The sudden change in Khusi's posture made Abhay's lip tilt up in a secret smile. He was glad to see that another woman's name from his mouth was unsettling for Khusi.
"She was ... something, a creature from a different part of the world, you could say," Abhay chuckled lightly, reminiscing the old days when Falak had made an entry in the brothers' life, causing havoc.
Khusi was silently watching Abhay as his expression started gleaming.
"I wasn't always the way I am today. Neither this talkative nor so impulsive. But she taught me how to live life freely. Being the elder son of Pranav Mathur, I was expected to be calm and collected, stoic faced and to show as few emotions as possible to the world. It made me feel suffocated, but I learned to live life that way."
Khusi's heart pounded restlessly against her ribs as Abhay continued narrating.
"When Kaushik returned 3 years later, he wasn't alone. She was there with him. They had gotten married secretly and wanted my blessings. But I was pissed, at both of them. My little brother, who hadn't ever bought a shirt without asking me, married a girl, not bothering to even tell me once."
"But Falak wasn't something I was expecting. Did you know how funny she looked, standing behind Kaushik like a scared little mouse, peeking at me from behind his back?"
That image made Abhay chortle lightly, making Khusi smile at the radiance on his face.
"I looked very different from Kaushik. Be it height or my physique. She was terrified to even look at me or speak in my presence. I was a bit upset at her too, for making herself Kaushik's priority over me. I mean, can you blame me? That boy never ever looked at a girl as long as he was here. Kaushik would always try to keep her at ease, but I couldn't help the way I look, now, can I?"
Khusi shrugged her shoulders. She loved everything about Abhay.
"After spending a few weeks with me, one day she finally gathered enough courage to talk to me. She was feeling weak that day, and Kaushik was out."
Khusi swallowed in anticipation and bit her upper lip, "What did she say?"
Abhay's lips titled up in a wry smile, a longing look in his eyes. "Her first word was Bhai."
Khusi's eyebrows shot up. She wasn't expecting to hear that.
"Yes, she called me bhai, and asked whether I could get her some medicine. I don't know why I agreed to get her medicine that day. Whether it was just mere concern for a human living in my house with me, or because she referred to me as a brother, but my heart melted for that girl on that day."
Khusi couldn't help but beam. A sigh of relief escaped past her lips without her knowledge.
"Falak didn't have a strong immune system and would frequently remain sick, but she had her own ways of looking after us. Slowly, I don't know since when, I grew too attached to that girl. She became the sister I never had, and maybe the first woman figure in my life, who cared for me unconditionally."
"You might not believe how frail she used to look, but boy if she wasn't the mother hen of this house. I was a chain smoker, and you won't believe how many times I had gotten scolded from her for this. I could say, Yuti inherited those qualities of Falak quite well."
Khusi nodded her head in daze, her eyes fixed at Abhay's face which was glowing with happiness.
"But then, after a few months Kaushik left for an art exhibition in Bangalore. He was away for weeks, Falak's health started deteriorating. She would faint every now and then and couldn't eat properly. I decided to take her for a check up, where the doctor confirmed her pregnancy."
Khusi's stomach fluttered imagining how happy they would have been at that time. But soon her happiness disappeared when she saw the grim look on Abhay's face.
"I was ecstatic at the news but it didn't last long. The doctor warned us about it's failure. Falak's uterus wasn't strong enough to hold onto the fetus for long, unless she stayed bedridden for 9 months. It also involved high risks for her cause she wasn't strong enough to bear a child. But she wanted to keep the baby. Even when both I and Kaushik strongly opposed. Both of us knew the pain of growing without a mother, he more. But Falak was stubborn. She wanted to give birth to the child."
Khusi's heart fell to her stomach as she realised what was coming. "And then?"
"The first 7 months were the most critical time of the pregnancy, so she was taken utmost care of. I had assigned 7 maids and helpers to take care of her and be by her side every second of the day. But Kaushik had to return to Bangalore soon. It was me who had to endure the tantrums of her pregnancy," Abhay chuckled, reminiscing the old days.
"During her 3rd month, there wasn't a single day when Falak hadn't woken me up for food. I couldn't even get mad at her at that time. Criminals kept me awake during the day, and at night, my sister. I had even developed eyebags by the end of her 2nd trimester."
Khusi couldn't ignore the adoration in Abhay's voice as he spoke of Palak.
"And then the day finally came when the labour pain hit. I was at the precinct when a call from the home made me flee back. Falak wanted a home delivery so we had already prepared everything and the doctors were informed earlier. Kaushik took the first flight back home. It was the hardest 4 hours of my life as I had stood by her side when Falak gave birth to Yuti, holding her hand. And do you know who cut the umbilical cord?" Tears were shining in Abhay's eyes as he asked Khusi the question.
"You." There wasn't an ounce of doubt in Khusi words.
"Yes, and I had cried that day, for the first time in my life. When the nurse handed me over a newborn Yuti, I was so overwhelmed that I didn't mind weeping in front of everyone. I didn't mind concealing my emotions."
A tear made its way down Khusi's cheek as she smiled, reliving that day through Abhay's narration. But then, something hit her hard.
"And Falak?" she whispered, dreading Abhay's next words.
"She lived." Abhay smiled, making Khusi beam, but Abhay's smile didn't last long."
"After Yuti's birth, Falak shifted to Bangalore with Kaushik. I don't know why she felt like she was becoming a burden for me. I was heartbroken at her decision of leaving and devastated at her departure but I couldn't keep a child and a mother away from her father and husband."
Khusi sighed deeply, stroking Abhay's back.
"I cut all contact with them for 2 years, busying myself with work. It wasn't until a call from Malati ma, Falak's mother, one day, I realised how wrong it was to cut ties with your family."
Khusi waited for Abhay to continue, with her heart in her mouth.
"She was in Pune when she had received a call from a hospital in Bangalore, regarding an accident."
Khusi's throat dried in dread. "Whose accident?"
"Kaushik's."
A gasp escaped past Khusi lips and her eyes widened.
"A fatal car accident, which had not only made Kaushik succumb to death, but had also landed a 3 months pregnant Falak, in ICU."
Khusi's lips parted in shock as she felt tongue tied. Pregnant? Falak was pregnant for a second time?
"By the time I reached Bangalore, I had received another call from the hospital. Do you know who it was?" Abhay asked, his voice an octave deeper.
Khusi could only shake her head.
"That silly girl had me on top of her emergency contact list. Me! Can you believe this? Not her husband nor her mother. How stupid can a person be!? I was at least 500 miles away from her. Why the hell would she choose to have me on her emergency list?" Abhay cried out, his throat tightening with emotions, her fist curled in grief.
Khusi was quick to move to her feet as she grasped Abhay's face and rested it on her chest as Abhay sobbed his heart out. Khusi stood still, stroking his hair and back, trying to console him in whatever way she could.
After what felt like hours but were mere minutes, Abhay's breathing returned to normal and she wiped away his tears. Khusi was dreading to ask what had happened at the hospital.
"When I was waiting outside the ICU, as her only family, the doctors had summoned me in. They needed to make an important decision and needed my consent."
"What was it?"
Abhay remained silent for a whole minute making Khusi tense.
"Whether to kill the baby or let it grow in her womb, as she laid on the bed ... for the rest of her pregnancy. The news of Kaushik's accident had hit her so hard that she had slipped into a mental coma, which had affected her pregnancy as well. It was already critical ... "
Khusi swallowed a painful lump down her throat, her emotions all over the place.
"I decided what was best, to save her and kill the baby ... but it didn't save her. In the end, she died in my arms, making me vow to take care of Yuti, as her father."
Khusi couldn't help but let a single tear slip down her cheek. Abhay had lost her brother and the only woman he had ever considered his sister, in a single day. It must have been devastating for him.
Both of them stood still, Khusi's arms wrapped around his neck and Abhay's face resting on her chest. He basked in her scent, Abhay's beard poking the soft flesh of her throat, pimping out goosebumps on Khusi's skin.
Khusi didn't know what to say anymore. No word could compensate for his losses and to say the world famous saying, 'they are in a better place' wasn't always comforting. She took a deep breath and brushed his hair lightly, her gaze slipping past the wall and hauling on a picture frame on his bed. There were two women, who looked really close, beaming at the photographer.
~ • • • • • ~
I was gone for too long, so I decided to surprise you people with double updates! 🤗🥺 Enjoy 💞💖
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