𝐈𝐈𝐈. dard aur nafrat

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Hai phir kyu
ankhon mein nami
kyu rota hu mai
aaj bhi

Kya khalti hai
Teri kami?

anupamaa :

As the next evening dawned, I felt an emotional exhaustion take over me.

Vikram bhai was done with his work, and I was doing the final cleaning.

"A.. I am leaving, okay?", He said.
I nodded into a yes with a weak smile.
Thankfully no one had asked me about yesterday much, giving me space.
I respected it immensely.

My phone buzzed abruptly.
I picked up the call.

"Hello Mummy—"
"Pari bimar hai?", I asked my daughter in law, Kinjal.
"Nehi.. Pari nehi actually..", She said, sounding awkward.
I paused.
"Phir kaun?", I asked softly.
"Um.. Papa.", she replied.

"Mister Shah?", I asked, a little taken aback.
He had completely left my mind after yesterday's meeting.
"Hmm..", Kinjal said, "Actually mujhe immediately meeting ke liye jaana padh raha hai. Toshu bhi bahar Gaya hai. Pari bhi soo rahi hai.."

I drew in a deep breath.
Only for the sake of humanity.

"Theek hai.. Mai aati hu..."

vanraj :

The pain was immense.
I lay on the bed, groaning in pain.
The fever was almost killing me.

I knew it was exceedingly dumb to sit in the park, at night, in New York City during winters - but nowadays nothing mattered anymore.
I shut my eyes, the edges of my eyes wet with tears.
It had been a while since I had fallen sick.

I knew Kinjal had left and Pari was already asleep.
So there was no help.

"Anu..", Years ago, same me, but it felt like I was reminiscing memories from a different lifetime.
"Anu..", I groaned.
"Toshu ke Papa.. aa rahi hu.. aap bas lete rahiye.."

"Bohot dard ho raha hai..", I whispered, unable to even sit up.
So helpless.
"Ha.. bas aap shaant hokar lete rahiye.."

"Sar dard ho raha hai..", I whispered as I felt a wet cloth.
The comfort was unparalleled.

"Baa sahi kehti hai.. Tumhare haathon mein sach mein jaduu hai Anu.", I whispered, back in 2024.
There was a pause momentarily.

I opened my eyes, and through the blur of tears, I saw her.
"Pehchan liya aapne.. waah.", She said, unamused.
"Dard mein sukoon bohot kam log hi de paate hai..", I whispered, trying hard to force a smile.
My voice was raspy, and aching.

"Itni umar ho gayi hai aapki.. phir bhi raat bhar bacchon ki tarah bahar park mein baithe huye the.. bukhar toh aana hi tha.", She said, almost reprimanding.
"Tumhe kaise pata?"
"Itna toh mai jaanti hi hu aapko.", She snapped taking the wet cloth from my forehead and dipping it into water again.

"Tumne mehnat kyu ki.. mai khud hi kar leta.", I whispered, somehow regaining strength.

Her touch indeed had magic.

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