The String of Hearts ( Completed )

55) Best Day Ever

Anands Point of View

*****

I woke up hearing some faint voices outsides. I tried to open my eyes which felt like it has been glued together. My throat was dry and my body felt numb with pain. I moved my head restlessly and stilled feeling a touch on my forehead. I felt someone ruffling my hairs, as if to soothe the pain I had been feeling.

I gently opened my eyes and everything was blur for me. I shut my eyes and opened it again. A drop of tear rolled down my right eye.

"Anand?"I heard a faint voice.

I wet my lips and titled my head to the side.

"Mom?"

I blinked my eyes to see if it was real.

And it was.

Mom was sitting next to me, holding my hands. Her eyes shed tears continously. But it also showed relief. She held my hands closer, kissing my knuckles.

"I-I knew you would be okay. Oh god"she said, crying.

I raised my hand and touched her face, gently wiping off her tears. My lips curved into a smile seeing her after so long.

"I'm- okay mom"I said.

"Okay? Look what you have done to yourself. I've let you go for few months and you've already jumped into all the troubles. Now I'm not leaving you never ever"she said, pressing the back of my palm to her cheek.

I closed my eyes and let my tears flow.

"Why didn't you- call me back?"I asked.

She stilled hearing my question. Guilt washed all over her face. She touched her palm to my head again.

"I wanted to. I tried, so hard. But I was scared anand. I was so scared. I didn't wanted your father to end up hating you more and more. So I just- kept mum. Dealing with the secret i was trying to bury inside me for 25 years was not easy. I was scared that one day you will come to know everything, and that day I loose you forever. But in that process of burying everything inside, I lost myself. I lost my happiness, my priorities, my children. I lost everything. All I had was your father and he was the one person who stood by me, despite all the pain I had caused him. I blamed him. Hated him. Pushed him away. But he kept loving me. Forgiving me. I was the one who did wrong anand. I should suffer for everything I did"she said crying. I let my tears flow.

"I didn't stand up for you or Jay. I wasn't strong enough anand. Please forgive me"she said.

"Are you- kidding me mom? What you had done for me, not everyone will have the courage to do that. You stood up for me even before I was born. You gave birth to me, raised me, loved me as if I was your own. You are the most strongest woman I have ever seen. And I will owe this life to you"I said.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you"she said making me sigh.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you as well"I said.

She leaned and kissed my head, making me smile.

"Now don't ever leave me"she said.

"I'll think about it"I said. She rolled her eyes and pinched my arm playfully making me grin.

"Vibha?"I asked

"Vennela took her to the canteen for lunch. She haven't eaten whole day and was taking care of you"she said. I sighed and nodded my head. I wanted to see vibha rightaway. I wanted her next to me because I know what she might have went through. That suddenly made me think about dad.