Taashi was sitting with her mother. The two women had smiles on their faces as they looked at the little girl bouncing her legs excitedly while colouring in her favourite coloring book.

Devyanshi. The reason for the smile on their faces. The 4 year old who was lost in her own world, unaware that she was their entire world.

She looked up suddenly and grinned, showing her the book. Taashi clapped in appreciation, making her giggle and go back to her page.

“Chalo finish ho gaya na ab. Ab sleepy time hai. Kal school bhi jaana hai na.”

(Come on it’s finish now. It’s sleeping time. You have school tomorrow.)

Devyanshi nodded obediently and Taashi changed her into comfortable tshirt and pajamas. The girl got into bed and pulled the covers up to her chest.

She then made grabby hands to both her mother and grandmother. The two women smiled, familiar with the nightly routine.

Taashi’s mother recited a nighttime story while Taashi massaged her scalp in slow, soothing moments, lulling her into sleep.

Taashi kept looking at her little angel and slowly placed a kiss to her little forehead. 

“Will you ever tell him?”

Taashi looked up at her mother’s voice. She sat straight and asked with a slight frown.

“Tell whom what?”

“About Devi. He deserves to know the truth, Ashu.”

Taashi got quiet. A sadness filled her eyes as she remembered about him. Well, she never forgot. Not for a moment. She missed him. Terribly so. But he would hate her. Especially after what she did to him.

“You know I can’t mumma. If I tell him about Devi, I’ll have to tell him why I left. And I cannot do that. It will break him.”

“Tu usse uske bache se dur nhi rakh skti, Ashu. Sooner or later you have to tell him.”

(You cannot keep him away from his child, Ashu.)

She knew that. He didn’t deserve it. And Devyanshi didn’t deserve it for sure. 

That night in bed, she laid, clutching her daughter to her chest and thinking about everything.

Tears filled her eyes as she recalled how she ended things with him. The man she loved with everything in her. And the man who loved her without any conditions.

“What do you mean?”

Devyansh asked. His voice hoarse due to disbelief and his eyes wide in surprise.

“You heard me the first time, Dev. I want a divorce.”

“Why? Did I do something wrong? Please talk to me, Taashi.”

He pleaded and she felt herself break a little.

“I think humne bhut jaldi kr di thi. To get married. I mean we barely knew each other. We fell in love within a month of knowing each other. Decided to get married within the next six months. It was just too rushed.”

(I think we rushed it all.)

“And you realise this now? After 4 years of marriage?”

He asked in disbelief. She shrugged nonchalantly.

“You want me to believe this nonsense, Taashi? Stop joking. It’s not funny.”

“I never said it was. You know what. I didn’t want to hurt you but you want the truth.”

She then looked into his eyes and broke his heart.

“I don’t love you anymore. This marriage, it’s becoming a trap for me.”

Devyansh froze. For a complete minute, he just stared at her. Then a tear fell from his eye, and another. He closed his eyes and whispered.

“Ok. If that’s what you want. You’re free now, Taashi. No trap anymore.”

She knew she’d done very wrong to him. But she knew it was necessary. Had she not done that, she would have lost her Devyanshi. Just like the…

She sniffed, trying to control her sobs and held Devyanshi a little more closer. As if trying to feel his presence through the little human they created.

The next day, Taashi was making Devyanshi eat her breakfast while the girl fussed seeing every vegetable in her poha.

“Mumma matal!”

(Mumma peas!)

“Devi! Chup kr ke khaao! Sabziyan khaati hi nhi hai ye ladki.”

(Eat it quietly! This girl doesn’t eat vegetables.)

“Apni maa pr gyi hai.”

(She has taken up after her mother.)

Her father quipped, making Taashi give him a side-eye. Devyanshi giggled and high-fived her nanu. The two pouted with their heads lowered when they saw their wife and mother glaring at them.

“Achhi aadatein mat sikhana aap usse. Bigaad lo bas.”

(Don’t teach her good things. Spoil her only.)

“Tum dono ho na acchi cheezein sikhane ke liye. Koi toh bigaadne wala bhi hona chahiye.”

(You are there to teach her good things. Someone should spoil her also.)

He said and kissed the top of her head lovingly. Devyanshi leaned against her nanu and sighed.

“Achha bas ab. School ka time ho raha hai. Bag laao apna chalo.”

(Ok enough now. It’s time for school. Take your bag and come.)

Devyanshi got down the dining table but hit her hand lightly against the rounded edge of the table.

She hissed and rubbed her arm. Taashi saw it and shook her head.

“Kuch nhi hua hai. Dramebaaz. Chalo bag laao.”

(Nothing happened. Drama queen. Go bring your bag.)

Devyanshi wore her backpack and examined her arm where a deep purplish bruise had started to form. She pouted and looked at her mother who walked beside her, holding her other hand.

Taashi was at her work a few weeks later, when she received a call from Devyanshi’s school. 

“Hello mam.”

Taashi picked up. Devyanshi’s class teacher spoke on the other hand.

“Hello. Am I talking to Devyanshi’s parent?”

“Yes. I am her mother. Is everything alright mam?”

“Mam, Devyanshi got hurt and is bleeding heavily. We require you to come as soon as possible and-”

Taashi immediately sprang up from her desk in panic.

“WHAT? What do you mean she is bleeding heavily? What happened?”

She asked while putting her stuff back in her bag and rushing out.

“She was drinking water when the glass fell from her hand. The pieces of the broken glass pierced her skin. We tried bandaging but she keeps on bleeding.”

“I’m on my way. I’m on my way.”

Taashi said, feeling out of breath due to running and the fear she felt. She made a beeline towards the school reception and hurriedly informed about  herself.

She was taken towards the medical room and ran inside. Devyanshi saw her mother and burst into tears again. 

Her leg was bandaged but the bandage was completely red with blood. Devyanshi looked pale. Taasi immediately gathered her in her arms and rushed out.