Eksha: Us Against the World chapter 2

Isha took a deep breath and stayed calm she didn’t say anything the smile on her face did not fall contrary to her outside demeanour something on the inside was hurt very badly hurt but she didn’t jump to conclusions she didn’t scream or ask questions like any other person in her place would have she stayed calm after all it was ekagra her ekagra. She knew him better than he knew himself even though they have barely more than 10 full conversations in their lives. Ever since Isha met ekagra for the first time when she was 10 and he was 13 she realised that she could read his eyes, she could understand him without words it was as if she could feel what he felt. She could feel the deep sadness within him when his parents divorced at the age of 15 even when his face was blank with no visible signs of agony that he was experiencing nobody knew he was that deeply affected but she did even though she was just 12 at the time she found him sitting on the swing in their mansion which was once his home. She just silently sat there beside him keeping her head on his shoulder holding his hand tightly for hours without a word until they had to leave. She could feel he needed that and she always trusted her instincts when it came to him.

She could also feel immense happiness radiating off of him like her own when he was 21 and she was 18 the day their mother’s put forth the idea of their betrothal. Their mothers had been more like sisters than best friends and from the day when Isha was born they had both decided in their hearts that they wanted to get them both hitched and who wouldn’t after what happened in the hospital. The day isha was born was a roller coaster of emotions for everyone when isha was born both the families were excited out of their minds after all it was the first girl in generations for the sisodiya family and both Isha’s mother riya sisodiya and ekagra’s mother saniya Singhania were very excited to meet her future daughter before ekagra’s parents Saniya and Shailesh divorced both their families were as close as can be but after saniya Singhania divorced Shailesh Singh Shekhawat naturally Riya and varun sisodiya lost contact with Shailesh especially after his second marriage.

The day Isha came to the world she was not crying not opening her eyes her breathing was extremely shallow and it shattered both the families. The doctor told them that the baby girl may not survive the night and it’s better to just hold her and say their goodbyes now as there is nothing they can do. Between the gloomy atmosphere and pain and tears a 3 year old ekagra not understanding what was happening went towards the baby girl in his Riya masi sa’s arms. When he looked at the baby girl he was in awe she was the most beautiful girl he had seen in his whole 3 years and 6 months of life. She was radiant and warm and so so beautiful. He touched her small hands with his big ones and sighed yes she was warm and pretty. He whispered in his baby voice “hello little sunshine” both families quietened down witnessing the scene with tears in their eyes. Ekagra unaware of the attention on him continued “will you stay with me and play with me and eat with me?” “ I will protect you in return and give you lots of food so you can grow and always shine” and giggled. It was a magical moment no one could have ever imagined what followed, it was like ekagra’s little sunshine was just waiting for his voice and the moment she heard him she opened her beautiful brown eyes and looked into his blue ones and instead of crying smiled towards him holding his one finger with her whole hand. Everyone was stunned including the doctors and it gave birth to a new ray of hope in both Saniya and riya’s hearts a hope that their children will take care of each other even when they were not around, they will be in each others lives supporting, comforting and having each other’s back like they had since they were young.

Seeing that Isha didn’t say anything vedant looked up with his teary eyes but he saw the same smile on her face that always provided him with Comfort without a hint of hesitation. He was confused and frustrated not with her but with the situation with himself and with the world he started

Vedant (FL older Brother)

Sun.. sunshine I

But before could continue veeransh arrived with the towel handing it to ekagra and greeted him

Veerash (FL younger brother)

Khama ghanni Ekagra bhai sa

Isha took the towel from veeransh’s hand and smiled towards her younger brother proud of what he grew up to be. She stood up and started drying his hair without a word. Ekagra nodded towards veer in greeting but kept looking towards Isha she was so gentle so pure maybe that is why the world couldn’t see her ending up with someone like him who was nothing but a broken piece of glass

By this time vedant and abhay arrived to each carrying a tray of tea and kept them on the coffee table in the middle and took their seats along with veeransh

Vedant (FL older Brother)

Lijiye your highness aaj hamare haath ki chai pijiye

Veerash (FL younger brother)

Aree Kya baat hai Ved bhaiya aaj itna sara kaam kaise kar liya aapne. Kahi hamara bichara kitchen to nahi jala diya na

Abhay smacked veer on his head lightly

Veerash (FL younger brother)

Woww Bhaiyu … didu dekho mujhe bully kar rahe hai sab

Isha (FL)

Isi layak hai aap ek or maariye abhay bhai aaj inke college se call aaya tha phir apni basketball practice ke bahane class nahi gaye ye aaj

Veeransh’s eyes widened in betrayal and he looked towards his didu in pure horror

Abhay (FL older brother)

Achaa beta ruk tujhe me nahi ab to bhaiya hi theek karenge

Veeransh gave both Isha and abhay his famous puppy eyes pleading for help but before they could melt vedant interrupted his plans

Vedant (FL older Brother)

Veer I want you in my office after dinner

He said in his authoritative voice which sent a chill down veer’s spine but he knew better than to question his bhaiya

Veerash (FL younger brother)

Jiii bhaiya

Everyone was trying to avoid the elephant in the room not asking the questions that they wanted to. They were worried they wanted to know what happened to ekagra? Why was he here at this time ? in this condition? But the didn’t question anything they could see he was in shock and he needed time and space and they were gonna give it to him. There was one thing about all of the sisodiya siblings they were the most respectful and understanding bunch of people and ekagra really appreciated their thoughtfulness in this moment because he was not ready to voice his pain out yet after all it had all happened so fast he was confused not even knowing how and why he ended up like this.

Isha (FL)

Chahiye aap sab freshen up ho jaaye hum khana lagate hai

Isha said looking towards everyone after drying ekagra’s hair and keeping the towel aside

Following which abhay and veer stood up to help her set the table and complete the last minute arrangements for dinner.

Although they had a fair share of house help it was their mother’s rule that the kitchen and the temple was always to be taken care by them it was holy and their responsibility to respect and maintain both the places. No one was allowed in the kitchen and the temple except family. The temple was cleaned by them decorated by them and they all took care of it. Similarly the food was always made by them except in circumstances where they couldn’t. After their parents died in a car accident 5 years ago all of them continued to live by this rule dividing the duty of cooking and cleaning the temple as well as performing the morning and evening aarti equally amongst themselves

Abhay (FL older brother)

Let me help you princess

Veerash (FL younger brother)

Yeah me too I can taste test all the food

With this veer got another smack on his head

Veerash (FL younger brother)

Ahhh.. bhai aap na maar maar ke ek din mera dimag khali kar doge

Abhay (FL older brother)

Dimag hona bhi to chahiye khali karne ke liye

Isha just shook her head and headed towards the kitchen followed by these two bickering and teasing each other.

Vedant had a small smile looking at his siblings. There was nothing more important than family and he loved his. It was hard for them after their parents death after all they were the backbone of the house but they didn’t loose themselves after they were gone. Of course they each grieved in their own ways but they got through it together all thanks to isha she really was their protector their strength. She took up the responsibility of everything so flawlessly that they got through this devastating loss which hit them out of the blue. She made sure everyone was okay especially veeransh in expressing his pain, making sure abhay didn’t distance himself as he often did in the face of a crisis and that vedant didn’t drown himself in work. She was pushy in making them grief but understanding in the way the want to. He was so grateful for his sister ekagra was right in naming her sunshine she really was that.

Vedant stood up and placed a hand on ekagra’s shoulder who was also looking towards the fading figure of his sister

Vedant (FL older Brother)

Chall I’ll give you some of my clothes. You should change too remember the rule na no one is allowed to be late for dinner.

Ekagra had a non existent smile on his face listening to vedant’s words. Of course he remembered it was one of his saniya masi sa’s famous rule after all. As loving as she was she ruled the household strictly with a blend of traditional values and modern thinking. He nodded and stood up following vedant upstairs to change without a word.