BELA

"Bela..calm down,Mahira is scared",Mahir said rubbing my back.

I looked at Mahira,she hugged Mahir tightly and hid her face in his neck.She is scared of fights.

I calmed myself and rubbed my palms together,
"Mahira?"I called her.

She slowly peeked through her finger gaps and looked at me.Mahir smiled looking at her like this,
"Mahira..you are OK na baby?"I asked.

She removed her hands and looked in between me and Mahir,she again hid her face in his neck and I sighed,
"It's OK Bela,she will be fine.Don't worry",Mahir said and I nodded.

My heart stopped for a second when I saw that bike approaching her.How dare he?He tried to hurt my daughter?

We got inside our house and Mahir was removing Mahira's shoe's,
"Her shoe's are very pretty",Mahir said and I nodded.

He doesn't know anything about Mahira.

"Mahira..baby look here",Mahir patted her back.

She looked at him,
"You are alright baby?"Mahir asked caressing her hair's.

She hugged him in response and Mahir kissed her head,
"Dadda..waterr...",she asked slowly.

I passed her little water bottle to him and she drank water looking at me.I went and sat beside them,
"What happened?Why is Mahira so silent now?"I asked trying to lift up her mood.

She drank water and gave me the bottle,
"Mumma you..shouty..",she said.

"Mumma is sorry",I said helding my ear's.

"Mumma and dadda are sorry baby",Mahir also said and she smiled jumping on me.

"I'm sorry baby,mumma will not shout again...sorry",I said hugging her and kissing her forehead.

"Mahira is looking tired,time to have a nap now",I said wiping her face properly.

"Bela,you also take some rest.I have some work,I will complete it by the time you both wake up",Mahir said and I nodded.

"Mumma..dadda..evee chocoo..",Mahira said out of blue.

"Mahira..chocolate again?"I narrowed my eye's at her.

"Mumma..pease",she showed her puppy eye's.

"OK..evening we will have an ice cream party",Mahir said tickling her.

"OK done,now Mahira will have a good nap then at evening,ice cream party",I said playing with her fingers.

She kissed Mahir's nose and my nose,
"Bela,go.Take some rest...and..I'm sorry for what happened in the morning",Mahir said.

"OK..it's OK",I said hesitantly.

I took Mahira and went to our room for a nap.I made her lie on my chest and was rocking her to sleep.She played a lot today,she will fall asleep soon.

I closed my eye's rocking her back and Mahira's even breaths were hitting my neck.And I felt a blanket being kept around us after sometime.

Mahir!

I had an urge to open my eye's and see his next actions.I was resisting to not open my eye's.

I felt his hot breath near my cheek bone and my heart beats were racing fast.He kissed Mahira and caressed her hair slowly,I could feel it.

My breath hitched when I felt his lips on my forehead.I was literally struggling to not open my eye's.His lips rested for longer on my forehead.

He pulled back and I heaved a sigh,helding Mahira tightly in my arm's,
"I love you",I heard his voice.

Me?

Mahira?

Or both?

I felt the door closing after few minutes and I opened my eye's instantly.I touched my forehead and looked at Mahira,
"Your dadda also loves you baby",I whispered with a broken voice.

There was a time when I felt helpless,when I felt Mahira had only me.

Time was passing in a blink for me,watching Mahira growing in front of my eye's.Mahir's project was started last month and he was getting busy,working for almost twenty hours in a day.

Now Mahira was six months old and is very much used to me and Mahir.She can't be without me,she do misses Mahir.I make her talk to him through video calls sometimes.

Today Mahir said he was having an important meeting,so he will get late than usual time he returns back home.

I was breastfeeding Mahira and Mahira was looking off today.

"Mahira baby..why so silent today?"I asked slowly caressing her hairs.

She kept her little fist on my breast and pulled out,I immediately kept my breast pad on when the milk was spilling on her cheek.

"Mahira..what happened baby?"I said making her sit properly on me.

I rubbed her back to burp,she wasn't burping,
"Mahira..look at mumma",I said and she looked at me.

"Huhhhhh....",she took a long breath suddenly.

"Mahira..",I panicked rubbing her back.

"Mahira..see..look at mumma baby..look here",I tried to make her look at me.

"Mum...huhhhhh...",she took another long breath and my voice stuck in my throat.

"Mahira..breathe..breathe baby...",I rubbed her chest.

"Huhhhh...",she took another long breath.

I stood up helding her in my arms and kept rubbing her chest,she is facing a difficulty in breathing?

But why?

"Mahira..see..",I broke down rubbing her chest.

"Mahira..",I cried when she closed her eye's.

"Mahira..Mahira..",I shouted.

I made her lie on the bed and rubbed her palms,
"Mahira..look here baby..look here",I shouted.

I took my phone and dialed Mahir immediately,his phone was coming off.

"No..shit...Mahira..Mahira..",I shouted loud shaking her.

Her body became cool and fear doomed inside me.I didn't knew whom to call now.My parent's were out of station and so was Suhani and Vyom.

Mahir..I tried calling him many times and his phone is still coming off.I took Mahira and went to my neighbors helplessly,crying and carrying almost unconscious Mahira in my arms.

"Mahira..see..mumma..look here baby",I cried and she slowly opened her eye's.

"Huhhh...",she took another long breath.

"Open...uncle..aunty..open..",I knocked on our neighbors door,crying.

"Bela..what happened beta?"uncle saw me.

"Uncle..Mahira..she is not able to breathe properly..hospital..Mahir..phone is coming off..please..",I cried rubbing her chest.

"Come on,let's go",he said and went to grab the keys.

"Bela..give her to me",aunty said and took Mahira in her arm's.

I cried looking at Mahira,
"Aunty..her body is also becoming cool..she is taking long breaths",I cried.

"Don't worry Bela,let's go to hospital.Come on",she said rubbing her palms and legs.

We were on the way to hospital and I was still trying to reach out Mahir.Papa was in another country,even he must be attending the meeting today.I tried calling Mahir many time's,no response.

We soon reached the hospital and doctor was checking her.We admitted Mahira and they were giving her treatment.

I was crying standing outside the room,
"Bela..don't cry,nothing will happen to her.Stay strong",uncle said.

"Once try to call Mahir,Bela",aunty said.

"I tried aunty..it's coming off.I just want my baby to be safe..",I cried. hugging her.

Doctor said that the cold affected her a lot,there was lot of flum formed inside her lungs.They removed the flum with their treatment,and now Mahira was normal again.

I cried helding her hand.She was facing a difficulty in breathing.Such a small girl facing this problem,my heart literally stopped.

All this time my mind wasn't working,what was happening around me.

"Bela,don't cry beta.Mahira is fine now.Uncle called Mahir,he is coming",aunty said.

I sobbed kissing Mahira's forehead.My baby was sick,a very critical condition.Doctor said it would be difficult if we wouldn't reach the hospital in time.

They said Mahir was coming and I was waiting for him,but there's no trace of him.My parent's and his parent's called and spoke to me also,asking about Mahira.

But where is Mahir?

I was settling the bill in the hospital helding Mahira and I saw Mahir approaching us.

"Bela...how is Mahira?"he came hurriedly to me.

He took Mahira in his arms and kissed her,
"Bela..how is she now?What happened?"he asked.

I turned towards the counter and took out my card to pay,
"Bela wait",Mahir said and took out his card.

I felt anger rising inside me,I took Mahira from him arm's and he was looking shocked.I started walking away from him and he was shouting my name,
"Bela...Bela wait",he was shouting.

He was settling the bill and I took a cab and reached our home.I sobbed hugging Mahira to my heart.

What if something happened to her today?

"Bela..what was that?Why did you come away like that?"Mahir came inside our room.

"And how is Mahira now?What happened?"he asked taking her in his arm's.

"She..she had a difficulty in breathing,doctor said...she wouldn't make it if I was late to hospital",I said,anger raising inside me.

"My God..",he sighed and kissed her.

"Where were you Mahir?Where the fuck were you?"I shouted and he was shocked.

"I've been calling you since morning,and even after informing..when did you come?Now..at the night?"I yelled.

"Bela..I tried to come soon,I was stuck in the meeting..it was important.I tried my best to come soon after uncle called me",he was giving such a lama excuse.

"Your meeting is more important than your daughter?"I asked in disbelief.

"She could have died today..if I didn't reach the hospital in time",I yelled.

"Bela...shut up..don't say that",he yelled back.

I wiped my angry tears looking at him,he slowly placed Mahira in the crib and walked towards me,
"Bela I know how you felt..I was more cracked up than you when I got to know this.I tried my best to reach the hospital.I didn't do it intentionally Bela,you think I will put that meeting above my daughter?"Mahir asked cupping my face.

"I never felt this helpless Mahir...I was..I was literally begging for my daughter's life.Do you even realize what I went through?Looking at Mahira,who was trying to breathe properly?"I cried helding his collar.

"Bela I know..I'm sorry I couldn't come on time..I'm sorry",he said.

"We should work and respect it also,but you shouldn't neglect your family because of that work",I said and stepped back.

"Bela..you are acting as if I didn't come to you both purposely.Do you think I was having fun there?"he snapped at me.

"When you couldn't make it on time for your daughter because of another work,that is called fun only",I spatted with anger.

"Stop talking shit Bela,you are taking this too far",Mahir sighed rubbing his temples.

"I hate you for what happened today Mahir,I hate you for it.Don't ever try to worry about me and my daughter from today",I sobbed and he was looking angry now.

"Bela..I said fucking stop talking like that",he shouted.

That day we both had a huge argument.I was angry and worried for what happened to Mahira.He was already stressed from his work and became more worried after knowing about Mahira.

Our mood's were completely opposite that day,we had a very big argument.Since that day,our equation as husband and wife changed.

I woke up with a jerk when I felt Mahira moving on me,rubbing her nose.

"Baby..you woke up?"I asked rubbing her back.

She looked at me and slept on my chest again,blinking her lashes and looking around.

That night after coming from hospital,I and Mahir fought.I slept like this only,making Mahira sleep on my chest.Mahir slept in the lobby that day,he tried to take Mahira from me and comfort her,but I didn't allow him.

MAHIR

I scratched my beard checking my mails,it was almost seven in the night.Bela and Mahira slept for too long.

They both came to lobby after a long nap and I looked at them,Mahira was still looking sleepy.

"Hmm..someone had a strong nap,we are having a night out tonight",I joked looking at Mahira and she smiled.

Bela made her stand on the floor and Mahira slowly walked towards me rubbing her eye's.I smiled and picked her up in my arm's,
"You slept well baby?"I asked kissing her cheek.

She nodded and rested her head on my chest and I smiled.I was shirtless,and Mahira found me warm to snuggle.

"Mahira..dadda is working na,come here",Bela said.

I was working on my laptop,sitting in the lobby.But Mahira rested her chin on my chest and nodded her head as 'no'.I smiled and kissed her.

"It's OK..let her be",I said caressing her hairs.

Having her like this in my arm's is something I missed the most in all these months.Her and her mother too.

I averted my gaze to Bela slowly and she was already looking at me,my body.Heat formed in my cheeks when I found her checking me out.I smiled and looked at Mahira,she was looking into my laptop.

"Dadda..pink",she pointed looking at a bookmark symbol.

"Yeah..pink",I said.

I looked at Bela again and this time she averted her gaze from me.I just want to take her in my arm's and comfort her.

Mahira yawned looking at my laptop screen and looked at me,
"Dadda..mum",she asked rubbing my nipple with her tiny finger.

I and Bela laughed looking at her,Bela came towards us and she started preparing for breastfeeding,
"Umm..Bela..it's already her dinner time also.I made dinner for us.I will mix her food and come",I said.

"Oh..OK..",she said setting her top properly.

I closed my laptop and went to kitchen.I took out Mahira's baby food and started mixing it.Bela came inside the kitchen,carrying Mahira on her hip.

My lips parted looking at Bela,she was looking lovely.I want to kiss her,right at this moment.I want to shower her with my love,right at this moment.

She came and stood in front of me,searching for something on the kitchen island,she was so close to me.She looked at me when my breath was fanning her face.

I stepped closer to her and looked into her deep black orbs,almost mirroring my expressions and feeling's.

I kept my hand around her waist and she gasped,parting her lips.I bent to her height and she knew I was going to kiss her.

But,I don't want to make her uncomfortable!

I gave a chaste kiss on Mahira's forehead and she left a breath.Bela gulped,her cheeks turning pink and looked away.

"I..I will be waiting in the lobby",she said taking Mahira's burp cloth.

I nodded and was still gazing at her.She left the kitchen along with Mahira and I sighed rubbing my face.

She still affects me in the same way.

"Control Mahir..",I said to myself and patted my cheeks.

I took Mahira's food and went to lobby,Mahira was playing with her puzzle board while Bela was helping her.

"Yes..1 and this is 2",Bela clapped her hands.

"Mum mum",I said in a baby voice and they looked at me.

I sat beside them and Mahira opened her mouth instantly,
"Good girl...",I said feeding her.

She was really hungry and had food without any whining today,
"Dadda...enough..",she said covering her face.

"This one is last baby",Bela said and she removed her hands.

"See..last spoon",I said showing the bowl.

"Aaaaa....",she opened her mouth and we laughed.

I fed her last spoon and she was done with her dinner today.Bela cleaned her mouth and face,and changed her dress too.

Not only Mahira,but her clothes also eat food with her.

"Mahir..you also have dinner,you didn't have lunch also",Bela said.

"OK..you also come",I said and she nodded.

We both were having our dinner while Mahira was watching rhyme's so interestingly,forgetting that we even exist.

"Umm..Bela,when should we take Mahira for check up?"I asked her.

Mahira had a breathing problem when she was six months old.That day I felt breathless looking at my baby in pain.

I was stuck with work badly that day,I couldn't reach the hospital on time also.Bela handled it alone with the help of our neighbors.

We both had a major argument regarding this matter that day,that was just the start.It all started from there.

"After two days..I took her for check up last month only.Doctor said there is no problem now,but still asked to get her for a regular check up",Bela said.

"How..how was she doing all these months?Her health?"I asked.

"She was good,she had cold once.She is doing good",Bela replied.

"Bela..I'm sorry",I said and she looked at me.

"I..I should have been for you and Mahira,instead I pushed you away",I said and her eye's already started to flow.

I sighed and went and sat beside her,
"Bela..please don't cry",I said helding her hands.

"If you don't love me..I understand..but..what..what did Mahira do?You abunded her also because of me?"Bela sobbed wiping her tears.

"Bela..it's not like that..it's not like I don't love you.Did you ever feel like I don't love you?"I asked and she sobbed.

"After Mahira happened..I..I was loosing you slowly Mahir.First I thought it was just because of your work stress,but no.You stopped loving me..you..acted like..I'm just a caretaker for your daughter,you never made me feel like your wife,your love",she sobbed and my heart was feeling weak again.

"Bela..that's not true",I said in disbelief.

"I..I loved you Bela..and you know it",I said,my voice breaking and a tear slipping from my eye.

"And now also..I love you Bela",I said.

"When love is real..it doesn't lie,cheat,pretend,hurt and most importantly..make you feel unwanted.You made me feel unwanted Mahir",she sobbed removing her hands from my grip.

She wiped her tears and went to our room,shutting the door with a bang.

I made her feel unwanted?

My love made her feel unwanted?

"How should I prove my love to you Bela?"I said closing my eye's.

______________
Hey guys!

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