'Love like flowers and fire'

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Manzar's POV

Approaching the receptionist never felt like a tough task of the world famous hospital, Max.
I was hyperventilating when I reached her, maybe my face was more horrifying than I was thinking because as soon as I reached she asked me,
“You okay ma’am?”

I read a book once when I was in my late school days, the words I quote said- we get all defensive when there is a possible threat looming upon our heads, the threat could be in several forms, it could be an actual life or death situation where you are being hunted or it could be when your food is being hunted and you are scared to lose what you’ve gained after so much struggle.

I was rambling in my head, the words were not quoted the exact way I’ve read them yet my mind was relating me to them.

The defense system was so active right now that it was searching for holes so that my person can be protected. So that I could prevent myself some hate from the people I love. The people matter to me.

I wasn’t the wise one, I never was. I needed to defend myself to prevent my self loathing.

The urge to hide and shut her with a sarcasm was too much, but almost too much damage was already done.

I nodded still huffing,
“What is the room number, Dr. Seher Saini is in? I am her sister.”

“One second ma’am”
she looked at me worriedly and then went back on her computer work.

The lady behind the desk did some tick-tack on her computer and I was losing all my patience.

“Please hurry, She must be about to have a bab…”

“Oh, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, just half an hour ago, Manzar. Congratulations.”
Said a voice behind me.

Upon turning I came across a familiar face of Seher’s friend, Dr. Mukund, who was wearing his scrubs.

“Which room?” I asked him

Both him and the receptionist replied together, “119 B first floor”

I just needed the room number because my steps were already dragging me to the destination.

“Both her and the baby are fine, Manzar. Walk, don’t run.” Came Dr. Mukunds’ response but I wasn’t in a mood to slow down.

I wasn’t in mood to acknowledge the guy my mother once tried to set me up with.

Within seconds I was in front of their room, I wasn’t able to hear what was going inside but I was surely able to hear my thudding heart.

It was palpitating.

I took three deep breaths and then knocked twice on the door before opening.

I wasn’t even able to slip my toe inside when Aditya’s face was in front of me,
“I don’t need you here. Get out!”
he boomed

He shut the door on my face. Just then I heard the soft cries of my nephew, I was dying to see him.

“Aditya, Bhaia, please let me meet her, just once please. I’m sorry Seher. So sorry.”

I cried not caring everybody was looking at me, nurses sharing glances and few other patients looking at me weirdly.

“Seher please! Please Seher. I know I was wrong. I promise I will not do anything like this ever again please, Seher. Please.”

I crouched down in front of the door, feeling helpless. I just can’t believe myself, I risked the life of my sister and my nephew who was about to see this world after 3 more weeks.

The cries shushed when the door opened and I saw his shoes wrapped in polythene.

“Stop making a scene Manzar, get up.”

I need not to tell twice,
“Please Bhaia let me see her, both of them. I love her Bhaia. Please.”

He grabbed my arm tightly, I winced in pain but didn’t showed it, I deserve what I was getting.

“She delivered the baby before the due date. Do you even have the slightest idea how much of a risk it is to deliver a baby before the completion of 40 weeks or the fucking due date.”

“She fainted before reaching the hospital. You know that? I was this close to lose them both.”
He screamed at me, clutching my arm tightly

I cried even harder,
“I am so sorry. Let me meet her I will apologize for what I did.”

I was trying to peek inside I needed a single glimpse to assure my heart they both were fine.

“You think I will allow you? Never!”
he looked murderous by now

The nurses near us were looking at us like I was some home wrecker or something.

“Bhaia please. Please.”
I pressed my palm together pleading him, crying.

His gaze softened looking at me.
“I am a bad girl Bhaia please I promise I will never come in front of both of them, just one look please.”

“Manzar…”

“Please Bhaia…” I cried my hands still in the same position

“Beta…” just then he hugged me, squeezing me tight,
“I can’t be angry with you for longer than this.”

I cried clutching his shirt. I was weeping badly.

I couldn’t care less, my face was possibly a mess, tears running down my now red puffy eyes, nose all snort-y and mouth trembling not even able to control the whimpers coming out.
“I’m so sorry”

“It’s okay. Breathe, just breathe.”

“They both are fine. The baby is healthy and so is your sister.”

He hugged me tight and brushed my head before kissing it.
“Calm down. I’m also sorry for my behavi…”

“No! You did nothing wrong. It was all me. I should’ve kept my calm and explained it to everybody”

Aditya cupped my face,
“We were just trying to make you happy nothing else, you didn’t even let us to complete what we had to say, you know that right.?”

I nodded now wiping my tears,
“I am sorry.”

“It’s okay”
he hugged me once again and kissed my head,
“Let’s get you all clean before your sister could pluck my own eyes out.”

I tried to smile, I really did but it never came. I was still tensed. Seher was going to kill me before plucking his eyes off.

After splashing my face with cold water twice and then trice, I was certain my good for nothing face was lacking moisture.

First crying and now splashing.

I wiped my nose to the level it turned blood red and tried to comb my hair with my fingers.

When I was looking two out of ten on my rating scale I walked out.

“Whoa! Guess who looks like those monkeys.” Aditya remarked

“Shut up!”
I grumbled running a hand through my still wet-ty nose

“Here I brought you some coffee”
I took the paper cup from him and took a deep breath in, inhaling the fragrance, hoping it would calm my heart beats.

“I am sorry”
I said looking up at Aditya, who was now calm and was looking out the window near the lounge area.
My eyes once again threatened to fill with warm salty water

He nodded saying,
“You know you did a number on her, she was crying the whole way when we were driving her to the hospital. Mom and Dad, they were both trying to talk her out to take deep breaths where she was worried sick about you being alone in the house”
he sighed

“she was worried that you will blame yourself if anything happen to her and the baby. She was telling mom to stay home for you, so that you won’t freak out once hearing the news, but we were almost half way”

I sniffled.

“Hey! I am not telling you this all to make you feel bad or to cry again. I want you to know, you are her first child before the child she just gave birth too. She loves you more than she loves herself.”

“She doesn’t really love herself.”

I said looking into his eyes, biting my upper lips to stop it from trembling my eyes were again shedding tears.

He laughed, “So why is her cupboard is filled with all those creams and lotions or what we call that found… something of her skin colour?” he tried remembering the word

I smiled a little,” foundation” before sniffling

“Yes! That! Explain why?”

“That is because she loves you.”

“How this got anything to do with me?”

“You like her when she wear makeup?”

“Her skin looks shiny and her black eyes become more vibrant and…”

“I take that as a yes… so she loves you more.”

“Hey! But nothing can defeat her morning grumpy face”
he said making a crunchy look mimicking Seher’s morning expression

“You did not just made fun of my elder sister!” I gasped

“What! I do that all the time” he shrugged smiling

“Come on let me show you my son.”
He said standing up giving me his hand

I followed with trembling beats.

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I hope you like it,
with love
Ankita 🦋