Chapter 6

• Arjun's Pov:
• Aadhya.
• My little angel who looks just like her mother. So beautiful, so delicate like a rose petal. I was playing with Aadhya in the living room as there is no sign of my wife's cousin. For some reason I don't want her anywhere near me or my daughter.
• May be its because of my wife's words a few days before her delivery?
• 'Marry Veni if something happens to me Arjun, I don't want our child to be motherless. I want him/her to have all the love in the world. Veni would love our child like it is her own'
• She never tell me about the complications in her pregnancy. She somehow convinced her doctor not to reveal about her weak state. It was too late for an abortion when I get to know about the complications of her pregnancy.
• ******
• "Why didn't you tell me Midhu? How could you do this to me? Yes, I wanted a baby but not when it costs your life" I yelled tears streaming down my cheeks.
• "What do you want me to do Arjun? Abort it?" I flinched hearing the word 'abort' "I didn't tell you because you would have forced me to abort the baby even if it kills you. Its our baby Arjun. How could you even think about killing it?" She said matching my tone.
• "I don't know Midhu. You're my world. I can't live without you. Nothing and no one is more important than you" I whispered losing all my energy.
• Yes, it would kill me to loss our baby but what about its mother? The love of my life. What about me? How could I survive without my Midhya ?
• Why god? Why do you have to complicate my already complicated life?
• You snatched my mother away from me an year ago, isn't it enough! Why do you want me to suffer more by giving me a choice? Is it even a choice? I wanted to be happy with my wife and children, is it too much to ask?
• "Arjun" a hand caressed my cheek "I want this Arjun, please respect my decision. I love you and our baby. I'd happily die if it means to welcome our little angel into this world. I know you will love his/her just like I do. Please support me, give me the courage to face the consequences of my choice, I need you beside me, Arjun. I need us to go through it together. Please" she said with hopeful eyes.
• "Okay" my voice croaked
• ******
• From that moment I did everything I could just to make her happy. We did everything together. I had sleepless nights for months thinking how to survive the world without her beside me.
• A lone tear descended down my cheek, my daughter wriggled in my arms waving her little hands as if she was saying don't cry dad.
• I smiled at her. She could make my horrible day to just fine day with just one of her gorgeous smiles.
• The doorbell chimed, I answered the door revealing a familiar face. He was a friend of Veni. The person who despises me for no reason. He glared at me the moment he saw its me.
• "Can I help you?" I asked him matching his glare.
• "Yeah I'm here to meet my best friend. Ahh there she is" he said looking behind me.
• Best friend? I almost snorted.
• "Actually we're just leaving" a voice said behind me. I tried hard not to turn around and say 'get out'.
• "No. I want to meet my bestie" he whined like a kid, winking at her.
• Wait! She is his best friend right?
• "Bharat" someone squealed making me wince. Its her mother, she pulled him into a motherly hug.
• How I wish my mother was here to hug me with same love and affection.
• I miss you mom I thought looking at them.
• "Aww bestie, I miss you too" he said laughing hugging her back.
• Veni and Bharat started whispering rapidly. "Aww I missed you too. Now stop scowling and give me a hug" he said pulling her into hug.
• I left them alone scowling at how happy they were, why couldn't I be like them? Why would I've to be the one who losses all the important persons in my life?
• I miss you, Vennela.
• Vennela was the name I used to call her before we met personally.
• After we got engaged she insisted not to call her with that name again. But I loved to call her Vennela than Midhya.
• I placed sleeping Aadhya on my bed and went to balcony for some fresh air. I glanced at the side of the road and found a couple was arguing . Soon I realised they were none other than Veni and the lover boy.
• I remember Midhya once mentioning that they were irrevocably in love with each other. What I didn't get was, why would they pretend like best friends when they love each other.
• I sighed. Its not my business anyway.
• I laid next to Aadhya taking in her features like she vanishes in the next moment I stepped out the room. She's the ray of light in my darkness. One smile from this little angel is all it take to make me smile. Her smile is infectious.
• After an hour or so, I took her to the nursery and tucked her in the cradle. I kissed her good night and left to my room letting the darkness embrace me.
• I love you Arjun, I loved you the moment I saw you. You took my breath away with just one look. I know I kept a lot of things to myself, Please don't hate me for the things I did and am still doing. I wouldn't change a thing in my life which involves you. A couple of years are not enough to show you how much I love you but god had other plans for us. In this short span of time you showed me what life really is with you. It was pure bliss and I couldn't explain how happy you made me. Whatever you find out in the future, just remember one thing. I love you and our daughter more than my life.
• I remembered Midhya's last words before she flat lined.
• A faint cry caught my attention, the baby monitor.
• I went to the nursery where Chanchal was trying to calm down Aadhya. I took her in my hands and started cooing her, but nothing calmed her down.
• "Do something Chanchal. I'm not paying you for just to look at her. Do something" I yelled at her.
• "S-sir, please pass her to me" she stuttered.
• She tried a lot to make my baby calm down but none worked. She spitted the milk chanchal tried to fed her.
• "Are you sure you're trained? Or all those certificates you submitted were fake?" I demanded.
• "S-sir, It happens every night" she mumbled.
• "What?" I yelled making her whimper.
• "Y-yes sir, she cries a lot at this time of night."
• "Then do something what you do everyday damnwit !" I said harshly.
• "Its not me who can calm down her sir" she mumbled.
• Its not her?
• "Then who?" I asked gritting my teeth.
• "Veni ma'am" she said looking at her feet.
• "Didn't I tell you not to let her anywhere near my daughter?" I yelled, by this time Aadhya increased her pitch.
• "What's going on here?" Veni's mom stood at the door "Give her to me" she demanded Chanchal. With out a word she passed Aadhya to her.
• "Her stomach must be hurting" she said rubbing her stomach. Aadhya's cries increased again. I don't want to see my baby like this.
• "Where is Veni ma'am?" Chanchal asked Aunty.
• "She's not home yet" she replied curtly.
• Aadhya didn't stop crying yet. I'm restless now. I couldn't help but think she might be hurt or something. I took her into my hands and kept staring at her helplessly.
• When I was about to call our family doctor someone entered the room.
• "Aadhya" I heard her whisper before rushing towards us. When she was about to take her away from me, I protested.
• "This is not the time for your stupidity" she said gritting her teeth before snatching my daughter from me. Her eyes were throwing daggers at me.
• To my surprise it took her only a minute to calm down my baby. She kept mumbling something to Aadhya. She signed Chanchal for milk. She handed it to her without a question, she fed her and tucked now sleeping Aadhya to bed and left without a word.
• "Get some sleep" Aunty said patting my back, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
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