09/09/2023
EXISTENCE
After a long six years, Devasmita had her little bundle of joy, Snigdha. Though since birth, she was unaware of her father's identity, because Devi aka Devasmita did not feel the need to inform her. And what would she even say! When Snigdha was growing in her mother's womb, Devi did not have Gaurav by her side. She fought the world alone to keep that little fetus in her safe and thriving womb. As Devi got pregnant before marriage, Gaurav's family did not agree to this marriage, Gaurav also went along with that stream. One time, the Devi lost all her will and strength to fight day after day in the face of despair and society's eyes and went on the path of su***de.
But the little life growing inside her womb made its own existence known and made it clear that it does not want to dive into the darkness before seeing the light of the world! Devi cannot end herself like a selfish person. With the utmost mercy of motherhood, she vowed to raise her child like a responsible human being with great care. Devi was remembering the old days while decorating the new house. But those old memories can't make an impression now... she is fine with the only little girl of her.
Taking leave for that day, Devi decorated the whole house very beautifully. So due to exhaustion, she fell asleep early. Snigdha hugs her as soon as Devi returns from office the next afternoon. Snigdha's childhood habit of hugging her mother as soon as she returned. But today the mother's mind became restless without getting that comforting embrace. ‘Minti di didn't come to work today, the girl was alone, what if there was a problem?’ Various questions kept popping up in her mind.
By the time she regained consciousness, Snigdha had gone to play. But after several hours she didn’t return home. Devi searched everywhere. Even after searching the whole house, the girl is nowhere to be found. She suddenly ran towards the back of the house. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Snigdha kneeling in front of the abandoned well. But who is Snigdha talking to! Or is she muttering to herself!
__ "What are you doing here?"
Snigdha looked back, giggling at the voice of her mother.
__" Sweetie! Whom were you talking to?"
__" Mammam with Rini! Today when I fell while getting off the school bus, everyone was laughing. Except her... she picked me up by the hand.”
__"Who is Rini? Where is Rini?”
Devi can't see anyone even looking around. She takes Snigdha's hand and pulls her inside. After a lot of effort at night, what she gets from the girl reveals that Rini is Minti's seven-year-old daughter, about whom Devi was still unaware. Devi asks Minti about her daughter when she was doing the household chores while taking out the trash in the morning.
__ “Is your daughter's name Rini? You never said that before!”
__ “Yes, but how did you know?”
Minti replied in a shocked voice.
__ "Last night Snigdha said Rini is her new friend, whom she was playing with behind the house".
__ “is playing? But that is impossible! Four months ago exactly today, while playing, she drowned in that well behind this house and left my life empty.”
As soon as she heard the words, the fear of losing her motherhood gripped Devi's throat as if she felt shivers all over her body. Without thinking about anything else, she ran behind the house and the scene she saw was unimaginable. Snigdha stands above the well holding the hand of her imaginary friend. Devi’s feet were stuck on the ground in fear. But Devi ran to her daughter immediately. She brought the girl down from the top of the well.
Immediately, a ghostly figure of a child appeared in a strong wind. The fierce smile on her face... she disappeared into the void again in a moment. The gentle wind of the winter morning is like its telling us that there is an unknown world beyond the earth, hidden from our sight.
