Chapter Thirty-Two: How Could He Hate Her?

How could he hate her when he was the one who chose her? He remembers it vividly. He was 11 years old at the time when his school planned a field trip to the orphanage. All the kids from his school had a gift in their hands to give to the kids there.

As they stepped off the bus, he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was his first time visiting an orphanage, and he didn't know what to expect. Walking through the doors, he was greeted by a chorus of laughter and chatter from the children who lived there. They were playing games and chatting amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the visitors entering their world.

He looked around, clutching the small gift he had brought tightly in his hand. It was a simple toy car, something he had picked out himself at the store. He hoped it would bring a smile to someone's face.

As he sat there, a few kids approached, chatting amongst themselves. But before he could offer his gift, he noticed they already had presents, likely given by his classmates. He looked down at the toy car in his hand, scanning the room for someone who hadn't received anything yet.

His gaze landed on the baby ward down the hall, where newborns to one-year-olds were kept. There was only one guard stationed outside, who appeared to be asleep with his chin resting on a stick.

He didn't understand why, but he felt a powerful tug towards the ward as if someone inside was calling out to him with all their heart. Glancing around at his classmates and teachers, who seemed engaged in conversations and activities, he quietly slipped away from the room and began walking towards the baby ward.

He stepped into the room filled with cradles, each holding a sleeping baby. A pang of sadness washed over him as he looked at the innocent faces. He felt sad looking at the babies, seemingly unaware that they had no one to call their own in this world.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden giggle from the end of the room. He tilted his head to locate the source of the sound and found the only baby awake in the room, waddling its little body up and down, gazing at him with wide eyes. It seemed as if the baby was urging him to come closer. With cautious steps, he approached the baby.

As he drew nearer, the baby's face broke into a toothless grin, its chubby arms reaching out towards him. Gently, he crouched down beside the cradle, extending his hand towards the baby. The baby's fingers wrapped around his, tiny and delicate yet surprisingly strong.

He glanced around to make sure nobody was nearby, fearing he might get scolded for picking up the baby without permission.

With a tender smile, he carefully lifted the baby into his arms, cradling it gently. The baby let out a contented coo, nuzzling against his chest. At that moment, as he held the tiny, vulnerable life in his arms, he felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him.

With a soft smile, he whispered, "You're exactly like the poem says, 'Chubby cheeks, rosy lips, and a dimple smile.'" Chuckling softly, he watched as the baby chuckled too, extending tiny fingers to poke at his eyes.

Laughing gently at the baby's playful gesture, he carefully moved the tiny hand away from his eyes, still cradling the baby close. "You've got quite the grip there, little one," he remarked with a fond smile.

In that one hour, he made some of the fastest decisions of his life. He was so sure he wanted to have this baby as a sibling and never wanted to leave the cocoon of cuteness. But sadly, he had to that day when his teacher called every student to assemble towards the bus.

Kissing the baby's cheek, he promised he would come back soon. Placing the toy car in the cradle, he leaned down one more time to kiss its forehead. The baby, too, had a pout and tears in its eyes as this boy was leaving.

Reluctantly, he tore himself away from the baby and made his way back to the group. Each step felt heavier than the last as he glanced back at the ward, where the baby's tear-streaked face remained etched in his mind.

Boarding the bus, he couldn't shake the feeling of longing that tugged at his heartstrings. As the engine roared to life, he vowed silently to return as soon as he could.

Once back at home, the question burned in his mind, ready to burst from his lips. "Mom, can I please have a sibling?" he finally asked, the words tumbling out eagerly.

His mom was surprised at his sudden request, but before she could respond, he blurted out again, his words rushed and impassioned. "There was a baby I saw at the orphanage, Mumma, please, can we bring the baby home? Please, I want it to have as a sibling. There was something, Mom, something I know—I want to protect the baby forever. Please, I want that bundle of cuteness."

His mother listened intently, touched by the earnestness in his voice and the sincerity in his eyes. She could see the genuine compassion and longing in her child's heart.

Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Puttar, I understand how you feel, and I admire your compassion. Bringing a baby into our family is a big decision, one that we need to think about carefully."

Seeing the disappointment flicker across his face, she continued softly, "But I promise you this: we'll talk about it as a family and explore all our options. If it's meant to be, if it's truly what's best for both the baby and our family, then we'll find a way to make it happen."

His eyes brightened with hope, grateful for his mother's understanding. With a warm hug, he whispered, "Thank you, Mom. I love you."

When his dad returned from work, they sat down together to discuss every possibility. They talked about the practical aspects, the financial implications, and the responsibilities that come with bringing a new member into the family. But despite considering all these factors, the boy found himself unable to articulate anything beyond the love and connection he felt towards the baby he had met at the orphanage.

His dad listened patiently, understanding the depth of his son's emotions. He too could sense that this wasn't just a passing whim but a genuine desire born out of compassion. After a long discussion, they agreed to visit the orphanage again as a family, to spend more time with the baby and to see if it felt right for them to bring the baby into their home.

The next day, when they visited the orphanage again, the boy's heart sank as he couldn't find the baby he had grown so attached to in an hour. Upon inquiring, he learned that another family had also expressed interest in adopting the baby, and since they had visited the orphanage before, they were being considered as potential adoptive parents first.

Feeling a wave of desperation and disappointment, he realized that he knew nothing else but wanted that baby to be a part of his family. The mere thought of the baby being taken by someone else created a sense of unease and turmoil within him.

Breathless and determined, he burst into the room, his eyes fixed on the baby cradled in the arms of the other family. His parents followed closely behind, trying to catch up to him.

"Wait, slow down," his dad called out, his voice filled with concern.

But the boy couldn't stop himself. With every step closer to the baby, his heart pounded louder in his chest. As he reached the family, he looked up at them, his eyes pleading.

"Please," he began, his voice trembling with emotion. "Please, you don't understand. I... I need this baby. He's meant to be a part of our family. Please, reconsider."

He might have felt foolish for caring so deeply about a baby he barely knew, but there was something undeniable about the love and connection he felt. It was as if the trip to the orphanage had been orchestrated by some higher power, with him drawn to the only awake baby in the ward, and the baby seemingly reaching out to him with those innocent eyes.

At that moment, standing before the other family, he couldn't ignore the pull in his heart, urging him to fight for what he believed was meant to be.

His dad pulled him back, urging him to stop, but the baby seemed to have recognized him from the day before. Extending tiny hands, the baby reached out towards him, its eyes lighting up with familiarity and longing. In response, the baby squirmed in the arms of the other family, seemingly wanting to be with him.

Feeling a surge of hope, the boy gently freed himself from his dad's grasp and took a step closer to the baby. He reached out tentatively, his heart pounding with anticipation. As his fingers brushed against the baby's hand, a sense of connection washed over him, reaffirming his belief that they were meant to be together.

The family watched in silence, moved by the poignant scene unfolding before them. Sensing the undeniable bond between the boy and the baby, the woman holding the infant looked at her husband, exchanging a knowing glance.

With a soft smile, she turned to the boy and his parents. "It seems this little one has made his choice," she said gently. "And perhaps he's right. Maybe you were meant to be his family."

Then, the warden chimed in, "A baby girl she is, so don't just call her 'baby'. Maybe you can name her something." The warden smiled warmly at the boy, who looked back with tears in his eyes. "A baby girl?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder and emotion.

The warden nodded, a gentle smile on his lips. "Yes, a baby girl," he confirmed softly. "And you have the honour of giving her a name."

The boy's eyes widened with astonishment and joy. He gazed down at the baby girl in his arms, feeling a surge of responsibility and love wash over him. After a moment of thought, he whispered, "Nehmat."

"Why Nehmat?" the warden asked, curious about the choice.

The boy looked up, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Because she's a blessing," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "She's brought so much joy and meaning into our lives already. Naming her Nehmat is a way to express our gratitude for having her with us."

The warden's eyes twinkled with understanding as he nodded in approval. "A beautiful sentiment indeed," he remarked, his voice tinged with admiration.

He had been the one to choose her, so why did he start to distance himself from her when Meera was born? Perhaps it was the noise and distractions outside that made him deaf to the girl who had given him a sense of brotherhood first. The first six years were happily spent after Meera was born. It was then that she learned Nehmat was adopted, and the fact that Nehmat was the apple of everyone's eyes only fueled her jealousy.

She spread the word to everyone, and soon people everywhere began teasing him about Nehmat. But Nehmat stood strong like a wall against those taunts because she knew that with her Paaji by her side, these taunts didn't matter. However, he couldn't bear it. With constant teasing from friends and Meera crying about it to him every day, insisting that she should be prioritized, He felt himself crumbling. he stopped loving Nehmat, but he never hated her, nor could he. Maybe he just pretended to distance himself from her all this time.

He would often find Nehmat crying to Mom about how Paaji had started hating her. He wanted to take his little sister in his arms and tell her he didn't and never could, but he stopped himself for Meera's sake. Meera would throw tantrums and create chaos, so he chose to act like he hated Nehmat when, in reality, he didn't.

And whenever she called him "Paaji," it tugged at his heartstrings. The word held sentimental value because it was the first-word Nehmat spoke. He had often tried to teach her different words when she was learning to talk, but she chose "Paaji" out of all of them.

The last time he heard her voice was during his Afghanistan tour when he uttered those crushing words: "I don't want you to come between Meera and Shubman." With a stoic face, she muttered back, "Done, Paaji."

At that moment, he didn't realize that his words would lead to her disappearance from their lives. He assumed she would distance herself, but he never imagined that he, the one who brought her home, would ultimately cast her out too.

All for the sake of Meera, he separated Nehmat from her boyfriend, the one who had brought so much happiness into her life. He meticulously crafted lies and fabricated photos, knowing full well the pain it would cause. It tore his soul apart to do so, and he felt his heart shake with guilt that particular night when he woke up to drink water, only to find his baby sister asleep in the middle of the road. He knew then what had transpired.

Three years had passed when they found a note indicating Nehmat's departure. The note simply read, "Sorry Mom, Vamika, and Bhabhi. I love you all, but I have to leave." It was concise, leaving no room for further explanation. They became aware of her absence when she didn't answer Mom's calls, prompting Anushka and Vamika to check her rented house. There, they discovered the note. Additionally, he received a message in the group indicating the appointment of a new logistics manager, signalling Nehmat's resignation from her job.

He remembered Vamika coming home that night, looking a mess from crying. Anushka wasn't any better; her face was red from tears too. He could still hear Vamika's words echoing in his ears like a broken tape, "You drove my Nini so far that we might never find her again. I just don't want to talk to you." And similar sentiments were expressed by his mother too, "I am so disappointed. You were the one crying to bring her home 24 years ago, and now you're the one who drove her away. And I fear we might never find Nini again because she was always so good at playing hide and seek." His mother had tears in her eyes, and not knowing how to react, he was even more troubled by the fact that she wasn't crying or shouting, which scared him even more. He tried tirelessly to find her, using every ounce of his fame and resources, but she seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Despite his best efforts and the influence he wielded, none of it seemed to yield any results.

Last year, he found himself missing Nehmat terribly, especially during Shubman and Meera's wedding. He still couldn't comprehend how Meera managed to convince Shubman to marry her. When they had initially gone to propose the marriage, Shubman appeared reluctant and even denied it. Despite efforts from Shubman's parents to convince him, nothing seemed to sway him. He had been miserable since Nehmat left their lives, and as a result, he had become distant from Meera too. However, Meera spared no effort in being there for him. He was too exhausted to stop Meera or to convince Shubman of the marriage.

After a year of marriage, things between Shubman and Meera were on shaky ground. And it wasn't hard to understand why; anything done under duress doesn't usually last. Eventually, the truth had to come out.

Currently, Vamika and Anushka have gone out for Vamika's friend's birthday party, leaving him alone in the house. It felt empty, more like a house than a home, as he sat in the darkroom by himself. Though Vamika, Anushka, and his mom did talk to him, it was merely for the sake of maintaining peace in the house, not the genuine love that once prevailed when Nehmat was there. The rocking chair creaked against the wooden floor, each creak echoing the sound of his regrettable decisions. And yet, he remained on the relentless hunt for his missing sister.

Tears glistened in his brown eyes in the moonlight as he gazed out over the sea from his balcony. Nehmat would often spend hours here, watching the waves, with Vamika and Anushka joining her, sipping on hot chocolate. Everything reminded him of her, every little thing.

A sudden ring shattered the quietness of the house. Still staring out at the sea, he picked up the call, and a voice on the other end muttered urgently, "Bhaiya, come quickly. He's drinking too much."