Episode # 25:- (Reality check)

"Today again, you are taking away my right to call someone my father, just like you did years ago," Sanskar said, his voice cold yet filled with hurt. Sahil, who had been walking away with teary eyes, stopped in his tracks and turned around.

He saw Sanskar standing there with an expressionless face, Swara holding his hand tightly. The rest stood silently behind him, watching the tense exchange.

"You've proven it again, Sahil Maheshwari, that I am nothing to you. I don't even have the right to be angry with you because, as always, the mistake was yours. Today, you've made it clear again that I was, and will always remain, an orphan because the one person who was a father figure to me has abandoned me once more, just like in the past."

"Even when you were alive, you made me feel like there was no one in the world I could call my family by blood. Sure, I have a family now, but you'll never know how it feels to not have anyone who shares your blood."

"I followed you blindly, more than even our father, but what did I get in return? Betrayal for trusting you, Sahil Maheshwari."

Sahil stood there, staring at his younger brother, who had grown into a strong, imposing man. It was hard to believe that there was a 13-year age gap between them, yet here was Sanskar, hurt and broken.

"You were alive this whole time, and you didn't feel the need to tell me or come to me?" Sanskar asked, his voice trembling with pain. Sahil swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat as he watched his brother's emotional breakdown.

"I didn't have the strength to face you, Sanskar," Sahil said softly, his voice full of regret.

Sanskar let out a bitter, dry chuckle, but the pain behind it was palpable to everyone present. Swara gently squeezed his hand in an attempt to comfort him.

"When you love someone, you don't feel shame in facing them. But I guess your love for me was just an act—nothing more," Sanskar said. Without waiting for Sahil's response, he turned away and walked off, dragging Swara along with him.

Sahil stood frozen, the weight of Sanskar's words hitting him like a blow.

Sahil felt weak in the knees, collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud. Shekhar noticed his state and approached him gently. Meanwhile, Rishi, RV, and Karan stood nearby, watching in silence. Shekhar placed a comforting hand on Sahil's shoulder, and Sahil looked up at him, tears streaming down his face.

"My love for him was never fake, uncle. How could it be? I was the first one to hold him when he was born, even before Mom and Dad. You don't know how hard it was for me, seeing him grow into the man he is today, watching him succeed, yet being unable to hug him or pat his back in pride."

"Then why are you leaving him again?" A voice interrupted from behind, causing everyone to turn. It was Swara, standing there with a determined look. Sahil quickly stood up, wiping his face.

"I don't know what happened in the past," Swara continued, her voice soft yet firm, "but if you leave him again, nobody will ever be able to mend him—not even me. The way I saw him broken today, I've never seen that before."

"Please, don't leave him again," she pleaded, joining her hands in front of Sahil, tears falling freely from her eyes. Moved by her sincerity, Sahil took her hands in his, offering a faint smile, and nodded in agreement.

Swara's face lit up with joy as she hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much, bhai!" But after a moment, she pulled back, scratching her neck in hesitation.

"Umm, can I call you bhai?" she asked innocently, prompting soft chuckles from everyone around. Sahil, smiling warmly, placed a protective hand on her head.

"I would love to have a little sister like you, Swara," he said, his voice filled with brotherly affection as he gently caressed her cheek.

Swara jumped up excitedly, "Yuppie! Now I have four brothers! Woohoo!" Her joyful antics made everyone laugh, but the laughter was abruptly cut short when a loud voice echoed through the air.

"Swaraaaaa!" Sanskar's booming voice filled the space, and Swara, realizing her situation, bit her tongue nervously. Without wasting a second, she sprinted towards him, feeling the intensity of his deathly glare. She had come back on the pretext of fetching Atharv, and now she was caught.

Swara approached Sanskar with a cheeky grin, but his hard stare made her swallow her nerves. He didn't say a word, simply gripping her hand tightly as he walked away, dragging her along. Swara, feeling the tension, nervously waved goodbye to everyone with a weak smile, prompting a few chuckles as they all followed in another car.

Inside the car, Swara stole glances at Sanskar, who was staring out the window, lost in his thoughts. Even though he wasn't looking at her, his grip on her hand remained firm, almost possessive. After taking a deep breath, Swara rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her free arm around his.

Sanskar, feeling her warmth, snapped out of his thoughts and glanced down. He found Swara with her eyes closed, her head resting peacefully on his shoulder. Without hesitation, he let go of her hand and gently pulled her into his embrace, wrapping both arms securely around her. Neither said a word as Swara nuzzled into his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Sanskar placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, then leaned back into his seat, letting out a deep breath as he closed his eyes. The silence between them was comfortable, and soon, both drifted off into sleep as the car continued on its way.

Two hours later, Sanskar stirred from his sleep at the sound of a light knock on the car window.

Sanskar opened his eyes and turned toward the driver, who was tapping lightly on the window. "What?" he asked softly, careful not to disturb Swara, who was sound asleep, her face nestled into his chest.

"Sir, we've arrived," the driver informed him, gesturing toward the mansion in front of them. Sanskar nodded, intending to wake Swara, but changed his mind. Instead, he carefully opened the car door, making sure not to jostle her, and then gently lifted her into his arms as he stepped out of the car.

As he exited, he noticed the others emerging from their vehicle. His eyes briefly met Sahil's, but Sanskar remained silent and headed inside the mansion with Swara cradled in his arms. As they entered, Sanskar's gaze was drawn to a large picture on the wall. It was Swathi's portrait, adorned with a garland.

Sanskar halted, his thoughts momentarily overtaken by the painful memory. He turned slightly to glance behind him, where Rishi was following closely, holding Atharv, who was happily chewing on his father's hoodie string. The moment Rishi saw Sanskar stop, he immediately understood why. The photograph of Swathi was prominently displayed, and it hit them both hard.

Rishi, feeling the weight of the moment, paused, his hand frozen as it gently caressed Atharv's head. He took a deep breath, realizing the emotional toll it was taking on Sanskar. Without a word, Rishi made a quick excuse. "I'll go change," he said quietly, before walking away to give Sanskar the space he needed.

Sanskar also left the hall, still carrying Swara in his arms. RV and Karan, having composed themselves, guided Shekhar and Sahil to their rooms.

Meanwhile, Rishi entered his room and sat heavily on the bed. Atharv, who had been in his lap, slid down and toddled over to the corner where his toys were scattered. Seeing that Atharv was occupied, Rishi seized the moment and headed for a shower.

He stood beneath the running water, fully clothed, as a loud sob tore from his chest. The façade of strength he had maintained crumbled, and he began to cry bitterly. Even the strongest men have their breaking points, and Rishi had reached his.

The girl who had once been the light in his life, Swathi, was gone, taking with her all the color and joy he had known. The water cascaded down from the shower, mirroring the unrelenting flow of his tears.

"Rishi," a soft voice called from behind him. His tear-filled eyes shot open, and he quickly turned around. There, standing before him, bathed in a soft white glow, was Swathi, smiling at him.

"Swathi," he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief and longing. Swathi's radiant smile remained, comforting him in that fleeting moment.

"Why did you leave?" Rishi asked in a pleading tone, his voice thick with emotion. Swathi gave him a bright smile and replied, "I never truly left, Rishi. I will always be with you—in your heart, in our Atharv. Every time you see him, you'll see me."

"But I need you," Rishi said, struggling to hold back his sobs. Swathi shook her head gently, signaling for him not to cry.

"Rishi, my time was up, but you still have so much to live for—yourself, our son, and, most importantly, your Barbie. That little girl has the power to heal even the most broken hearts."

"She'll heal all of you, but..." Swathi trailed off, prompting Rishi to ask, "But what, Swathi?" She smiled softly at his question.

"Never let her become a weakness for any of you. Never. She is far too precious." With those words, Swathi disappeared into the air. Rishi stared at the spot where she had stood just moments before, and in the next second, she was gone.

"Am I hallucinating?" Rishi whispered to himself, but his thoughts were interrupted by Atharv's cries. He quickly turned off the shower, dried himself, and changed into dry clothes.

Stepping out, he saw Atharv crying, struggling to pull a large teddy bear toward the bed. Rishi scooped him up and gently patted his back, soothing him. Once Atharv calmed down, Rishi laid him on the bed, placing the teddy bear beside him.

Atharv rubbed his eyes with his small hands and soon drifted off to sleep, comforted by his father's gentle pats on his head. Rishi, filled with love, watched him for a moment before Swathi's last words echoed in his mind: "Never let Swara become your weakness."

Puzzled, Rishi tried to make sense of her message. What did she mean by that? Why would Swara, their little ray of sunshine, be a weakness? He pondered the riddle, but exhaustion overtook him. His mind, weary from the day's emotional toll, couldn't grasp an answer.

Realizing that he needed rest, Rishi decided to let it go for the time being. He gently pulled Atharv closer, ensuring his son was snug in his embrace, and soon followed him into sleep, the mystery of Swathi's words lingering in the back of his mind.

Swasan's room:-

Sanskar entered their room and gently laid Swara on the bed, covering her with a duvet. After changing his clothes, he walked towards the balcony, gazing out the window as his thoughts drifted to the recent events. The weight of everything that had transpired in such a short time was overwhelming.

As memories of Swathi surfaced, tears began to stream down his face. Swathi had always treated him like a younger brother, and for the past three years, she had become an essential part of their family. Losing her was an unimaginable heartbreak for all of them.

Suddenly, Sanskar's thoughts shifted to Sahil, and a wave of rage surged through him. The need to release his anger and pain was overwhelming, but he couldn't do so in the room while Swara was sleeping. So, he stormed out, heading straight for the gym.

Without putting on gloves, he began hitting the punching bag. Flashes of the past played in his mind, each one fueling the intensity of his punches. With every second, his blows became stronger, his knuckles reddening. Before his hands could start bleeding, his final punch sent the bag flying to the ground.

Sanskar's fist, meant for the punching bag, instead collided with something unexpected. A sharp cry of pain filled the room, snapping him out of his trance. His heart dropped when he realized the source of the cry—Swara. She stood there, her hand pressed against her temple, blood trickling from the spot where his ring had made contact.

Shock and guilt flooded Sanskar as he saw the pain etched across her face. The force of the punch had hit her hard, and she stumbled back, her legs wobbling from the impact. But before she could fall, Sanskar quickly caught her, his arms wrapping around her protectively.

To be continued...

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