The atmosphere at Rajvansh Mansion was completely different at this moment. On normal days, everything would run peacefully and systematically, but today the servants were whispering here and there. Someone had seen Agastya bringing an unconscious child in blood-stained clothes. No one could gather the courage to ask anything, but everyone had the same question in their minds.
Hearing the commotion, Savitri Rajvansh came out of her room. She asked a servant standing nearby, "What happened? Why is there so much commotion?"
The servant bowed and said, "Ma'am, Baba has brought some girl. And she's in the room next to his."
Hearing this, Savitri's expression changed. She said in surprise, "A girl? Come, take me there."
At her words, the servant led her toward the room where Sitara had been placed.
As soon as Savitri entered, she saw a little girl whose face had turned pale, with dried tear marks on her cheeks and a bandage on her foot. At this moment, she was in a deep sleep, but even her sleep seemed restless. And in the same room, in a corner on a chair, sat Agastya. There was now no expression on his face.
Savitri looked at the child, then at Agastya. Stepping forward, she said, "Agastya, who is this girl?"
Hearing her voice, Agastya slowly stood up. He looked into his mother's eyes, but his face carried the same coldness it always did.
Without saying anything more, he simply said, "Mom, I can't tell you anything. But from today, she is ours. Just understand that whoever she is, she is ours."
Saying this, he left from there without stopping. The sound of his footsteps slowly faded away.
At his words, Savitri stood stunned for a few moments. Then her gaze fell on Sitara's face again. Seeing that little child, Savitri's heart became restless for some reason.
She lovingly sat down on the bed beside Sitara. Seeing her, Sitara got a little scared. Feeling her nervousness, Savitri lovingly stroked her head and said, "Don't be scared, beta, I am Agastya's mother. What is your name?"
At her words, Sitara said a little nervously, "Sitara."
Hearing this, Savitri said with a smile, "This is such a lovely name, Sitara. From today, we will call you Tara. And from today, you will call me 'Mom'."
Hearing this, something happened to Sitara – she hugged her and said, "Mommy."
The next day. Rajvansh Mansion.
The morning sunlight was coming in through the large glass windows of the mansion. The sounds of birds could be heard from the garden. But today, there was a different kind of excitement throughout the mansion.
Savitri Rajvansh had come down early in the morning, already dressed. Behind her stood at least ten to twelve servants. Some had large shopping bags in their hands, while others carried designer boxes. One servant had shoe boxes, another had hair accessories and ribbons.
Meanwhile, Agastya had just returned from jogging and was surprised to see his mother so happy.
Because ever since his father's passing, he had never seen his mother so happy.
Agastya lovingly held her shoulders and said, "Mom, is there something today?"
At his words, Savitri said, "You've brought a wonderful surprise for me. You brought Sitara. Ever since she came, I feel as if I've found a daughter."
Saying this, she touched his face and continued, "Go, get ready. She might want to meet you at breakfast."
At her words, Agastya nodded and left from there.
Savitri now looked ahead. She raised her hand and, smiling at all the servants, said, "Come on, all of you follow me. But don't make any noise – my Tara is sleeping."
Hearing this, all the servants silently followed her toward the room where Sitara was sleeping.
As soon as Savitri entered the room, her gaze first fell on Sitara. She was still in a deep sleep. Her face looked a little better than yesterday. A slight color had returned to her cheeks, her lips weren't as dry. But even in her sleep, her hands were clutching the blanket tightly, as if afraid that someone would take it away.
Savitri looked to the other side. There, in the corner of the room, stood a very large wardrobe that had remained almost empty until today.
She gestured toward the servants and said in a low voice, "Set everything in that wardrobe. Hang all the clothes on hangers, arrange the shoes in a line below, and keep the accessories separately."
At her command, the servants silently started moving everything toward the wardrobe. Someone was opening shirts, someone was hanging dresses on hangers, someone was arranging ribbons and clips in small trays.
Savitri herself stood supervising everything. There was a different kind of glow on her face. As if after years, she had felt needed by someone. Just then, her gaze fell on Sitara sleeping on the bed. She smiled and slowly came near the bed.
She sat on the bed and lovingly stroked Sitara's shoulder while calling her, "Tara, beta, wake up. Come on, it's morning."
Her voice was so sweet and soft, as if she was waking a little baby.
At her gentle wake-up call, Sitara rubbed her eyes and slowly opened them. For a while, she couldn't understand anything. But when she heard Savitri's voice, she looked at her. Seeing Savitri, she remembered everything from last night – her saying, "From today, you will call me 'Mom'."
Remembering this, Sitara's eyes became slightly moist. She slowly sat up.
Just then, her gaze fell on a corner of the room, where all the servants were setting clothes and other things in a large wardrobe. She saw big dresses, shirts, jeans, skirts, shoes, ribbons, hairbands everything.
Seeing all this, her eyes widened. She looked at Savitri in surprise. And a smile appeared on her lips.
Seeing her smile, Savitri smiled too. She gently stroked her hair and said, "All this is for you, Tara."
At her words, Sitara couldn't say anything. Her eyes had become moist. Just two weeks ago, her mom and dad had left this world, and today she felt as if she had found another family. She just smiled and hugged Savitri, saying, "Mommy."
At her words, Savitri hugged her tightly. Her eyes also became moist.
Savitri lovingly stroked Sitara's hair and said, "Beta, you're hurt, aren't you? Come, let me bathe you."
But hearing this, Sitara immediately pulled back. Her small hands tightly gripped her clothes. Suddenly, fear appeared in her eyes. She shook her head vigorously in refusal and said in a trembling voice,
"No, Mom! I'll bathe myself. Don't do it."
Hearing this, both surprise and pain appeared on Savitri's face. But she understood – this child had endured a lot. She gently held Sitara's hand and said very lovingly,
"Why, beta? I am your mother, aren't I? Are you going to refuse your mother?"
Saying this, there was so much love in Savitri's voice that Sitara's fear slowly began to melt. She lowered her eyes and thought for a while. Then slowly, she nodded her head in agreement.
But her hand was still on her clothes, as if she still didn't fully trust.
Meanwhile, at the room's door, Agastya stood silently watching everything. He had just gotten ready and stepped out of his room, and he had decided that after getting ready, he would go straight to Sitara's room. Standing at the door, he had seen Sitara's fear –the way she pulled back, the way she clutched her clothes, the way there was restlessness in her eyes. His eyes narrowed slightly.
He slowly entered and said straight to Savitri, "Mom, you go select Sitara's clothes and bring them. Meanwhile, I'll drop her in the washroom."
Saying this, Savitri looked at him and understood what Agastya wanted to do. She silently nodded and moved to the other side to get the clothes.
Agastya came near Sitara. Without saying anything, he held her by the shoulder and lifted her into his lap. Sitara didn't resist. Her small arms automatically wrapped around Agastya's neck.
Agastya took her inside the washroom. There, he sat Sitara down in one spot.
Then, bending down in front of her, he said in a soft voice,
"You don't need to be scared, okay? You're with Agastya. And Agastya won't let anything happen to you. Forget the past, okay?"
There was so much love and trust in his voice that Sitara felt great confidence in him. Agastya had perhaps never given this much importance to anyone except his mother.
Sitara looked straight into his eyes and nodded her head in agreement.
Just then, Savitri came inside with Sitara's new clothes. She kept the clothes aside. And Agastya stood up. While leaving, he turned back once and said to Savitri,"Mom, take care of Sitara."
At his words, Savitri smiled and nodded. Agastya left from there. Now, as the door closed, Savitri sat down near Sitara.
She gently wiped her slightly wet face with the end of her saree and said, "Come on, beta, now there's nothing to be afraid of. Your mother is with you."
At her words, Sitara said nothing. She just hooked her small finger into Savitri's finger and rested her head on her shoulder.
Savitri slowly started removing Sitara's clothes. She was doing this with so much love and tenderness, as if someone was bathing their little baby.
But as soon as Sitara's clothes were completely removed, Savitri's hands froze. Her breath stopped. And she put her hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened. She just kept staring at her for a few moments.
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