows us the mirror..of who we are.

And today,my daughter said it out.She said what she observed in all these months.

I leaned back on the swing and closed my eye's,trying to control my emotions.

Today Mahira made me feel more guilty!

She showed me the reality of who I was and what I am.

I opened my eye's and wiped my tears.I went to lobby and saw Mahira watching rhymes in her iPad interestingly.

Bela was silently sitting on the couch looking at her.She looked at me and stood up,
"Mahir..Mahira is a kid..don't",I cut her in middle.

"Mahira is a kid..and kids never lie.They will tell what they saw..it's my fault..it's me..",I said.

We both were staring at each other silently.

Who said she doesn't love me anymore?

I can see the same love for me in her eye's,she is concerned about me,about our relationship.

I looked at Mahira and kneeled in front of her,
"Mahira..dadda is sorry again..",I said helding her little fist.

"Mumma say..Maiiaa..solly..solly dadda..",Mahira said.

"I'm sorry baby..always remember one thing,mumma and dadda..both loves you",I said kissing her cheek.

"Maiiaa..also lobes you dadda..",Mahira squealed and I hugged her.

I am so proud of my daughter today.

We being elders and the matured one,make plenty of mistakes.And my daughter,she has shown me Bela's pain.

Bela used to cry for me daily,even I used to cry.I stopped at a point and clouded myself with anger,but she didn't.

She was still fighting for us,but at the end..my actions made her give up.

She is standing on a line between giving up and how much more she can take!

__________________
Hey guys!

Sorry I'm late,sorry for the late update.Was caught up with some work.This story was on demand so I'm penning it down,and I expect even the reviews to be given.

So please don't be a silent reader and give your reviews🙏

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