Unreachable Destiny- The Curse Of Your Love

Chapter-66: The Final Rites...

Abhir clutches the phone in his hand tighter, his knuckles turning white with pressure as he takes in a long breath as if to convince himself that everything is fine, but it isn't. The voice on the other side keeps calling out to him but it takes him a whole minute to register before he finally responds.

"Huh?"

"When will you be able to return? Will you be here for the final rites?"

"Huh?" Abhir's widened eyes stare at the blank screen of the TV in his room as he lets the news sink in. Ketki is no more. His sister passed away. Death is not something new or completely unexpected for Abhir. At his age, he was not too close or too far from death himself, but he never expected that he would have to say goodbye to someone younger than him. Someone younger and someone who should've had a longer life ahead of her.

Abhir felt like it was only yesterday that he saw her dressed in her bridal lehenga as she smiled at the camera with tears of happiness shining in her eyes. Abhir did not attend her wedding because he was too occupied with work. At the time, the company was struggling to make revenue and time was the only thing he lacked. He busied himself to make ends meet every day. Maya and Adi were only 12 and they had been living a comfortable life in their new home which they had moved into 3 years ago. Abhir couldn't afford to lose at the time, because his failure not only meant that they would have to give up the comfort but that his children would have to go back to the terrible lifestyle that they were faced with as toddlers. They had come so far and Abhir refused to fail. So he had to let his children stay with Nishant as he put up their house for a mortgage to prevent the company from going bankrupt, which is why he couldn't afford to return to India for Kekti's wedding. He swore he would never step in that house ever again, but he wished he would at least see his sister get married at the banquet hall. Unfortunately, even if he were to do so, he had the responsibilities of a father and the head of the company to tie him down to London. That day, Atul video called during the time of the wedding, to show him his sister who sat under the Mandap with a broad smile on her face as she excitedly looked into the camera. That was the last time he saw her. He saw her as a bride, so he had no idea of how he was supposed to see her dead body now.

Learning that every moment of her life since then has only been a nightmare both infuriates and agonises Abhir that he was not a part of her life when she needed support. Abhir had failed yet another person he loved. He had failed as a son, as a husband, and as a brother as well. As soon as he hangs up, he checks all the available flights. The only available flight is scheduled for tomorrow. He books the ticket without hesitation.

A drop of water falls on the bright screen illuminating the surrounding darkness of Abhir's room. Abhir wipes at his eyes fiercing, angry at himself, angry at the world. Angry at everything. It had been a long time since he cried. He thought he was above crying but turns out, he is still vulnerable at heart for his family. A family he swore to leave behind but the family that still resides in his heart. With trembling hands, he dials in the number of the only person he is concerned about. Atul. The call goes through ringing for all eternity but no one answers the call. Assuming he must be busy with preparations for the final rites, Abhir decides to call again, but this time the call gets declined. He tosses the phone aside, pacing back and forth in his room as he holds his hand to his head. He takes in deep breaths feeling suffocated in his own house. He makes his way out of the house and into the garden and his eyes fall on the roses in the garden that Aditya planted. He walks to the flowers and inhales the fragrance which eases his heart a bit. He spends the night in the garden alone, reminiscing about the past. His childhood, his young love and the journey he shared with his family. Ketki is probably the only sister in the world who had 3 brothers and none could save her.