Silent Whispers

Chapter 5: The First Sight

"Careful Meeti!" Shashi called, as an eight-year old Khushi ran to the swings and tried desperately to get on, even though it was nowhere within reach.

"Babujiii," she called, beckoning him to help her.

Shashi smiled and obediently listened to her command. "Hold on tight," he cautioned, before pushing her high into the air.

The rather quiet park was immediately filled with laughs as Khushi demanded to be pushed higher and higher. She enjoyed the rush of air against her face, though at that age, all she understood were the small butterflies creeping through her stomach as she fell from height. To her, this was what flying was.

"More," she called back to her father, wanting to almost touch the white fluffy clouds adorning the clear skies.

"You will fall Meeti."

"No, no... I want to fly like those birds," she said, pointing to a couple of sparrows passing by.

Shashi's reply, however, was cut off by the arrival of a panting Shyam.

"Babuji," he said, clutching his stomach. It appeared as if he ran for miles.

"What's wrong?"

"An old man in a black BMW came... Maa is worried. Come fast!"

Shashi paled, as he understood what was happening. And without a second thought, he began to run back to their house, leaving Khushi still soaring into the sky. Shyam watched his sister, giggling to herself, a bad feeling overtaking him.

"Meeti," he called, worriedly. "Get down! We have to leave!"

Khushi pouted. "I don't wanna go Bhaiyya! It's so much fun here..."

"Meeti listen to me. We have to leave now!"

When she continued to ignore him, Shyam edged towards her and grabbed the chains of the swing, forcing it to a stop.

"Bhaiyya!!" she groaned, unhappy at the abrupt stop.

"Let's go," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back towards the way he came.

Khushi tried hard to keep up, but her short legs were no match for Shyam's long ones. By the time she arrived home, not too far from the park, a tight stitch was gripping her stomach. She took deep breaths, trying to force air into her lungs.

"Bhaiy-"

"Shh!" Shyam said, pressing a finger to her lips.

It was then that Khushi realized that they were at the back entrance of their small house, crouching behind the half-open door, from which angry voices were emanating.

"Oh stop it Garima!" she heard her father bellow. "Stop being melodramatic!"

"And what about you? All this time, I kept thinking-"

"That's your problem – you can never get past thinking."

"Enough Shashi! I kept quiet for the past three years, thinking you might be going through a tough time, but that doesn't mean you can take advantage of me and my children."

"Do you even hear yourself? You kept quiet all this time because you needed me. So, d-"

"Needed you?! How can you conveniently forget what my father has done for you? You wouldn't even been standing here, without him!"