|Aurora|

|Aurora |

I sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by the scattered pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. My fingers delicately grasped a puzzle piece, and my eyes narrowed in concentration as I examined the intricate details. The colors, the curves, everything had to align perfectly for the puzzle to come together seamlessly.

I lost track of time. Unbeknownst to me, my mom had called me for dinner an hour ago but I was too captivated on the final section of the puzzle. My heart raced as I held the puzzle piece between my fingers, ready to slot it into its final destination. "Yes!! Just one piece..." I murmured to myself, a smile spreading across my face. But before I could a colorful ball soared through the air landed right in the heart of my puzzle.

My eyes were wide open, Pieces of a puzzle were scattered in every direction. My gaze darted between the puzzle and my five-year-old sibling. A sheepish smile played on his lips, dragging his feet near to me, his tiny voice barely audible as he whispered a sincere, "Sorry."

All of my angriness flew away seeing him with fallen face, as I instantly settled him on my lap and gave a smile, "Is ok my cutie pie, I will make it again. Don't get upset over this little."- I tried to encourage him, as he sound really sad, "Now smile...." Still he didn't, lowering his head, moving slowly, and I smiled a little and poke on his tummy little, and I did again till he laughed showing all his white teeth.

"Now, let’s go. Momma must be waiting for us..." – I uttered with a hint of little fear as I glanced at the clock, my eyes went wide it was showing 10 o' clock where we always eat at 8 at sharp.

I picked his crutches from ground, placed it under his arm as we walked down the stairs.

I think now I should introduced you guys to my brother, he was my little angle with his fluffy cheek which I always love to squeeze it , his small eyes which battled whenever he had done something wrong, his smile what worth more than all the money of entire world, his little hand which was half of my plum, and his tiny feet which roam around the floor, this was my brother Lucas, and I called him Luke.

He had some issues with his left legs, but the doctors assured us that they would resolve over time, he needed a small operation but it couldn't be done because his small frame couldn't handle it. Money was never an issue, but the idea of him being cut up terrified both my mother and me.

We reached dining room, dinner served on table. Mother was waiting for us, as I gave her a small smile, his small hands clutching the edges of the chair and I help my brother to take his seat since he faced difficult to climb on chair on his own, first for his size and second for his left leg, then I settled myself at chair.

But there was something off with my mom's face since she looked lost, as I called her, she startled on her trance for whatever she was in, her facial expression strained, she gave me a small smile yet an unshakable tension hung in the room. As I wanted to ask more but then I looked at Luke who was busy with his favorite meal, Salmon with chickpeas. As we engaged in casual conversation with Luke, stealing glances at mom, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was an unspoken weight bearing down on her.

But what it can be?

I opened the door slowly and made my way towards the bed and found Luke sleeping like a Koala bear, curled up position, he always does this, after eating he can't sit one minute, she tried so many times to brush his teeth after dinner but she most of the time couldn't managed it.

I smiled, leaning down gently picked him up in my arms and as I placed him in the middle, and covered his tiny figure with duvet, I pressed my lips on his forehead before ruffling his hair softly. I got up from bed, and my eyes landed on a plane, and he was really fond of the first gift his father gave him on his first birthday even though it was ineffective; he was just like our father, I recall him saying. "always respect money, don't just spent around just because you have it instead give to those who are needy, believe me the smile beam at their face because of your slight help, it was beyond anything."

I was in my room, doing my stuff as the door knocked, mom entered. I can sense something really going on her mind, "Aurora....come here." – she called, patted the placed beside her indicating me sit on that place, I went there and sit by her side, as she looked at me with so much adoration in her eyes, her warm hand hold mine as her eyes filled with tears.

"Mom.." I called her, cupped her cheeks in my palms, "Is there something bothering you, please tell me mom, I am here ..." she squeezed her hands in return denying her head constantly, but I know there must be something she is hiding from me, from us.

" I am fine, but there was something which I wanted to ask you. If I want something, will you give me?"- mom asked, why the hell she was behaving like this, I nodded, whereas my mind was started to beat loudly, I know after dad, mom was the only who was handling everything on her own but right now I can also help her through her journey then why the hell she was sounding this broken.

As she threw a bomb on me, "I wanna see your marriage before I took my last breath..." I froze, hearing her, I looked at her with puzzled eyes, and she must be joking right? There was no way I will marry right now.

"I am just 19, why its so hurry, if you are bothered because of business then I can help you with this, why you even start thinking about my marriage.."- I sound frustrated, at the same time angry, "Please, Aurora, try to understand, I am telling that you can't continue with your dreams, you can do even after marriage, I just wanted to see you settled before I leave this world...and you need to take care of your brother too."- She sounded so broken, low.

I still denied, "Please mom, right now I am not ready to get married, don't force me into this and its not like there is something will happen with you. We have plenty of time for this, why are you so negative?"- Tears escaped from my eyes.

She wiped my tears and spoke with soft voice "Here is the picture of that person with whom I fixed your marriage, tomorrow you will meet him, believe me Aurora, this marriage will bring blessings in your life, just give it a chance, I will not force you till end, it will be your decision at last but meet him once at least for me." she said, left before kissing on my forehead.

I stared at the photo which was in envelop landing near me, I always dreamt of getting married with my love, I had already prepared so many in mind that we will do together before marriage, I never thought things will change like this, I never had a boyfriend, always emerge myself in study. After demise of my father things were started to change, I knew it will never go smooth but at least I was happy, happy with my life, with my mom, my little brother. But now I don't know, there was some fear started to bubble up in my mind.

My eyes again went to envelop. With shaky hands I pick that up and opened the envelop, taking out the picture and it was...

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