The Poddar mansion stood as a testament to faded grandeur, its once-majestic facade now shrouded in a veil of neglect. Ivy crawled up crumbling walls, as if attempting to reclaim the structure for nature. Windows, once bright and inviting, now stared like empty eyes, their curtains yellowed and torn.
Inside, the air reeked of stagnation. Dust coated every surface, and the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the creaking of wooden floorboards beneath footsteps.
Kaveri Poddar, the family matriarch, sat enthroned in her favorite armchair, her presence as cold and unyielding as the marble flooring. Her eyes, once bright with warmth, now flashed with defiance, her jaw set in a stubborn line.
Despite the shattered remains of her family, Kaveri refused to acknowledge her role in their downfall. Her ego, a fortress of self-righteousness, shielded her from the truth. She blamed everyone but herself - her grandchildren's weaknesses, her son's failures, fate's cruel whims.
The walls, once adorned with laughter and tears, now whispered secrets of past arguments and unresolved resentments. Every room held a memory of abandonment, rejection, or heartbreak.
In the foyer, a faded family portrait hung askew, its smiles now mocking reminders of happier times. The once-vibrant colors had faded, much like the family's joy.
Kaveri's domain, once a symbol of love and unity, had become a mausoleum of shattered dreams, a testament to the destructive power of unchecked ego and unyielding pride.
Her chain of thoughts were disrupted because of the groan. There stood Rohit Poddar in his drunken stupor. Vidya who was in the kitchen immediately came to handle him.
"Rohit sambhal ke." Vidya muttered, trying to hold him but he just pushed her away from him and started walking inside.
"Yeh kya tareeka hai Rohit. Khud ka nahi toh hamari izzat ka toh sochte." Kaveri shouted angrily.
Rohit chuckled sarcastically and said,
"Izzat? Izzat ki baare me na hi baat kare toh behtar hoga. Aapke isi izzat ke lecture ke wajah se apne sab kuch barbaad kar diya. Hume barbaad kar diya. Look around yourself and see the state, everything is ruined because of your ego. You ruined everything. You ruined our lives."
"Do not blame me for your failures. Ek firm tumse sambhali nahi gayi." Kaveri said fuming.
"Kyu na karu me blame. If I am a failure, what are you then? Because of you everyone left. Manisha Chachi, Manoj chacha Krish, Aryan, Charu, Kiara. Sab log. Aapne kisi ko nahi choda. Bas aapki akad nahi gayi. Aur rahi baat firm ki, jab Sanjay Bansal jaise aadmi ko saari power degi toh aur kya hona tha. Uss insaan ne apne greed me sab kuch barbaad kiya. And unki galti bhi nahi. Bewakoof toh aap nikli. Yeh jo aap kehti hai na aapko insaano ki parakh hai, what a lie. You couldn't even differentiate between who is correct or not."
Roohi who came hearing the shouts tried to call down Rohit and said,
"Rohit please shant ho jao."
"You don't open your mouth. This drama of your innocence doesn't work on me anymore. Apne obsession me you have ruined lives. You have ruined families. Tumhare apne b nanu ne tumse rishta toda hai. Nafrat karta hu tumse"
"Itni nafrat karte ho to chod kyu nahi dete mujhe." Roohi shouted angrily.
"Taki tum kisi aur ki life aur ghar barbaad kar sako, jaise meri ki? No way sweetheart. Me chahe zindagi bhar rota rahu, tumhe me bilkul bhi nahi chodunga. Chahe kuch bhi ho jaye. Mujhse chutkara na mumkin hai. I would love to see you upset for your whole life." Rohit shouted back.
"Jitni galtiya maine ki hai utni hi tumne bhi ki hai so mujhe blame karna band karo." Roohi retorted angrily.
"Pata hai mujhe. Tumhe yaad dilane ki jarurat nahi hai. Usi ki saza bhugat Raha hu. Tum ho na meri personal reminder." Rohit said.
