Somewhere Only We Go (Editing)

Chapter 33

Kabir

Kabir: Did you mean it when you said Avi's mom was hiding behind her health issues for mistreating him?

Rishabh: Hello to you too, buddy. Yes, I felt that back then but the more I thought about it in recent years I was sure. Maybe what she did was not intentional but she didn't regret it later too. It's fucked up.

Kabir: Avi told me no one confronted her after it because they were strictly told not to. Is that true?

Rishabh: Unfortunately yes.

Rishabh: Mom tried once when she came back from the hospital. But she didn't say anything So mom decided to give her some time. My parents were more concerned about Avi because he had locked himself in his room for two days, the only reason we didn't break the door was because he was allowing the staff to bring him food inside. So we knew he was not trying to harm himself. Or maybe he was and we didn't look properly.

Kabir: What happened later?

Rishabh: Later?

Kabir: Yes you said your mom decided to give her some time so what happened later?

Rishabh: Oh.

Rishabh: There was no later. I am not going to pretend that we weren't at fault here either. Maybe this is easier to do on text. Just know that I am ashamed of what happened next.

Rishabh: Dad was scared to have us anywhere around Chachi. The school year was almost over; it felt like the perfect time. Dad wanted nothing to do with his brother and his family. The biggest reason he didn't care about getting Avi with us was that he knew if he asked Avi to leave with us and he did, his parents would never leave us alone, especially his father. And even after everything Chachu wasn't ready to leave Chachi. Even though we were still practically kids we knew we were making a mistake. Disha even cried and begged Dad to get Avi with us but in the end, we didn't. We just left. We left him there to deal with his parents all by himself.

Kabir: You are right, it's good we are doing this on text. I do like you enough to feel bad later if I would have punched you.

Rishabh: If it makes you feel any better I do hate myself for that.

It doesn't. I don't want any of them to feel bad about it. The two people who should feel bad don't, but I had a feeling that this was what strained their relationship.

Kabir: What about now?

Kabir: Do you think we can confront her now?Rishabh: You want to talk to his mom?

Kabir: Yes.

Rishabh: We can but is Avi okay with it?

Kabir: I haven't asked him yet but I'll soon. Don't worry, we are not doing this without his consent. Even though I want answers for him, this still affects him the most. He has to be ready for the answers.

Rishabh: Huh, true. I see what he sees in you, Kabir. I am glad he found you.

Kabir: I am glad I found him. I still don't know what I would have done if he hadn't been with me in the past couple of weeks.

Rishabh: Yeah sorry about your father.

Rishabh: And well also about your mother I guess.

Kabir: I don't want to think about them anymore. But there is something else I wanted to ask.

Rishabh: Sure, what is it?