Chapter Twenty-Three: Time To Shift

"Do you have to really go, Nini?" Vamika asked for the thousandth time as Nehmat packed her bags.

"Yes, darling, I have to. Nini needs to be independent," Nehmat said while putting on a pair of folded clothes.

Vamika started crying, clutching onto the kiwi plushie. "Please don't go, Nini. It'll be so boring without you. Please."

Nehmat paused, looking at Vamika with a mix of affection and concern. "Vamii, I know it's hard, but you'll be okay. Remember, we can still talk every day."

Vamika sniffled, wiping her tears with the sleeve of Nehmat's t-shirt. "But it won't be the same without you here all the time," she murmured, her voice cracking.

Nehmat's heart sank at the sight of Vamika's tears. She wrapped her arms around her, holding her close. "I understand, Vamii. It won't be easy, but you will eventually get used to it."

Vamika buried her face in Nehmat's shoulder, her sobs growing louder. "Please, Nini, don't go," she pleaded, her voice muffled.

Nehmat hugged her tightly, feeling torn between Paaji's choice and Vamika's pain. "I wish I could stay, Vamii, but this is something I have to do. I promise I'll come back whenever I can."

But Vamika wouldn't be consoled. She cried even harder, her grip on Nehmat tightening. "Please don't leave me alone," she sobbed, her words filled with desperation.

Nehmat gently stroked Vamika's hair, trying to soothe her. "I know, Vanii. But Mimi Bua is coming back, and she loves playing with you. It'll be fun, I promise."

Vamika shook her head, her tears flowing unabated. "But she's not as fun as you, Nini," she protested, her voice choked with emotion.

Nehmat felt a pang of guilt, knowing how much Vamika relied on her for companionship. "I know it's hard, sweetheart, but you'll see, Mimi Bua will make you laugh just like I do."

"No, I just want you and only you," Vamika said, hugging Nehmat tight.

Anushka stood in the doorway, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she watched her daughter cry for her beloved aunt. She felt a twinge of worry, knowing that Vamika's attachment to Nehmat would make her departure even harder. How would she handle Vamika's sadness when Nehmat moved to her rented house today?

As she watched Vamika cry, Anushka couldn't shake the nagging question from her mind. Why did Nehmat have to leave? Both she and Meera could easily stay in the same house; there were enough rooms to accommodate everyone. Nehmat's insistence on independence didn't sit well with her. She wished Nehmat would reconsider, seeing the distress it caused Vamika.

Anushka sat on the bed beside Vamika, gently rubbing her back in a soothing manner. "She is right, Nehmat. Don't go," she whispered, her voice laced with concern and pleading.

Nehmat sighed, her expression conflicted as she looked at Anushka. "Bhabhi, I want to be independent," she explained, her voice soft but resolute. Despite the sadness in her eyes, there was determination in her words.

Anushka's brows furrowed in frustration as she listened to Nehmat's explanation. "Stop lying and tell the truth," she scolded, her tone firm yet tinged with concern.

Nehmat's eyes widened in surprise at the accusation. "Bhabhi, I'm not lying," she protested, her voice tinged with defensiveness. "I really do want to be independent."

Anushka shook her head, her expression stern. "Nehmat, I know you better than anyone. There's something else going on, and I want you to be honest with me."

Nehmat sighed, feeling the weight of Anushka's scrutiny. Gently, she took Anushka's hand in hers, her own trembling slightly. "Promise me you won't tell Paaji about it?" she pleaded, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Anushka hesitated, her gaze softening as she saw the genuine concern in Nehmat's eyes. She squeezed Nehmat's hand reassuringly. "I promise," she replied softly, her tone filled with empathy. "You can trust me, Nehmat."

"Well, Meera and I stayed under one roof for 16 years, but I guess she can't bear me anymore," Nehmat continued, her voice tinged with sadness and resignation.

Vamika, in a sudden burst of anger, shouted, "Well, that's her problem! She can rent herself a house then!"

Nehmat, hearing Vamika's outburst, gently scolded her, "Vamii, she's older than you. Don't speak like that."

Nehmat's gentle scolding seemed to have little effect on Vamika's anger. With frustration still evident in her voice, she spoke angrily, "I don't care! I just want you to stay."

Nehmat sighed, understanding the depth of Vamika's emotions. She reached out and pulled Vamika into a comforting embrace, holding her close. "I know, Vamii," she murmured softly, her own heart heavy with the weight of their separation. "I wish I could stay too, but sometimes we have to make difficult decisions."

Anushka ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "I still don't understand why Meera can't bear you," she muttered, her tone filled with confusion and concern.

Nehmat reached out, gently taking Anushka's hand in hers, offering a comforting squeeze. "Time will come and tell, but please, apko meri kasam, you won't talk about this to anyone, not even you Vamii," she said earnestly, her gaze shifting between Anushka and Vamika.

Anushka nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of Nehmat's request. "I understand, Nehmat," she replied softly, her expression reflecting her commitment to respecting Nehmat's wishes.

Vamika, sensing the seriousness of their conversation, looked up at Nehmat with wide eyes. "But why, Nini?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Nehmat smiled sadly at Vamika's question, her eyes reflecting a mix of affection and sorrow. "Because, Vamii," she began gently, "right now, it's not the time for it."

Vamika furrowed her brows, her confusion deepening. "But when will it be the time, Nini?" she pressed, her voice tinged with a hint of impatience.

Nehmat's heart ached at the innocence in Vamika's question. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from Vamika's face. "I promise, when the time is right, I'll explain everything to you," she reassured her, her voice filled with sincerity.

Anushka nodded in agreement, her own expression filled with understanding. "For now, let's trust Nehmat," she added softly, her gaze shifting between Nehmat and Vamika. "She knows what's best for all of us."

As Nehmat prepared to zip up her bag, Vamika's face crumpled into a tearful expression as Nehmat resumed her task of shifting. Before Nehmat could complete the task, Vamika dashed forward and lay down inside the half-open bag. "Pack me too because I wanna come too," she pleaded, her voice choked with emotion.

Nehmat's heart melted at the sight of Vamika's tear-streaked face peeking out from the bag. She knelt down beside her, brushing a gentle hand over her cheek. "Oh, sweetheart," she murmured, her own eyes welling up with tears. "I wish I could take you with me, but this time, I have to go alone."

Vamika sniffled, her lower lip trembling. "But I don't want you to leave," she whispered, her voice barely above a whimper.

Nehmat gently lifted Vamika out of the bag, cradling her in her arms. She pressed tender kisses to Vamika's tear-stained cheeks, murmuring words of comfort. "I know, sweetheart. I don't want to leave you either," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Vamika clung to Nehmat tightly, burying her face in her aunt's shoulder. "Then don't go, Nini," she pleaded, her voice muffled against Nehmat's shirt.

With Vamika still clinging to her tightly, Nehmat gently zipped up her bag, her movements slow and deliberate. "I have to, Vamii," she murmured softly, her voice laden with sorrow, even as she continued to cradle her niece in her arms.

As Nehmat prepared to leave, she glanced over at Anushka, whose eyes were brimming with tears. Anushka made an effort to control her emotions, but the sorrow was evident in her expression.

Together, the three of them waited in silence for the driver to arrive with the car. Nehmat's heart ached at the thought of leaving her family behind, knowing the pain it caused them. She glanced towards the door, feeling a pang of sadness knowing that her departure meant welcoming Meera back into the fold.

Vamika's tears continued to soak Nehmat's t-shirt as she held her close, the weight of their separation heavy in the air. Anushka offered what comfort she could, though her own tears threatened to spill over at any moment.

Finally, the sound of the car pulling up outside broke the somber atmosphere. Nehmat's heart sank as she heard Vamika's desperate plea. With tears streaming down her face, Vamika refused to let go of Nehmat, clutching onto her t-shirt with all her might.

"I will stay with Nini!" Vamika cried out, her voice echoing with determination and sadness. She shook her head vehemently, unwilling to be separated from her beloved aunt.

Nehmat's heart broke at the sight of Vamika's distress. She knelt, wrapping her arms around Vamika in a tight embrace. "Vamii, sweetheart, you have to stay with Bhabhi and Paaji," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "But I promise, I'll come to meet you."

Anushka stepped forward, her own eyes filled with tears as she gently tried to pry Vamika away from Nehmat. "Vamika, darling, Nehmat will call us every day," she reassured her, her voice gentle but firm. "We'll be here waiting for her."

But Vamika's grip only tightened, her cries growing louder with each passing moment. "No, I want to stay with Nini!" she insisted, her heartache palpable in her voice.

With a heavy heart, Nehmat gently peeled Vamika's fingers away from her t-shirt, her tears mingling with Vamika's. "I love you, Vamii," she whispered, pressing a tender kiss to her niece's forehead. "I'll see you soon, I promise."

As she was about to settle into the car, Anushka approached her with a sympathetic expression. "Call me once you reach and tell me if you need help in settling down," she offered gently.

Nehmat managed a sad smile and nodded in response. "I will, and don't worry. I have a friend coming to help me. Just take care of Vamika, Paaji, and Meera," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness and determination.

"Bye, Vamii," she whispered, settling into the car without looking back. She knew that if she saw Vamika's tear-stained face, she wouldn't be able to leave.

As the car began to pull away, Vamika's cries grew louder, her small frame trembling with emotion. With tear-filled eyes, she flailed her arms towards the departing vehicle, shouting in desperation, "Nini, don't go!"

Her voice cracked with anguish, echoing through the air as she watched Nehmat's retreating figure with heart-wrenching despair. Each step the car took felt like a dagger to Vamika's already fragile heart, as she yearned for her beloved Nini to stay.

Anushka stood by, her own eyes brimming with tears, feeling utterly helpless in the face of Vamika's sorrow. She longed to comfort her daughter, to ease the pain that tore at her young soul, but all she could do was watch as the car disappeared down the road, carrying Nehmat away from them.

With a heavy heart, Vamika cried in her mother's chest, her sobs echoing in the empty space left behind by Nehmat's departure. All she could do was cling to the hope of their eventual reunion, praying for the day when Nini would return to her arms once again.

Nehmat on the other hand wished to be accepted by her brother and sister so she could once again live with her family and not alone in a rented house.