CHAVAN NIVAS, MUMBAI.

Ninad sought for his elder sister-in-law in privacy.

He found her on the couch of the living room. His heart was heavy, voice laced with remorse as he conveyed the unfortunate passing of Raghav Shinde.

Bhavani thought for a moment, shutting down the file in her hand.

"We need to get them here." She ordered, her tone composed and soft. Despite the inner turmoil and grief she faced, she acted in a composed manner.

"Tell Ashwini and Sonali to prepare three rooms." She tucked the file away, ready to move to her room.

"Is someone coming over, Aai?" Devyani asked, coming down with the rest of the family.

"Yes. Mansi, Samrat and Aarohi are coming home." She said.

Turning to Ashwini and Sonali, she added, "Prepare three rooms. No, Aarohi is too young, she will not be able to sleep alone. But still," she exhaled, "prepare three rooms. Ninad, Omi and I will go to pick them."

"What about Raghav ji? Is he not coming?" Omkar inquired.

"Actually," Ninad hesitated. "Raghav ji was martyred on the borders."

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"Aai, instead of Omi kaka, can I come with you?" Devyani insisted, assisting her mother with the packing.

"No, Devu. Ninad, Omi and I will handle everything."

"But Aai, someone needs to handle the business in your absence. Omkar kaka is the best at it, and, there's a small child, Aarohi, my younger sister, also. You won't be able to take care of her with all these responsibilities."

"Devyani, I... "

"Aai, please." She pleaded, holding her mother's hand. Bhavani yielded, a defeated sigh escaping her lips. "Fine, pack your bags. I will inform Omkar."

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ARMY QUARTERS, GUJARAT.

The lifeless form of Raghav lingered in Aarohi's mind. His thin, dry lips; pale, cold arms marked with injuries; stuff joints and muscles.

His death was enough to overwrite all the good moments they had spent together.

Aarohi had known death when she was as young as four. Her only living guardian, shot on the chest, died in front of her eyes. The brutal reality slapping her on the face as she wandered through the desolate streets.

"Baba," she gasped, sitting up on the bed. She breathed, wiping away the sweat beads on her forehead. A strange fear filled her heart giving rise to tears in her eyes.

Baba is dead. Will they abandon me now? Will I go back to being a nameless, orphaned street girl?

Her head pounded in pain and exhaustion. She wrapped her arms around herself, holding herself tightly and sobbed silently, rocking herself on the bed.

Mansi and Samrat were fast asleep, the pain in their hearts exhausting them. It had been nearly two weeks since the funeral and neither spoke or ate. They just locked themselves in their room, trying to come in terms with their loss.

Is Aarohi a burden to them now?

She was lying awake on the bed. Her stomach rumbled in hunger, but she dared not to say a word to anyone. Her fear of abandonment forced her lips to remain sealed. When it became unbearable, she gulped down a lot of water and got back on the bed.

The hands of the clock ticked, the clock reading the late midnight hour - 2:45 AM. Aarohi, surrounded by the silence and darkness, was staring at the ceiling aimlessly when the doorbell rang.

The first time, even she missed. The second time, she sat on her bed and stared at the empty hallway.

She waited, to check if Samrat or Mansi would open the door. When it rang the third time, and no one came out, she moved out to open the door.

Sliding the door lock open, she turned on the lights in the corridor and main room. She could see the silhouettes of people under the dim lights and hear their hushed whispers.

There were two women - an older, experienced one and a younger, youthful lady - and a man, with a familiar voice. Slowly, she reached out to the mesh door, peering at them.

"Yes?" She asked, her voice hoarse and rough. Her throat felt dry, giving rise to the urge to drink water.

"Aarohi, it's me. Ninad uncle." He said, smiling at her. Opening the door, Aarohi hugged him tightly. "Ninad uncle!" She squeaked. Pulling away, she looked at the ladies, her memory betraying her of their relation.

"Come in," she offered, holding the door open for them. Bhavani's eyes narrowed at the sight of the child - pity arising motherly feelings for the child in her tender heart.

"Aai," Devyani's voice broke her reverie, urging her to walk in. Bhavani held her hand out for Aarohi to hold. The child accepted, surprised by the roughness of the former's palms.

"Where's Mansi and Samrat?" She asked as they walked down the corridor and into the house. Ninad, shutting the mesh door, followed them.

"They're sleeping." Aarohi answered. Devyani flicked the switches on while Bhavani settled down on the sofa.

It was then that she noticed the red puffy eyes and dried tears stains on Aarohi's face. She gently cupped her face, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" She asked in a soft tone, making the child sit beside her.

"I, I was." She lied. "I woke up because the bell was ringing."

Bhavani pursed her lips, staring at the child in contemplation.

"Hi," Devyani beamed at the little child. "I'm Devyani, your tai. Your one and only elder sister."

Aarohi stared at Devyani in awe. Dusky brown in complexion, with a deep black eyes lined with Kohl and flowy jet black hair that stopped above her waist; in the eyes of Aarohi, Devyani was an out worldly being.

"You're so beautiful, tai." She breathed, her cheeks flushed scarlet. Devyani giggled, taking her on her lap and caressed her hair. "And you are the cutest, Aarohi."

Putting her arms around the child, she coddled her in her warmth. Aarohi snuggled against her sister, her eyes closing in exhaustion.

"Devu, take her to her room and make her sleep." Bhavani instructed.

"What about you..." Aarohi spoke in a sleepy tone.

"Badi Mami," Bhavani added, understanding the pause.

"Yes. Where will Tai, Ninad uncle and you sleep, badi mami?" She inquired, rubbing her eyes.

Just then, Samrat and Mansi opened the doors of their rooms, disturbed by the commotions outside.

"Why are not sleeping, Aaru?" Samrat asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Badi mami, tai and ninad uncle, are here dada!" She beamed, running to her brother's embrace.

"Vahini!" Mansi gasped. "Aap yahan? When did you come?"

"Mansi, relax." Bhavani tried to console her. Walking up the sofa, she placed a hand on Mansi's shoulder. Mansi immediately wrapped herself in Bhavani's embrace, a fresh set of tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Dada," Aarohi whispered, tugging on his shirt. "Why is Aai calling badi mami, vahini? Is that her name? And, what should I call ninad uncle?"

"That-"

"Samrat, how are you, baada?" Ninad, accidentally, interrupted. Aarohi yawned, realising that the conversation was going to take a long time.

Letting go of Samrat's shirt, she rubbed her eyes and moved to her room. Devyani followed her, her eyes wandering around the child's room.

"You sleep alone?"

"Yes," she nodded, climbing up her bed. Devyani glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the stack of books - literature, art and maths - lying on the table.

"Did you draw these, Aaru?" She asked, flipping through the art note book. Aarohi, albeit sleepy, waddled to her sister.

"This is," she stopped the flipping of pages, "Dada made it."

"He still hasn't improved." She giggled, looking at the weirdly shaped stick figures. Placing the book down, she glanced at the rest.

"You like books?"

"I love books!" Holding Devyani's hand, she led her to the bed and they both sat on it.

"Even maths?"

"It's my favourite! I love numbers."

Devyani gaped at the child. An amused smile appeared on her face as she pat her younger sister's head. "Samrat doesn't like maths but. He is very bad at it."

"Really? But he taught me maths." She asked, eyes filled with exhaustion and curiosity.

Carefully, Devyani made the little girl lie down on the bed and tucked her under the blanket.

Pressing an affectionate kiss to her forehead, Devyani conversed to Aarohi until the child fell into a deep slumber.

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