His Scarred Butterfly ✅

34 - THE TRUTH

என் காற்றில் சுவாசம் இல்லை.
அது கிடக்கட்டும் விடு,
உனக்கென ஆச்சு?
(There is no breath in my air.
But let it be.
Tell me what happened to you.)

As the clock struck 8 PM, Krishna found himself liberated from the clutches of his demanding schedule. His customary routine of coming back to his flat late at night took a break that day as a heart surgery he needed to assist was postponed to next day. He decided to seize his free time to buy some innerwears and T- shirts for him which he needed.

He headed towards a textile shop in his two wheeler and reached the shop within 15 minutes. Stepping in, he chose whatever he needed in a swift and handed the clothes in the billing counter. When the shopkeeper was billing his clothes, his eyes simply strayed around while waiting. Surprisingly, Amidst the array of colours and textures, his eyes landed on a familiar face. It was Pranav. Paayal's brother!!

"Pranav Dada... " He exclaimed, a bright smile painting his face as if he stumbled upon a lost friend and his legs hurried towards him.

"Sir, Bill," The shopkeeper urged him before he moved away. He paid the bill in a hurry and rushed to Pranav.

Halting in front of Pranav, he exclaimed, "Dada, How are you? How is My P....How is Paayal?"

Pranav was taken aback with the unexpected meeting. He exclaimed with surprise, "Hey Krishna..." but paused, his expression changing. According to him, Krishna broke the friendship and never met his sister again.

Sensing the change in his expression, Krishna forced a smile. "Are you upset with me?"

Pranav responded flatly, "Paayal always says that you are her mother. I understand, a mom would get angry on such a pregnancy report. But, Will a mom leave the child to suffer for these many years or Will a mom leave the child without even asking the reason for pregnancy? You were never a mom to her. It was her who thought of herself as a child to you. It was her who trusted your fake words. In simple words, You cheated her with your fake words and that stupid girl is still believing your fake words. I wish to use expletives at you. But I am not able to use it in front of a person who is still respected like a mother by my sister. You never bothered about her well being in all these years. Why should you bother now? Just get rid of my eyes."

It was a hard blow. Every word of him cut through Krishna like a cold knife in turn causing his eyes to form tears. The sharpness of those words, especially the term 'suffer' pierced him with a brutal force. A turbulent of fear, anxiety, and guilt swirled within him, rendering him speechless. His usual steady voice, now trembled as he stammered with tears, "Dada, Please tell me. How is she? Is she suffering? Is she just missing this mom or is she suffering in her married life or what do you mean by suffering?"

Pranav moved away without responding, leaving Krishna desperate for answers.

"Dada, Please answer me," Krishna pleaded, rushing behind him.

Pranav persisted in silence, his legs moving out of the textiles. Losing his patience, Krishna grabbed his hand, stopping him before he got into his car. "Yes, A mother's anger will not last longer. Yes, A mother will not abandon her child to suffer. But the same mother can even kill herself and leave the child alone if it ensures the child's welfare. I did that only. You can never understand it. You don't need to understand either. Just tell me, how is she? What do you mean by the word suffer?" He demanded in an yelling tone.

"You left her for her welfare? I don't understand," Pranav furrowed his eyebrows, passing a confused look at him.

Krishna took a deep breath with a mix of frustration and nervousness, as he couldn't explain his love for her. "Oh god, Dada. I can't explain everything to you. But, Yes. I promise I left her for her welfare only. Please answer me," He pleaded in a helpless tone.