This is Part - 1 of a story that traces the life and journey of Dr.Abhimanyu Birla and his family through different situations that life forces on them. It's a story about healing, it's a story about trauma and different people react to trauma diffe...
"Mujhe ache se yaad hai Bhaiyya. Word to word. When Nothing Stays The Same, Let Nothing Change You" Abhimanyu was startled at the statement, "Then why did you change Bhaiyya?" Neil asked with tears in his eyes.
Those words shook him like never before. For the first time after very long, Neil looked so vulnerable. He looked like he needed answers, really badly. Abhimanyu felt an urge to engulf him in a tight hug and remove all the pain that was dancing in his eyes.
"Aap itna kaise badal gaye Bhai? Why? Aap aise kaise kar sakte ho? Aapke dimag mein ek baar bhi yeh khayal nahi aaya ki mujhe kaise lagega? I don't like this new you. Aap apne hi doppleganger bane phir rahe ho. I don't like it at all. Aaj toh aapko mujhe batana hi padega ki aisa kya hua ki aap raaton raat badal gaye! Us aurat ki wajah se? Bhai! She was a bloody cheater....." Neil's questions jolted Abhimanyu out of his reverie but what he heard angered him.
"Neil" he raised his voice cutting Neil's rant.
"Uska zikr mat karo aur agar kiya toh izzat se. I don't want to repeat myself. Clear?" Abhimanyu warned Neil with a dangerous edge in his voice.
Neil's pain took the form of anger and he snatched the beer bottle from Abhimanyu's hands only to smash it hard on the floor. Abhimanyu was quick to react and pulled Neil out of harm's way. He worriedly checked Neil for any hint of injuries and relaxed when he looked just fine. He was scared for a brief moment. He was about to hug Neil when Neil stopped him mid way.
"Meri baat khatam nahi hui hai Bhai. Aaj mujhe bolne se koi nahi rok payega. Aap bhi nahi." Neil was seething in anger. Abhimanyu gently held him in a bid to calm him down.
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He spoke softly, "Bacha! Koi kyu tujhe bolne se rokega? Tumhe jo bolna hai bol main sununga but disrespect nahi." Neil's patience snapped when he heard the word disrespect.
He spoke angrily," Disrespect! Seriously disrespect Bhai! Aaj bhi aapko unki respect ki padi hai? Us aurat ki jisne hamari izzat ki dhajjiya udane se pehle ek second nahi socha. Jisko aapki pyaar ki kadar nahi hai, aapki kadar nahi hai. Humare pyaar ki koi value nahi hai unke apne preconceived opinions ke saamne. Aaj tak unki galat decisions ki sazaa bhugat rahe hai hum. Lekin unka disrespect aapko manzoor nahi hai."
Abhimanyu tried calming him down, "Neil baat aisi nahi hai" only to agitate Neil further.
"Aisi hi baat hain Bhai! Exactly yahi baat hai. Aaj hamara bond is kagar pe kyun hai? Aap bhi jante ho we are not fine. Let's not lie to each other anymore. 8 saal pehle jo hua, use aap aaj tak accept hi nahi kar paye. Move on karna toh door ki baat hai. Aap aaj bhi wahi atke ho. Aapke zakhm abhi bhi hare hai. You never healed or rather yeh kehna chahiye mujhe ki aapne heal hone ki koshish hi nahi kiya. You know why? I will tell you."
He said while poking his forefinger to Abhimanyu's heart, "Aap heal hona hi nahi chahte. Dard ka hi sahi per aap unse rishta rakhna chahte ho. You still love her. Boliye Bhai. Just tell me I am wrong and I will shut up. Bolo" Neil slightly nudged Abhimanyu with his flattened palm a bit with every statement of his.
