Trishalini ~ The Jewel of Mahabaleshgarh

13 ~ Bitter Words

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Abhinandan POV

As I stood outside, my gaze fixed on my Kingdom, Mahabaleshgarh. I could not help but feel the weight of my ancestors' courage and hard work through its mountainous figure.

But it was a home, too. The house that was once mine was now just a few steps away, yet I could not shake off the feeling of being an outsider among the people living in that.

Each step towards the Empire brought me closer to the confrontation I had avoided for months. The weight of this impending encounter, the loneliness that had been my constant companion, seemed to grow more pronounced with each passing moment, filling the air with a palpable tension.

And apart from that, I must not let Trisha's efforts go to waste. She put our old times, memories, and friendship at stake to bring me back. I kind of understood why she lied to me the other day. If she had not, I would have ignored her, too.

I rode forward towards the main entrance, and before I could even reach near to it, they started opening the door.

And, to my surprise, I found my parents standing in front of it.

My heart sank when I saw them all of a sudden. I did not think they would come to greet me here.

But here they were. A weak smile appeared on my face, seeing my Daadisa struggling to run faster behind them. My mother was wiping her tears away. And, my father's eyes looked weak, still his figure stood proudly.

I knew they were missing me. They have tried to contact me a thousand times, but I wanted to stay alone. My parents went to talk to me in Pratapgarh, too, but I went away.

My mother had never been there after my father won Pratapgarh from my mother's brother. I knew she went there for me. But I did not want to meet them. I could not shake off the feeling that they were so partial towards me. They allowed Nandani to marry Rudra.

But, it was as it was. Maybe they knew more than me.

I climbed down the horse and gulped nervously. I did not know what my mother would say to me. I silently walked closer to them, looked at my Daadisa, and stepped forward.

"haye, hamara Abhinan,"

"Ohh, my Abhinan!" she almost broke into cries, and I bent down to touch her feet. She placed her trembling hands on my head and exclaimed in a breaking voice.

"Kuch dino ka jeevan aur hai hamara. Kitne dard jhelenge hum. Aap to kam se kam hume na sataya kare. Apni Daadisa ki umar badhane ke bajaye unki arthi kyu sajate hai aap,"

"I have only a few days left to live. How much more pain should I bear? At least you should not trouble me. Why are you after preparing my funeral pyre instead of giving me a few reasons to live more," she cried, and I smiled weakly, standing straight.

"Aap to jitni boodhi ho rahi hai utni hi bacho ki tarah maange karti hai. Kya koi vyakti kuch din akela nahi reh sakta,"

"The older you are getting, the more you are demanding like a child. Cannot a person stay alone for a while?" I asked, teasing her a little, and she collected me in a tight hug, sobbing with tears.

"Aapse nahi maangenge to kisse mangega. Aap kahe to upar jaake aapke daadasa se maang le,"

"If not you, then whom should I ask? If you say, I shall die and ask from your Daadasa in heaven," she said, and I knew she was trying to make me emotional.

And, somewhere, it was working.

"Please do not go anywhere now, Abhinan," She requested, cupping my cheeks and pushing my hair away from my forehead.