Epiphany

Nightmare

Guys, I literally had no time to write but I've still updated. I didn't even proofread so do ignore the mistakes like you ignore the morning alarm ;)

Happy Birthday Flakey! Smile_snowflake
I hope you have left for me, a piece of cakey

May your husband's cooking skills are as awesome as my poem writing skills :) 

Aakrith sits there like a frozen statue as he hears the man laugh in joy. His grip on the pillow gets tightened at the presence of the man in the house.

"Bade papa?" Vatsal exclaims in confusion, seeing Raghav here, instead of the hospital. Kabir and Mitansh walk towards Raghav, equally shocked.

"Papa, how...?"

Kabir isn't able to finish his sentence as Raghav pulls him in a hug. "Yes Kabir, I'm all healed up now."

Kabir gives a questioning look to the two nurses who are standing at the entrance door. They nod in response. "He is getting better now. Don't let him work much though, he is still in recovery. Bed rest is advisable."

"Why didn't you tell us, papa? We would have come to pick you up." Mitansh asks when Raghav hugs him.

"And ruin the surprise?" Raghav chuckles. He turns to Vatsal and hugs him as well.

"So, how's your college, Vatsal?"

Vatsal resists the urge to roll his eyes. "We just met last week, bade papa."

"Well, a lot can happen in a week." Suddenly Raghav starts coughing a little. Kabir instantly comes by his side and holds his father.

"Are you sure he has recovered enough to stay at home?" Kabir asks the nurses.

"He is a bit under the weather, but he was being really stubborn to bring him home. Like we said, he just needs some rest and he will be okay, gradually."

Kabir gestures to Vatsal to take the prescribed meds from them before they leave. Mitansh offers a glass of water, to which Raghav gulps instantly.

Aakrith, who is still lying on the sofa, rolls his eyes. He was actually having a great time with his brothers and his dad had to just ruin everything.

Raghav has not seen Aakrith yet. After months and months of staying at the nursing home he is just too happy to be finally back home.

Just then his eyes fall on Aakrith's back. "Who is here?" Raghav asks, tilting his head to take a look at the person's face.

Kabir wordlessly smiles at his father. Raghav never got the news of Aakrith being alive. "Why don't you ask him yourself."

Aakrith just lies there, thinking about ways to get out of here. How is my surprise, old man. I'm sure it's more shocking than yours. Aakrith wants to yell loudly but he knows his baba will scold him.

Seeing no other option, Aakrith decides to meet his old man. He slowly gets up from the sofa and turns around to finally look at Raghav.

Raghav recognizes the boy from the party. But he can feel something familiar about him. Not being able to point out, he looks questioningly at the brothers.

"That's our Aakrith, papa. He is alive!" Mitansh announces with a grin.

Raghav's jaw drops at Mitansh's words, too stunned to speak anything. His son, Aakrith, is alive.

Aakrith, on the other hand, is standing there, refusing to glance at the man he hates. Aakrith's scars of betrayal and abandonment were never healed and the man reopened his old scars.