Roop's POV
Three years ago, my five-year-old sister was diagnosed with Leukaemia. She was the only girl who had to deal with death in the new world due to illness.
But before that, I was an honor student in high school. I was offered a university scholarship due to my academic standing. I have a number of Universities to choose from but Hrithik told me to choose the best one. We attended the same university.
But when my sister was diagnosed, I need to choose between continuing my studies or helping my Mamma with the finances. We were told that my sister had a slim chance of survival. Because life-threatening diseases never occur in the new world, so there is no cure for them here, even after that, we tried a lot. Prayed to God and Goddess Prakriti, but we could not save her.
It was very difficult to take care of a suffering soul, and that's why we could not meet her medical expenses. Our situation had become a bit like that of the old world. And because of that, I stopped school and worked part-time to help my Mamma with the hospital and medicine bills.
Hrithik also wanted to help us in that bad time, but we could not save her against the Almighty's will. We lost our little princess. Everything seemed to shatter in front of me. I knew right away that she was going soon. She was very sweet and loving. She loves being called a princess. She was my princess. I always want to thrive in my studies to give her a better future but all my dreams came crashing down when she finally gave up her fight. After just 5 months of battle. But somehow, I'm glad it didn't take long.
We let her go. She suffered too much. It hurts whenever I hear her crying. To ease the pain she was feeling. No more suffering.
I think that was the saddest part of my life. But I have to be strong for my mother. She was a very strong woman. I need to show her that I am strong too.
Until now, I cannot talk or even speak my sister's name. It still hurts as if it just happened yesterday. But we're moving on. I did not go back to school after that. Honestly, I don't have the strength. I'm doing everything for her but now she's gone, it felt like I'm doing everything for no one anymore. All I want right now is to work for my Mamma as my father was a saint who got lost in the fog of God's name. I'm glad he left. It may sound too bad but I'm just happy he left out of this miserable life we still had. In the new world, ninety percent of people are good and kind, they won't hurt others ever. So the only problem we could face is hardships of lives but never the evilness or madness of others. I think that's a good part of this golden world.
But I know my sister wanted us to pursue our dreams, a dream of being happy! The happiness that I will give to my mamma is by sending her to her favorite concert.
I have one faith in front of all the miseries of this world, that is my belief that encourages me to live life. I have great faith in my Goddess, my Durga Maa (The Eternal Mother of the whole Universe).
I always worship her and embellish my life with new hopes and dreams, even though I don't ask anything from Goddess! But I have faith in her, that one day she will definitely give me a good day. Day of love!
Today is my sister's birthday. I went to her grave after work. I don't know if it's just a coincidence that I met Moon today. She reminded me a lot of my sister. Her full bangs, her sweet little voice, and her love for cookies and cream. Most especially, her little voice calling me sir. It's been a while since someone called me sir. Though it hurts that Moon brought painful memories back, it felt good that I made a little girl extra happy today. I think that's the best gift that I can give to my little sister in heaven. I was wrong to call Moon grumpy. She was nice. Glad to know because her father is the total opposite.
Niyon insisted to come. He said he wanted to meet my sister and greet her happy birthday. I told him it was not possible. I really can't talk about my sister's death. It breaks my heart every time. Niyon was shocked when I brought him to the columbarium. Since he went with me, I told him everything about my sister and about myself. He felt sorry about what happened. And now he understands why I wasn't able to finish my studies and just relied on jobs not requiring a diploma. We talked too seriously for about an hour and Niyon changed the topic as he noticed that I am getting teary.
"I was surprised that Moon called you sir," Niyon said while we walk on our way to the bus stop.
"Huh? Why?" I got curious.
"She calls me Sohum. My surname, Can you imagine? 'Hey, Sohum! Buy me ice cream!'. Can you imagine that? A little girl calling me Sohum?" Niyon's facial expression was humorous. When Niyon widens his eyes and pouts, he looks like a little kid. I laughed at his story.
"I think she doesn't mean any of that. She's just a kid. But Niyon, Mr. Parth is married?" I asked. I can't believe someone would want to be his wife or his husband whatever he chose to have.
"He's not married." I can't comprehend what I just heard, "His girlfriend left him just after she gave birth. Like she gave birth today then she left the next day."
I was shocked to know. I felt sorry for Moon. My heart breaks for the little girl. She grew up without a mother. Maybe that's why she's grumpy sometimes. She needs love and attention from a mother or a father. Maybe she's aiming for that kind of attention.
"So Mr. Parth is a single parent?" I asked. I don't know anything about big boss aside from the fact that he is always and forever enraged and inconsiderate.
Niyon nodded. "Moon grew up with their maids. Mr. Parth is from a broken family as well. And his father died the same year Moon was born. That's all I know. Maybe we can ask Vivek some other time. He's with the Omkar's for ten years."
Well, knowing all of that, somehow, maybe his past has something to do with why he is just so heartless. Why speaks too coldly to others...
The reality about Ara, Roop's little sister.
Ara was the only being in the new world who got sick otherwise no one gets sick in the new golden world.
She was a devotee of Lord Kalki and had made a mistake while worshiping him once.
And for that reason, she was cursed to become the first woman in the world whose health would deteriorate.
But when the Lord took pity on her condition, Roop blessed her that he would be with Ara in every difficult situation. Supporting her as a big brother. And that's what Roop fulfilled in this birth...