MAHIR

These two days passed in a blink with no communication in between me and Bela,Mahira was the only link.

We were getting ready to go to the hospital today,
"Mahira..come on now,enough of rhymes",Bela said switching off the TV.

"Mummaaa...",Mahira shouted.

"Mahira..come on,we are going out",I said excitedly and she stood up.

"Out?"she asked coming towards me.

"Yes,we are going out today.What do you want?"I asked picking her up in my arm's.

"Dadda I wan chocooo..",she squealed.

"Mahira..",Bela said taking her reports.

"Dadda..",Mahira said slowly.

"Maybe not choco..but something else.OK baby?"I said and she hugged me.

"Mahira..wear this baby",Bela said trying to make her wear a top.

We both sat on the bed and Bela made her wear her top,
"Hmm..Mahira is ready,let's go?"Bela said and Mahira nodded.

"Yeah..let's go",I said picking her up.

Soon we were in the hospital,waiting for Polo aunty to come.

"Mahira..no touching",Bela said when Mahira was trying to touch the things on the table.

"How are you Mr and Mrs Sehgal?"Polo aunty asked coming inside.

"We are good aunty,thank you",I replied.

"Hmm..how is this little Sehgal doing?"she asked Mahira.

We smiled looking at her,
"OK..once give me her reports",she said and Bela gave her the reports.

She was checking the reports and looked at Mahira,
"Aunty..is everything alright with her?"I panicked.

"Yes,the reports are normal.When was the last check up she had Bela?"she asked.

"Last month only aunty",Bela replied.

"Once I need to check her,Bela take her and come",she said and all three left inside the cabin.

I was praying to God for my daughter.A breathing problem for a kid at the early stage,it can shook any parent.I still feel ashamed for that day,it was my mistake I didn't come home on time for them.

Bela took care of everything alone,but still I had an argument with her.I've never been that stupid for all my life.

They came back after a while and I saw Mahira crying,
"What happened?"I stood up taking her in my arm's.

"Nothing,aunty was just checking her.She started crying",Bela said rubbing her back.

"Mahira..no crying baby,see we are here only",I said rubbing her back.

"Aunty,how is she?"I asked her.

"Mahir,she is completely fine now.She had that problem when she was six months old,and during that time her lungs were almost filled with flum.After the treatment,she is good",she said.

"And aunty..she won't face this problem again right?"Bela asked.

"Yes aunty,from now onwards..she won't face this breathing problem again right?Any allergens?"I too asked.

"Oh no,I did the allergens test too.She is completely fine and will be fine further also.Just keep her warm,don't expose her to more cold untill she turns three at least.Just take care of that,rest she will be doing good",she said and I left a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much aunty",Bela said.

"Don't worry about her dear,she will be fine",aunty said and Bela wiped her lone tear.

I sighed and kept my hand around her shoulder helding Mahira in my other hand,
"Bela,she is safe with us.Don't worry",I said.

She nodded and removed my hand from her shoulder.I felt a pang in my heart and moved aside from her,Polo aunty saw this.

"Bela...Mahir,can I have a word with you both?"she asked.

We both nodded and sat in front of her,Mahira was silently playing with my shirt buttons.She becomes silent when we enter the hospital.

"Bela,Mahir..Sumi told me everything that's happening in between you both",she said and Bela looked at me with teary eye.

"I felt you both took a wrong step opting for a divorce.Have you thought of Mahira when you took that decision?"she asked Bela.

Bela nodded her head as 'no'.

"I just want to say one thing to you both,will you both listen?Like Mahira's parent's and a couple you are?"she asked and we nodded.

"Most relationships don't end because couples stop loving one another.They end because one of the two stopped giving the other the attention,communication,security and affirmation they need.And I don't know who stopped communicating in between you both",she said.

I looked at Bela with a guilty face,it was me!

"Because I know,it's not like there is no love in between you both.You both love each other so much,we can just say it by looking at you both.Make this work for you both,for Mahira",Polo aunty said helding Bela's hand.

"Please think about it,don't spoil your lifetime love because of small small misunderstandings.Be strong and I know you will go through this together",Polo aunty said looking at me.

"I wish you both all the best,be happy children",she said.

We both exited her clinic and Mahira was blabbering something to Bela.I was still taking in what Polo aunty told us.

We still have that love in between us.

"Mumma..see..caaa..",Mahira shouted looking at our car.

"Yes baby..this is our caaaaa..",I said and she laughed.

We both got into the car and I was driving,Mahira was eventually talking to me and Bela.

"Um..Bela,shall we go for dinner,outside today?"I asked.

I want to go on a date with her,just me and her.Date..I don't know I should even call it as a date or not,I just want to spend some time alone with her.

"But now?"Bela asked.

"Yeah,let's go.It's been many days since we went out together",I said and she looked at me.

"Please?"I asked.

"O..OK,let's go",she said and I smiled.

I took a u turn and drived to our both's favorite restaurant.She was surprised when I stopped in front of this restaurant.

We used to hang out here during our collage days and even after our marriage also.But after Mahira,we both barely went out together.

We ordered sushi for us both and some fries for Mahira,she is a fries lover.

Her fries arrived soon and we were feeding her slowly,
"Dadda..this myyy...",Mahira shouted and we laughed.

"OK madam..your fries are yours only",I said keeping it back on her plate.

"Mumma..do fu fu..iss hott...",Mahira said opening her mouth.

"Slowly Mahira,see do fu fu like this",Bela said.

"Dadda see...fu fu",Mahira said and I smiled looking at her.

"Yeah..fu fu",Bela blowed on her fries.

Our orders arrived and we were eating silently.She is not even ready to start a conversation with me.

"Bela..",I called her.

She looked at me and blinked,
"Why are you not talking anything?"I asked.

"What is there to talk?"she said.

"No..I mean,it's been many days we came out like this.You don't have anything to talk with me?"I asked hopefully.

She was hesitating to talk something,or maybe she doesn't want to talk anything.Am I that undeserving?

"It's OK,I get it",I said with disappointment.

I started having my food again and I didn't look at her,
"Mahir",she called me.

I looked at her,
"There's a fair going on,I was thinking..we could take Mahira for a day out?"she asked.

"Yes..even I was thinking about it actually.I was just thinking about Mahira only..fair..outing..that's it",I said and she understood that I was hurt.

"Mahir..once listen to me",she said and I kept my chopsticks down.

"Tell",I said blankly.

"We could call Vyom and Suhani for taking Mahira to fair that day..so we both can have some alone time",Bela said and my heart,it was thumping so fast.

"We both?Alone time?"I asked.

"Um..yes,they'll take Mahira for the fair,we both can have some time for ourselves",she said with a smile.

And right at this moment,I want to kiss the hell out of her.

"Yeah..that's..that's a great idea",I smiled and she smiled back.

"When is the fair?"I asked.

"It starts from day after tomorrow.We can spend some time with Mahira at the fair as her parent's and then,we could have some time for us",Bela said.

"Yeah..I would love to..thank you so much Bela",I said and she smiled.

My efforts are showing to her.

We completed our dinner and were back home,trying to make Mahira sleep.

"Good night baby",I kissed her forehead and she was fast asleep today.

We made Mahira sleep in between us and we were staring at each other silently,so many things she want to talk to me.

But she is not able to,and I know what's stopping her.

Her self respect is stopping her.

I blinked my eye's and looked at sleeping Mahira,
"Good night Bela",I said looking at her.

"Good night Mahir",she said and I closed my eye's.

BELA

I couldn't sleep at all.I was turning and tossing the whole night,trying to sleep.But I'm no where near to sleep,I was just staring at Mahir and Mahira,both snuggled into each other.

I smiled looking at them,they both love each other so much.How can I separate them both?

I have my differences with Mahir,because of strong reasons.But Mahira is innocent,I can't snatch that fatherly love which she deserves.

I moved close to them and slowly kept my hand around them both,Mahir's hand was wrapped around Mahira securely.

I slowly ran my fingers in his hairs,he loves it when I do this.

I leaned towards him and gave a long kiss on his forehead,blinking my tears back.

Why did you say those awfull things to me Mahir?

Making us stand in this position.

Months passed and I was already feeling lonely.Mahir is just physically being in this home,but I don't see any love towards me.

He is drowned in his work,forgetting me and Mahira completely.

"Dadda..out..out",Mahira shouted when Mahir was getting ready for his office.

"Dadda is getting late baby,we will go out some other time",Mahir said checking his phone.

"Mahir,at least talk to her for sometime.You come home late,leave early.Do you know how much she misses you?"I asked serving breakfast for him.

"I know Bela,but I have to go now.Sorry baby",Mahir said kissing Mahira's forehead.

She was silently looking at Mahir,tears brimming her eye's.I was on the verge of crying looking at my daughter like this.

Why can't Mahir see it?

"Mahir..it's Mahira's first birthday tomorrow.Our friends and family..no one is here,come home soon today.We could go for shopping at least?"I asked hopefully.

Mahira was silently drinking her milk and Mahir looked at her,
"Oh yes,definitely.Today mumma dadda and Mahira will go for shopping.Excited Mahira?"Mahir asked kissing her hand.

"Out dadda?You me...?"she smiled and I gave a sad smile looking at her.

"Yes baby,you,me and mumma..we will go out today.Tomorrow is Mahira's first birthday",Mahir said tickling her.

Mahira is so happy being with Mahir.She is missing him a lot,she got used to him all these months.And now suddenly this distance,it not only irks me but it irked Mahira also.

"Try to come soon Mahir",I tried to hug him.

"Yeah..I'll come soon,take care Bela",he said giving a quick kiss on my forehead and left in a hurry.

I never felt this unwanted,that too from the person I love.

I wiped my tears and looked at Mahira.Just one lovely talk from Mahir,she forgets everything.

She is a kid,she doesn't know anything.I can't blame her though.

"Mumma..u me dadda..out..",she squealed taking slow steps towards me.

I wiped my tears and smiled,
"Yes baby,we will go out today.What does Mahira want for her first birthday?"I asked making her sit on my hip.

"Mumma..pink..pink..",she was pointing towards her feet.

"Ahhaann..Mahira wants pink shoe's.Done..pink shoe's are waiting for Mahira",I giggled and she hugged me.

I don't know about those pink shoe's,but I and Mahira were waiting for Mahir like little kid's since past two hours.His phone was also coming off.

"Mumma..dadda where?"Mahira asked.

"I guess dadda is still busy baby",I said,my voice breaking.

Actually my heart was breaking.

I hurriedly went inside my room and broke down into fistful of sobs.This is going on since six months,Mahir breaking my heart everyday in some or the other way.

And maybe this is only love,when nothing is OK and everything is hurting you a lot but still you want the same person over and over again.

I quickly wiped my tears and went out.I can't let Mahira see this phase of us.

"Mahira baby,dadda will join us.Let's go for our pink shoe's",I tried to sound excited.

She was already looking off because Mahir hasn't shown up yet.

That day I and Mahira went for her birthday shopping alone.Mahira was normal again after I took her to the shopping.

We came back home and I made Mahira eat and sleep on time.I lost my appetite to eat anything,after what Mahir did.

It's our daughter's first birthday tomorrow,and he has given up his responsibility clearly.

I cried myself to sleep.I woke up in the morning when I felt someone touching my forehead.I sat up with a jerk when I saw Mahir sitting beside me,shirtless.

"Bela..good morning",he said cupping my face.

"Aren't you getting late for office?"I asked.

"Bela,I'm sorry for yesterday.I'm really sorry",he said and I rolled my eye's.

I got down from the bed and saw Mahira groaning in her sleep.I took her in my arm's and woke her up,
"Good morning Mahira...happy birthday",I said and she opened her eye's.

"Happy birthday baby,you are my whole heart",I kissed and hugged her.

She smiled and wrapped her little arms around me,
"Happy birthday Mahira,I love you so much",Mahir said hugging us both together.

She looked at him and he opened his arms for her,she smiled and got into his arms,hugging and kissing him.

"I love you so much baby,happy birthday my love",he kissed her.

He never said that he loves me from past few months.People do change.

"Today dadda will be with you only,no office",he said tickling her.

"Yes Bela,today I'm a family man.Not an office man,it's our baby's first birthday",Mahir said and I gave a small smile.

"Dadda..chocoo..cake....",Mahira shouted.

"Yes,Mahira will cut a chocolate cake today...chocolate cake",Mahir said.

As promised,he was with us for the whole day.Unfortunately our family and friends were not available.They were on video calls since morning,talking to the birthday girl.

I miss them all being here,I feel so lonely,even after having Mahir.

"Aaa..mumma..chocoo...",Mahira squealed looking at the chocolate cake Mahir placed in front of her.

"Dadda..chocooo..",she was so excited.

"Yes baby,your favorite",Mahir said placing a kiss on her cheek.

"The cake is beautiful Mahir",I said.

"Yeah,mom and dad selected this for her.Daadi and daadu sent this cake for Mahira",Mahir said in a baby tone and Mahira smiled clapping her hands.

"Now Mahira will wear this birthday cap",I said making her wear a birthday cap.

"Aww..look at Mahria",Mahir said and Mahira's face was glowing with happiness today.

"Now dadda and mumma should also wear a birthday cap",Mahir said giving me a cap.

We three took a selfie with birthday caps.Never knew this would be the last moment when I was happy.

"Now time for the cake cut",I said and Mahira clapped her hands.

Mahir phone was ringing and he accepted the call.I and Mahira were looking at him,I just don't want what I'm thinking to happen.

"OK..I'll be there in ten minutes",Mahir said and my heart dropped in my stomach.

"Mahir..it's her birthday today,you are going now also?"I asked in disbelief.

"Bela,it's an emergency.There's a fire accident in our office.I'll be back in an hour,I promise",he said dressing up.

"But Mahir,Mahira?"I asked,tears already brimming in my eye's.

He stopped and looked at Mahira,
"Mahira baby,dadda will come soon.And which color teddy does Mahira want while dadda comes back?"he asked running his fingers in her hair.

"Pink",she said innocently.

Angry and hurtful tears were flowing from my eye's.I got used to his excuses,now even Mahira is getting used?

Please don't be so cruel Mahir,at least not for Mahira.

"OK,dadda will come back with a huge pink teddy for my little teddy",he said and Mahira smiled.

"Mahir..try to come soon,at least today.Please",I said,my lower lip wobbling.

"I'll come soon Bela",he said wiping my lone tear.

"Yeas,come soon.I'll be waiting,we will be waiting for you",I said taking Mahira in my arm's.

He nodded,kissed Mahira's forehead,my forehead and left.

Hour's passed,there is no trace of Mahir.His phone?It's no use for me,I always get only one answer,
'The number you are trying to reach has been currently switched off,please try again later'.

Mahira was also waiting for him,it's her first birthday.And leaving her with disappointment is not good.

I stopped crying and wiped my tears,
"Mahira,time to..time to cut the cake",I said.

"Dadda..pink teddy",she said.

I turned around and sobbed,I can't let this happen anymore.

I turned towards her and took her in my arm's,
"Dadda will be getting late baby,let's cut the cake for now.You want to eat choco right?"I asked.

She nodded her head slowly,I made a wish for her and made her cut the cake.But all the time she was asking only for one person.

Her dadda!

She became so cranky when I was trying to make her eat also.This was frustrating me more and more,to the extent that I snapped at Mahira.

She cried.

She cried for Mahir,cried because I snapped at her.She became calm after some time and slept off eventually,tired from all the cryings she had today.

This is how her first birthday went,I cried hugging my baby when she was sleeping.

I won't let her suffer like me!

"I'm sorry baby,I didn't mean to snap at you,on your birthday that too..I'm sorry",I cried hugging her.

I cried helding her for a long time.I came and sat in lobby waiting for Mahir.

It's enough,I can't go through this anymore.I need to confront him.

I wiped my tears sobbing and looked at them.Those days were like a living hell to me,no one has hurt me to this extent.

I'm so sorry Mahir,you made me do this.

This distance was created by you,spoiling our married life and our little family.

____________________
Hey guy's!

I'm at loss of words,I tried to compose myself,but I broke down.I'm sorry.

THIS ONE IS FOR YOU MY FRIEND,I HOPE YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE NOW,SEEKING BLESSINGS FROM GOD!

YOU WERE ALWAYS  MY INSPIRATION AND WILL ALWAYS BE,I WILL MISS YOU FOR ALL MY LIFE❤❤