Prologue
"Kya hua inhe?"
"Sagar...utho Sagar...kuch to kaho."
"Mama...Papa ko kya hua?"
His mind was reeling. Too many words. Too many voices. What was happening? His throat felt raw...dry. He needed water. Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened his eyes. A woman stood close by. She was looking at him concerned, with tears in her eyes...tears for him? He opened his mouth to say something but he didn't know what to say. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was beautiful...in a very simple but ethereal way. He wanted to hear her voice. As he continued looking at her, a slow smile spread over her lips. She walked towards him and slowly extended her hand and touched his forehead. He flinched. She jerked her hand away and took a few steps back.
His mind screamed "No...don't leave!" but his lips wouldn't utter a word. He cleared his throat and the woman was pushed back as everyone surrounded him. Aniket jiju, Maa, Chinu, Bharat, and...Sindoora di. His fist clenched as she drew near the bed. His narrowed eyes continued looking at Sindoora while the rest of the family were still asking him things, concerned. His eyes finally left hers and slipped past Chinu, Maa, Bharat and finally landed on the woman in the back. She was silently clenching a chain in her hands, with her eyes closed shut tightly. She seemed to be praying. He smiled softly looking at her.
A few moments later, he turned to look into his maa's questioning eyes. He slowly whispered, "Maa..."
Immediately, the flood of tears began. The voices raised as everyone began speaking at once. His head was pounding...and the woman wouldn't open her eyes. She wouldn't open that clenched fist. And he couldn't stop looking at her.
Edit: I guess I forgot to mention the setting's a hospital room😳😆
I suppose you all know who the woman is😆 Sorry if it's boring. I just couldn't get that scene out of my head...so had to post it😳