Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

A DecadE

Rehan closed his eyes as a lone tear escaped through his closed eyelids. Azel's beautiful face flashed in front of his vision...making him smile,"I love you, my love,"an unheard whisper escaped his lips. "Please take care of my precious treasure...I'm handing her over to you. Hope from now on, all she would get is immense happiness in her life,"hearing Rehan's words, everyone's breath hitched...a cold shiver ran down all of their spines. But everyone present in that room was too stunned to do or say anything. As if all of them were frozen on their spots. Some closed their eyes not wanting to see the heart wrenching scene..while some kept their eyes wide open, too shocked to even blink. Some were frozen on their spots not knowing what to do...while some were calling GOD to stop this mishap from happening.
Still gathering their courage, a few took steps forward to go towards Rehan in order to stop him. But they were too late as Rehan had already pulled the trigger of the gun...himself.
"Nooooooo,"almost everyone screamed at the top of their lungs...with the turn of events. But......Rehan opened his eyes, when he didn't feel any pain or didn't even hear the gunshot. And one by one all the terrified staff also did the same. What they saw...none of them were ready to witness such a scene in front of them...especially not after what had happened just a few moments ago.
There, Andrew was standing hugging Rehan tightly while tears streamed down his eyes. Rehan, himself, was too stunned by Andrew's actions. As soon as he opened his eyes, he was pulled upwards into Andrew's arms...in a warm, fatherly hug. Andrew slowly broke the hug, keeping both of his hands over Rehan's shoulder,"I know, I'm not the best father any child could ever have...but son, I'm not that much of a worst father to kill my daughter alive. Her life resides in you...and harming you in any way means harming her. And I understood it the hardest way. The previous night, it was the first time I had seen another version of my Princess...who was not just my daughter...rather she was your wife, your Queen like you said. Neither am I a criminal to commit such a heinous crime of taking someone's life. The gun had no bullet...I brought it here, just to test you. And I must say, you passed your exam with flying colors, son"Rehan's eyes kept widening with every sentence Andrew spoke. First calling Azel as Rehan's wife and then addressing him as son. Rehan was only getting shock after shock.
Seeing his expressions, Andrew chuckled lightly,"I got to know about your secret marriage from one of my old friends. And last night I went to Azel's room where I found a wallet which gave me all the answers of my unasked questions,"saying Andrew brought out a leather wallet from his pocket, before handing it to Rehan. And Rehan didn't need to think anymore regarding how Andrew knew their little secret.
Rehan had kept a photo of both of them from their wedding day...where Azel was wearing the veil along with her gown and he was in his black suit over his white shirt. Standing next to each other, both were showcasing their promise rings towards the camera while looking deeply into one another's eyes. After looking at that picture anyone could say that they were a married couple.
Rehan once again looked towards Andrew, trying to understand the three hundred and sixty degrees change in his behavior. Andrew once again smiled, understanding the dilemma Rehan was in,"Don't worry...I'm not angry about it now. It would be a lie if I say I was not angry when I saw the photograph. But then your mother-in-law came and made me realize how much I have already damaged things because of my anger. And thinking of everything calmly made me understand things in a better way. I realized that you have already married her and if you wanted, you could have taken her away from us till now...you didn't need to wait or work so hard for my approval. You didn't need to take up all the beatings or insults...that I threw at your way. If you wanted you could have revealed your marriage to everyone...and nobody could be able to separate you two ever. But none of you took that decision, rather both of you tried to make things right without bringing that topic in the middle. I don't know why you both did what you did...but now that I think of, there must be some justified reason behind your actions. And today I, Andrew Edward, take back each of my harsh words that I had said to you. Keeping all these people as my witnesses, I promise you that I not only accept you as the husband of my only daughter but also will treat you as my own son from hereon."
"Un..uncle..."Rehan could not find proper words to describe all the emotions swirling inside him. "Shut up, silly boy. Call me Daddy...just like Princess does,"Andrew ruffled his hair, making Rehan smile as widely as one's lips could ever stretch out. Andrew also smiled,"Now let's go...I have to make up for so many things for both of my daughters...especially my little angel,"as he said that, his heart clenched in pain remembering the cruelty he showed towards her. In everything, that poor soul certainly didn't deserve any of the things he put her through. He didn't even know whether she would ever forgive him or not...whether his son and little angel would ever come back to their home or not?
"Don't worry...everything will be fine,"Rehan kept his hand over Andrew's shoulder...trying to encourage him. However, Rehan still could not bring himself to forget everything Andrew did with Azel and Tune. At this point, instead of consoling Andrew, he wanted to say,"I really hope Tu should never go back to that house ever again,"But looking at the defeated face of the old man...he just could not bring himself to sprinkle salt over Andrew's already open wounds.
Andrew flashed a weak smile towards Rehan...he really made a huge mistake in recognizing the gems which his children had found after GOD knew how much difficulty. Both Tune and Rehan were precious and today he felt proud of Hrew and Azel for loving these pure souls.
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In the hospital,
the door of the cabin where Azel was admitted opened, grabbing everyone's attention. Looking towards the entrance, Azel, Hrew and Tune...none could believe their own eyes. Because both Rehan and Andrew entered the room...together. Andrew's one hand was over Rehan's shoulder. "Big B, Sisila, I think my cold allergy affected my brain cells along with my eyesight. Because I'm hallucinating impossible things,"Azel stated, not even blinking her eyes.
"Princess, I think your cold allergy has affected my eyes as well. Because I'm also seeing the same things as you are,"Tune's eyes were so big that it seemed as if those would come out of her eye socket. Hrew at first looked towards his right side to his drama queen wife...then to his left to look at his over dramatic sister...and sighed at their state. While the crazy trio were busy in their own craziness, they missed the only person who had a smile on her face...as if she had predicted everything much earlier.
"Finally, you both came! I thought you guys would take a whole year to come here,"Hazel huffed, striding towards them.
"Sorry, Ela...took a little time to catch up with my other son,"This time the already shocked trio looked at Andrew, as if they just saw a ghost...their jaws hung open not knowing exactly how to react after this. "What is happening?"This time Hrew whispered, rubbing his eyes to recheck whether what was in front of him...was actually real or not?
Rehan felt like laughing watching the comical expressions of those three who looked no less than comedians. Both Andrew and Rehan stopped in front of Azel's bed, who just came out of her surprised state and tried to sit up on the bed. Andrew, Hrew and Rehan all forwarded their hands to help her...making her halt on her spot. Before Azel would fall into a dilemma about whose hand she should take...both Hrew and Rehan took back their own pairs.
While Andrew helped her in leaning her weak body over the pillow. After adjusting the headrest a little upwards Andrew took his seat on the stool. All these while, three pairs of curious eyes were watching each of his moves very carefully.
Andrew could feel their gazes, and he knew why they were giving him these looks. It was all justified after whatever had happened. "I know I made so many mistakes...and no amount of apologies could make things up for all those. Yet, I'm genuinely sorry for behaving like a selfish maniac with all of you. In my anger and ego, I became so blind that none of your tears or pleas could stop me. In my rage I destroyed every beautiful thing I had in my life. I'm really a worthless man!"Andrew's voice cracked while speaking. In the world, one of the most difficult things for someone is to show his vulnerable side...his crumbled emotions to others. And right now, Andrew was doing that.
"You know the first time I experienced fatherhood, the first time I held my baby Hri in my arms...that was the time I had promised myself that no matter what happens in the future, I'll be the best father to my kids. I would sacrifice my everything but would never let even a single scratch fall upon them. I would nurture them with so much love that even the whole world's love would seem fading away in front of my love. And...I always tried to do that. Both of you...have always been the apple of my eyes...no matter how much you two grew up. My love for you both never faltered...not even a bit,"Andrew's eyes left the tears, he was trying his best to hold onto. Azel looked downwards towards her hands...where her tears kept dropping down...one by one. While Hrew looked to the other side to hide his own tears...not wanting anyone to notice it. Each and every person present in the room was crying.
"Both of you came into my life as the most beautiful blessings of GOD. You both made me understand the true meaning of the word 'Father'. With the birth of both of you, I felt as if I was born as a new person...once again. And till date I used to think that I'm the best father in the world...but never realized that the reality was absolutely opposite from my thoughts. I never knew that I was such a failure...the worst Dad anyone could ever have. The quote says it right that every child deserves a parent...but not every parent deserves a child,"Azel could no longer hold back herself, as she jumped into her father's arms,"N..no...pl..please don't say it like that, Daddy. You...are the be..best,"she sobbed hard.
Andrew engulfed her in his warm embrace...looking towards Hrew with longing eyes, who was still shedding his tears in silence. Andrew knew his son too well. Hrew was not impulsive like Azel...rather he was a very calm person. Hence his anger was way more dangerous unlike Azel whose anger could melt the very next minute.
"Shh, Princess. I'm sorry...Baby, I never wanted to hurt you. But..I have seen Hri getting hurt because of his first love. I had lost my cheerful son in the shadows of his quiet personality. He went into depression...punishing himself silently for something he didn't even do. If not for Li...little angel, I don't even know whether I would have got my Hri back ever or not? In your case, I was scared about the same thing, Princess. I just didn't want you to get hurt like Hri. Hri is an emotionally stable person...but Baby, you are not. You are too much of an emotional girl. You are too innocent for this cruel world...and this was the fear that made me like this. I don't know, you remember that or not. But when..you were 13 years old, on our way back home you noticed a man laying on the roadside in a very vulnerable condition. And you wanted to help him.
According to your wish, we helped him...and in return he blessed you, making both of us happy. But when we were leaving he held your hand...and his brows creased. He said he wanted to tell me something important...in private. So, after you settled in the car, he told me that he could read hands. He was a tarot reader or something...and according to the lines on your hand the man you would love in future would be the reason for your extreme pain and miseries. And you would grow up to be more of a sympathetic and emotional person for which people would try to take unwanted advantage of your kindness. But I didn't believe him, thinking he was bluffing. Reading palms and predicting futures...I never believed all those.
But somewhere, in my subconscious mind...his words had already made its permanent spot there. After all, a father could go to any lengths only to make sure his children are happy. As the years passed and you grew up, he was right about your nature. You are way more compassionate and emotional. And it all just fueled the fire of my fear. In no way, I wanted you to get hurt..ever. Hence, I took a stupid promise from you that you would never date anyone. After I got to know about your relationship with Rehan, I was hurt and scared as well...but looking at your happy face I tried to suppress my fears. But at the end, with the turn of events...my fear got the best of me. And I did what I did...not understanding that I was the one hurting you the most,"Andrew sighed...feeling so ashamed of himself for being this childish.
"Daddy, Re...could never hurt me. It's not possible ever. He loves me more than he loves himself...more than I love me. My wounds hurt him the most...then how would he hurt me ever?
And if what the tarot reader said is true and if it's really written in my destiny to get hurt then you cannot save me from that, Daddy...no matter what you do. If being with Re, would hurt me in the future...I'm absolutely ready to get hurt, Daddy. But I cannot leave him. I would not be able to take the pain of getting separated from him. I would die...without him, Daddy...I cannot live the life that would not conclude him in it,"Azel's voice was firm...but only she knew how much her heart was shaking in fear...fear of getting separated from her beloved.
Rehan only kept looking at his beloved, how could someone love another person in this way? He didn't know! Another tear rolled down from his already moist eyes. With each passing moment his love for this girl only keeps on increasing. And he had no complaint regarding this.
"You kept your words, Re. My daughter really loves you more than anything or anyone in this world. Her love really holds the power to shake the mountains...it can really cause the vanquished volcano to erupt lava once again. And today...you won the challenge you had placed regarding your marriage with my Princess. Start making arrangements because I want the whole world to see that magnificent wedding where you would make her lawfully yours...and I, myself will handover my daughter's hand to you. I'm not only giving you both my consent rather my blessings as well, may GOD always bless you both and keep you safe from all the evil eyes. Always stay happy with each other, my Children,"saying Andrew hugged both Azel and Rehan...who smiled looking at each other's eyes.
While tears left their eyes...but this time it was from the extreme happiness and bliss they felt. Finally after such a long period of struggling all of their sacrifices, their longings, their pains, tears...everything was going to be fruitful. Their love was going to get its destination...for which they had been waiting for almost A DECADE!