The gloomy atmosphere seemed to envelope the entire palace. The normally vibrant and bustling corridors were eerily quiet. Nothing was in place in Dwarka. Sambh's heart was heavy with emotion as he stood on the balcony, staring out at the vibrant sunset that painted the sky with hues of orange and pink. Tears streamed down his cheeks, his chest heaving with each ragged breath. The tears were not just a manifestation of grief, but also a mix of regret, sorrow, frustration, and anger, all swirling within him like a tempestuous storm.

"I know, I know Suryadeva that I have committed a great mistake, no, a sin, a sin which costed the essence of my Dwarka and I do regret and this isn't a thing to be resolved in seconds but my father's silence is eating me from inside,"

For Sambh, each sunset appeared to be a loss of hope to get his father back, who was chirpy. It's been a month since the curse of rishi Durvasa had turned into reality and all he received from his father was silence.

He clenched his neck and pressed his lips.

Summoning all his courage, Sambh made his way towards his father's chamber, his footsteps echoing through the deserted corridors. Sambh felt as if he was walking on a tightrope made of thin, fragile ice as he made his way to his father's chamber, each step feeling like it could shatter the delicate balance he was trying to maintain.

When he entered the chamber, he found Krishna standing in front of the window, silently watching the sun dip below the horizon. His father's expression was a mask of stoic calmness, a stark contrast to Sambh's emotional turmoil.

He couldn't dare to make eye contact with his father. In the dark silence, Krishna heard the soft echoes of his son's footsteps, he could sense the presence of his son, he could feel his aura but couldn't bring himself to speak to him. Sambh's eyes saw his lost essence of life in the sunset whereas Krishna could see the approaching storm which would loom over Dwarka, perishing the Yadu clan.

Sambh faked a cough to gain his attention. Krishna, without a word , poured the water into the glass and handed it to Sambh. He didn't look at him. Sambh placed the glass near the plant pot and neared Krishna.

Sambh's voice broke through his thoughts, "Pitashree, please! It's been a month. Pitashree, I know that I have done a grave mistake, but Pitashree, your silence is unbearable, slap me, scold me, beat me, but please don't be silent," Sambh's voice was becoming heavier. He was like a wilted flower, drooping in the face of his father's disappointment.

Krishna stood stern, his face appeared as if he didn't bother about Sambh. He looked like an isolated person from the whole world, trying to attain nirvana.  But only Krishna knew his inner turmoil. He constantly questioned his upbringing.

"Did I not give him adequate time, did I ever neglect teaching him values and morals of life? Where did I go wrong?" He questioned himself.

His silence was the only way to compose himself, he explored his each and every trait as a father, he constantly searched for the area where he failed as a father.

"Pitashree, please! "Pitashree, I promise, I won't ever be rude to an ant, too, you are so hurt and displeased with my acts, I know. Punish me, make me stand in the sun, barefoot as you used to do in my childhood whenever I used to do something stupid but please, at least take my name," Sambh cried, cupping Krishna's palm as Krishna used to do in Sambh's childhood.

Krishna, who was melting away due to his son's emotional state, turned to face him to find him sobbing.

Sambh crumpled to the ground, his body wracked with sobs. He knelt before his father, feeling like a small child in need of comfort. His hands shook as he reached out to touch Krishna's feet.

"I never expected that I would become such a father where my son would touch my feet for forgiveness rather than for blessings," Krishna finally poured out his disappointment.

He was disappointed but not with Sambha but with himself. Sambh  felt his energy draining away.  Krishna tenderly caressed his cheeks, he pulled his palm aside, slightly to find rough, red patches on his cheek, his forehead was a little bumpy due to the little pimples.

Krishna's heart shattered into pieces. The curse was taking shape, the one who was the mastermind in tactics, who drove the whole war of Mahabharata didn't have the courage to see such a devastating physical and emotional state of his son.

"Putra Sambh," he cupped his face and pecked his forehead. "Shh," he wiped his tears with his angavastram and made him sit on the couch.

"Relax, we can't change the past, my dear. But I can definitely work on your future, worship Suryadeva. You with your wife and son head towards the Purikeshtra followed by Kashyapapura, worship Suryadeva with all the devotion in you," he patted his cheeks, softly.

Tears streamed down his face as he buried his head in his father's lap, the weight of his sorrow almost too much to bear.

Krishna held Sambh's hand tightly, listening to his son's cries with a heavy heart. Sambh poured out his anguish, every word punctuated by a deep sob that shook his entire body. It was as if a dam had burst, and all of Sambh's pent-up pain and guilt came flooding out.

"Sorry...sorry, sorry, pita," he cried.

Krishna hissed in pain at his son's outburst. It was Sambha's fate but Krishna cried for his destiny.

"Sambha, see. You have no fault, here. We didn't name you after Mahadeva for no reason. The Yadu clan is a burden to this Earth, vatsa. The uncountable pleasures given by me, your jyestha pitashree, mantri Akrura, Gada spoiled everyone. It was time to wipe it out so destiny chose Rani Gandhari and her curse chose you to make its way. You are sinless,"

Sambh stared into his eyes like a newborn baby. His expression forced Krishna to chuckle, a bit.

"Go and pack your things," he patted his shoulder.

Sambha, stood up shivering and  his legs refused to cooperate. He felt weak and helpless, like a newborn struggling to stand for the first time. He swayed unsteadily, his vision blurring as he fought to keep his balance.

"I will help you walk," Krishna once again held Sambh's hand, helping him to stand on his feet.

Sambh leaned into his father's embrace, feeling the warmth of Krishna's love and security surrounding him like a protective shield.

"Once, I held your very same hands when you were a toddler to help you walk and I am doing it once again. It's my responsibility Sambha and I will fulfil it until my last breath. Why only my son? Couldn't destiny choose others? Why? Why only my son? Why Mahadeva?" His soul was bursting out with torment.

Sambha's soul fumed, "Any father wishes to his son on top of the world, making his father's heart bulge with pride and here I am, taking his support to walk,"

"I failed as a son, pita. Forgive this son of yours," he mumbled in agony.

Krishna smiled and settled his messy hair, "this son of mine is far better who doesn't humiliate anyone when he's fully conscious and spends his time with his mother unlike others even when his brain is in the effect of alcohol. This son of mine is best, who strived hard to acquire knowledge of weapons, who follows the morals when he's fully awake. Leave that madira. You are a man of principles, values, knowledge and strength, that alcohol is making the worse out of you, just leave it. Everything will settle down,"

For the first time ever, Sambha felt a pang in his heart at the advice of abandoning madira. His usual irritation and defensiveness were nowhere to be found and a deep sense of determination rose within him and he nodded in a yes.

"I love you, pita and I will miss you,"

"I will miss you too and you will always be my pride,

Krishna gazed longingly at the resplendent sunset after Sambha retreated to his chamber.

Melancholic thoughts weighed heavy on Krishna's heart.

With a heavy sigh, he uttered to himself, "While people can simply witness the beauty of this sunset, I, on the other hand, can witness the sunset of my beloved Yadu clan, sinking slowly into the abyss of history, never to be seen again."

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