#Quadrant series, Book 1 ;
"I am grateful that at last I found my true family," he murmured, looking at the celestial body above.
"Family," she corrected, "it's either a family or not," she spoke, looking down at his face as he rested his head on he...
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Ram, with heavy steps and a broken heart, walked along the barren street. The rain, which he loved until yesterday, was now pricking him with memories.
The pain of betrayal coursed through his veins like a toxic poison, threatening to consume him whole.
"Ram," a distant voice called.
His brain, too fogged with 'ye baccha apka nhi kisi aur ka hai,' couldn't decipher the voice. When an arm held his shoulder, turning him in the opposite direction, his trance broke, and irritation crept in.
"Ram, ruk, Nandani aunty ne btaya mujhe," Aditya spoke, his eyes watery as he looked at his friend. The ever-charming, ever-smiling Ram was now broken beyond measure.
"I am okay, Adi, tu ja," Ram spoke, not meeting his gaze with Adi.
"Chor ye sab, chal ghar chal," Aditya dragged his arm.
"Tu ja, Adi, main aa jaunga thori der mai."
"Ghar ja ke baat karenge hum log, abhi chal," he spoke, still holding Ram by his elbow.
"Kuch der akela rehna chahta hu tu ja na," he told, trying to suppress the rage building in.
"Kuch bhi mang le bhai, magar abhi akela to nahi jane dunga," Aditya's words were firm. He knew Ram wasn't in a state to be left alone.
Ram's gaze turned to him as the rage converted to tears. He immediately put his arms around Aditya, keeping his head on his shoulder, crying his heart out.
Aditya's heart sank as he heard Ram's bitter cries. He continued patting his back, not stopping him. He knew these were the emotions he was holding back since morning.
"Kidhar galti ki maine, kaha kami reh gayi," Ram murmured in a broken voice.
"Koi galti nahi ki hai tune...koi nahi, samjha," Adi spoke, breaking the hug and meeting his gaze.
"Phir...," he couldn't speak further as the words clogged his throat.
"Chal," Adi requested once again.
"Ghar nahi jana Adi," he begged, the thought of going back to the place which held so many memories of his sister, her antics, the room which witnessed his and Priya's moments, their love, sent jitters down his spine. He just didn't want to feel the inevitable hollowness which the place will hold for him, perhaps forever.
"Ghar nahi ja rahe," Aditya told him, taking him towards his car. . . . .
Ram didn't have the count of hours he was sitting at the seashore looking at the turbulent waves in front as the heavy rain poured around him.
Absolute blankness was what he felt at the moment; others would say he went numb to the pain, but for him, it was the rain that absorbed all his sufferings and pain. Also not to forget his friend, his companion who sat next to him throughout, bearing witness to the anguish, without judgment.
