Kartik’s POV
The truth was out. I didn’t want to believe that this was it, but I didn’t really have an option not to. It all did fit properly. I had given him an option of walking away, he didn’t. The way he broke down had to be real. I always had seen concern for me in his eyes, but had deluded myself in believing that it was all fake. I had myself convinced that he was the culprit. And now, everything I believed to be true was turned false. Everything that I thought was right was wrong, my life had been a lie? Which I myself brought on me?
I now had to talk to my father, actually call him my father. I was guilty of ignoring him, disrespecting him, actually going out of my way to humiliate him at times. And my assumptions were all wrong. He really did love my mother. He wasn’t cheating her. He actually was going out of his way to help her. And that was what they were fighting about, it wasn’t what I thought.
I was the worst son ever. I never gave him any happiness, never allowed him a privilege to introduce his son, to be my father. “Stop it Kartik. Stop this blame game. I know you aren’t sleeping.” Naira said.
“How can I? I lost, both of us, dad and me lot so many years to this pathetic misunderstanding. How can I be such an ass of a son.” I shouted.
“Kartik, calm down. I know it is difficult, I have been through this. When I went leaving the place, leaving everything behind. And even after I knew the truth. I know the storm that’s inside your mind right now. But trust me, it will go away. You shouldn’t waste any more time on dwelling on the past. Just think about the future, think about how you would work towards getting back all those years. You shouldn’t cry and waste these moments, you never know, they may be all you have left.” She said, I knew what she was thinking. Akshara ma, we really had too many similarities. We both distrusted our parents. Did everything to disown them, but family isn’t going to get lost that easily. Blood calls to blood. Mine was calling me.
I said, “I’ll go talk to him, even you should accompany me.”
“No jaan. You have to do this yourself. This is from a son to his father, a wife or a daughter has no role to play.” She said.
I wasn’t convinced, but I somewhere knew that this step was to be taken. And by me alone.
I walked to his room, contrite. For the first time, I felt like running into my father’s arms. Beg him to forgive me. But my walk wasn’t as fast, every step was a difficulty, each of them showed me how much I had wronged my father. This small walk to his room, felt like a mile, which I had to cross all alone.
I finally reached his room, and knocked. Suvarna opened the door, I owed an apology and much more to her too, I opened my mouth to say that. But she smiled and blinked her eyes. Coming towards me she said, “No Kartik, don’t say that. I always loved you as my son. And you were just unaware of the truth. I don’t need your apology. You didn’t even know me, and I was the lady who took your mother away, I knew you couldn’t have had loved me. But your father probably needs to hear this.” She said. “He has waited a lot for this day son, he has waited a lot for his son.”
She kept her hand on my head caressing softly and left.
There he was, slumped in his rolling chair. Probably asleep, I should come later. But my feet carried me in. I noticed myself knelt before his chair. I didn’t fight my instincts, I just pit my head in his lap and said, “I’m sorry dad. I have wronged you, in every way possible. I am the worst son there is, I wronged you dad. I denied you every right aa father has on his son, I’m really sorry, please forgive me. Do whatever you want to.. hit me, scold me, punish me, but please forgive me dada….I cannot live with this guilt anymore, if you want I’ll never show you my face again, but please for once forgive……”
“Kartik. Don’t dare say anything about leaving me again. I have you after so many years, I cannot bear losing you.” He caressed my hair. I cannot express what I felt at that moment, security that a son felt from his father, the love, the sense of strength. It was all present in that one moment.
“Never leave me again son, I won’t survive this again” he said. “No don’t say stuff like that, you are yet to live a very long life, see marriages of your grandsons, never say that ever again.” I replied. Already scared, they said history repeated itself. But this time I wouldn’t let destiny play tricks on me. I will write my own.
I went in my room some time later, feeling better than I had ever before. Feeling light as wind. I found Naira there, sleeping like an angel. She really was one. She solved everything that was wrong in my life. I went and kissed on her forehead. And she pulled me down to sleep. Really? Even in sleep she didn’t stop dominating me. And didn’t I love it? I did.. Every second of it.
I woke up early next morning. My queen was yet asleep. She looked peaceful, in all that had happened I hadn’t forgotten, that she is weak yet. And the sleep is probably the effect of medications she is on. She needs rest and care right now, I went and got something for her to drink. I knew she loved tea, and some biscuits to go with it.
I went to kitchen to get some, and found dad waiting there. I went and touched his feet, “Good morning dad.” I said. “Good morning son. How is my princess?”
“Wow. In one day princess from daughter in law? She gets enough of it from papa, you don’t need to spoil her as well. Now she is so high, only being papa’s princess.. if even you start it, she’ll be unbearable.” Actually, this was a bittersweet thing for me. Good because my Naira would get a family she always wanted, but what do I do with jealousy, he was my father.
“Did you already put the tea, I smell something burning here!” He joked. “Hahaha, very funny” I replied
“But no, on a serious note, did you already put some? Will you make some for me too. Green tea is all ok, nothing beats Ginger tea.” He said. I was surprised, did he like it? And he just faked it to drink green tea. Wow I didn’t know my own father.
“No its ok, the green tea. I like it, but I love ginger tea. And it’s ok to cheat sometimes.” He said
Now I understand where I get this gift from, this addiction for tea was actually hereditary. We drank our tea together, and the way his face looked, that glee. It was just, I was seeing some different Manish Goenka. Behind the facade he puts, there really is a wonderful person. He kept his cup down, lost in thought. I noticed him fidgeting a bit. I was about to ask what, when he said
“There is something I wanted to give you, and Naira, as a wedding gift. I couldn’t because I knew you wouldn’t accept. But now that Naira has given me a gift of my own son, she deserves this and so much more.”
Authors notes-
Heyy..I’m sorry for making you wait this long. So finally the Goenka’s are not a dysfunctional family. And feel free to guess what is the wedding gift.
Did you like it? Do tell me if you do. Tell me if you don’t either.
And late updates are going to continue, be prepared for even later updates. Pressure gets on your hobbies, I’ll always try to update asap
Keep commenting. Keep loving kaira, shivin and yrkkh.
Happy reading
P.S. – don’t dare miss yrkkh this week.. we are already in bikaner, and wedding is here. Kaira Vivaah is going to be great. Don’t dare miss it.