"There's nothing as powerful as a mother's love, and nothing as healing as a child's soul."

-Anonymous

______

16th May

Anindita's p.o.v.:

My first meeting with Agamani had been a brief one. She is such a beautiful child with an unfortunate blemish on her person. Her eyes are like her father's as is her jaw and nose. A photograph of her mother on her bedroom's wall gave me an idea as to how beautiful the woman had been. Agamani had clearly inherited her father's features but strangely, anyone can tell that she's the woman's daughter at just one glance. I wonder how much the girl remembers her mother though, given the fact that she had very less time with her. How can destiny be so cruel?

While driving home from Worli, I couldn't help but recall her reaction. Truth be told, I don't mind her words... Instead, I am worried for her. Physical flaws such as acne, warts, moles, scars etc. are enough to give teenagers and vain girls a nightmare, but do they ever pause to think how it would be to have a physical flaw for a face? Satyaki is right when he says I would understand Agamani's point of view well as I had gone through it all. The situation is so similar yet so very different.

The girl is young and too small to understand the complex things in the world. It is the time for her to play with dolls, cars and toys. The perfect age for her to be carefree and to believe that mermaids, fairies, witches, talking dogs, Angry Birds and Disney princesses are real... the same way I did, the same way her father did and the same way all children do. But she is faced with a challenge that is easier accepted than fulfilled. At an age when fairy tale princesses tend to be role models, she has to be stronger than any Elsa, Cinderella, Snow White or Ariel she knows, after all, they never had to fight with their own conscience to overcome a complex.

Her physical flaw is one that cannot be removed ever... she is going to be stuck with it all her life. The world is going to stare at her face always, she is going to be made conscious about her flaws, there will be an entire army of people who would want to pull her down but she has to move on. The only way of survival is acceptance.

...

Ma was waiting for me when I reached home at 9 p.m.

"Where were you, Ani? You know your Baba's physiotherapist wanted to speak to you."

I knew that the doctor had wanted to meet me. What if it is some bad news? I know it was irresponsible of me, I shouldn't have chosen to procrastinate the meeting.

"Sorry ma, bari firte deri hoe gieche (I got delayed while returning home). I will speak to the doctor over the phone. You should go to bed soon. You need to take your medicines tomorrow." I reminded her while answering her in brief

Ma usually undergoes her weekly dialysis on Mondays. She is required to take some medicines on Sundays that leave her weak and tired, so basically, household duties are mine every Sunday and Monday. Up till a few months ago, I didn't have to be so tense or even worried as my cousin sister, Aparajita had been there. She got married last November and has just entered her 5th month of pregnancy. She has always been a great support to me, not financially perhaps but she had been there for me morally and emotionally. Two years younger than me, she is the daughter of my late uncle and Baba's younger brother, Amartya. She currently lives in Versova with her husband and the two of us meet once in a while.

"Alright, please do call the doctor tonight itself and I am going to bed now. I have kept dinner for you on the table. Good night sweetheart." Ma told me with a kiss and that brought me out of my thoughts

I smiled widely at her and accompanied her to their room to wish Baba good night.

...

I got off the 45-minute long phone call with the doctor. He explained to me patiently that there was no sensation in Baba's limbs which might not be a good sign. Paralysis following his stroke had also left him incapable of talking clearly and that honestly breaks my heart as his daughter. I asked him if prolonged physiotherapy would help and he told me that the sessions could continue but the results may not turn out to be positive. Irrespective of the outcome, the sessions have to continue. I can't give up on Baba so easily... he would have never given up on me!

After eating the food that Ma had left for me and washing the dishes, I sat down on my bed cross-legged with the new book I had purchased. I couldn't read... I was too distracted. Distracted by what the doctor told me, by Agamani, by Ma and her aged, tired self and by everything in general.

Sighing to myself, I took out my phone. There were unread messages that I opened.

1 from Dada, 3 from Satyaki and 4 from Aparajita.

I opened the ones from my dear sister first. Her baby had kicked for the first time and she was super excited. It felt heartwarming to see my little sister with a hand on top of her protruding belly and a cheeky smile on her face.

The one from Dada was basically a picture that he found, of the two of us which had been taken at his wedding, 10 years ago. I replied to him with a basic 'smile' emoji and proceeded to read the messages from Satyaki.

"I spoke to Dugga about you. I told her that you fly aeroplanes and she is all pumped up to meet you again."

"Would you like to meet her again, Anindita? I know you said you don't mind her words, yet I think I would like to apologize for what she said."

"Please do let me know if you would meet us again. Will await a response. Regards, Satyaki."

I obviously want to meet Agamani again. However, that would have to wait. I typed out a reply to Satyaki immediately:

"Hi. I am obviously looking forward to meeting her again. However, I am flying out on Tuesday to Paris via Dubai. I will reach Dubai on Thursday from Paris and will take a flight back to Mumbai on Friday. Maybe, I can meet her on Saturday, the same time as today?"

He replied instantly, texting me that it would be fine.

I marvelled at his desperation to help his only daughter. Smiling to myself, I lowered my head onto the pillow and lied down, staring at the ceiling. Agamani had imprinted on me, deeply. Something about her reluctant smile, the distinct, discoloured and burnt skin on her jaw and neck, her innocent eyes had left me mesmerized. I feel so immensely connected to her. She's deprived of her mother's love but she is her father's universe. She is beautiful yet flawed. The child was oddly quiet; something that most kids don't tend to be. But as they say, "The quietest mouths have the loudest minds."

Given her situation, I wonder how loud and sharp her thoughts can be; perhaps loud enough to potentially deafen her own innocent self.

...

23rd May

Third person's p.o.v.:

Anindita went to meet Agamani and Satyaki in the evening. She had got the little girl a tiny Eiffel Tower miniature as a souvenir from Paris, along with some chocolates that she had bought at Dubai Duty Free. Her heart lifted joyfully as she parked the car in the visitors' parking at Worli. She signed the visitor's register and made her way to Satyaki's flat on the third floor, via elevator. The door was opened by Satyaki's mother who immediately smiled at Anindita. She told her that her granddaughter was sitting in the balcony by herself as her father had left a while ago, owing to some emergency at the hospital.

Anindita made her way to where Agamani was. She was quietly looking at the children who were either playing or walking with their parents on the Worli Sea Face promenade. Her eyes were distant and she seemed pensive. The sound of an airplane flying grabbed her attention, and she looked up, her eyes scanning the skies for the fascinating airplane. Anindita smiled tenderly looking at the curiosity in the little girl's gaze. She asked her softly,

"You like airplanes?"

Agamani turned her little head to where Anindita was standing. She smiled slightly and beckoned the woman to come and sit next to her. Anindita went and sat next to her without any vacillation.

"I like planes." the little girl replied at length

"I have something for you. Will you please accept them?"

Agamani looked expectantly and Anindita gave her the chocolates and the little Eiffel tower, willing with all her heart that she likes the small gifts. To her relief and joy, the little girl's face lit up.

"Thank you Anindita Auntie," she said with a smile.

Anindita felt her heartwarming up at the endearment used by the child. It sounded so, so homely.

"Can I ask you something, sweetie?"

At the girl's nod of approval, she began speaking, "You know I have always loved the sea. Especially when I fly. The water below seems so distant and beautiful. The waves seem almost non-existent. Do you like the sea?"

Agamani nodded and pointed to the promenade, "I do. Papa and I sometimes walk there as well. We like watching the waves. And you know, I love aeroplanes. Papa says I have been on flights quite a few times but I don't remember as I was small. I want to see too how the sea looks from the sky."

"You know I fly aeroplanes?"

"Yes. Papa told me. My father can drive a car but he says he cannot fly an aeroplane," she explained to Anindita innocently.

She laughed at the girl's naivete, "Oh sweetheart, you need a different license for that."

"Can I get one?" she asked earnestly

Anindita was very calculative in her words when she replied, "If that is what your heart desires and if that is what you strive for, then why not? But for now, you have a beautiful life ahead and you must look forward to that without worrying about your profession."

...

Anindita spent around an hour more with Agamani in the balcony, both of them sitting silently staring at the sea, with prolonged sighs and occasional honks disturbing the serene silence. The sun had gone down and the moon shone down on the distant sea, almost making the waves glitter. The stars lit the evening sky. Agamani's gaze was focused on the twinkling stars. Anindita had her knees pulled up to her chest as she leaned against the wall. Her hands cradled her head as she enjoyed the evening breeze.

"You know Auntie, Papa told me that my Mumma is a star." a small voice, woven with melancholy and emotion spoke up, breaking the tranquillity that Anindita had been enjoying

Agamani's words grabbed her attention as she looked up to face the little girl who had moist eyes.

"Sweetheart," she sighed, "she misses you the same way you miss her."

"Why did she leave me and go? Does she not love me?"

"God needed her help with some work, baby. That is why He made her a star. She did not leave you and go because she doesn't love you. Never doubt her love for you! No one can ever love you more than she loves you. Look at the stars and how they twinkle... if she sees you sad or crying, the twinkling would stop. Smile, sweetheart. Your mother wants you to be the strongest, the happiest and always the best daughter you can be, for your father."

That evening, Agamani opened her closed self to a woman who had concealed pain just like herself. Destiny had caused the two of them to meet... perhaps because both had equal flaws and the balm to soothe one another's pain.

...

To be continued...

A/N: Hello everyone. So the lockdown in India has been extended till 3rd May. I hope all of you are safe in the protective enclosure of your home. I hope all of you are doing well and are in the best of health.

I hope all of us together as a society get to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic soon. Take care of all of yourself.

With love,

Shubhadittya

PUBLISHED ON: 17th April 2020