The Prodigal Son (Complete)

Chapter 10

Someone looks happy!"
Abhijit says as Sidharth enters the living room of his Penthouse.
"I'm after a really long time."
"Where were you by the way?"
Saivi asks.
"At Tanushree's office. I was discussing the case with her. And also my next course of action."
Shehnaaz asks,"Next course of action? What do you mean?"

Sidharth sits down and then says, "I want them to suffer for what I have been through. I want them to be punished for their wrong doings. I will file a case of attempt to murder, once this case is over. And I need to take away the companies that she has under her control over now. "
Saivi smiles, "Finally, my brother is back. That's what I wanted you to do. "
Abhijit says, "Sidharth Dewan, welcome back!"

Sidharth wraps his arms around the waist of Shehnaaz, hugging her from behind and kisses her on her shoulder.
"Hey! Dinner pe kahi chalein?"
She does reply.
"Shehnaaz, where are you lost?"
Shehnaaz turns to face him and he can see there are several questions running in her mind.

"What is wrong? Kuch chal raha hai tumhare dimag mein. Tell me."
Shehnaaz takes a moment and then says,
"I don't know. I really don't know what I want to say or ask you."
"You know you can ask me anything."
She sighs and then asks,"Who are you?"
Sidharth, not understanding her question, asks, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, right now. Who exactly are you? The one I met in Uttrakhand or the one who lived here in this Penthouse."
Sidharth understood what she meant.

He smiles and then says, "I get it now. Are you scared? Will you leave me if I say I am the old me? I am the Sidharth Dewan who lived here before the accident."
Shehnaaz could feel a cold wave running down her spine.
"Yes. I am scared. I don't know him and I would never like to know him."
"You fell in love with Ratan. But I was never Ratan. I am in fact Sidharth Dewan."
"Sidharth, I fell in love with the new you. The one who knew how to love, the one who had empathy, the one who repented for his mistakes. But today I found a different person,"
"No, Shehnaaz. No one is different. It was me, Sidharth Dewan before I left, it was me in Uttarakhand and it is me standing in front of you."

"Sidharth.."
"Shehnaaz, I have made a lot of mistakes. I have hurt people. And I haven't forgotten them. I still repent for everything I did. I learnt to love people only when I was away from here. I have empathy today thanks to you and Baba. But I can't see empathy or love for my stepmother, her son and Barun. They tried to kill me. Do you expect me to forget and forgive them?"
"No. I am not asking you to do that. It's just that you appear different. And Saivi di and Abhijit jiju said that the old you is back."
Sidharth gives her a smirk, "And you felt I would cheat you and leave you after using you?"

" No, I didn't mean that."
"Oh you did! Yes, I am different. I have been having these nightmares every night now. I see myself falling from the cliff and along with me is that innocent girl. I can't take it anymore. I can't let her death go in vain. I sometimes see her asking me what was her fault. Why did she have to give away her life? Only for the sake of money they killed her and left me for dead. Is that fair?"

Shehnaaz tries to touch his cheek but he takes a step back,
"You asked me who I am? Am I the Sidharth Dewan who lived in this Penthouse before the accident or the one whom you found in the hospital in that village? I am not either one of them. I am the one who wants justice. The one you wanted me to get. I guess you don't have that trust you had. I can understand. Your life is now involved with mine and my reputation has been well, not up to the mark."
"Sidharth.. it's not that. I.."
"You still have time. It's not that we are officially together. You are free to leave anytime."
Sidharth cuts her short and leaves after completing his sentence.

Sidharth walks on the footpath. He has no idea where he is going. He left on foot and has been walking since then. The shops are closing by then and the streets are getting deserted. He finds a secluded place away from the group of young people and sits down on a concrete wall under a tree. He had no idea for how long he had been sitting there as he was lost in his thoughts. Thoughts about his past and how it still haunts his present and will affect his future. Purgatory, this case has truly become that for him.