Bonded by love

Chapter 12

After making Gowen sleep Karan came out in his balcony , his gaze fixed on the night sky , Vivan came to Karan.

"Hey," Vivan said softly, wrapping an arm around Karan’s shoulders. "How about we talk for a bit?"

Karan sighed, his frustration and sadness weighing heavily on him. "I just don't get it, Vivan. It feels like no matter what I do, my dad just won't accept Gowen. He blames him for everything—like it's his fault my brother died. It was an accident. How can he not see that?"

Vivan’s expression softened with empathy. "I know it’s hard, Karan. It's like he’s stuck in this place of anger and grief, and unfortunately, Gowen’s become a scapegoat. But I want you to remember that we're in this together. We’ll find a way to make him understand."

Karan nodded, though his eyes remained clouded with doubt. "I just don’t know how. After today... when he almost hurt Gowen, I felt so helpless. It’s like there’s nothing I can do to fix this."

Vivan squeezed his shoulder gently. "Look, I know it's tough, but you’re not alone. You’ve got me. We’ll face this together. And, hey, maybe we can distract ourselves a bit. You remember that terrible joke I told you last week?"

Karan managed a faint smile. "You mean the one about the magician who disappeared?"

"Yep, that’s the one," Vivan said, grinning. "So, why did the magician get kicked out of the park?"

Karan raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued despite himself. "I don’t know. Why?"

"Because he made the 'sandwich' disappear," Vivan said, chuckling at his own joke.

Karan laughed, the sound a brief respite from the tension. "That’s terrible. But thanks, I needed that."

Vivan’s smile widened. "Hey, it’s all about small victories. Speaking of which, did I ever tell you about the time I tried to cook a fancy dinner for us?"

Karan shook his head, curiosity evident. "No, what happened?"

"Well, let’s just say I made ‘cuisine’ out of the fire extinguisher instead of the actual meal. We had to order pizza. And the worst part? I forgot to even get a fire extinguisher," Vivan said, pretending to look sheepish.

Karan’s laughter came more freely now. "You and your cooking disasters. It’s a wonder you haven’t burned down the kitchen yet."

"Hey, it’s all about creating memorable experiences," Vivan said with a wink. "Just like our little adventures with spontaneous pizza nights."

Karan’s eyes softened as he looked at Vivan. "You always know how to lighten the mood. Thank you for being here. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Vivan’s expression grew serious again. "And you won’t have to find out. I’m here for the long haul, Karan. We’re going to get through this. I believe that one day, your dad will come around. It might take time, but he’ll see that Gowen is just a child who needs love and support, not blame."

Karan looked out at the park, where children were playing and laughing. "I hope so. I really do. Gowen deserves so much better than this."

"And he’s going to get it," Vivan said firmly. "One step at a time. Look, I know this is hard, but remember, we’re building a future here. Sometimes it’s the little moments, like laughing at bad jokes or just being there for each other, that make the biggest difference."

Karan took a deep breath, trying to absorb the comfort in Vivan’s words. "I guess you’re right. We just have to keep pushing forward."

"Exactly," Vivan said. "And whenever you need a break from the serious stuff, just let me know. I’ll always have more terrible jokes ready."

Karan chuckled again, the heaviness in his heart lifting slightly. "I’ll hold you to that."

"Deal," Vivan said with a warm smile. "Now, how about we grab some  maggie? I hear it’s the perfect antidote to a rough day."

Karan’s smile grew genuine. "Sounds good. Let’s go."

As they stood up and walked hand in hand towards the exit and went to kitchen for their maggie date , the burden of the day seemed a little lighter. Vivan’s presence was a steady anchor, a reminder that even in the midst of turmoil, there was hope and the promise of better days ahead. And together, they would face whatever came their way.