Episode 145 Be Grateful For What We Have
Mishka destroyed everything her hands got on, their room was now a mess. From outside the door, Christian could hear the crackling sounds but didn’t attempt to disturb her. Once there was complete silence, Christian cracked the door open, peeking inside, and spotted Mishka sitting at the edge of their bed.
“Are you done?” He asked, not sure whether it was the right time to enter the lion’s den.
“I’ll kill you!!” Mishka screeched and threw a pillow at him.
“Nobody dies with a pillow attack,” He laughed while Mishka picked up the lampshade and his face lost all colours.
“What do you say now?” She asked in a grave tone.
“Okay, keep that back. I am going.” He said and was about to walk away.
“Come inside or else I’ll seriously kill you!!” She screeched loudly.
“Keep that back first. I don’t trust you.” He said and slowly entered inside.
“Why you don’t want a child?” Mishka asked, getting straight to the point.
“I didn’t say I don’t want a child ever. You heard my half conversation and jumped to the conclusion.” Christian stated, but she cut him off again.
“I just heard enough to know that you aren’t interested in me now,” She said in a high pitch, slowly getting on Christian’s nerve, trying to get the best out of him.
“Really? What was exactly my sentence that forced you to make this assumption?” He countered while trying to remain calm and patient with her.
She kept mum for a moment, “Don’t try to change the topic, why you are not ready for a child?” Mishka asked, and Christian rubbed his stubble.
“Are you ready?”
“What do you mean?” She countered.
“Come, I’ll show you.” Christian gripped her wrist and made her stand in front of the mirror.
“Were you like this before? Hair like a bird’s nest, bags around the eyes, pale face like someone has sucked the life out of you, easily getting irritated with everything. Nowadays, I never find you with your laptop. You stopped working!” Christian pointed.
“I don’t want to work!” She shrieked, looking at him in the mirror.
“And, why? Where is that woman who was bragging about twenty-four is not the age to rest? It’s a time to give your best shot? You wanted to do so many things in life. What happened to that? One incident happened, and that changed your entire personality?” Christian tried to make Mishka understand his point, but she rolled her eyes in response.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me. Get over your grief, become that old Mishka, and then we’ll have a pleasant talk about the baby. Not happening before that!” He stated and moved back.
“You don’t want a baby because I am not like before and you want me to believe this bullshit,” She countered, slamming her hand on the dresser.
Christian stared at her face in the mirror. “I almost lost you the last time. I want nothing like that to happen again. You are fucking more important to me than any baby. I can live without a baby but not without you,” Christian shrieked and Mishka turned to face him.
“Everything happened because of your loving uncle. I didn’t do anything to myself,” She sneered. “Your family has left me in this state!” Mishka growled, but immediately realised what she said and covered her mouth.
Christian’s eyes darken as he took a step forward in her direction and Mishka gulped in nervousness. Her anxiety increased when she saw his hands moving in her direction.
Christian cupped her cheeks. “I’ll be forever sorry for what my family did to you. Even I’ll be forever sorry. I behaved like an asshole when we met, never gave you any chance to explain anything, just assumed things and acted. I am sorry, baby.” Christian said softly.
Mishka calmed, her racing heartbeat slowly normalised under his touch. “I understand all your pent-up frustration. We have gone through a lot, but give yourself some time to heal, give me some time to heal. Our married life has been a roller coaster ride since we got married. Let’s just stop here for a while and be grateful for whatever we have, rather than mourning over what we lost.” He caressed her cheeks with his thumb.
“I try to overcome. Trust me. I really try hard but I can’t remove those memories. I always feel scared of everything. Darkness haunts me.” Mishka said in a choked voice while Christian wiped her tears. “I feel like I killed my child, and trust me, it’s a horrible feeling.”
“Should we a take a professional help?” Christian asked. “I know someone who can help us,” Christian said and his eyes lingered on the visiting card on the couch.
“You think I am mad?” She shrieked.
Christian facepalmed himself. “I knew you would say this. Anyway, you are in a trauma, and clearly, my presence isn’t helping you.” Christian said, but Mishka shook her head, disapproving of the idea.
“Fine, we’ll go only when you agree, okay?” He said and smiled at her.
“I’m leaving the baby topic for now, but this isn’t over yet.” Mishka pouted.
***
Next Morning,
Luke slept while sitting on the stool beside Vera’s bed. These days, he used to stay with Vera at night rather than going back home to sleep on his comfy bed. He was sleeping, holding her hand under his chin when he felt some movement. He ignored it at first but then felt a finger moving on his cheeks.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, but they went wide when he found Vera’s fingers moving over his face. He grasped her hand in his and could feel the sensation in her hand. His eyes travelled to Vera, who was staring at him with her twinkling eyes as if she was also thrilled.
“You could move your f-fingers… l-like, really?” He asked, clutching her hand, and kissing her knuckles. “Will you try to move again? I can’t believe this,” He exclaimed, his deep blue eyes filled with tears of joy as he felt her moving her fingers again to confirm him.
“Jesus, this is so amazing!!” Luke said, kissing all her fingers one by one. He brings the switch that was close to her bed and kept it close to her finger. “Can you press this?” He asked and Vera pressed the switch. Soon Dr Ken and the nurses appeared in the room and were stunned to find this new development.
***
Christian just ended the meeting with Japanese clients and cracked another deal. “Ana, can you get me a cup of coffee?” He asked politely and Ana left.
He closed his eyes, throwing his head back on the couch when he got a message from Mishka, “Don’t you think we should enrol Eric in preschool?”
“Why do you want to harass that cute baby?” Christian replied.
“Shut up! When are you coming back? We need to discuss this?” Her reply came, and Christian chuckled.
“Evening, till then select some schools and fill out the appointment form online.” He suggested.
“Will do. By the way, How’s your friend doing?” She asked.
“Which friend?” Christian furrowed his brows in confusion.
“The one in the hospital. What’s wrong with you? How can you forget?” Mishka replied with angry emoticons.
Christian massaged his temple. “Gosh, I totally forgot about Lia!” He muttered to himself while typing a reply.
“You occupy so much space in my mind that I hardly remember anything.” Christian sent the message with a wink and Mishka ended the conversation, sending heart emoticons.
“Lia!!” Christian huffed in annoyance.
***
Mishka wore an ocean blue colour saree with a sleeveless white blouse. She wore a beautiful pair of dangles in her ears and silver bangles in her hands. Christian’s words were finally working on her as she prepared herself like old times to impress her already impressed husband.
She was applying kohl to her eyes while Eric was running around in the room playing with toys. “Eric, don’t run. You’ll hurt yourself again,” She said in a high pitch, but little Eric was in his own trance. He kicked the trash bin near the dresser and then slipped on the floor.
Mishka’s focus shifted to him, but he wasn’t hurt this time. He quickly stood on his feet and walked away, splintering the trash on the floor. Mishka bent down picking crushed papers from the floor and other stuff when her hand gets on the visiting card of Dr James Carter and she stared at it.