Vikramadithiya, all his life had tried so hard to keep together the family that was falling apart intact. When he thought that everything was falling into place, he comes across a piece of information that would shatter his family.
He strikes a dea...
Hari gazed at the sprawling city below, the sun dipped low, casting a warm glow across the horizon. Perched on a weathered stone bench at the edge of a cliff, he felt a gentle breeze brush against his face, prompting a soft smile to form on his lips. The trees rustled to the gentle wind that followed as if they were being tickled.
This was his hidden spot, away from the chaos of the city. Many people who came there would return mid-way as it was a hard climb to the top. But, he would carefully peddle his way through the stones to this place in his old cycle. He had been doing that for years. He wasn't sure how long that was going to be possible.
The security outside the gates told him that a rich man who lived on the other side of this city had purchased this property and was planning to build a house there. He was not ver happy about that piece of news. That place held a lot of memories and a lot of secrets.
Hari was pulled out of the thoughts as he heard a faint horn of the truck from a distance. He belonged there, in that distant place, among hundreds of humans.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange, Hari felt a pang of longing deep within him. The silhouette of birds returning to their nests against the vibrant backdrop stirred bittersweet emotions.
"Home," he mused with a hollow laugh, the sound devoid of mirth.
He couldn't help but imagine the laughter and love that might fill a home he had yet to find. He did not have anyone whom he would call his own. He longed for a family. He yearned for the sense of belonging and the companionship that eluded him. He longed for the warmth of a home and the embrace of loved ones.
Closing his eyes, Hari breathed in the crisp evening air, willing himself to find solace in the fleeting beauty of the moment. Somewhere, amidst the fading light and the distant hum of the city below, he clung to the hope that one day, he would find his way home.
Hari's senses were drawn to the faint sound of a shoe scuffing against the stone pathway. Opening his eyes, he slowly turned to find a man, roughly his own age, standing before him, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
Concern etched into his features, Hari rose from the bench and approached the stranger. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with genuine worry.
The man nodded, still panting slightly. "Just... needed a moment," he replied, his words coming out in short bursts.
Hari studied the man for a moment, taking in the details of his appearance: a day-old stubble gracing his jawline, a neatly pressed shirt tucked into a vest, a blazer casually thrown over his shoulders. Thick brows furrowed slightly in exhaustion, framed by curly lashes that brushed against his cheekbones. And then, his eyes-wide and green, the exact shade as his own. It was a startling resemblance that sent a jolt of disbelief through Hari's veins.
"Do you want some water?" Hari asked.
"No. Thanks." The man said straightening himself.
Hari nodded, respecting the man's refusal. As the stranger straightened himself, Hari couldn't help but notice the shift in his demeanor. There was a certain stiffness to his posture now, a guardedness that hadn't been there before.
As Hari gazed at the man standing before him, a stark contrast unfolded before his eyes. His attire was simple, shirt crumpled from a day's work, traces of grease and dirt clinging to his clothes, while the stranger presented a picture of polished elegance. The man's shoes pristine against the worn-out slippers he wore were a statement that highlighted the divergent paths they had walked in life. Yet, despite these disparities, they found themselves drawn together on this cliffside, two strangers brought together by the unpredictable whims of fate.
"Vicky" The man extended his hands for a firm handshake.
Hari looked on, taken aback. There was an air of confidence around Vicky, a presence that commanded attention and respect.
With a hesitant smile and nervousness, he took his hands between his sweaty palms and gave a gentle shake.
"You are supposed to say your name." Vicky said.
""H-Hari... My name is Hari." he stuttered, his voice betraying his uncertainty.
"Hmm... Shall we sit there?" Vicky asked pointing at the bench, walking towards it.
"Yeah! yeah.. Sure." He said walking behind him, confused.
"Do you know me?" Hari asked standing behind him as Vicky sat at one edge of the bench.
He chuckled.
"Do you not know me?" He turned to him.
"No." Hari said, his mind swirling with confusion.
"Interesting. I see you, every day," he revealed, turning back to face the view before them.
"Do you come here, too?" Hari asked eagerly, stepping forward to stand in front of Vicky.
"No," Vicky replied simply, causing Hari's excitement to falter.
"Then how do you know me?" Hari pressed, his excitement fading into a sense of bewilderment.
"This place... is my father's property," Vicky disclosed and his words hung in the air like a heavy fog.
Shock would be an understatement for Hari as the realization crashed over him like a tidal wave leaving him speechless. He felt repugnant, as if the very air around him had turned toxic, suffocating him with its oppressive weight. Every fiber of his being screamed in protest, recoiling from the harsh reality that had been thrust upon him. The ground beneath his feet felt unsteady, as if the very earth itself was trembling in sympathy with his emotions.
"You are Vikramadithiya." Hari whispered, the name feeling foreign and heavy on his tongue.
"Yes. I am."
"I think I should leave," Hari finally managed to choke out, his voice strained with emotion as he turned to walk away, desperate to escape the suffocating confines of the truth that had just been revealed. The weight of it was too heavy to bear.
With each step, Hari felt the distance between them widen, a chasm of uncertainty and discomfort stretching out before him like an endless abyss. But before he could disappear into the shadows, Vikram's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.
"How long will you run?" Vikram shouted, his words echoing off the cliffs as he took huge strides, running behind Hari.
"I don't want to talk to you." Hari said firmly, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration.
But Vikram refused to relent, his footsteps quickening as he closed the gap between them. "You can't keep avoiding this." he insisted, his tone pleading yet determined.
Hari's heart pounded in his chest as he came to a stop, his back pressed against the cold, unforgiving stone of the cliff. He turned to face Vikram, his eyes filled with a tumult of emotions-anger, fear, and a deep-rooted sense of betrayal.
"I have nothing to say to you," Hari declared, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Leave me alone."
But Vikram stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. "You can't run from the truth forever." he said softly, his words hanging heavy in the air between them.
"Anna, please." Vikram let his façade drop and fell on knees.
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