'𝓑𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓛𝓪𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓼'

5. CONFRONTATIONS

Raima's room was bathed in the soft glow of twilight, but her world was shrouded in darkness. She clutched her wedding photo, Nikhil's smile radiant beside hers. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Why did you leave me, Nikhil? Why did you leave us?"

Memories flooded her mind—their laughter, their dreams, their promises. She sobbed uncontrollably, anger and sadness warring within her. "Why did you go? Wasn't our love enough?" As she cried, her body shook, and her voice cracked. "You're gone, and I'm left with so many questions. Aarav deserves to know his father. Why did you leave him?"

Unaware of the turmoil in Raima's room, her father-in-law caught a glimpse of Aarav lingering near the lawn. He discreetly signalled his wife, and they exchanged anxious glances. They approached Aarav, feigning normalcy. "Aaru beta, what are you doing here?" Raima's mother-in-law asked, attempting to distract him.

Aarav's innocent eyes locked onto theirs, his voice trembling. "Dada, Dadi, why don't you tell me about my papa? Why did he leave us?"

The air thickened with tension. Both exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale.

Aarav's voice rose, frustration and anger mingling with innocence. "Why do you always become silent? Why do you ask me to do my homework or play with neighbours whenever I ask about Papa? Don't you know? Don't you want to tell me?"

Tears welled up in Aarav's eyes as he confronted his grandparents. "I want to know about my papa. I want to know why he left us. Please tell me!" The couple stood frozen, unsure of how to respond, their faces etched with pain. They had never seen Aarav so distraught, and it shattered their hearts. Their silence only fuelled Aarav's anguish.

Aarav's sobs gradually subsided, replaced by hiccupping breaths. His grandparents held him close, their own tears flowing unchecked.

Raima's mother-in-law whispered, kissing his forehead, "We'll tell you everything, beta. Just not today, okay?" Aarav's face twisted in anger, his voice trembling. "No! You always say that. You always lie to me. You don't want to tell me about Papa."

Raima's father-in-law's expression turned sorrowful. "Aarav, beta, we're not lying. We just—"

Aarav's voice rose, fury etched on his small face. "I don't want to talk to you! You're always hiding things from me. You don't care about me or Papa."

Raima's mother-in-law's eyes widened, hurt by Aarav's words. "Aarav, beta, that's not true. We love you—" Aarav's voice cut her off, his tone seeming disappointed. "I don't want your love. I want to know about my papa."

Raima, still reeling from her own emotional turmoil, rushed to the scene, her heart racing. She arrived just in time to hear Aarav's defiant words. Her frustration boiled over, and before she knew it, she slapped Aarav's face, her eyes blazing. "How dare you speak to Dada and Dadi like that! They love you, and you repay them with rudeness?"

Aarav's eyes widened in shock, tears welling up instantly. "M-Mumma..." he stuttered. Raima's anger still simmered, her voice sharp. "You have no right to talk to them like that. They're trying to help you, and this is how you behave?" Aarav's face crumpled, and he burst into tears, running towards his room. Raima's mother-in-law and father-in-law exchanged worried glances.

Raima's mother-in-law gently placed a hand on Raima's shoulder. "Beta, calm down. It's not Aarav's fault. We've kept the truth from him for too long." Raima's father-in-law added, "We should have told him about Nikhil ages ago. This is our mistake, not Aarav's."

Raima's anger slowly dissipated, replaced by guilt and concern. She realized she had taken out her frustration on Aarav. Exhaustion overwhelmed her, and Raima's hands cradled her head, her elbows resting on her knees. "What am I doing? I'm failing everyone...Aarav, Nikhil's memory... myself."

Raima's mother-in-law sat beside her, gently stroking her hair. "Raima, beta, you're not failing anyone. You're doing the best you can." Raima's father-in-law placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We're proud of you, Raima. You've been through so much, and yet you're still standing." Raima's mother-in-law continued, "We should have supported you more. We shouldn't have hidden the truth from Aarav. This burden is ours to share."

Raima's father-in-law nodded. "We'll help you tell Aarav about Nikhil. Together, we'll find a way to heal." Raima's hands remained clasped around her head, her eyes closed. The elderly couple's words offered solace, but the weight of her emotions still pressed down on her.

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Hard time for Raima...but she'll overcome it soon

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