Apricity

Part 29

Ranveer Dhoopar's footsteps echoed as he strode through the grand hallway of Malhotra Mansion, his sharp green eyes scanning the ornate decor. Ramesh, the housekeeper, greeted him with a warm smile and informed him that Suhani was in the garden. Ranveer nodded his gratitude and made his way towards the vast expanse of greenery, his mind racing with thoughts of Suhani and their uncertain future.

As he turned the corner, he came across the Malhotra patriarch. The older man stood with furrowed brows and a grim expression, lost in thought. Ranveer's heart clenched at the sight, knowing how much the family had suffered.

"Good afternoon, uncle," Ranveer greeted, trying to sound jovial despite the somber atmosphere.

Mohit looked up from his troubled reverie and forced a small smile. "Ah, Ranveer, my boy," he replied, his voice tinged with weariness. "Good afternoon to you as well." He motioned for Ranveer to join him by a stone bench nestled under a blossoming cherry tree.

As Ranveer sat down beside him, the scent of spring flowers filled the air, providing a fragile sense of tranquility amidst the turmoil that surrounded the Malhotra family.

"I hope you've been keeping well," Mohit said, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and gratitude. "I've been meaning to speak with you about something important."

Ranveer's heart skipped a beat. There was a lot that was hidden from the older man - each more significant than the other in its own way - and Ranveer was not sure which of the truths Mohit had chanced upon.

"I heard about your conversation with Yukti."

Ranveer's pulse quickened, surprised by Mohit's knowledge of their private exchange. He swallowed hard and nodded. Mohit sighed, his shoulders slumping with the weight of unspoken emotions. "I must admit, I feel envious that my niece and daughter are more comfortable confiding in you than they are with me," he confessed, his voice tinged with bitterness.

Ranveer's heart raced, grasping for an answer that wouldn't exacerbate the delicate situation. As he suppressed his urge to blame Mohit's usual stoicism and indifference for the distance between him and his daughter, Mohit interjected, his voice low and contemplative. "I've been reflecting on it quite a bit, you know," he admitted, his gaze focused on the polished marble floor beneath their feet.

"Reflecting on what, uncle?" Ranveer inquired cautiously, his eyes searching Mohit's face for any indication of his train of thought.

"Your acceptance and appreciation of people as they are," Mohit replied, looking up and meeting Ranveer's concerned gaze. "It's what helps others open up to you. I suppose my own nature of finding faults and shifting blame has made me an unlikely candidate to be a listener."

As Mohit's words hang in the air, Ranveer recalled the moment when he had jumped to Suhani's defense against her father's harsh questioning of her reserved nature. The memory was tinged with melancholy, a testament to the complexities of their intertwined lives.

"Ranveer," Mohit continued, his voice earnest, "it's only natural that Suhani, or Yukti, would be more inclined to open up to someone who defends her rather than someone who constantly questioned her."

A wave of surprise washed over Ranveer at Mohit's introspective revelation. He had not expected such self-awareness from the man who had always seemed so emotionally distant.

"Mr. Malhotra," Ranveer responded gently, "there's no lack of love between you and Suhani. All that's required is for both of you to open up to each other, as you're already starting to do now."

The weight of Mohit's gaze lingered on Ranveer for a moment before he spoke, his voice tinged with hope. "You have a way with words, my boy. You've managed to put into perspective what I've struggled to comprehend for years." He paused, gathering the courage to voice his next request. "Promise me that you'll never let Suhani down. She's been let down enough in her lifetime."