Ranjish | 𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒋

I. ek tha raja, ek thi rani

toote huye dil
jaayein kahan?
mujhe jo khushi mili na kabhi
jaye tere sang, jaye tu jahaan

•

vanraj :

"Waah beta! Waah!", I said, drawing in a deep breath, sitting back on my recliner.
My two kids stood with the heads bowed, acting like they were apologetic.

They were definitely not.

"Logon ko school se phone aate hai.. tuition se phone aate hai.. meri mahaan beti ke liye mujhe college se phone aata hai!", I said, keeping the mockery in my tone consistent.

"Papa sorry-"

"Bhaad mein jaye tumhara sorry!", I snapped back as I stood up, in frustration.

They had been summoned by me in my office cabin.
It was a posh dark blue and white, with the symbol of my real estate company right behind my recliner.
The desk, maplewood with my name and designation, written on a metal desk plate.

VANRAJ SHAH
chief executive officer

I was the king here. I ruled over not just the office but also everything that I was involved in.

"Papa.. aap thoda over react kar rahe hai-"

"Toshu beta, tum toh apna muh bandh hi rakho. Tumhare baare mein abhi kuch bolna nehi chahta.", I said irritably, inhaling deeply.

Toshu, my eldest son, nodded.
Pakhi did not dare to look up.

I stood, inhaling deeply.
All of this made me sick.
The stress was not good, the doctors had said.

"Jao abhi tum dono. Mai college jaakar dekhta hu.", I said, sighing.

Both of them walked out of the cabin.
I immediately pulled the drawer of the desk, and picked up the bottle of anxiety pills.

Although I had been told not to take more than one, I preferred it at least thrice a day.
The symptoms were getting worse, thanks to my useless children.

Good thing - my ex wife was out of sight now.
Happily ever after with her Prince Charming from Sarojini Nagar.
They were probably in America.
And I was here, trying to handle the family and the kids which were also supposed to be hers.

Anyways, good for her.
She was happy, atleast.
Atleast I was not the villain in her story anymore.
They said letting go was the greatest form of love.
And I hated the whole concept of love.
Yet, obviously she was happy, and I had no problem.
With Kavya gone too, life was extremely loveless and much better.

Nevermind, the woman who had forgotten her favourite child in a matter of days wouldn't be missing the children who loathed her, I'm sure.

The memory of my late son felt like a stab on my chest.
It all came back like a haunting nightmare. My breath caught up almost instantly.
I still remembered the scene, as vivid as ever. My son, struck by the bullet, right before my eyes, lying in a pool of blood.
And I could do nothing.
Why had I not known? Why had I not pulled him away from the bullet?