Matsya

Chapter 20

The unanswered questions weigh heavier to the heart who's restless to hear it.

Anoop - Did you call her?

Manohar - yes

Anoop - and?

Manohar - Nothing we just talked .

Anoop - just talked? Uff Manohar tell her how you feel please.

Manohar - I told you it won't happen and I was right , it's too late for it anyway.

Anoop - What happened?

Manohar -  She's coming to Bangalore next week and I asked her if we could meet , she dodged me.

Anoop - Why would she do that .

Manohar - I don't know , she said she wasn't staying for long so .

Anoop - May be she's busy or something, just don't think too much don't give up yet .

Manohar - That's exactly the point there's always something important which I'll never be .

Anoop - you're just getting upset , calm down for a bit .

Manohar - And what if I do calm down does any of it change?

Anoop - Brother please.

Manohar - No go on tell me does any of this change ? Will she see me ? Will my mother return? Will my father comeback .

Anoop - please calm down .

Manohar- This is the thing Anoop I've never been important to anyone and those who made me feel I was leave me.

This is is exactly why I've built this wall around me cause this illusion of feeling wanted makes you weak , and I didn't want to open these doors but I did for her .

Anoop - Come on that's not True you know that.

Manohar - I'm not blaming her she was here for a job and she did it well now she's gone , I shouldn't have got too attached when i knew this is exactly what would happen.

Anoop - Not everyone has left you we're still here . You're not alone.

Manohar - Hmm i want to do something.

Anoop - What ?

Manohar - Something I've been wanting to do .

Manohar leaves the place.

Manohar reaches a hotel and enters in .

Receptionist - Sir do you want to book a table ?

Manohar - Yes please a table for two .
Receptionist - Sure sir , will the other guest be arrive soon.

Manohar - I belive he's already here, if he's not I'd like you to call him .

Receptionist - Sorry I don't understand.

Manohar - I need to meet your boss , if he's not here please call him .

Receptionist gets a call from the boss.

Receptionist  - Sir I belive someone wants to see you .

Boss - I know send him to my office .

Manohar enters the office , He sees the man staring at the door waiting eagerly to see him .
Manohar - Hello paa .

Dwarkanath - Hi Manu , come in have a seat .

Manohar and Dwarkanath speak after a long moment of silence.

Dwarkanath - How are you .

Manohar - I'm doing fine .

Dwarkanath - I heard you injured your leg?How is it?

Manohar - It's fine .

Dwarkanath - Heard you went to the wedding , they were happy to see you.

Manohar - so you do know about me.
Dwarkanath - Hmm

Manohar - Paa I need some answers from you .

Dwarkanath - Go on.

Manohar - Why did you leave us?

Dwarkanath - Manohar I'm seeing you after a years can we not go there .

Manohar - Paa please this is very important.

Dwarkanath - Hmm, Shobha and I fought both our families to get married , everything was going well we had you . Those were the best days of my life .

Manohar - Then why abandon all of it why are you living all alone?

Dwarkanath - The wish to make it better , I wanted to expand my business invested a lot on this business but things took a turn I lost my partners fell in debt .

Manohar - But why leave us , what did we have to do with that

Dwarkanath - Guilt , the Guilt that I dragged you in my mess. If me being out of the picture gave you both a better life I took that.

Manohar - Better life ? Do you know how much we suffered and how many times we wished you were there, how many times I wished you were there .

Dwarkanath - Manohar I'm not proud of my actions this is my biggest regret. Anything I do hence forward would not suffice I'm aware but I'm sorry .

Manohar - Sorry doesn't cut it Paa. You think I met an accident but I'll tell you the truth .

I went to commit suicide this madness was getting heavy I wanted to end all this , but I survived.

Dwarkanath - Manu I don't get to judge you I'm sorry for whatever I've caused you, but you aren't here to say tell me this are you?
Son what do you want to tell me , let me help you .

Manohar - Paa I hated you for leaving us and all i wanted was to not become like you but that's who I've exactly become lonely , distant and unwanted. So I've come to ask you this tell me how do I not become like you.

Dwarkanath - Manu I don't know what to say.

Manohar takes a deep breath - For a brief period Paa I thought everything changed but here I am again and this time If I fall I don't know if I'll comeback again.

Dwarkanath - Manu please don't speak like that .( Hold's Manu's hands)

Manohar - Tell me Paa how do I not be like you?

Dwarkanath - Search for that brief moment again , make sure you held it this time .

Manohar - It's too late now .

Dwarkanath - You miss every chances you don't take , I didn't take the chance to fight my problems alongside you so take that chance and that's how you don't be like me.

Manohar - Thank you Paa.

Manohar gets up to leave.

Dwarkanath - Manu I don't have the right to ask you this , but do come visit . Please.

Manohar - I will Paa.