"Legal Affairs: A Love Story"

Chapter: A Heartbreaking Goodbye

Chapter: A Heartbreaking Goodbye

The wedding was over, and it was finally the 2nd of December. The bustling events had come to an end, and the excitement of the past few days began to settle down. The Ishtimayavi event had been happening in Bhopal for the past four days, and it was now finished. With everything winding down, I looked forward to the 3rd of December, when I would have an off day, a moment to breathe.

Kaynat, Tabish, Yasir Bhai, and I had planned to spend the day together, enjoying some time out. I reached out to Tabish, asking if he was up for it, but he always had the same response – he’d never give a definitive answer. “I’ll confirm,” he’d say, never really saying yes or no. This would always leave me a little frustrated, and, as expected, a small argument followed. Still, Kaynat and I decided that we would go ahead with the plan, regardless of his uncertainty.

That morning, as I was talking to Kaynat about where we should go and what we should wear, I decided to do a little skincare routine. As I was exfoliating, I received an unexpected call from appi Her voice was rushed, and she urgently asked, “Where is Ammi? Where is Ammi? Come home, come home.” I immediately felt a wave of fear. “What happened?” I asked, panic creeping into my voice.

She replied, “We tried to wake Nani, but she’s not opening her eyes.” My heart sank. I knew how fragile Nani had been, how delicate her health was in recent years. Without a second thought, I rushed out the door and sped towards her house. The world felt like it was closing in, and my mind raced with the worst thoughts.

When we arrived, the reality hit us hard – Nani had passed away. The news felt like a punch to the gut, and a silence filled the room that felt unbearable. Losing her felt like losing a piece of my childhood, a part of me that I could never get back. Every summer, every school break – they were all intertwined with memories of her house, her warmth, and her presence. Nani had been a cornerstone of my childhood, and with her gone, it felt like a part of my past had vanished with her.

It wasn’t just the pain of losing a loved one; it was the weight of knowing that a piece of my history, a piece of my identity, was no longer with me.

Chapter: A Silent Support

The news of Nani’s passing had struck us hard, and in the midst of all the chaos, there was no room for words. We were all in shock, too lost in grief to express much. I called Tabish to inform him, but there was nothing to say, no comfort I could offer over the phone. I simply shared the news and hung up. My heart was too heavy to continue the conversation.

The day felt like a blur. I couldn’t even find my phone, let alone check it. My mind was consumed with the sorrow of losing someone so dear. It wasn’t until later that I realized how much Tabish had cared, even from a distance.

His mother had called multiple times, worried about our well-being and asking about the arrangements. At some point, my mother picked up the phone, and they spoke briefly. By 9 p.m., Tabish called again. This time, my mother spoke with him and he updated her about the plans, the funeral, and when we were going to lay Nani to rest. The details were all in place, but even in such a moment of loss, I could feel his presence in the background, offering a quiet sense of comfort.

As the night went on, Sami received a call from Tabish. He expressed his concern, asking him to check in on me and if I was feeling alright. “If you get a chance,” he said, “ask her to talk to me.”

By the time I finally picked up the phone, it was past 1 a.m. I saw his many messages, but it wasn’t until then that I called him back. He had been waiting for me to call. His voice was calm, supportive, and he patiently listened as I shared a little more. He didn’t push me to talk, but I knew he wanted to make sure I was okay.

The next morning, he and his father was already there.

But through it all, he remained there for me, even when I didn’t have the energy to ask for help. It was in these small moments of care, when he didn’t ask for anything in return, that I truly saw how much he cared for me.

Chapter: Grief and Care

The day after Nani passed, I was so overwhelmed by exhaustion and grief that I couldn’t bring myself to sleep. I stayed by her side, refusing to leave her, just wanting to be there while her body remained with us. It felt like the last time I would be able to see her face, and I wanted to hold onto that moment for as long as possible.

I didn’t sleep that night, just kept vigil, and when the morning came, I was drained. I finally managed to sleep through the afternoon, unaware of the time passing. I was too tired, too emotionally drained to check my phone or talk to anyone. I just needed to rest, to escape for a moment, even if it was only in my sleep.

Later that evening, we received a call from Tabish’s mother. She mentioned that they wanted to come visit us. At that moment, I didn’t know what to say, but I knew we were open to seeing them.

Through this time, I also realized something about Tabish. Even though we sometimes had disagreements, I knew that if I needed him, he would always show up. His support was unwavering, and he was consistently caring. In moments when I needed reassurance or help, he would be there, never failing to show his genuine concern, even if we weren’t on the best terms. It made me appreciate him even more, seeing the depth of his care when it mattered most.

That evening, when Tabish’s family arrived, I was still at Nani’s house, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. I hadn’t even thought about myself or how I looked. My mind was consumed with the loss, and I didn’t have the energy to worry about appearances. I didn’t have anything with me, not even something as simple as lipstick to at least look presentable when they came.

So, in a moment of practicality, I called Malahat and asked her to bring me something, anything, just so I could put something on my face to feel a little more put together. I didn’t want to face them looking completely drained and unkempt, even though it felt like the last thing on my mind. She quickly brought me what I asked for, and I was able to at least look somewhat presentable as we received them.

After I put on something to look presentable, I just sat there, feeling the weight of everything that had happened. I wasn’t in the mood to talk much. Tabish was there, and I handed him a glass of water, which he took without saying much. We were sitting in the hall, both of us avoiding eye contact because it felt too much, too overwhelming. My father, his mother, my mother—everyone was there, and we were all just processing the situation.

At some point, Malahat came over and asked Tabish & yasir bhai to join her. She seemed to want to take them home, so they went with her. We stayed behind with everyone. And They talked about us, about what had been happening, and I’m sure they had a productive conversation. I called him a few times to ask when he would be coming back because his mother was waiting, and it was getting late. He said he’d be back soon.

When they returned, he met everyone—Kala Mamu, and the rest of the family. After a while, they said their goodbyes.

Malahat, being Malahat, always brought her signature chaotic charm to any situation. When she came with the makeup I had asked her to bring, she couldn't resist adding her own twist. After handing it to me, she turned to Tabish and cheerfully declared, 'She specifically asked me to bring this so she could get ready!' The room erupted into laughter, and there I was, mortified, thinking, Oh my God, why does she have to share everything.

And I'm trying to be the sweet, innocent girl, I asked him later when they got back home, 'So, how am I looking?' I even added, 'I haven’t really put on anything special.' He smiled, then burst into laughter and said, 'Malahat already showed me what you asked her to bring!' I froze for a moment, completely mortified, thinking, Oh my God, that was so not right and i denied thr claim.