Realisation And Nurture (BOOK #2) ✔

Epilogue

Epilogue

Rehaan returned to the audience, his steps stumbling like a retired injured athlete returning to the pavilion. He could only see Prachi smile like a bright butterfly in the midst of the packed audience when her name was announced to claim the second prize.

"Prachi Singh Bundela and Ishaan Singh Talwar have their scores tied with 465 points. While Prachi is awarded 80 points by the judges, Ishaan got 75 points for the emotions challenge." The host announced thereafter. "I request both of them to come up on the stage and collect their rewards."

While Ishaan ascended the steps of the stage to collect his reward, a happy Prachi was covered by her mouth and dragged away, out of the vicinity of the audience. When they were safely away in a corner, Rehaan released her.

"Pihu, we will have to leave right now. We can't collect our prizes." Rehaan whispered to her. "Our uncles are here to take us away."

"We dese-rve to get our prizes, Rihu. Why won't we?"

"We can't. We will have to leave right now. We can't face the audience."

"I don't under-stand what's wrong with you. You were the on-ly one who had been waiting for this day to boa-st of your victory to your rival Ish-aan." Prachi frowned. "If I am not wrong, if Ish-aan and I are second, you are defini-tely the first prize win-ner."

"What is the use of such victory that can't give us our happiness?" Rehaan murmured, staring at the empty dark road outside the iron gate. "Let Ishaan have his share of happiness this time. He is a lucky champ."

"You kn-ow very well if you don't app-ear, he will be prom-oted to the first position, and accor-dingly, the rest of the lower ranks will be revi-sed. You are not someone who's going to sacri-fice the fruits of his hard work for some-one you hate the most." Prachi was in a state of confusion. "What-ever it is, let me collect my rewards. They are wai-ting for me."

"You are not going anywhere but with me." Rehaan tried to stop her and raised his voice. "We are leaving the camp right now. You will have to listen to me."

"I am not go-ing to listen to you this time. The last time I liste-ned to you, I was separated from my fri-end Aaru. The same thing can't rep-eat." She insisted and turned on her feet. "I will have to get my certi-ficates because I have promi-sed papa and maa that I will get a good rank. And seco-ndly, unless I patch up with Aaru, I am not going any-where."

"You won't do anything against my instructions, Pihu." Rehaan caught hold of both of her wrists as he yelled angrily. "If you do anything as you wish, you will have to pay the price in the form of your brother. You will lose me forever."

"How can you be so stub-born? For the sake of not uni-ting me with Aaru, you chose to drag me out of every-thing." Prachi was losing her patience. "Neither I can choose any-one above you nor I can ever for-give you for this."

"You don't need to forgive me. I will be fine with your hatred as long as you are with me. You will be safer with me than being alone anywhere else," Rehaan said softly, trying to hold back a lot many tears. As soon as he saw Dheeraj rushing towards them, he wiped his eyes. "Uncle?"

"Thank God, you both didn't collect your awards till now," Dheeraj said before pulling them into a tight embrace. "You both are going abroad with Shaurya uncle."

*****

Dhairya was the eldest among the children and held every opportunity to learn the truth of Sanchi and Vihaan's demise from Shaurya. He was in terror when he heard the news. The prize ceremony was postponed in the middle by the director of the camp, citing the reason of unforeseen delays in it. As a result, the ongoing Ishaan's felicitation as well as the rest of it were paused for some time.