Together Forever

Chapter 65: Clear Waters

Shekhar's gaze tore from the flyer and back to Swara who seemed busy. Piano recitals. As expected, his daughter was not the one to back out.

"Can you pull it off?"

"Yes. I'll notify the performance dates, if you wish to see."

Swara informed. Her aim didn't reside by a win or lose; for the real battle was against the fear that caged for several years. Tormented her so much. Now, it was her time to give back.

Of course, the process included the vow taken on her birthday night before him. So she wanted him there. To watch her touch those keys again in ease in that very space.

"Good." Shekhar sipped his tea, "Keep hold of yourself; neither too loose or too tight and see things get better your way."

For a minute, Swara did not react. Right hold he said. Melancholy graced her hazels as she whispered, enough to be heard that paused Shekhar,

"I hope you'll loosen your hold a little on him too, dad." It took a moment or two for Shekhar to realise what those words actually meant and for who it was targeted to.

"What if he's wrong?" Shekhar knew how his actions usually reflect on the unpleasant side. He was better off as a businessman than a family man.

Yet, he tried. The father instinct in him wanted to provide the best for his children. No matter what and most of the times the ways he chose were rough and raw.

Aditya always had choices. Different from the rest. It concerned him so much that often he took the liability of making decisions for him.

"But what if he's right?" Swara rebuked, "You entrusted the entire Gagodia Industries to him with faith and you don't trust him on personal aspects? Bhai sacrificed every little joy of life to be under your wing, to be judged like that?"

For all life Aditya and she remained under their father's noose, abided by every command- even if they disliked and were stuck to only a distance he allowed them. 

Although, it was Aditya who bared most of the wounds from their father. That control slashed the real self and reduced him to lead a mechanical life. He was lost.

"Don't hold him. For once. Because the tighter you hold, the farther he'll go away."

Swara had left long before, the half-sipped tea turned cold too, yet Shekhar remained fixed. His daughter's words echoed in his ears on loop.

People around him had advised to be easy on Aditya at times. He never did that. Such was the world they lived in; even a moment they guard down and there would be a hundred threats against them.

To every hard push he gave, Aditya took it all and attained success without a word of complaint. They had contrasting ways to view a particular thing. In spite of all, at the end they came up together as one. Always.

Shekhar wanted to keep his son close so he had gripped over him. But, was the hold too tight over him?

~

Sanskaar had accompanied Swara the other day and went for registration. It had been a while since he witnessed Swara visibly excited to work.

The qualifying round for the recital was a few days away.  Reema's professional cover as a piano instructor was back. She took in every comment and every mistake to mold the music for a better tone.

Demons of past trauma had kept Swara away despite the enormous love she harboured for piano. Back then, it took an ocean of strength to return back to that stage- where once she had everything and lost.