Bela's POV:
Beaches...
They are always beautiful...
I have been to so many countries...seen so many beaches...
But Maravante is home...
The waves here feel home...
The shore holds my footprint 👣
The waves are so beautiful to watch!
But only until they touch your feet as small waves...
At times when they turn into huge tides...they wash away everything...
Your footprints....
Your dreams...
Your existence too!!!
That's why now I'm scared of beaches...
Once I loved playing here... today those memories haunt me!!!
4 years!!! After 4 years I am back to India!!!
Back to Udupi!
The city that gave me everything...
Taught me... made me...
From my education till my career!
But there are many other memories of this city which haunt me!
Not just Udupi! India!!!
I never wanted to come back to India again!
But sometimes although you try to move away from your past! It behaves like a sea weed! Trying to never let go off its hold! And make sure to drown you! Drown your ship!
My ship drowned last with a call that I received last week...
And earth shattered open for me 💔
My last bit of someone with whom I felt a 'bond' 'relationship' had left me!!!
Forever!
I was on my way to Paris when I got this call...
It was Sowbhagya and Akshata on the other side of the call. My besties since college days.
Next thing I heard Sow say a broken 'H...Hello B...B...Bela' to me and the immediate next second she broke down badly on the call while my heart started beating loudly!
'Sow what happened? Tell me!!!'
She wasn't in the state of mind to talk...
Akshata replied me..
'Bela...Akki here...Bela...hold yourself... And please don't react badly...
.
.
.
.
.
..
. Brinda Di expired today morning!'
I froze 🥺
I couldn't believe my ears... I felt like world ended for me! Everything went to a stand still!
Our childhood, our memories, our fights, our love, our last interaction, her last phone call...
Everything came flashing in front of me!!!
Her words ringing in my head!
Bela... If you won't meet me this time I promise i will have to take a strong step 🥺😢
Did she do this on purpose???
'Hhhhhhow' is the only thing that came out of my mouth!
'During her delivery due to excessive bleeding... she was weak! 2 days later... ended up having a cardiac arrest! And..' I heard Akki's voice breaking...
I was speechless...
Di was pregnant???😳 and why didn't she tell me?
While tears flowed nonstop from my eyes!!!
'Bela....you there'
'Ummm Akki...and...ba....ba.... baby'
'She is good Bela!!! Just come soon' she said
'Urhhh... urghhh ya Akki... I'm coming... please take care..I'm boarding next flight to India.'
And I boarded the next flight ✈️
The minute I sat on the flight... I leaned on my seat! The only thing that hit me was how will I handle everyone...
And if there is...
There will be!!!
Him!
Mahir!
How will I ....
Face him,!
Huhhh!!! Really Bela! He must think about it not you!!!
So I just put on my headphones putting up my favorite music to keep my head sane!
It was a 16.5 hrs journey to Mangalore and an hour more to Udupi!!!
By the time I reached I was told they couldn't wait for me due to the bleeding and her body going worse 🥺😢
My bestie...my piece of soul...my heart... I couldn't see her for the last time too!
My eyes filled with tears...I broke down...
While Akki and Sow took me along...
While leaving from there my eyes met one pair of eyes that was enough to freeze me to death!
I could forget anything on this planet but those eyes!
Those chocolate brown eyes still haunted me every night for last 4 years!
He was standing there with red puffy eyes!
He also looked equally shocked seeing me!
I saw him clenching his fist!
I was also holding loose end of my kurta tightly!
I wanted to say something....
While Akki whispered in my ears...
'Bela... not now.....and not here please.... You are in his farmhouse!'
I turned around and looked at Akki in shock 😳
Rituals were completed...
Post funeral pyre... Akki asked me to go back to farmhouse.
'NEVER!' I told!
'Ok... Calm down... But I need to talk to you Bela...it's urgent and important too...' she said..
While I heard his voice for the first time in 4 years...
'Akshata... This is not my house... It's Brinda's house. She bought it. This was our her holiday home. Her relatives can stay here!
I...
I will go back to my Sehgals resort!'
Next second I heard his footsteps!
***
(In Akshata's office)
'I'm sorry Bela to have called you to office at this point of time!!! I know the situation back home! ' she said...
'Home???? What's home Akki...???
Home is made with people.
The lady who died 2 days back was my only relationship that I could call as family!'
'Bela....aunty tried to but you know uncl'
'Akki please.... It was expected from them! Respect and family name, society always mattered beyond everything else!
That family was long gone Akshata!
If a pregnant daughters death didn't impact her then this alive one is absolutely out of question!...
Anyways... tell me what's the matter... what is important?' I asked...
'Just wait for 5 more mins... waiting for someone!' she said...
Next minute we heard a knock
And the very next second seat next to me was filled!
Musk cologne already hit my nose!
I knew who it was...
I got up at once...
'Akki...I guess let's discuss this later personally!'
While she said...
'Sitdown Bela!!! I need to talk to both of you together! Please understand... I'm not just your friend alone I was also Brinda's lawyer and official advisor for Gulmohar's!'
She said.... And I took my seat!
'Brinda has left a will!
I wanted you both to read it!
She.....has...given equal rights of Gulmohar's divided into you both!
50% partnership each!'
Before I could say anything I heard him say...
'I don't need it Akshata... I'm ready to let that go! I need to go home! You know she is alone at home'
'Mahir wait...
Fine you don't want Gulmohar's...
But the next is regarding the 'she' alone at home!!!
Still wanna leave?'
Next minute I heard him collapse quietly on chair next to me!'
'Bela... Mahir....
Brinda has not only divided her business, her farmhouse and her Penthouse rights to both of you 'equally'
But has also desired and written off both of you as 'joint guardians' to her daughter.
I was shocked and so was he!
My eyes filled with tears hearing about my neice... 😢
'I never knew she was pregnant!'
Before I could say anything I heard a roar in the office...
'Im not sharing Musky with anyone!
She's mine! I can take care of my child!'
He announced!!!
That's when I lifted my head and saw his blood red eyes... I could see his veins out of his clenching fist!
'I can take care of my child!!!' hammered in my ears 🥺😢
He and my Di 😢
Baby 😢
I felt a last string left in my heart break right now!
I was all hollow And empty right now!!!
'Mahir it's not my decision!
It's Brinda's decision!
She's written it on the will!
She's given you both joint custody of the child that too till either one of you gets married! As per her will till either one of you gets married you both will co-parent Muskaan!
In any case any of you plans to get married the other one becomes the soul parent of the child!
If both of you prefer to marry your partner's in near future and there is no one for Musky she goes under foster care!
Till then you both either co-parent Muskaan or....'
'Or?' came out of my mouth
'Or... right away Musky gets to foster care and will soon be going to adoption center!!!'
She broke the bomb on our heads!!!
😳
I stood up at once...
'She is my Di's flesh and blood Akshata... She won't go to foster care! I can take care of my neice all alone!'
While I heard him...
'Akshata... Although I didn't bare her 9 month's in my womb but since the minute Brinda told me about her existence I have been with her like shadow!
Musky feels me Akshata. I have seen her with me for last 4 days... We have a silent bond Akshata ... Don't take her away from me!'.
'There is nothing to take away...I'm the godmother! I keep her... I would never let her be with people who dont value their own people! What will they take care of a little life!"
'Akshata...I'm fighting this in court!' he announced...
'Im ready too' I said...
'Stop it you guys!
Are you idiots?
With your stupid egoistic fight you guys are screwing life of a 4 days old!
Are you both mad!
Inspite of having you both...
Should Muskaan go to an adoption care?
Don't you Both feel ashamed to fight for her in court?
Sort it like matured individuals!!!' she announced and left the room!
There was pin drop silence in the room!
I heard him say...
'She is my baby while still in Brinda's stomach! Don't take her away from me!!!"
He said and he left!
Entire day I kept thinking!
Finally I asked my PA Suhani to get him for dinner!
He was on!
But he sounded hellbent to have Muskaan only to himself!
He even gave up Gulmohar's! But not Muskaan!!!
***
Now currently lying down on bed I was thinking about what all happened in our life!!!
From where wev reached where!!
How tangled and complicated had our relationships become!
Brinda Di was pregnant with Mahir's baby and I never even knew!!!
That Mahir who was my ex husband!
That Di...who left Mahir to marry Souvik jiju!
Souvik jiju who committed a suicide 8 months back!!!
No one knew why!!!
But Mahir and Brinda Di's relationship came as a shocker to me 🥺
Is this the reason Souvik jiju commited suicide?
After all Brinda Di was Mahir's first love!!!
If so why did Di want me to Co-parent her child?
Isn't Mahir Sehgal capable enough?
I had a 100 questions in my head!
I had to meet Akshata tomorrow morning and also wanted to meet Muskaan...
Musky 💖 nice name...
I played old classic on my phone and out on my headphones 🎧
🎵🎶
Bichray abi tou hum
bus kal parsoun
jioungi main kaisay
is haal main barsoun
maut na ayii
teri yaad kyun ayiii
hayee
lambhi judai
char dinan da pyaarr oo Rabba
bari lambi judai
lambi judai
hontoun pai ayii meri jaaan dohayii
hayeee
lambhi judai
char dinoun da pyar oh Rabba
bari lambhi judai
lambhi judai
🎶🎵
Today every single lyrics of this song came from my heart...
No Bela.... not this lifetime atleast!!!
I can never be someone else's Bela...
This emotion that I share with you is only ...mine and yours...Ours Bela...
And he kissed me tightly 😢
You forgot everything Mahir?
Everything 😢
A lone tear escaped my eye...
I quickly rubbed it!
'You have a responsibility on you Bela!
Muskaan....your last hope as family ❤️
And you know that man is incapable to handle relationships even though he is the father of the child!
But I can't let it be fucked up!
She's your bloodline!
Blood is still thicker than water!
My issues with my sister is my headache,!
Shouldn't affect my godchild!
I'm getting her back!
Bela Sharma will do it all!
Position!!! Power!!! Money!!!
I get her to me and only to me!
She isn't going to that man or a foster care! NEVER!!!
I was determined!!!
Slowly...I drifted to sleep!