“And so, the young prince and princess lived happily ever after,” Ajay said, as he finished reading the story to his daughter Maya, like he did every night.

It was winter. Despite their house being centrally heated, Maya was curled up under a blanket with her face barely visible.

“Thank you, daddy,” she said, stifling a yawn. Her eyes were drooping. She was almost asleep.

“You’re welcome, darling. You should go to sleep now, you have school tomorrow,” Ajay said.

“Good night daddy. I love you,” she said.

“I love you too, kiddo,” Ajay said, as he got up from her bedside and switched off all the lights apart from her night lamp. Maya was afraid of the dark.

“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” Ajay said to Mitali as they sat down to watch some TV together before going to bed.

“That she is,” Mitali said, smiling.

Maya had already fallen asleep when he checked on her a few minutes later. She had a smile on her face.

***

Maya hopped off her school bus happily, expecting her mother to be there waiting for her, as she was every day. She was surprised to find her grandmother waiting for her instead, shuffling around nervously. A look of relief crossed her grandmother’s face when she saw Maya walking towards her. She hurried forward.

“What happened, nani?” Maya asked, as her grandmother took her hand. “Where is mom?”

“She had to go out for some work, child. Are you hungry?” she asked.

“Yes, very!” Maya replied, excitedly.

“Good! Let’s get inside quickly. I’ll fix you a sandwich,” she said.

They went inside, and her grandmother made Maya a cheese sandwich. After she finished eating, she took out her books and started working on her homework, like she did every day. Once she finished that she went to the living room, where her grandmother was watching TV. It was late evening, and it was starting to get dark.

“Nani?” Maya said tentatively, her voice sounding scared.

“Yes, child?” her grandmother asked.

“Where is mom? She’s never left me alone for this long before,” Maya replied.

“Don’t worry child, she will be back soon,” her grandmother said, trying to sound reassuring. “Do you want to watch some cartoons?”

“Okay,” Maya replied, and flipped the TV to her favorite cartoon channel.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” the grandmother said, as she sprang to her feet and rushed towards the phone. She was usually very loud on the phone, but today, she spoke very quietly. Within a few seconds of picking up the phone, a crestfallen look crossed her face which she quickly masked. Maya was too engaged in her cartoon to notice.

After a few minutes, the main door opened and Mitali walked in, looking flustered and short of breath. Maya jumped to her feet and rushed towards her mother as soon as she saw her entering.

“I missed you mom!” Maya said as she wrapped her arms around her mother.

“I missed you too darling,” Mitali said. Her voice was cracking.

As Maya looked up at her, she saw that tears were streaming down her face and her eyes were red. Looking at her mother’s tears, Maya couldn’t control herself and burst out crying as well.

“Wh-what’s wrong, mommy? Why are you crying?” Maya asked.

“Honey, I need to tell you something,” Mitali said. She lead Maya to the couch and made her sit down.

“Maya,” Mitali said. “Y-your father had an accident. He is in the hospital.”

Maya stared at her mother with a blank expression. She didn’t say anything for a few moments.

“Okay. Can I go see him now?” she finally asked, in a surprisingly calm voice.

“Yes, honey. We can go to the hospital now,” Mitali said.

Ajay was in the ICU. He was barely conscious. Both his legs were plastered up. He had a number of tubes and wires attached to various parts of his body, and a bunch of medical contraptions all around him. As Maya entered the room and saw her father, a frown crossed her face. Mitali lifted her to Ajay’s bedside.

“Daddy, when will you get better and come home? I want you to read me a story!” Maya said.

“Maya, I need to tell you a secret,” Ajay said. His voice was hoarse, and it was apparent that every word he spoke was taking a toll on him.

“Yes, daddy?” Maya replied.

“God came to see me. He said that he needs me to come and live with him, so that I can help him do good,” Ajay said.

“That’s so nice, daddy!” Maya said. There was an excitement in her voice. “For how long will you be away?”

“Maya, darling, if I go with God I won’t be able to come back,” Ajay said, his voice barely a whisper.

“No, daddy, no. Can’t He take someone else?” Maya said. She was agitated now, her voice sounded upset.

“No, darling. He says that I’m the best. I’m going to have to go tonight,” Ajay replied.

“Okay daddy, if you say so,” Maya replied. Her voice was blank, her face expressionless.

“You are a brave girl, aren’t you Maya?” he asked.

“Yes, daddy, I am,” she replied, a little color returning to her cheeks.

“You’ll take care of Mommy for me, won’t you?” he asked.

“Yes, I will daddy!” she replied.

“And you’ll grow up to make daddy proud?” he asked, his voice nearly giving up.

“Yes, I promise!” she replied.

Mitali stood in one corner as this exchange took place. She was hiding her face, because tears were streaming down it, uncontrolled.

***

“I WANT DADDY!” Maya screamed.

“Honey, haven’t we already talked about this?” Mitali said. “Daddy has gone to live with God. You have to let Mommy read to you!”

“NO! I WANT DADDY!” Maya screamed louder. She grabbed the story book from Mitali’s hands and flung it away. Then, she buried herself inside her blanket.

“Maya, don’t you remember what Daddy told you?” Mitali said, with a look of sheer hopelessness on her face.

“I WANT DADDY! I WANT DADDY! I WANT DADDY!” Maya shouted at the top of her voice, and then she broke down into tears.

***

“Mommy, do you think Daddy is doing well?” Maya asked Mitali, as they sat down at the dinner table.

“Yes, I’m sure he is,” Mitali replied, trying to sound cheerful.

“Do you think God will let him visit us for a little while?” Maya asked, with a hopeful voice.

“No, Maya,” Mitali said. It was apparent that it took her some effort to keep her voice level. “Remember what daddy told you? Once someone goes with God, they can’t come back.”

“Okay,” Maya said. She stayed silent for a few moments and concentrated on her food.

“But mommy,” Maya spoke again, “can’t we go visit him?”

“No, Maya,” Mitali said, “only those people who are personally invited by God can go to his house.”

“Okay. Do you think God would invite me if I gave him my favorite doll?” Maya asked.

***

“Get up, Maya,” Mitali said, as she walked into Maya’s room. “It’s time for school, honey. You need to get ready.”

Mitali knew that Maya was awake, but hiding out under her blanket. She sat on her bedside and gently stirred her. Maya slowly poked her face out from under the blanket. She looked tired, and had a blank expression.

“Don’t you want to go to school, honey? Meet your friends?” Mitali asked, as she gently stroked her head.

“No mommy. I don’t feel like it. Can I sleep some more?” Maya asked.

“No honey, you have to get up now. You’ll fall sick if you sleep so much,” Mitali tried to explain to her. “Do you want pancakes for breakfast? They’re your favorite!”

“No, mommy, I don’t feel hungry. I just want to sleep some more,” Maya said. Her voice was tired and bland.

***

It was night. Mitali was in her room, sitting on her bed. She had just put Maya to sleep. As she sat there, looking at the room she used to share with Ajay, remembering the times she spent with him, the memories came flooding back into her mind. She was staring straight ahead, her eyes out of focus and her face expressionless. She put on a brave face all day, every day, purely for Maya’s sake. Only when she was alone could she let her grief take over her. But it was getting too much, she wasn’t sure if she could bear it for too much longer.

Her body was tired, and yet she couldn’t sleep. She lay back on her bed and started sobbing, praying for sleep to come to her and take her away from the reality of her situation.

Suddenly, she heard the doorknob turning. She sat up abruptly and started wiping away her tears. Maya entered, walked to her bedside, and hugged her tightly. She was holding her story book, which she handed to Mitali. Her pulse was racing and her face was flushed with emotion.

“Mommy, it’s all going to be okay,” Maya said, earnestly. “I’m going to be strong and take care of you and make daddy proud. Will you read me a story please?”

Mitali smiled for the first time since that fateful day. She hugged her daughter close to her, as a silent tear streamed down her cheek.