Dhruv Tara: An End To a Long Wait

Chapter 1: Life slipping away

Dhruv watched, as Tara left with Shaurya, returning to Devgarh. One last time, she said. Shaurya wanted to see his 'Babasa'. Dhruv shouldn't feel bad, of course. He knew. Tara was feeling attached, so was Shaurya. He understood. He shouldn't feel bad.

But he did, as he watched his family walk away, yet again. Just moments away they were, from the 21st century, from home. He couldn't help but think of all the times he almost had it back, his family, his Tara, only to have it snatched away.

As he watched her walk away, he remembered the last time, when Suryapratap had her convinced that he would die without Shaurya. He remembered being over cloud nine, they were finally going back, all their luggage packed, back to their world.
And he remembered having his hopes shattered, when Tara refused to come along.

He knew she was thinking about everyone, afterall Pratapji had saved them. And he loved her for it, he did. He should be happy, too. He shouldn't be upset. He shouldn't feel so bad. She loved him and only him. Dhruv ki Tara. He should just be happy she loved him.
But he did feel bad. He felt something in his heart and soul leave right with her. Her and Shaurya. He knew they were going back just for the last time. They were coming back, and they were going to go back home. But something in his mind said otherwise.

He got his mind back to the present. Getting Dolly back to the 21st century was his responsibility. Even though they weren't leaving yet, she had to. She deserved to go back home. He went to see her off, and sent her home, with a promise to meet her again, in the 21st century. They too were going to go there soon, weren't they. It won't be long until Tara and Shaurya come back.
But something in the back of his mind said otherwise, it said they won't.

And, they didn't come. And they couldn't go back. They obviously couldn't. Not when Suryapratap was killed like that. Not when Devgarh was in such chaos. Not when Bhaiji was the cause behind it. A very changed Bhaiji. Of course they couldn't leave just like that. It wouldn't be right.
He shouldn't feel bad. He shouldn't be upset. But he did. They were doing the right thing, they were helping Devgarh. After all, Devgarh had given his Tara and Shaurya shelter.

He couldn't help it, though. He did feel bad, heartbroken, when he saw Tara, his Tara, sit Shaurya on the throne of Devgarh. They were supposed to leave, weren't they? So why? Shaurya was just a child. Just 6 years old. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve to get dragged in this mess. Tara knew this, didn't she. Then why? He was seeing what it was doing to the kid. And he tried to help, he did. But all that resulted in was Shaurya pushing him further away.

"Aap sirf Jaadugar hai, humare Babasa nahi".
"Hume aapke haath se nahi, humare Babasa ke haath se thapki dijiye".

And Dhruv felt his heart break into millions of pieces. He understood it, Shaurya was an innocent child. He wasn't deliberately hurting him, but it did hurt.
It took him back to that night, watching Tara take Shaurya away, away from his arms. When Suryapratap had pulled him away from hugging his child.
That's exactly how it felt now, like his family, his world was being taken away from him.
All of it felt too overwhelming. Yet again, moment by moment, everything he thought he had finally gotten back, he was losing it all again. As the mess around started getting more and more complicated, he felt his whole life, his world, his home, it was slipping from his hands again.

He felt like his heart was being squeezed, crushed. And then, it was gone. All that feelings, all the heartbreak, all the pain, he felt it gone in a moment. Leaving behind a void. An emptiness. A numbness. He couldn't feel anything anymore. As Tara decided to fight against Bhaiji, as Bhaiji responded just as strongly. As Bhaiji questioned his capabilities, his strength, his love, his... everything, he knew he should feel hurt, angry. Because Bhaiji wasn't wrong, but he wasn't right either. He did fight. He fought for his rights, he fought for his love, he fought for his son, he fought and he fought and he fought. With any and everyone, even Tara herself. And he lost, again and again. But he just couldn't anymore. The void in his heart was all he felt. He felt so tired, he couldn't bring himself to fight anymore. There was a fatigue he had never felt ever before. He felt dead inside.
So he stood there, and watched, and listened. As Bhaiji insulted him, as Tara took him for granted, as Shaurya rejected him. He took it all.

Until he couldn't...