Silent Cries

Chapter 23

It was a sunny afternoon, and the schoolyard was filled with the cheerful sounds of children playing. Dev stood in a shaded corner, watching through the window as Ayaan, his son, interacted with other children. Dev’s eyes softened, his heart swelling with a mixture of pride and pain. Ayaan looked so happy, so full of life, just as a child should be.

Dev couldn’t help but smile as he observed Ayaan’s enthusiasm, the way he laughed with his friends, his small gestures of kindness when he helped a classmate who had dropped their pencil. Dev thought, “He’s just like me.” The faint smile on his lips hinted at the bittersweet nostalgia of his own childhood, a time when life was simpler and love seemed more accessible.

Ayaan’s voice floated to his ears, bright and clear, as he spoke to his friends, “No, no, you have to put the ball in the middle, like this!” He demonstrated, his small hands waving in the air, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Watching his son play, Dev felt a surge of fatherly love and joy. “I’ve missed so much,” he thought regretfully, his fingers tracing the window glass. He could see his own reflection faintly, mingling with the images of Ayaan outside, the lines of his face blurred by the years of absence. His heart ached with the knowledge of the lost years, the moments he had willingly missed out on, all because of his misplaced priorities.

“Why did I stay away so long?” he murmured to himself. His voice was barely audible, drowned by the laughter of children. The guilt weighed heavily on his heart, the realization of what he had sacrificed hitting him anew each time he saw Ayaan. “I was too busy chasing dreams that I forgot the most important one.”

Dev’s smile grew wider when he saw Ayaan explaining something animatedly to his friends, his small hands moving in excitement. “My little boy,” he thought, his eyes filling with unshed tears. He felt an overwhelming urge to hold Ayaan, to tell him how much he loved him, how sorry he was for everything.

Suddenly, Ayaan’s voice pierced through his thoughts. “I wish Papa was here!” he exclaimed, unaware that his father was watching. The innocence in his voice cut through Dev like a knife  He was telling this when his friends were talkingabout their father.

One of Ayaan’s friends, a boy with a bright red cap, asked, “Where is your papa, Ayaan?”

Ayaan shrugged, looking down at his feet. “I don’t know. Mummy says he’s busy.” The way he said it was casual, as if it was a fact he had accepted, but Dev could see the flicker of longing in his eyes.

Dev’s heart clenched. He wanted to run to Ayaan, to shout, “I’m here, beta! I’ve always been here, just a bit late.” But he stayed rooted to the spot, his feet heavy with hesitation and fear.

What if Ayaan rejected him? What if his son had grown so used to his absence that his presence would be a disruption? These thoughts tortured Dev, making him question his every move.

As the school day ended and the children began to file out, Dev straightened up, wiping his eyes quickly. He watched Ayaan bid his friends goodbye, his school bag slung over his tiny shoulder. Dev took a deep breath, his heart racing. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for. He would finally speak to Ayaan, connect with him.

Dev stepped forward, his steps tentative but determined. He approached Ayaan from behind, reaching out to touch his shoulder. His hand was mere inches away when he heard a familiar voice.

“Dev,” Navya’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

Dev turned around quickly, his heart sinking as he saw Navya standing a few feet away, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief. Beside her stood Abhinav, his arm protectively around Ayaan’s shoulder, guiding him away from Dev’s reach without Ayaan noticing Dev.