"The Fated Substitute"

Chapter 03

In the grand Malhotra mansion, the soft glow of chandeliers illuminated the beautifully adorned hall. Amid the busy preparations for his upcoming wedding, Rudra Malhotra entered the room where his mother, Anita, was waiting for him. 

Rows of sherwanis were displayed before her, each more elaborate and stunning than the last. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her son, a mixture of pride and sorrow swirling within them.

"Oh, Rudra, you finally made it!" Anita exclaimed, gesturing to the outfits. "Now, let's choose a wedding sherwani for you. I've shortlisted a few. Pick the one you like."

Rudra's gaze softened as he looked at her. He noticed the exhaustion in her eyes, hidden behind the veil of her excitement. "Mom, I told you to take it easy. You don't have to handle all this on your own," he said, concern evident in his voice. "You've been working non-stop. You need to rest."

Anita gave him a reassuring smile. "How can I rest? This is my only son's wedding. I've dreamed of this day for so long." Her voice wavered slightly, but she quickly composed herself, hiding the strain she had carried for years.

Anita Malhotra was no stranger to hardship. She had raised Rudra alone, fighting through challenges that would have broken a lesser person. After her divorce from her husband, Mahesh Kumar, she had built a life for her and Rudra from the ground up. Mahesh had been her childhood love, a man she had defied her family to marry. In the beginning, their love was as beautiful as any fairytale. They were happy, deeply in love, and unbreakable—or so she had believed.

But everything changed after Rudra was born. Mahesh, once a kind and caring husband, had transformed into someone unrecognizable. He began to drink, became violent, and his once-loving gaze turned to one of resentment. He directed his anger at both Anita and Rudra, but most of all, he seemed to harbor a special hatred for his son. No one could understand why, least of all Rudra, who carried the guilt of his father's disdain like a weight on his shoulders.

Years later, when Anita finally gathered the courage to leave Mahesh, she had nothing but the jewelry she had inherited. She sold it to start a small business, pouring every ounce of her energy into making it successful. Against all odds, she built an empire that provided for her and Rudra. Now, as she stood before him, she was a successful businesswoman, a proud mother, but still a woman scarred by a painful past.

Rudra, in many ways, was a reflection of her strength. He had inherited her resilience and determination, but also the wounds she had tried so hard to heal. He had gone to London for his master's degree, hoping to make something of himself, to create a life free from the shadows of his father's anger. He returned last year, ready to take on the responsibilities of the family business. But the scars of his past lingered, making him reluctant to open his heart.

He had agreed to marry only for his mother's sake, a decision made more out of duty than desire. But Anita knew her son too well; she could see the pain he carried and the walls he had built around himself. A few days earlier, she had returned from a trip to Kashi, a journey she had taken to find peace and strength for the days ahead. She had been waiting for Rudra since then, sitting in the dimly lit hall well past midnight, hoping for a moment alone with him.

When Rudra finally came home, surprised to find her awake, he approached her with a worried expression. "Mom, it's late. You should be resting. You can't stay up like this," he chided gently, his concern for her obvious.

Anita looked at him with a penetrating gaze. "Did you eat dinner, Rudra?"

"I'm not hungry, Mom," he replied, trying to avoid her probing eyes. But Anita knew her son too well to be fooled. She took his hand, guiding him to the dining table, where she had already laid out a meal for him.

"Sit," she instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Eat. And then we'll talk." Rudra obeyed, eating in silence as Anita watched him, her mind racing with unspoken worries and questions. When he finished, she led him to the terrace, where they often sat under the stars, sharing their thoughts in the quiet of the night.

She settled into a chair, and he lay down with his head in her lap, just as he had done when he was a boy. The night was calm, and the stars seemed to twinkle with a soft glow as if they were eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Rudra, is there a girl?" she asked, her fingers running through his hair, her voice gentle but insistent.

Rudra closed his eyes, willing himself to stay composed. "No, Mom. It's just... work. There's a big project, and it's taking up all my time," he replied, trying to deflect her question. But Anita could see through him.

"Rudra," she murmured, her voice full of understanding. "No one knows you better than I do. I know this isn't just about work. You wouldn't stay out all night and ignore everything for a project. There's something you're not telling me." She paused, and then, with a deep sigh, she continued. "When you came home tonight, I saw those dark circles under your eyes, the way you were trying to hide your pain. I saw myself in you, Rudra. I remember what it was like when your father and I separated. I know what it's like to have a broken heart."

Rudra's chest tightened at her words. He knew he couldn't hide from her forever. Finally, he opened his eyes, gazing up at the stars as he spoke. "I met her in college, Mom. She was my junior. Quiet, introverted, and determined. She even beat me in a college project once. At first, I couldn't stand her. I thought she was just like everyone else—selfish, arrogant, and fake. But as I got to know her, I realized she was different."

He paused, as if gathering his thoughts, and then continued, his voice thick with emotion. "She reminded me of you. She was kind, compassionate, always looking out for others. And somehow, she found a way past my defenses. She made me feel things I never thought I could feel. We fell in love, or at least I thought we did. I was going to introduce her to you last New Year. But then... she betrayed me. She was just like everyone else, in the end. She broke my heart, Mom. And now, no matter how hard I try, I can't forget her. Every time I close my eyes, I see her smile, and it hurts."

Anita listened quietly, her heart aching for him. She understood all too well the pain of lost love, the sting of betrayal. "Oh, Rudra," she murmured, stroking his hair. "I used to love your father with the same passion. I thought he was my forever. But people change, and sometimes love isn't enough to hold them. I never thought I'd survive after losing him, but I had you, and you gave me the strength to keep going."

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "You know, Rudra, you're all I have. And I'm all you have. But I won't be here forever. I don't want you to end up alone, like I did. I want you to have someone who will stand by you, who will share your burdens and your joys. I want you to build a life that's full, a life where you can love and be loved."

Rudra sat up, looking at her with eyes that held a mixture of fear and vulnerability. "I don't know if I can do that, Mom. I don't know if I can trust someone like that again."

Anita squeezed his hand, her gaze steady and reassuring. "I know you're scared, but love is worth the risk. Not everyone will break your heart, Rudra. There are people who will love you for who you are, who will see you and understand you. You deserve that. You deserve happiness, and I want to see you find it."

He took a deep breath, letting her words sink in. He had spent so long protecting himself, but perhaps it was time to let go of his fear and allow himself to hope again. "For you, Mom, I'll try. I'll try to open my heart."

Anita's face broke into a relieved smile as she pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly. "Thank you, Rudra. I know it's hard, but you're stronger than you think. And you have so much love to give. I want to see you happy. I want to see you live a life that's full of love and joy."

As they held each other under the starlit sky, Rudra felt a sense of peace settling over him. He knew the journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but with his mother's love and support, he was ready to take the first step. He would honor her wish, not just for her sake, but for his own as well. He would build a future that was bright and hopeful, a future where he could finally leave behind the shadows of his past and embrace the love he had always longed for.