Motherly Love

VISHVA

We just need to get to that forest somehow. There they won’t be able to shoot us, as the trees would provide cover for us and we will be able to make our escape.

While I was planning our next move, I felt a sudden pain on my left calf that made me fall to the ground. It was an arrow—I got struck by an arrow.

Blood started coming from where I had been struck. I didn’t pull it out as it would only open the wound and cause more bleeding. The only thing I can do right now was to just bear the pain and run with it.

As I was trying to get up, I saw Anant rushing towards me. Just at that time I felt as if something had passed over me. But after just one blink, I realised it was an arrow which was advancing towards Anant. I immediately tried to get up but wasn’t able to due to my wound.

Shit! I won't be able to reach him.

Now all I could do was just scream at him.

“ANANT!”

No! Please! Not him. Somebody save him!

As I was praying for some miracle to happen, astonished; a miracle did happen. But it was not the one I wished for. Just in time someone pushed my son out of the way and got struck instead. And that someone was none other than my own wife.

I wanted to quickly rush over to my wife but before that I had to finish that soldier. I quickly searched my surroundings for any weapon that I could use and found nothing but just a bunch of rocks lying on the ground. Seeing those rocks, I had an idea. I grabbed a decent size rock, mustered as much energy as I could in my right palm and with the help of wind magic, I threw the rock with accelerated speed at the soldier. The rock brutally struck the soldier’s head potentially breaking his skull. I then slowly crawled to my injured wife.

“No, no, no stay with me,” I said to my wife who was breathing heavily.

“Anant hold your sister and stay with me,” I said before carrying my wife to a nearest small tree to take cover at. I could barely walk myself.

Shit! The arrow struck her in the abdomen.

She was bleeding very badly. I had to stop the bleeding, but how? I tried to apply pressure around the wound, but she grabbed my hand.

SUMATI

My consciousness was fading away slowly. I knew I won’t be able to live. I was in a constant pain. But the two guys in front of me were in more pain than I could ever imagine. They weren’t feeling any physical pain, but rather a far more mental and emotional pain. The pain of watching their loved one dying in such a pitiful condition. My husband tried to stop my bleeding, but I stopped him. I knew this was futile. Now, I just wanted to say them goodbye.

“Honey don’t. We both know I won’t be able to survive.”

Hearing my sad words, tears filled in both of their eyes.

“Don’t c-cry you two. At—” seeing them cry, tears also started coming through my eyes— “At least let me say my final goodbye with a smile.”

I saw my tired husband whose leg was bleeding. He tried to do so much today. He tried to protect us… he tried to protect that little girl… but in the end… fate had some other plans for him.

“Honey, I’m sorry.”

He tried to speak but couldn’t muster his words.

I turned my gaze towards Anant. He was holding his little sister in his arms. Each drop of tears that trickled down his face looked as if they were some precious pearls of a boundless ocean. I couldn’t believe he was just 4 years old. No child of any age should experience what he did today. I feel like... I failed as a parent.

“I-I’m sorry Anant, but you have to go with your father.”

“No! Please try to move, please!” said my weeping son.

My eyes were slowly closing. Before going to my eternal sleep, I stretched my hand and patted my son’s head. While slowly fondling my son's long silky navy blue hair, I gathered the courage for my last words.

“Anant, grow up to be a good man and always help those in need. Be a responsible big brother to your little sister, I will always be watching you from afar.”

I then looked at my husband who couldn’t stop his tears.

“Ho-honey, take good care of them. Don’t let them feel my absence.”

Lastly, I looked at my crying daughter. She was looking so innocent, not knowing what was happening around her.

“Khushi, I know you won’t remember my face nor my voice but let me tell you—” tears started flowing through my eyes— “I love you with all my heart and will always watch you from the sky. I hope you grow up to be a beautiful and kind girl.”

Listening to my last words, we all knew it’s now time to say goodbye. I mustered up all my strength and said with a teary smile, “Th-thank you for listening my last words. It’s now time to say goodbye.”

As I was talking with my last remaining breath, we heard the footsteps of the soldiers coming.

 “We have talked enough. You should go now, they are coming.”

Both of them refused to get up. Seeing I had no other choice, I screamed my husband’s name, “VISHVA!”

Hearing his name, reality struck him. He quickly got up, dragged Anant who didn’t want to leave me and ran. While watching them leave, I slowly closed my eyes. Flashes of our wedding, the moment Anant was born, his childhood days and finally my little time with Khushi flashed before my eyes. All these memories left a sweet smile on my face. While happily reminiscing on the past, I slowly fell into a deep slumber.