Broken Relations

"Aai, where are you?"

One day before the debate competition, 21th July 2023

Ishan's pov
I was just done with doing the arrangements for tomorrow. I had decided to wear a white skinny pant, a white shirt with a blue blazer on it. I had also put a blue sneaker to complete the look of tommorow. I had hanged the clothes on a hanger in my cupboard, so that tommorow it was just picking the clothes and wearing it. I didn't have the problem of choosing tommorow and the possibility of getting late. The reason I chose this outfit is because aai loves blue. I wanted her to see that I didn't forget a single thing of her. I remember everything.



I went to baba's room. I noticed he was feeling a little down sinds the past days and he talked very less. He was most of the time in college or in his room. I knocked on the door. When I didn't hear anything, I carefully opened the door without making any noice.

Baba was sleeping. He slept with a photo in his arms, like he was hugging it. I sat on the bed beside him. I took the photo out of his arms very carefully and slowly and turned it to see whose photo it was.

It was a photo of aai. She wore a beautiful white kurti with orange flowers on it as the decoration. Few bangles on her arms, a little bindi on the middle of her forehead. The most beautiful thing of the photo was aai her smile, her eyes which had a spark in it. It was clear that she was happy. Aai had these spark in her eyes whenever she was happy. And whenever she was sad, there was a fronce on her forehead, her eyes a little dull. And she never used to talk about it. She would prefer to be alone and deal alone with her pain.

I felt a lump forming in my throat by the thought of how much baba missed aai, but still didn't tell anyone about it, not even me. He must feel lonely sometimes.

Does aai miss him too? Or is she so angry that she has forgotten us? I don't know, but I will ask her everything tommorow and she has to answer.

I wished that aai baba both would consider me as their friend and share their grieve with me. But they never did. They only shared their happyness.

I caressed baba's hair, putting the photo again carefully in his arms. He moved a little bit, but didn't wake up. I made a promise in myself, while putting my hand on my father's hand. "Baba, main waada karta hoon, kal jab aai se milunga nah, usse har sawaal ka jawaab loonga, aapse kitne baar poocha maine, lekin aapne kabhi bhi nahi bataiya. Khair, ab kismat ne khud raasta de di hai baba, aur ab aap dono mujhe nahi rokh sakte mere sawaalon ka jawaab paane se. Main hamare family ki iss tute hue dor ko judh kar rahunga baba, I promise." Saying that I have him a last look and went towards my room.

(I promise you baba, when I meet mom tommorow I will ask her the answer to every question I have. I have asked you several times, but you never answered. Anyways this time destiny itself opened a door for me, and now you both can't stop me from getting my answers. I will make this family a happy family once again baba, I promise)

I laid on the bed, but couldn't sleep as I thought about tommorow. What will aai wear? How will she look after 15 years? Would she recognize me?

22th July, 4.00 am, Ramtek

Isha's pov
The alarm sound made me wake up. Even though I slept very lightly. There were two reasons. One, most importantly, I was very excited to meet Ishan. As the seconds went, I felt that I am a second closer to meet my son after 15 years. And the second reason, the bad one, is that I got my periods yesterday only. My head and under belly were hurting like hell. Normally I would take a day off and rest. But not today no, I will not in any situation miss the chance of meeting my son. I only know how much I have waited for this. The pain I was feeling in my head and belly was nothing compared to the pain of staying away from my son.