Once upon a Time akshnavir

The broken soul and healer part two

The atmosphere in the living room was electric with anticipation as Neil finally returned home after years of absence. The family was a whirlwind of emotions; some were happy, others were shocked, and a few were even sweaty from the sheer intensity of the moment. Abhimanyu's heart raced as he spotted his younger brother, the desire to hug him overwhelming. He longed to shower Neil with kisses, to express the joy and relief that his baby brother was alive. But to his surprise, Neil walked right past him, ignoring the embrace completely.

Instead, Neil made his way to the corner of the room where Ruhi, his daughter, stood with wide, gleaming eyes. "Mera Dil ka Tukda, how are you, Matoshree?" Neil knelt down in front of her, his face lighting up with a smile that had been missing for far too long.

"Am I dreaming, or is my father really here?" Ruhi exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief. She spun around, unable to contain her joy, dancing as if the world had just become a magical place. "Finally, I won't get ignored by everyone!" she laughed, her happiness radiating throughout the room.

Neil's heart ached at her words. "You know, Papa, in these seven years, I haven't been loved by anyone except Matoshree. Poppy always came when he wanted to, but..." Her voice trailed off, revealing a vulnerability that tugged at Neil's heart.

Without a second thought, Neil enveloped her in a tight hug, feeling her tiny body shake with emotion. "Oh, Ruhi," he whispered, "you deserve all the love in the world."

Abhimanyu, still standing a few feet away, felt a mix of joy and confusion. He watched as Neil and Ruhi shared a moment that felt more significant than anything he had experienced in recent years. But as Neil pulled away from Ruhi, the sorrow and anger he had bottled up for years spilled out. "I didn't expect this from you, bhai," he said, turning to Abhimanyu, his expression a mix of hurt and disbelief. "How could you just ignore everything?"

Abhimanyu took a deep breath, trying to contain the whirlwind of emotions. "What happened, Neil? If you were alive, why didn't you come back to me?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

"Bhai, I wasn't in a state to come back," Neil replied, his gaze unwavering. "I was badly injured when Abhinav Bhaiya saved me and sent me to London for further treatment. There were little chances of me surviving."

The room fell silent, the weight of Neil's words hanging heavily in the air. "But I know what you did to Bhabhi," Neil continued, his voice steady but filled with conviction. "How can you blame her when I was the one who made the decision to help that poor woman escape to safety? You easily placed all the blame on her after everything she did for your family. Don't you remember when you had surgery for your hand? Doctor Nayak wouldn't perform it until she made a deal with him to continue, even offering her sister's voice for a year? And still, you divorced her, saying she betrayed you."

Abhimanyu stood frozen, the realization hitting him like a tidal wave. Neil's honesty struck deep within him, forcing him to confront the painful truths he had tried to ignore. "I... I didn't see it that way," he stammered, grappling with his emotions.

"I'm glad Bhabhi left that toxic environment," Neil said softly, his heart aching for the pain they had all endured. "We all deserve love, Abhi. It's time to heal and forgive. We're together now, and that's what matters."

With those words, Abhimanyu stepped forward, his eyes brimming with tears. He wrapped his arms around Neil, pulling him close in a brotherly embrace that felt both long overdue and profoundly necessary. The tension in the room began to dissolve, replaced by an understanding that had been missing for far too long.

As Ruhi danced around them, her laughter echoing in the air, it became clear that this was just the beginning of their journey—one that would require healing, forgiveness, and a commitment to rebuild the bonds that had been frayed by time and misunderstanding. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united as a family, ready to embrace the love that had always been there, waiting to be rediscovered.