Eternally Yours

Chapter 10

As the soft whines of Aarav filled the quiet room early morning, Manik opened his eyes, looking beside him, smiling faintly as he was met with his son's innocent gaze. Noticing that Nandini was deep asleep, he didn't want to disturb her sleep, especially after the emotional toil she went through for the past few days. He sat up, carefully picking Aarav up and carrying him outside quietly.

Manik yawned as he walked to the kitchen, startling and glaring at his son as he suddenly let out a loud screech in the still house, ready to jump out of his arms, excited at seeing a kitten roaming around the closed door of the kitchen.

"Oye bandar, chup kar," Manik ordered. Aarav laughed loudly, making Manik smile as Manik shooed the cat out of the house as Manik walked after it hastily with Aarav in his arms. His son was still giggling, his head resting against Manik's shoulder as they walked to the kitchen.

(Oye Monkey, be quiet.)

Rinsing a pan, he boiled water for a few minutes  and poured it in a bowl, letting it cool while opening the cupboard where Nandini had stored Aarav's formula milk box. Adding the required amount, he stirred it, looking at the entrance of the kitchen as his mother entered, who was surprised to see her son up on a Sunday. He greeted her and she reciprocated, observing his actions and enquired, "Nandini kaha hai?"

(Where is Nandini?)

"Voh soh rahi hai," Manik replied, ignoring his mother's scoff until she said, "Tujhe pata hai na ye powder milk se Aarav bimar ho sakta hai. Usko iss waqt Nandini ko feed karna chahiye. Woh bohot chota hai."

(She is sleeping. **You know that Aarav can get sick with powdered milk. Nandini should feed him.)

"Uski kuch dwai chal rahi hain. Isliye doctor ne teen chaar din ke liye mana kiya hai," Manik defended his wife.

(She is taking some medicines. So doctor have told her not to.)

"Essi kaunsi dwaiye le ri hai woh?" his mother asked. Before Manik could utter a word, she said, "Main parso shaam se dekh ri hu usse Manik. Rasoi main khadi khadi roti rehti hain. Usse bulao toh usse koi hosh hi nahi hain aas paas ka. Tu ghar par nahi hota. Maanti hu kayi baar usse suna deti hu, lekin mujhe uski utni hi fikar hain jitni tum sab ki. Toh jhuth mat hi bolna mujhse. Maa hu teri."

(What type of medicine is she taking? **I have been noticing since evening day before yesterday. She keeps crying standing in the kitchen. If we call her, she is lost. You are not at home. I know I do say sometimes to her, but I care about her like I do for all of you. So, don't lie to me. I'm your mother.)

Manik breathed deeply. He knew he needed to tell someone in his family so that they could take care of her in his absence when he went for his job and he felt he needed to tell his mother so that she could talk to Nandini.

A mother who could understand the pain of losing a child and who would better know than his own mother, who lost her son in an accident when he was in his twenties. Nandini refused to speak up to him, just crying whenever he tried to talk. Manik was scared to lose his wife to postpartum depression and maybe his mother could help.

"Nandini–" Manik started, clearing his throat before speaking again, "She had an abortion after we both decided."

He stared as his mother froze, staring at him with wide eyes and Manik drew in a deep breath as she snapped, "Why would you both take such a big step without letting anyone in the family know? How could you just-just kill an innocent–"

When Neyonika stopped mid sentence, still processing the news, Manik calmly replied, "Maa, it was our decision because that child would have been our responsibility. And neither me nor Nandini were ready for raising another kid right now. Aarav is too young. The family could have helped but how much? Abhi Aarav ko aap kitna hi sambhal sakte ho. Ek ghante se zyada mere paas bhi nahi tikta. Maa toh Maa hi hain na. Main toh sirf raat ko help kar paata hu thodi bohot aur doh bacho ko paalne main maara kaun jaata? Meri Biwi."