No. Unlike the fantasy stories, Maisha didn't feel any motherhood in her. She didn't even feel any sympathy. Rather she just felt disgusted. She didn't have any family bond and her impression on the word mother was the worst. The word 'mother' was like a curse to her. It made her feel uncomfortable. She wanted to leave but she couldn't. This girl have to be alright for her grand plan. And so she was angry. How come the girl was this sick right under her watch?
"Ugh!", she mumbled in frustration. What if she dies? How much of her plan would be distorted?
Risha, unaware of these, was groaning and crying in pain. She was in a delusional state where reality was mixed. Her mind travelled far back in her memory where she could see her mom.
" Risha, my child. Don't cry. You'll be fine. My daughter is strong, isn't she?"
Whenever Risha was sick, her mother would be by her side patting her head, taking care of her, the special one. Even in the dream, Risha flinched.
"The special one?" Where had she heard that phrase. Who told her that? Without getting the answer, she went further back to past and eventually she reached somewhere unfamiliar.
A huge field, showering with various wildflowers. She went ahead where large and proud trees were greeting her. Their branches were dancing in wind.It was a sharp yet soothing breeze. She walked more and went deeper till she was in the middle of a forest. A complete lifeless forest, no bird was chirping, no beast was roaring. It was a dead silence. No one told her but she knew all being that lived here has died . They died a long time ago, in agony, without any company. No one told her but she knew. Cause she was the one responsible for all these. The corpses of those creatures have been long lost but the hatred they left was still in the air, in the ground. It was scattered everywhere blaming her. This time, she wasn't scared. She didn't feel dispair. She was just somewhat empty.
Something inside her keep whispering in her ear, "Everything is up to destiny. We cannot change that no matter what. So don't be sad. It wasn't your fault."
While she had absolutely no idea who was talking, she couldn't refute it. Those words reached her when she was in pain, became her solace. Without even thinking she braced the words as well the owner of those words. It was the one guided her towards Noah. She didn't question it or its existence.
'Yes, that's right. It was their destiny. Whatever I do, I cannot stop it. I shouldn't feel guilty.'
Finally with a bizarre peace of mind, she fell asleep. But that sleep changed something. Risha, who didn't even completely trust the one who promised her to save her family, she had leaned on a being whom she never knew. She had let her guard down with her realising it. Her subconscious that's suspected everything and everyone around her seems to have disappeared.
The sound of clocked reached Risha's ears. Slowly she opened her eyes. She tried to get up only to find her hand being locked in another hand. She looked down and saw Maisha who held her hand tightly even in her sleep. Seeing the sitting in the floor with her head leaned in bed made Risha happy. It was the similar scene she had seen all her life. But that happiness didn't last long as the image of her mother hitting her with broken chair flashed in her mind. And without thinking for a moment she freed her hand forcefully. And it woke Maisha up.
Rubbing her eyes, she looked at Risha.
"You are up", she said.
" How long did I sleep?"
"I wouldn't call that sleeping. You were unconscious for a week."
"Sorry for bothering you."
"Well, you did scare me. What happened? Why did you catch a fever all of a sudden?"
Risha didn't answer. She couldn't even look into Maisha's eyes. Maisha noticed that.
"Risha, what happened? Did I do something wrong ?"
"No, it's not you. I just...saw a memory, it was of my mother. You look similar to her. "
Maisha clenched her fist, "Oh, what did you see? Was it a loving moment?"
"She was hitting me with a chair and asking why don't I die. And now that I see you, I keep remembering that. I am sorry but could you please leave me alone for sometime? "
Maisha was expecting Risha to say anything but that.
'Hitting her with a chair! It sounded too cruel and she didn't seem to be lying.'
So as per Risha's request, Maisha left. And so, Risha's facial expression eased. The only line Maisha said about her mother was that 'liked Misha more and and ignored her', but judging by her reaction, it seemed that there's more to it. Especially when Risha talked about the hitting incident, her expression was odd.
'Seems like there are many things you hid from me than I thought. Come to think of it you never told me about anything about your surroundings or your family since the day you asked to be my friend. I thought you were my friend. Could it be that I was the one deluding myself? '
'To you, she is your mother but for her you are a complete stranger. And despite that she saved your, fed you and gave you a place to stay. But you kept clinging to her, set some nonsense about wanting to know her. It only makes sense that she wouldn't tell you everything. What if you were to harm her? '
'You know I would never do that! '
'Yes, I know but she doesn't. Let me repeat again you are approaching her without meaning any harm only because she is going to be your mother in the future. And you are the one who knows that, she doesn't. Besides you are here to take advantage of her.'
'No! I am not! I... I am...'
'You know it yourself. You are trying to gain her trust only because of your mission. You are doing it to save your family but she isn't your family, at least not yet. And let me ask you, did you forget why you came into this timeline in the first place?'
'To fix everything so that I wouldn't lose them.'
'Yes that's right. Do not forget that it doesn't matter if she tells you about herself or not. You are supposed to convince to involve you in her plan. So forget any other distracting thoughts.'
'Alright.' Risha sighed. She was feeling bad about deceiving her mother but it's not like she had any other choice. Her mother who was so close to her and yet at the same time she was very distant no matter it's then or now. She didn't know how was she supposed to approach her and how would she convince her. But what she never imagined, the opportunity presented itself.