I would have cried my heart out, had I not heard, " Didi! Come fast! "

Mini only called me didi when she had something important to do.

I rushed out of the bathroom, looking into the drawing room.

My heart stopped in its chest. I couldn't breathe. All I could do is call the ambulance.

^•^•^•^•^^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

Flashing lights. Sounds of crying. Once more.

Relentless pacing around the hall, clutching a small child. Clutching my grandmother.

Once more.

Doors opened. The same words. Wailing sounds of a wife. Crying sounds of a granddaughter. All that was missing was the roars of anguish of an old father.

^•^•^•^•^^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

The same white clothes. The same chants. The same people. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. People who didn't bother unless something severe happened.

The sounds of a wife's pain. The agony. Her silence. Her horrifying silence.

Yet again, the same rounds. The same doctor's office. The same words.

The same clothes yet again. The same chants.

The bright pyre burning.

Silence.
Silence.
Silence.

^•^•^•^•^^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

" What will they do now? They lost both? " One aunt would whisper.

" What about the younger one. She won't care. She has to make a career. Who will look after the child? "

" Don't you know? She hates her younger sister. "

" Why I don't believe you. They might fight, but she has to love her sister to death. "

" Yes. To -"

" The child needs a mother. We should put her up for adoption-"

" Shut up. All of you! "

" Mind your tone Mini. "

" No didi. These people need to learn. She has been my mother than you all could ever be! She's rhe one who sat with me at night, when I would cry for my mummy. She's the one who would be there, surviving on shots of caffine. Pain. Endless pain I felt. She was the one who vanished it. So dont you dare stand there and say I need a mother. She's all the mother I will ever need and want. " Mini said, voice clear, unwavering, but eyes moist with tears.

" Mini? " Was all I could whisper.

That night, we had maggi for dinner. It was the best maggi of my life.....

^•^•^•^•^^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

Yudhishthir and Ashwatthama were just tagging along. No one could see Yudhishthir and no one actually cared who Ashwatthama was, they were all busy with their own work.

When people left, I was the most relieved person in the entire world.

I sat down to study. Life doesn't wait simply because time plays its game. I heard the door creaking open. Must be Mini. She must be hungry. I'll make rice and daal later for dinner.

There was someone else however who watched through the door.

That someone had an idea.

Yudhishthir's Point of View.

I must do something to alleviate her pain. Her anguish is just like ours when we lost pitashree. Her pain internal. No signs of it outside. No care for the world other than the one that now lived in her house.

I knew her grandfather had shirts and pants around. Is that what they are called?

So I did. I had seen Ashwa wear them. How hard could it be?

Very hard. I don't understand the concept of covering your upper part with so much clothing. A simple angvastr should be enough.

But anyways.

I wore the clothes and went into Mini's room.

" Hey? "

" AJ bhaiya! " She shoutwd, hugging my legs. That's all she reached to.

Both sisters were very physically affectionate it seems.

" Hi kid. What's up? " I tried. I really tried. Sagarika had told me how they talked to each other. She always found it amusing.

" Hey. Why don't you go and cheer your didi up. She seems tired. Make her a coffee? Coffee. She needs it. I'll help you boil the milk. "

" Oh. I didn't know didi was sad. Why didn't she tell me? " She asked, looking up.

I had seen the amount of respect Sagarika had gained in her sister's eyes after the incidents. It was beautiful.

I sat down, eye level to her.

" That's because she cares for you dear one. She doesn't want you to feel sad. " I told her.

" Oh. Now I'll ask didi if she's sad fifty. No hundred. Yes. Hundred times a day. She'll tell me eventually. " She said, smiling.
" Also, bhaiya what are you wearing. I've  never seen you wear anything but a t shirt and shorts all the time. "

I was confused. Then I recalled. AJ was an acting student. Or an aspiring one.

" Yes little one. It's for my role. " I told her, hoping that life goes back to normal for these two children.

^•^•^•^•^^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^
(Back to Saag)

' Dear AJ. How's life in dwapar yug? I hope you found a bhabi for me. I heard women in the olden times were rather wise and extremely beautiful too. Dadu amd dadi went to krishn ji. Heart attack and shock. I know and dont need your sorry. I have heard enough of the I'm sorry's from so many people that at this point I don't care.

Anyways, tell me how life is.
Love
Your best friend
Sagarika. ' I wrote out on the sheet that Krishn had given me.

Now was the one time I needed my best friend. I vanished the writing, hoping he gets it.

As I began to keep the sheet away, I heard the loud cheers of Mini.

" Didi! Didi! Look I made you coffee. " She shouted, running inside with Yudhishthir in the tow. He held a mug in his hand.

But what shook me the most was the clothes he wore.

" Look didi. AJ bhaiya helped me make coffee for you. Can we keep him? " She asked jumping.

I couldn't help but laugh at her excitement, opening my arms to hug her.

She jumped in and then whispered. " You can tell me if you're sad you know. I'm strong too. "

I couldn't help but hug her harder.

" Don't worry Mini. I'm big. You focus on your studies. "

" But tell me. Will you tell me if you're sad? Will you? Will you? Will you? " She said jumping.

" Haan babare. I'll tell you. Now go study. I love you. " I said, kissing her forehead.

" I love you too. "

She skipped her way out of my room.

I looked at the man in the room.

"Thank you. You've made her day. "

" And yours? "

" Look. I am sorry for my words that day. I was angry. But we still need to sort this out. Ashwatthama can't just drop the news of you being a spy and run away. " I said, but voice softening at his anxious face.

" Alright. I'm sorry. "

" Me too. Me too. You can sleep in here. I won't mind. Just make sure Mini can't see you anymore. She'll not like it. "

" I understand. She's a sweet child."

" I know. She's like my mother. Bubbly and yet fierce. I swear. If Narayan takes her away from me, I'll rain carnage. "

" No one ever could. No one can stand in front of you. " He said, surety in his voice.

" Do you want to paint again? "

" May I? "

" You're my friend. You need not ask permission. I am angry at your behaviour. But you and Mini are my only source of happiness right now. AJ is gone. Dadu and dadi are gone. Mummy papa. Everyone left. They left ne alone. " I said, but then straightened my spine.

If I want to pay for my sister, I need to study. I should also find a part time job at a grocery store, or a cloth store. I need money. Desperately.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Don't come at me!

The scene with the coffee is by my friend, fandomarcade
I asked her for help and she has given me the best idea possible.

Check out her books too. She's a phenomenal writer.

I hope you enjoyed the story. The cliffhanger was better or this?

Anyways.
Share your opinions via comments and votes.

Much love.

Radhekrishn. ❤