Kindle to Rekindle

64. Father, in Heaven

Lying dead, covered with a white sheet was the body of a man who was celebrating love and life a few hours before. Beside his body was another lifeless body sitting numb and staring at the dead man whose last words were "I loved you with every breath I took, and I wanted you till my last."

Reet kept repeating Amber's last words like a chant. She couldn't believe he was no longer with them. None could. The royals were shocked to the core and Swarnima was filled with guilt. She was the protector but someone sacrificed their life for her and it made her question her suitability for the job she was assigned to do. However, her introspection had to wait because currently, everyone's focus was on the shattered Khanna family.

Reet's mother and Nandini were trying to comfort her but she was uncontrollable. She accused Amber of breaking the promise to stay by her side forever but leaving her midway to survive alone. She questioned her fate and wailed so loud that no one could stop their tears on seeing her.

Reet's mother took her in a motherly hug but couldn't control her. Reet stomped her legs and hands like wild, registering anger and bitterness.

Nandini asked Pri to give her some medicine that could calm her but Pri declined saying, "Let her vent out all that is inside her. It's better for her to express than suppress. She will eventually get tired and stop. I know it's hard to see her like that but that's in her best interest."

Nandini went back to Reet and rubbed her back and listened to her rant. There was nothing more she could do than offer her support to the lady who lost everything in seconds.

There was something more alarming that Pri wanted to draw everyone's attention to. She called her family and said, "I am worried about Nimrit. She has turned mechanical and has not shed a single tear. She is going into a shell-like Nim did when her parents passed away. You know how harmful it is. She must cry or express what's inside her. We cannot..." Pri's voice choked but she managed to say, "we cannot let anything more happen to anyone. Enough has been done. End this. Just end this, please." Rudra wrapped his arms around his sister to assure her things will settle eventually. She was the strongest female he knew but the incident had shaken her as badly as it did to everyone.

Swarnima dreaded facing Nimrit because she was the reason her father was dead. But she decided to face anger, hatred, or whatever Nimrit felt for her. She and Abhedya went to Nimrit's room and saw her staring at her cupboard. "Nimrit," she called softly and asked, "Can we come?"

Nimrit looked at them with a blank expression like she didn't understand the question. It scared them but suddenly Nimrit asked in a very normal tone, "Nim D, can you lend me one of your white dresses, the traditional ones? Nani said I cannot wear all this."

Swarnima controlled her tears and hugged Nimrit. "I am sorry. I am so sorry. Your father is no longer with you because of me Nimrit. Punish me as you like."

Nimrit didn't say anything and just stayed in Swarnima's warm embrace. "It was not your fault Nim D. If anybody deserves to be punished is the one who shot him. Please find him and give him severest of the punishment." Nimrit's tone was so calm like she was curtailing herself from shouting. "Can you lend me your clothes? I need to go out. Nani will not like me going out in a western outfit and I have to see... Mumma."

Abhedya found Nimrit's nani's demand unreasonable but he didn't say anything. He left with Swarnima to get clothes while Tara and Aadya sat with Nimrit.

Tara was a very sensible girl and she shared her personal experience with Nimrit, "I was a little older than you when my father died. I was broken and shattered but I wasn't proud of him like you are of your father. He supplied crucial information to the enemy which created unrest in the state. I hated what he did but he was a good father and I missed him. Grief is a journey that you have to take Nimrit. It's a path that will connect you with your father in a very unique way. So, take that journey Nimrit. Don't shut out."