𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-41

The room was dark, except for the white glow of a table lamp that cast a faint circle of light in one corner.

Vardhaman sat in the chair, head resting in his palm, elbow propped on the desk, turning pages with a languid flick of his fingers. His narrowed eyes stayed fixed on a diagram, fingers hovering at the edge of the paper before he slowly flipped it aside. A soft exhale escaped him, blending with the rustle of pages as he shifted in his seat and tilted his head back to glance at the white ceiling above.

Beside him, Rudraksh lay on the bed, a thick white blanket pulled up near his shoulders. His eyeballs flickered every few seconds behind his shut lids, his face contorted, lips pressed together as though he wanted to scream but his throat was restraining every sound. The lines across his forehead deepened, yet no movement came. His body was rigid with stiffness.

A cyclone of wind swirled across the dark, deserted land. Dried leaves and dust particles danced violently in circles, as if ready to swallow anything in their path. Trees creaked in the distance, their branches thrashing, fighting for their existence against the killer storm.

In the middle of it stood a child, barely four, clutching the edge of his Ben 10 jacket. His innocent face was twisted, lips parting wide as another fit of crying echoed through the chaos.

"Mom...! Mom, where are you!"

Tears streaked down his reddened face, cutting through the dust that had settled on his skin, tracing long, dry paths to his chin. His small body trembled - not just from the cold, but from something far more frightening: being alone in a storm that didn't care whether he was a child or an adult.

In the distance, the woman's steps halted mid-air. The grey sky deepened into a heavy shade of black, folding in on itself like a collapsing hole. Her glistening eyes fluttered shut as a sudden gust of wind swept across her face. She looked over her left shoulder, fingers brushing the border of her pallu, half her face disappearing behind its drape.

Tears slipped down her cheek, her eyebrows drawing together at the sight before her - the child had extended his hand, crying breathlessly, hiccuping, calling for her.

"M-mom... mom, don't go... mom..."

The woman's face contorted. She jerked her head away and walked forward in long strides, her hands fluttering by her sides with each step.

"MOM!" The child's shrill cry tore through the air. He lunged forward, tripping over a stone, and fell flat on his stomach, one hand still stretched out. "Mom! Mom!"

"Rudra."

A gentle voice snapped the child out of his agony. He lifted his head, eyes scanning the surroundings before they landed on a pair of black eyes looking at him with so much affection.

The cyclone had settled. Dried leaves and dust had turned into flower petals, and fireflies lit up the dark atmosphere. The burning, foul smell from before faded into a soft, soothing fragrance. From the nearby trees, birds began to chirp in a sweet, rhythmic melody. Everything felt magical, unreal, yet entirely present.

The woman scooped Rudraksh's tiny frame into her arms, cradling him close to her chest. She caressed his cheek, wiping his tears away with the side of her thumb.

"From now on, call me Maa. I'm your mother, beta. I'm your mother." She gently grazed the back of his head, guiding it to rest in the crook of her neck.

Rudraksh's lips quivered into a smile, his little arms wrapping softly around her neck. Her smile deepened. She twirled, clutching him tightly in her arms. Their heads tilted back, laughter spilling out, blending with the rhythm of the air around them in a lively chorus.