2 years later -

There was a widespread silence in the hall of Chandras' house except for the religious Sanskrit hymns that a few pandits, clad in a saffron piece of cloth, were chanting.

Perpendicular to those pandits, Aruna sat in front of the temporarily built mandap, following the procedure of the Shanti puja as they commanded the concurrent rituals.

Gautam was sitting on a power wheelchair, watching the puja from the corner of the hall with a sombre face and routinely his eyes used to turned moist and a few times tears found their ways down his cheeks as his emotions were surpassing his capacity limit with the thoughts of the departed souls.

Three years ago, Arun and Gautam met with an accident. He wakened from the vegetative state after six months-long sleep but Arun couldn't ever. On this same date, three years ago, he lost his life.

The family couldn't even properly mourn, Radhika's death that night, shook the core of their existence. It almost took more than half an hour for Radhika's body to reach the hospital. Though she received primary treatment from paramedic team still, it wasn't enough to check to bleed.

The bullet had pierced her right lung and the area around it was gradually filled with blood due to which the lung collapsed. Her case couldn't be handled and in an hour, she finally died from severe bleeding into the lung and basically drowning in her own blood.

What could be more painful for parents than losing their children forever? The news of her death was too unbearable and seemed too unreal to accept for a few days.

The puja mandap was temporarily built in the centre of the hall and a few korai mats were placed surrounding the setup for the people to sit, after adjusting the pieces of furniture.

Besides the member of the family, a few neighbours also came to show their gratitude to the departed souls. Most people had either wore white or some light shades clothes.

Maya who was sitting at the end of the row for easiness of disappearing from the crowd at the time of need could hear whispered rumoured tale of bad luck that hovered in the family. She didn't feel any need or desire to check them. Moreover, it wasn't even wrong. They indeed had a very bad fate all these years.

Her eyes darted towards Savitri who sat with an unsaid desire to remain isolated from everyone, leaning on the pillar from the side which could grab less attention from anyone.

Maya doubted if she could also hear the talks. Even if she could, Savitri Chandra had long left reacting. She had turned into a lifeless body now.

Everyone bemoaned after their deaths. Aruna cried, Maya wept and Gautam though shed tears when he acknowledged the new reality but soon composed himself, knowing he had to take care of others and for it, he had to be strong.

Savitri too grieved at the grave loss. She was so broken with the happenings that she slowly started distancing herself from the world and its elation.

Savitri had always been a strong lady. She did try to stand up again in between these years and even though her life could not be like before, she did try to live near to the previous level. But the aftermath that followed after Radhika's death broke every inch of her spirit.

Now she didn't care about her looks, house or her surroundings. From day to the night she used to emotionlessly stare on the things indifferently. The last time people saw her crying on Arun's and Radhika's deaths but what happened after had killed her soul and turned her into such state. Nothing tempted her now.

The losings and desperation had surpassed her hunger for power and authority years ago. She didn't care about any happenings around her now. She was now just waiting for her final call silently and patiently. Maya heaved a tired sigh while thinking about her badi maa's condition.

It might have been years now since anyone saw her smiling. Maya tried to joke around her and prank her just to make her speak or better scold her. Her silence was eating her from inside.

It was Maya who used to forcibly feed her food and make sure she had her medicines on time. With Savitri's lack of interference, every household load automatically had come on Aruna's shoulders. And when this sudden burden at such stale age became unmanageable for her single-handedly, Maya was asked to assist her.

Maya who had to analyse the kitchen work then stood up and strode towards the kitchen. In her way, her gaze settled on a person sitting at the corner of the room with his back touching the wall. Had it been the moment three years ago, she must have laughed and teased him but seeing him in this condition now, somehow made her pity him.

Vivaan had changed a lot. A well-mentioned stubble was turned into a long and thick beard. His eyes were red and baggy may be due to improper sleep. He even lost his good physique over these three years. With his hair and clothes were totally dishevelled, he sat there without any concern about other's stares.

"Maya, see the baby is crying."

Before she could enter the kitchen, a lady from the neighbourhood, who might have heard an infant's cry approached her to inform. Maya curtly nodded with thanks.

She after giving a quick instruction to Geeta, rushed to Gautam's room. She pushed the door open and when she found the teary eyes of her angel set on the intruder, a wide smile plastered on Maya's face which in turn made the baby girl face fits of laughter at Maya's advancement towards her, long forgetting her wails.

"Aalelele, my Nui."

Maya coaxed her in a childish voice as she took Noor in her arms while checking her diaper. Though it was not used, Noor kept wailing lightly.

Geeta brought milk bottle on Maya's command. When she was not even sucking the nipple of her milk bottle, it made her confused. Maya tried to cajole her but her cry intensified which increased her nervousness for the baby's health.

"Maybe the smoke of hawan is disturbing her, take her outside." Geeta suggested when she noticed her too worried. Maya looked around, though the smoke was not much in the room as compared to outside, still there were chances it would irritate her. She agreed and informed her about her trials in the backyard with Noor.

"Sure. If you need anything. Just call me." Geeta assured and retreated back to the kitchen.

Maya reached the backyard. It was still covered with desired bushes, plants and trees of Savitri's choices. Earlier Savitri herself used to take care of this area. But now a gardener was appointed to take well care of the garden as before. But it never happened.

Maya could notice the negligence the gardener performed towards his work. Most of the plants' leaves had turned yellowish and she even noticed fungi growth and ants on a few hibiscus plants. Even cutting was strictly needed to the brushes.

The love and care Savitri gave to that greenery couldn't be simulated. Maya realised and decided to give a nice scolding to him for such delinquency.

She rocked the baby in her hand for distraction when she heard her low outcry and tried to keep the nipple of the milk bottle in her mouth to suck. Gladly she didn't refuse her food this time.

Maya entered more inside the garden while nestling her fifteen months' old lifeline in her arms who now was peacefully holding her milk bottle in her tiny hands as she greedily drank her milk, meanwhile, her dark black eyes full of innocence were set on Maya's face all the time that made her chuckle.

There used to be a swing hung to an old mango tree's branch at the extreme side of the garden where all the three sisters used to spend their ample time of summer vacations playing. Since it was in the secluded corner of the house, it used to help them from not getting caught by any elder, mostly. She suddenly wished to visit that particular section after so many years.

As she walked more towards her destination, her eyes widened when she noticed Vivaan already there, sitting on the swing. He jolted and looked up at the sudden invader of his solace with a frown but when he found Maya with baby Noor in her arms, he smiled.

"You here." Maya said in wonder with a pleasant smile.

It had been years, they ever talked. After Radhika's death, he remained whole time during the final rituals but later he disappeared in thin air. Though he never came there to visit people as much as before, he never failed to visit the Chandra family particularly this day every year religiously.

"How are you?" Maya asked.

"Fine. What about you?" He replied with a customary question with a polite smile.

Maya huffed at her question and dramatically rolled her eyes with an indirect complaint.

"As you can see, colouring my hair grey."

When Noor noticed her presence was being ignored, she sobbed while trying to gain every attention to herself. Maya waddled her in her arms with a few babyish sweet talks. she, at last, cackled being satisfied with the gained attention but when she found stranger's eyes at herself, Noor hurriedly hid her face in Maya's bosom. It made Maya chuckle.

Meanwhile, Vivaan stood up from the swing and gestured Maya to take her seat there. Maya chuckled with a mischievous grin.

"As a friendly reminder, if I sit here, you will have to lose your chance to enjoy the ride of swing for today."

He shook his head at her childishness with a laugh. He gestured her again to enjoy the swing with assurance. Maya took her seat while carefully securing the baby in her lap. Lightly bending her knees, she kicked the ground to oscillate the swing to and fro motion at a slow pace.

Vivaan stepped back and leaned on the truck of that mango tree.

"Can you see the branch there?" Suddenly the silence was broke with Maya's strange question.

Vivaan turned his gaze at the direction where she was pointing. There was a branch of the particular mango tree bent to such a low level that it could be easy even for a person with average height to pluck its fruits.

He confusingly nodded which made her smile with a revived memory of past.

"Once Radhika di and I was swinging here. That time a devilish an idea popped in my head. We had decided whoever could hold that branch in between the motion of the swing would order the other one for the whole one month. The idea was quite tempting."

Maya slowly wiped the lone tear that appeared at the corner of her eyes with a sad smile. When she noticed his gaze filled with curiosity. She took a deep breath and laughed trying not to show the vulnerable side of her life.

"What happened then?"

"What was supposed to happen? Di latak gayi."

Maya shook her head with a fit of laughter, throwing her head backwards in air. Her laughter intensified to this extent her grabbed her stomach that had started paining now. Though Noor couldn't understand the reason behind the sudden crazy laughter, she tried to mimic her with gibberish words in between giggle but it soon started boring her with confusion when she didn't find herself a reason behind it.

Vivaan felt low pain and heaviness in his chest at the mention of his dead wife. He silently tried to imagine her at the place of Maya, telling her crazy childhood memories with their child on her lap.

She would have talked non-stop for hours and he must have listened to her chatter without any complaint. He sadly smiled at his sudden imagination.

"Though height was not much, she was still very afraid to leave her only lifeline. I was so scared that I ran away leaving her dangling there."

Maya paused for a second and she hastily as well as excitedly looked over her shoulder to point a certain location.

"Do you see that window of 1st floor to the extreme right?"

A childish excitement was clearly evident in her voice. Vivaan nodded half-heartedly, thinking of a way to escape the place or else it could become more difficult for him to control his overwhelming emotions.

She turned back her head and fixed her glance at him with a giggle.

"It was Sneha di's room. She then witnessed her hanging to the branch and rushed for her rescue. Though we both were spared from others' scolding that day, Sneha di really fulfiled their absence. She chastised us for hours to play that stupid stunt."

She took a deep sigh, suddenly turning all silent with the realisation that their only holding left with her was the memories.

Her eyes turned moist, remembering every occurrence and suddenly she left a huge lump on her heart that could just enhance her pain.

"She..she always used to act as a mother to us."

Maya subsequently turned silent and tried to enjoy the swing with a lowered head. She sadly smiled when noticed Noor who had already slept in her arms with an elated smile. She removed the milk bottle from her grip and wiped her mouth with her dupatta end.

Vivaan took turned his gaze away with a fake cough and tried to focus on the vegetation around.

Maya too turned her gape on the flora bed while recalling the incidents of the recent years.

The amount of pain she felt with the death of Radhika was inexpressible. It felt that she had lost a part of her soul along with her.

Due to these sudden circumstances, Maya wanted to drop her business management course and settle in the Mumbai forever but no one supported her idea of keeping her education at stake and escape the last but crucial year of her college life, thus she had to return. Still, her heart college never reconnected to that place ever again.

How could she leave everyone, when they needed each other's presence and support the most.

The awful incident was soon followed by Sneha's unexpected pregnancy news. Though everyone suggested her to abort the child especially Savitri keeping her health issues in mind, Sneha never listened and kept her pregnancy.

In the meanwhile, the daughter-mother relation turned mostly formal. Savitri was still finding it difficult to accept everything. And Sneha presence kept reminding her of being a great failure. She still found it difficult to forget and get over everything.

The lady had done everything in her might for the family's happiness but in the end, every single thing broke like a glass which impossibility of assembling. Savitri slowly started distancing herself due to guilt and low self-esteem.

Sneha's fight was considered as her motherly love for her child but when everyone noticed her lack of interest in her baby's development, it definitely shocked everyone.

Although Sneha had fought for the survival of her rape child, it was extremely difficult for anyone to see her affection for the child. Everyone concluded with time, her mothery instinct would surely kick in. But it never happened.

The only time, Sneha used to take her daughter in her arms were supposedly the time of nursing. Maya always doubted why she never actually yearned for the need to cradle her child in her arms caringly or at least do sweet talks to her child.

Sneha's time with her daughter always felt like a formality to her. Maya sighed when she remembered the incident when Noor crying her heart out but it didn't even affect Sneha a bit who was sitting in the same room and absolutely doing nothing.

Since Noor birth, Aruna had handled her in between taking care of Gautam with the help of attendants. And later, when Maya returned after completing her education, she became her responsibility.

"Everything is so suffocating, isn't it?" Maya slowly muttered while being immersed in her deep thoughts. He hummed at her question with an indifferent expression.

"Wish everything could be turned back."

Maya agreed with the assertion. She too sometimes used to wish the same. She sniffed a little, wiping her tears.

"She wanted Sneha di too live her life. She was lucky to get a second chance to live her life. But what did she choose...If I were here, I must have lived the kind of life that no one ever has seen or heard." She said in a bitter voice with a bit resentment towards Sneha and her actions.

After Arun's and Radhika's death, the family held the Shanti puja on that date every year.

Last year too, the puja was conducted. But the day was a bit different. For the first time, Maya noticed Sneha cradling and prodding Noor amidst her cries. Maya felt too happy to change in her demeanour. She actually felt Sneha had started feeling her motherly feeling for the baby and her relationship would heal with time. Moreover, she was sure who would resist such a beautiful and cute baby girl.

But she was wrong. Indeed totally wrong. It was just a mother's last goodbye to her child. That evening, Sneha hang herself from the ceiling fan of her room.

She died of suffocation. That time nobody could save her.

When Sneha felt her daughter didn't need her and could be raised without her mother, she left her for perpetuity. But she didn't realize, despite her minutes of presence every day in her daughter's life, Noor still craved for her mother's touch and cried for weeks followed.

How could she think about it? Children always need their mother, at every step of their lives.

Everyone thought it was so inconsiderate for her to disregard Radhika's sacrifice with such step but no one realised her struggle to live again. Live normally.

She had struggled every day and every moment. Each breath she took had started disgusting her. It was Radhika's not her. She didn't deserve any sort of it. She had no reason to live anymore.

When she was already struggling to at least breath for Radhika's sake, her unexpected pregnancy gave her light. A departure to leave this world.

Radhika saved her when she was already impregnated, thus she saved her daughter too. Sneha realised giving her life could make her free from the burden of her sacrifice. And she could be set feel from every remorse and obligation. She was just a lifeless soul with no reason to stay any more in the world.

How much that logic seemed silly to hear, it did provide her with a hope to escape this cruel world without guilt. It was enough for her. Anyways, she just needed a reason. To run away from everything.

"I feel they are watching me from heaven and laughing while witnessing my pathetic condition now." At last, their immature Maya had finally grown up.

She sobbed looking heavenward while wondering why she even mentioned about them in the first place and that too she was sharing her feeling with Vivaan. But it felt the both were the same. Gashed by the same onslaught.

Vivaan kept looking at her with a loss of words, but luckily he was cast out of the dilemma when Maya didn't stop to seek any reply.

"They always used to say grow up, be mature...I always felt it was not needed because I was sure they will never leave my side ever." As she spoke her voice turned heavy and constricted. She furiously wiped her tears with the surfacing anger.

"I would not shed a tear for them. Let them now, I am very happy and never miss them." But as she said the last sentence, she could handle the bitterness, it was instantly shattered in the form of endless tears.

"I used to feel it was a prank they were mocking me to make me mature and at the end of the day, they would suddenly pop up and hug me in their embrace."

"They are too selfish to leave me alone here." She screamed with a sob, not being able to control her emotions. Her loud voice made the baby stir in her sleep with a whine due to sudden uncomfortableness. She immediately