HC #5
Done Bleeding
"Beta..." she called out gently to him, as Kabir and Nisha stood behind her, faces tear-stained.
Not a bit of response from him.
"Bhaiyya... Kuch boliye, please." said Kabir.
It had been 2 hours... 2 hours since she, Vasundara Singh Rathore had come back. 2 hours since every bit of the truth had come out. 2 hours the Viraj Singh Rathore had spoke nothing.
To say that he was shocked was an understatement. He was shattered... broken... confused... shocked... happy, all these feelings came to him at once. Happiness in seeing his mother after ages, shock, confusion, unhappiness on knowing Kabir was his brother, heartbreak and tears after knowing that his love had moved on... He felt as if he would explode.
He looked at his mother, her tear-stained eyes... if he were the same old Viraj right now he would have rushed towards her, wiped her tears and hugged her. But all he felt now was betrayal, hopelessness, helplessness...
He slowly walked up to Sham Singh, his daadji, the only person who was true to him all his life.
"Aapko patha? Kya aapko patha tha ki woh ladka hamara bhai hai? Kya aapko patha tha ki hamare maa itne saare din yahan par the? Boliye daadji..." he couldn't hold back any longer. Daadji could only nod his head in consent.
So, Daadji had lied to him too. And after so many years of waiting, his had come back... but only, it was not for him... she had come back for Kabir, his brother. Heartbreak, betrayal again.
"Aapko haveli aapka intezar kar rahe hai maa. Aap apni bete aur apni bahu ke saath jaa sakte hain."
he said, as he led them to the door.
"Viraj... Beta kya bol rahe ho tum? Main tumhare liye wapas aaya hoon." said Vasundara, as she tried to caress his cheek.
"Nahi... please aur jhoot mat boliye maa. Aap Kabir se milne aaye the. Aap apni bahu Nisha se milne aaye the. Aap hamare liye nahi aaye the. Aapne kabhi hamare saath nahi diya maa. Sahi ya galat sikhane ke liye aap hamare saath nahi the. Jab hum national level shooting championship jeet gaye the, uss jeet ka jashn manane ke liye aap hamare saath nahi the... Aisa kya kiya humne maa? Humne kya kiya maa?? Kyun kiya aapne aise?" he broke down completely.
Vasundara was speechless. That confusion, frustration, anger... everything came out at once. As much as the tears streaming down from Viraj's eyes, Nisha's tears flowed down her cheeks too. For once, she could see the 7 years old child who was abandoned by his mother. The once inspiring Viraj Singh Rathore now looked fragile, vulnerable.
"Beta..." Vasundara was unable say anything. Everything he said was true and it was bitter.
"Bhaiyya..." he heard Kabir's voice from behind. No... he had heard and seen enough.
"Humne kaha ki aapke haveli aapka intezar kar rahe hai. Gaadi tayyar hai. Daadji aapke madat karengi." he said, before he walked to his room.
He was done bleeding.
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