The Rollercoaster Ride

PART-11

Bade bhaiya = Elder brother/ in a sense of respect
Sahab = Owner

"Rudraksh... " Anusuiya's voice trembled with emotions, as she enveloped him in a warm and tight embrace. The familiarity of his scent, the feel of his worn shirt beneath her hands, and the gentle pressure of his arms around her sent waves of relief and maternal affection coursing through air.

A brief, stiff smile flickered across Rudraksh's face as he hugged his mother back. The tension and stress of the past few weeks began to melt away, replaced by a sense of safety, like a river flowing back to its source. Yet, the calmness didn't quite settle; it was as if the river merely touched the shore before flowing outward again, carrying some of the tranquility with it.

Anusuiya's trembling hands grasped Rudraksh's arms, holding him at arm's length as she scanned his face. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, and her voice cracked in a whispered plea.

"Where have you been, beta? Did you have any idea how worried we were?" Her thumb traced gentle patterns on his skin, reassuring herself that he was really there.

Her gaze searched his, hungry for reassurance. "Did you forget me, Rudraksh? Did someone else mean more to you than your own mother?" The words spilled out like a lament, her voice breaking with emotion.

The question hung in the air, vulnerable and raw. Rudraksh's eyes locked onto his mother's hopeful gaze, but the weight of her words still didn't match the intensity of his emotions.

Siddharth and Karan exchanged a sheepish glance, their grins mirroring each other's amusement as they witnessed Rudraksh's mother's emotional outburst. They offered Rudraksh sympathetic smiles, but his gaze remained fixed on his mother's, searching the depths of her eyes for the sincerity behind her tears.

Rudraksh's gaze darted between his friends and his mother, her eyes still pleading for answers. He let out a deep sigh, then enveloped her in a hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Please, forgive me." Anusuiya sensed a hint of emptiness in his apology, but the warmth of his embrace was enough to soothe her for now.

Anusuiya's hands fluttered over her son's face, as if sweeping away unseen shadows, before drawing them to her own temples in a gentle, protective gesture, all accompanied by a warm, loving smile.

After some moments, Anusuiya welcomed boys inside the house with a warm smile, but the trios' nervous expression and rapid heartbeat betrayed their anxiety. She gestured for them to take a seat at the breakfast table.

Siddharth and Karan exchanged a tensed glance before sitting down, their eyes fixed on Rudraksh. However, instead of joining them, he veered off towards the staircase.

As he was about to put his first step on the stairs, a servent approached him with a deferential bow. "Bade Bhaiya! Judge sahab has summoned you to his study." His voice was low and respectful.

Rudraksh's heart skipped a beat as he hesitated, his mind racing with anticipation. He had been dreading this moment, knowing that he needed to face the consequences, no matter what.

With a deep breath, he nodded curtly. "I'm coming." His voice firm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of apprehension.

The servent bowed again and backed away, leaving Rudraksh to make his way to his father's study. The weight of the impending conversation settled upon him like a dark cloud on the horizon.

The path to the study seemed to stretch on forever, like a gauntlet of thrones, each step echoing with the memories of his past confrontations - the promises, the trust, the vulnerability.

As he approached the study, his heartbeat quickened, pounding in his chest like a drumbeat of anticipation. The air seemed to thicken with tension, each step drawing him closer to a reckoning he couldn't escape.