Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 6

Days passed by creating memories. One more week and it would be 5 months to her pregnancy. In those days, Pratik changed for good. He took care of her and supported her whenever she needed it. Even Sirisha started showing affection towards her. This was all Adyasha needed. A perfect lovely caring family.

They had to go to the hospital once in a month for regular check-ups. One day Pratik had an important business meeting, on the day of Adyasha's check-up. It was important and he couldn't cancel it at the last minute. So he left not before giving Adyasha and Sirisha a lot of instructions to follow.

Soon Adyasha reached the hospital along with her mother-in-law. They directly went to the gynecology department. After a few minutes of waiting, Adyasha went inside the doctor's chamber where Dr. Anisha Das, one of the most renowned doctors in the city was sitting. Her friendly nature with the patient had made her different from others. And Adyasha had found herself being comfortable with her. Seeing Adyasha, Dr. Anisha put on a smile in her face which in return, Adyasha smiled back.

"How are you Adyasha?" Doctor asked.

"Very good!" Adyasha slowly replied.

The doctor asked her to lay down on a bed and asked the nurse to bring some requirements that were still not returned. So the doctor decided to check up on her. At the same time, Adyasha's phone rang and she moved a little to take the call. She was about to receive, the call cut but a faint voice from the doctor's chamber grabbed her attention.

"I gave you enough money. Now just identify the gender and tell me quickly."

"But Mam it's a crime in human's law to identify the gender while a sin to kill Almighty's little creation."

"Don't lecture me about right and wrong. I am not going to kill that infant if it will be my grandson. But I won't accept an extra burden as in the form of a girl upon my son's already complicated life. So do your work because as much as I need to know the gender, you also need money for your daughter's operation."

Adyasha easily identified the familiarity in the voice. The same voice which was expressing happiness, hearing her pregnancy news was now questioning the gender of her baby so that....!. She wanted to confront her there only and make Pratik aware of her facade. But an unknown fear engulfed her. What if Pratik won't believe her over his mother!

Adyasha was so much scared but the mother inside her made her strong. She decided to fight the battle alone to bring her child alive to this world. "I will endure the darkness and my hope will bring the light in the form of my child, my shadow." She gave confidence to herself.

Adyasha laid on the hospital bed. The doctor approached her and applied a gel on her belly and completed the ultrasound procedure.

"Congratulations Mrs. Ahuja! Your baby is doing well inside." From her tone, Adyasha determined that she was not pleased with the result.

"Is it a girl?" Dr. Anisha looked shocked hearing Adyasha's question.

"Sorry Mam, It's not legal to determine the gender before delivery." She said in an unsure voice.

"Is it legal to save your daughter's life by endangering another mother's daughter?" Adyasha asked her directly giving her a look that she had heard everything.

"I had no option. I am really sorry. I didn't want to do this. But it's not possible for me to collect money for my daughter's bone marrow surgery. She is dying." She broke into tears while begging Adyasha.

"As a mother, I can understand your pain but you have to accept that you are going to commit a sin. So now to repent your sin, you have to lie to protect my baby girl. Will you do as I say? I promise you will neither lose your daughter nor your ethics." She nodded at Adyasha's proposal and Adyasha explained to her the plan.

They both moved out of the room to find Sirisha who was moving around in tension. The doctor sat on her chair and Adyasha took the seat opposite to Doctor. Sirisha joined beside her.

"Mrs. Ahuja! Both Mom and baby are fine and healthy." Dr. Anisha said.

Sirisha asked Adyasha to go out so that she could have a talk with the doctor. Adyasha knew well about which her mother-in-law would talk with the doctor.

After a few minutes, Sirisha came and she looked happier than before, and Adyasha secretly knew it why. She had asked Dr. Anisha to lie about the baby being a boy. In this way, Sirisha will pay her a good amount, and Adyasha will protect her baby girl.

That night, before sleeping, Adyasha reopened her diary and started to write down the new chapter she found in the day and about her princess. After marriage, it had become a necessity for her to write a diary sometimes, and she couldn't skip that day's happenings.

After confirming the gender, Sirisha's happiness doubled. She started to arrange every little thing for her grandson. While Adyasha promised to protect her baby girl from every evil.

"I still remembered the day, my baby kicked first. Pratik was so much excited to feel it. I had no idea whether he will be happy or not after knowing about our baby to be a girl." Adyasha was drowning in her thoughts. "But whatever may happen I promise myself to face every hurdle come into my baby's way." She strongly said her inner self now.

'The feeling of being a mother is a blessing' Adyasha had heard this from her mother, who frequently visited her during her pregnancy days. She always motivated Adyasha and made the hope alive in her life that, 'There is something more beautiful waiting for her'. Adyasha started to believe her mother's dreams - somewhere she found it beautiful enough to forget those painful past memories.

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Months passed, Adyasha waited to feel the pain - a beautiful pain for a mother. Dr. Anisha had given the date of the delivery - 21st June. The date was coming closer, and Adyasha was anxious. She was not getting the pain, and a lot of thoughts trapped her mind.

Then finally on 21st June, they had decided to visit the hospital. Pratik called Dr. Anisha and she too asked them to come hospital. "Mom, I am going to the hospital with Adya," Pratik said while collecting her reports and medicines. Adyasha was still holding her diary, and she asked Pratik to put it inside her bag. She had imagined this moment a lot of time, but when the moment arrived, an unknown fear engulfed her. Sirisha stayed at home to do the preparation to welcome his prince. So Pratik called Raghav to bring Sunanda for taking care of Adyasha in the hospital.

"Drive fast." Pratik shouted on the driver while rubbing Adyasha's palm. "Adya! Look at me. Everything is fine." Pratik was repeating the same line as if assuring himself only. Adyasha couldn't understand why he was looking so messed up? Was he afraid to lose her or their baby? Would he be the same caring after knowing that it was not going to be his little prince?

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Adyasha was admitted, and Dr. Anisha suggested to do the ultrasound first. Adyasha laid up there on a hospital gown, praying to God for her child's safety.

The doctor came near Adyasha in silence, which she didn't find normal in the behavior of Dr. Anisha.

"I'm sorry to say but..." The doctor stopped her lines.

"But what?" Adyasha asked in deep concern.

"I found there are complications in your pregnancy!" The doctor handed the report to Adyasha.

"I can't understand doctor" After checking the reports, Adyasha asked in confusion.

"The umbilical cord is wrapped around your baby's neck. That's why you are not feeling the pain on the due date. But, that's not a serious problem." Anisha paused worrying Adyasha. "The child's rate of heart-beat is not normal. We have to do the C-section immediately to save the baby."

"Then for whom are you waiting? Save my baby girl. She is being desperate to see her Mamma." Adyasha caressed her belly. "Calm down baby. Your mother is going to bring you to the light. We will play a lot with each other, won't we? Now be Mamma's good girl, and wait for some time."

Anisha looked at her with tears in her eyes. Adyasha noticed her there. "Doctor! Why are you standing here? Prepare for the operation. She can't breathe inside." Adyasha said keeping her hand on the belly. She couldn't feel any movement, and Anisha's silence was troubling her.

"I should stay happy. I should smile. My daughter is waiting to come out. She will love me more than Pratik." Adyasha kept repeating these lines inside her mind, but the fear was not leaving her.

"Adyasha! Your body is unfit for going under a C-section now. You are suffering from Anaemia, and your blood lacks haemoglobin. If we are doing surgery now, then maybe you won't make it till the end."

"I can't make it up to hold my daughter once? Why? Why can't I?" Adyasha asked in a broken voice.

Adyasha was more than a patient for Dr. Anisha. It was Adyasha only, who had helped her during the need. Rather than filing a case against her for illegal gender tests, she understood her emotion as a mother. Anisha was equally sad with the news, but she stayed strong to support Adyasha.

"Adyasha! You can't be weak now. Listen to me carefully. It's not clear that the child will survive, even if she will, there is no guarantee that she will be healthy enough to live a long life. As a friend and doctor, I will suggest you... Please wait for some time. As soon as you will be healthy enough, we will conduct an operation."

"Will it affect my baby's life?"

"There will be very little chance to save the baby if we are not conducting the surgery in an hour. And as per your condition, your body can't survive surgery within an hour. You need proper diet and medication now." Anisha said. Helplessness was clearly visible in her voice.

"How can I kill my hope by myself!" Adyasha started to cry.

"Life is all about hope, Adyasha. God won't be so cruel. You will get your share of happiness."

"Not at the cost of my child. I thought I have kept her alive for 9months in a hope that she will make my life colorful. But, now I realized that all my hope is meant for her. " Adyasha continued her saying. "Please doctor, do something, and save my baby girl, my hope. I can't see my child lifeless. I just want my baby alive, even though it would cost my life." Adyasha almost pleaded holding Anisha's hand.

"I can understand your feelings, but I'm also helpless to decide right or wrong.

Surgery is the only option, which could give hopes of your baby girl alive, but it's unsure whether it could survive or not" Dr. Anisha showed her helplessness patting on her back.

"It will survive doctor, it will. The hope which made me strong could never act weak it this time, please you do surgery, just save my baby" Her cheeks were wet in tears.

"But It also requires your family members' approval, without it, we can not proceed, and no family would agree to lose you at cost of a baby which is unsure about its survival" Dr. Anisha stated.

"Tell Pratik that his child is in danger, and he will sign the paper immediately. Be careful that my mother won't be around him at that time. She is a mother after all! I can't fool her." Adyasha suggested Anisha. "Promise me that you won't say anything about me to him if he won't ask by himself."

"I won't. But, I have seen him loving you unconditionally. He will ask about you as soon as I will go outside, and at that time your promise won't stop me to react."

Dr. Anisha made papers ready quickly. She thought that Pratik will make Adyasha understand about her haste decision. Before she went for the signature, Adyasha asked Her to bring her diary from the red-colored bag kept on the table at a distance. She brought the diary to Adyasha and went outside.

"Please, God! Save my baby girl. Any harm on her way, I am ready to take on myself." She prayed in her mind.

Adyasha knew it was the time, her baby girl will see the light of the world. "Only if there would be an option, I would have kept you in my womb only - safe and protected." She thought, caressing her stomach area.

Probably it was the first time in her life when everything seemed to be meaningless in front of her. She wanted to be alive, not to yearn Pratik's love, but to protect her little angel.

Adyasha knew it was the last time, she was writing her diary. She felt a new feeling, Not only her baby would come into this world, but also she would be named as a mother. It would a special moment for everyone to celebrate, while she was here waiting for the death, all thanks to her ill-fate. She made her pen to write down as soon as possible.

Date:21.06.2020

Adyasha

A few moments will pass away and I will be a closed chapter in everyone's life. The doctor will examine my dead body to find the reason for my death. I am sure that the report will mention the reason for complications during pregnancy. May be Mamma, Baba, and Pratik will cry for me, and Mom will feel bad for me, but more than this she will be sad for her son's loss. Everyone will blame me saying that I didn't inform them about the complications. In simple words, it will be a natural death for everyone.

No one will try to find out the truth about my murder. Yes, murder and the murderers are my own people, and trust me there are no handcuffs made in this world to bind their hands. It was really difficult to identify this kind of murder where the soul was killed brutally again and again.

My Baba was my role model, my king whom I admired the most. I always thought that Mamma always held up my wishes, and Baba being my hero never said no to his princess. I always prayed to God to send a prince charming for me just like him and God took my prayer seriously. I have no time to explain in detail. It's just that I won't get death without asking these questions.

Whoever is reading this, must have read the tortures I faced in the previous pages. I just want to know about my fault, for which I have suffered this fate. I left everything and tried to adjust to my new family. But they never accepted me as their family members. All they could say was it's not your Baba's home that you are doing this or that.

I expected my husband to support me. I gave him myself completely. I named my body, my soul, my everything in his name. But it was not enough. All I got in return was physical and verbal abuse because I couldn't get him my Baba's property. Maybe those lifeless properties worth more than my life!

I shared everything with Mamma who was the first best friend of mine and she told me that my Baba was no saint and it's neither his nor Pratik's fault. It's the law of nature that we women have to endure everything, that's why we are compared with earth. I begged her, but she stopped the conversation there saying that I should adjust to my husband's home. Baba was my last, but he was not what I have thought him to be. Then I stayed silent, because I have realized that no one is going to listen me.

My mother-in-law told me that I didn't deserve her son. Being good at academics too, I had left my MBA degree for Pratik's insecurity. But still, her son is superior who got everything in inheritance, just because he is a man! I didn't deserve him, just because I disagreed to pursue my Baba to sign his property on Pratik's name. Does this frigid property worth my life?

Actually, Pratik and his family are not the only ones to be blamed here. It included Baba and Mamma too. The day I was born, they rejoiced and started saving for my marriage just like every parent do. And it all started from here. Though it was easy for them to give their only daughter everything, it only increased the demand of some so-called modern people whose brain is still covered by old thinking. Trust me, it was almost impossible to remove this sheath.

I just wanted answers to my few questions before I die.

Why always a girl has to manage? Why always she has to compromise? Why do people make a deal of their own daughter? How can a woman repeat the same thing that hurt her womanliness long ago?

Every night Pratik crushed the woman inside me, just like my Baba had crushed Mamma's soul long ago. Is it written in some laws book that women are made to bear the frustration of men?

What's the identity of a woman? We create life inside a house and turned it into a home. But sometimes, Our husband asks us to go back to our maternal home, while our own parents tell us to go back to our husband's home? Which is actually ours?

I know that no one has the answers to my questions because here the victims are the real culprits. It's always a mother who advised her daughter to learn household chores, giving the excuse that her mother-in-law won't taunt her for this. In this whole circle, there is no presence of men.

We teach our daughters everything, from cooking to doing other works, while a boy has no idea about household chores. From their childhood, we create this kind of stereotype that results in suppression and domestic violence.

Everyone has their own stories to tell. Nobody is a saint here. My mamma was a victim of the same torture, still, she couldn't understand my pain. She denied taking me with her in the fear of society. The hypocrite society will point out even if I will go back to my own home! Sorry, now it's my Baba's house which is prohibited for me to go without my husband's permission.

Everyone would have questioned me and my family if I left my in-laws home, but now I don't have to answer their questions, because I will be dead. And the society has no problem to accept a dead daughter than a divorcee.

There is hope still in our hearts that one day, everything will be fine. I am Adyasha, My Mamma's first hope who is going to be dead. Even I have my hope, whom I will leave in this cruel world all alone to survive. My baby has an enemy who wanted to kill her even before her birth.

Still, a part of the heart says that she will rise among all the odds. She will bloom against the taint. She is a glimmer of hope. My hope. My Ashia.

My hand was shaking and I couldn't write more. The hope has the actual power, and maybe the power is making me beg to the reader to protect my hope.

Adyasha closed the diary, and took a deep breath keeping her palms over her belly." I love you baby princess ", she cried.

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" Doctor! " Pratik said, seeing Anisha coming out.

" Yes, Mr. Pratik, I was coming for you" Anisha said.

"Is everything okay?" Pratik asked.

"Yes, but the baby is in danger, we need immediate surgery as there are complications in pregnancy, and I need your approval." She handed the papers to Pratik.

Pratik only noticed it needed a signature of him, "Do fast doctor!" Pratik said while giving his signature on the papers. Dr. Anisha looked at him in disbelief. She decided to inform him, breaking Adyasha's promise.

"And Adyasha..." She couldn't complete her sentence as Pratik interrupted.

"Doctor please make it fast. And tell Adyasha that the pain is normal. She has to bear it to give our little one a new life in this world. I am going to pray for him." Pratik rushed out of the hospital leaving an angry Anisha behind.

Dr. Anisha came into the operation chamber. After some time, she came near to Adyasha. "What type of husband he is! Not for once, he asked how's his wife doing!" Anisha showed her anger and disappointment.

Adyasha remained silent and only gave a fake smile in return.

"So we will do surgery in few minutes," Anisha said. Adyasha only nodded.

"Good luck. I hope there will be a miracle." Anisha said caressing her hair. Adyasha just smiled, she knew that Anisha was assuring herself only.

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A nurse came out holding the baby.

"A baby girl it is!" The nurse said showing the baby to the family waiting outside.

A wave of a smile started to appear on everyone's face.

"Adyasha!? " Raghav asked the nurse and she pointed her fingers inside. "We are sorry that..."

Raghav went inside without listening to the doctor. The nurse kept explaining Pratik about Adyasha's fight to save her baby. A drop of tear escaped from her eyes while saying about the last breath of Adyasha, and the smile she had while seeing her daughter - safe and alive. Pratik heard about the unfortunate fate of Adyasha, which didn't allow her to hold her baby girl. He was too shocked to react, while the nurse took the baby towards the baby care department for the primary treatment of the baby.

Inside, Raghav found his daughter sleeping. Dr. Anisha was sitting beside her and a diary was on her hand. The look on Dr. Anisha's face troubled Raghav. He took the diary from her and went on reading. He was in shock with each sentence he was reading. The last chapter was not left skipped by Raghav. Tears started flowing from his eyes, and he screamed. "Princess" Raghav hugged his daughter, and knew, she had slept forever. The sleeping beauty was sleeping peacefully without her father's presence beside her, and there was no childish behavior from his princess. There was no movement of her limbs anymore, Raghav's heart broke into pieces.

"I am sorry baby princess. I know my sorry is not enough to bring you back, but I will repent my sins. I will raise your daughter not as a princess, but as a queen. A queen who will rule over the hypocrite stereotypes of society." He promised to himself and wiped the tear from the corner of his eyes. It was not the egoist business tycoon Raghav Bharadwaj, but a defeated father who had lost his daughter due to the sins he had committed in the past.