And the baby you delivered was also perfectly healthy. After two years of staying on the island, myself and Mr. Nicolas both agreed to bring you back to India. We hoped that being close to your roots will help you overcome your inner self and also allow your child to have a normal life.
It's been seven years since those ill omened days.Those were the darkest days on earth as Death danced over human lives. Nature's rage knew no bounds and returned the pain she suffered in tenfold. After that people had to carry on with the life that was thrown at them following the destruction ; some recovered, some still struggling. But the fear of those days and nights still lingers in the hearts of mankind.
I didn't know about everything that happened inside JaiWar S107 until Mr. Nicolas personally told me. He also told me that everything you have been through was predestined for you and that this is part of the course which will lead you to fulfill the purpose of your birth.
You're born for a greater cause, my dear.
I had tried to ask him many times as to why he was so keenly interested in you and your child and was willing to invest so much of time, effort and money. But he never gave me a clear answer, he always said that he was not helping you ; he was only atoning for himself and hoped that someday he would be able to forgive himself.
I still remember, on the day of your delivery I had personally called him after I was told that he would not come to meet the baby.
He told me that he would not tint your and your baby's life with his sinful presence. You both were his pole stars that he would look up from afar. It was enough for him to know that you both exist somewhere in this world and he will do everything in his power to ensure your safety no matter where you are. There was too much pain in his voice.
Somehow, I feel even though he said that things were predestined for you, he still blamed himself for everything you went through.
And true to his words, he never once appeared before you in all these years. Infact, I was late to realise that from the day of your appearance on the Goa beach he made a million calls to the doctors to know everything about your condition but never once personally visited you.
God knows why he is punishing himself so much, but he truly cares for you and that's undeniable, Lia. " Father Abraham ended his tale with a fond smile just in time to see the choppers circling around the mansion for landing.
" Well, looks like the medical team has finally arrived. Sure took their sweet time." The elder joked.
Lia never once said a word during the entire tale and nor after that. Her tear drenched face revealed her sincere remorse.
Even though she still had no idea as to what exactly had happened, she genuinely regretted her decisions. Her decisions in the face of adversity were clearly incorrect. If not for those, then so many people would not have been troubled so much for her sake.
" Like I said before Lia, don't blame yourself for what happened. You're back and that's what matters the most. " Father tried to reassure, but still couldn't get a response from Lia.
Father signed to himself then gently wipping away her precious tears he said. " As precious as they are Lia, now is neither the time or place for them. "
Although Father didnot explictly say anything, Lia understood prefectly well the hidden undertone of his statement. Indeed, she was in a war and was a mother at the same time . Therefore, if not for herself she had to get grip of her child's sake. Before her child, there's no way she could show her tears.
And this was exactly where Father Abraham made a tiny mistake. Even though he understood that the Lia before him wasn't anything like her past selves, he failed to measure the depth of her.
Of course Lia was regretful of her past, however she wasn't the one to dwell in it. As for her tears? They were anything but weakness. On the contrary, they were actually symbol of a far greater resolve ; a mother's resolve.
Knock!!! Knock!!! Knock!!
" Father!! The medical team is here. " Brother Fernandez poked his head to inform, interupting the conversation.
" Well, it's about time, I say. " Father replied jokingly and rose from his sit to leave the room.
" Father!! Father!! "
Father Abraham was almost out of the room when Lia called out to him with all the might could muster. Her throat began to hurt painfully. Her vocal cords were still not used to speaking, never mind so loudly.
Still, her hoarse voice was just mildly audible enough to reach their ears. Brother immediately rushed back into the room and followed by Father.
" Lia what's wrong!!! What happened?? "
Brother asked anxiously.
Lia eyebrows creased in pain yet she forced herself to speak.
" My baby... My baby.. " was all she could mubble after that.
Fresh tears streamed down her eyes again like raining diamonds. Her glassy eyes exhibited a deep inner pain. She didn't know why she was crying.
Was it because of her aching throat or her aching heart?
Whatever it was, it was excruciating....
She could vividly imagine how heart broken her child must have been when he or she yearned for her love, care and attention but never once received any.
She was well aware of the agonizing pain that it causes as she herself had experieced it first hand all thanks to one woman. Those dark years that she once endured now played back in her mind. There were no words that could tell what Lia felt knowing that her own child had to go through the same.
Lia vowed to herself that she would make up for every lost second. She would give her child love and care so much so that he or she will forget this period of life like a bad dream. Her only assurance was that unlike herself, her child wasn't completely neglected. Father and Brother's care eased some weight off her heart.
Actually, back in that void realm when Lutfa and Carlos were persueading Lia to return to the mortal world, her child was also on their agenda which they deliberately skipped. Because they knew better that motherhood is not something that can be explained, it is an experience that comes from acceptance and in order to accept, she needed to know about it first.
They believed in Father Abraham for doing a better job than themselves.
When Lia resolved herself to return, never in her wildest dream did she think of being a mother. Thus, when she learned about her pregnancy she was more than just shocked. But Father Abraham knew about this, therefore he carefully chose his words allowing Lia to experience motherhood that she missed because of her years in coma.
Truthfully, it was a task. Something that Father Abraham wasn't going to try ever again.
However, his efforts were worth the trouble.
With her own childhood experience paired with Father's descriptive tale Lia could clearly see the seven years of her child's life that she missed.
They say that a mother gives birth to a child, but in reality it is the child who brings out the mother from the depths of a woman and Lia was no exception. The girl who until a while ago was just a child searching for her parents without a care in the world now was on a mission to make this world a safer place to live for her child.
When Lia asked about her baby, relief washed over Father Abraham's aged heart and the wise elder smiled in secret. He had achieved what he intended to.
" I understand that you want to meet your child Lia, but I'm sorry can't allow that right now. " Brother Fernandez replied with mischievous smile. " You see there is a camp going on at the moment near the Forest Research Institute and all the pre schoolers are supposed to participate. Hence your beloved baby accompained by Soham are currently at the camp and will be back by tomorrow. So until then, you'll have to wait. "
They were purposely using ' Your child ', ' Little one ' such other references to refer to Lia's baby in order to keep the gender of the child a secret.
" I know you are excited Lia, but it'll be worth your wait. I promise. " Father added.
With that they left and Surbhi lead in the medical team. Their extensive check-up ran late into the night after which they concluded that Lia was completely out of danger and her body didn't suffer any adverse effect of the vegetative state. After a detailed discussion with Father and Brother and issuing new instructions for Surbhi, the medical team departed and the rehab team stayed back.
It was way past midnight, but Lia was still wide awake. She was full of anticipation and anxiety about meeting her child.
But, this wait was killing her.
Also Brother and Father both schemed against her and didn't even tell her what is the name of her baby.
URGH? Wait. Forget it, they didn't even tell her whether her baby was a boy or a girl. And that Surbhi! She also joined hands with them.
What a bunch of Meanies?
She kept staring at the clock, waiting for this night to come to an end so she could meet her child.
Meanwhile, on the other corner of the world someone else was also waiting impatiently for the night to come to an end.