𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-42

The bell's gentle chime drifted through the walls and corridors as Anusuiya measured the marbled floor with unhurried steps. Her anklets rang in a faint tune, the bangles joining in quiet harmony, while the soft rustle of her green Banarasi saree completed a melody that belonged to home. The aarti flame bathed her face in a serene, golden glow, catching the joyous curve of her lips.

From the top of the staircase, Rudraksh appeared in a crisp olive-green shirt paired with the quiet elegance of light cream pants. With his head lowered, he descended the steps in measured motion, his expression a mask of neutrality. Near his right shoulder, his good hand bent inward, two fingers hooking a black jacket with casual precision. The sleeve gathered awkwardly around the plaster of his casted hand, resting close to his chest.

"A very happy 25th birthday to you, beta!"

Anusuiya's voice carried the same practiced cheer she had used every year - loud enough to fill the room, bright enough to hide what it needed to. She walked toward him with the aarti plate pressed against her stomach.

The corner of Rudraksh's mouth twitched into something that might have been a smile if it had stayed longer than a breath. Without breaking stride, he measured the last three steps in one long move and reached for the chair at the breakfast table.

The light in Anusuiya's face dimmed, the tilt of her smile stiffening into a ghost of sadness.

"Where's Di?" Rudraksh's voice was flat, as though the day's importance belonged to someone else.

Anusuiya inhaled, her reply caught at the edge of her tongue-then swallowed it when the familiar high-pitched call cut through the silence.

"Many, many happiness on the return of the day, my fireball!"

Antara's voice came bubbling from the other side, bright and unfiltered, scattering the heaviness before it could settle.

Rudraksh's lips stretched into a warm smile. His gaze followed Antara as she walked toward him, Swastik nestled close in her arms.

The toddler squealed, limbs flailing in an enthusiastic chaos, his mouth opening wide as he tried to shape words between bubbly giggles. "M...Maa...bb...Maa...bba."

Rudraksh's eyes softened at the sight, and he extended his good hand, palm opening in invitation. "Come here, champ."

Swastik bounced eagerly on Antara's forearm, his little legs kicking as if they might carry him across the gap on their own.

Antara's eyes widened, and she broke into laughter, pure amusement spilling out of her. "Oh-ho! So excited to go to your uncle, hmm?"

Anusuiya watched the scene unfold, the earlier sorrow on her face dissolving into a gentler smile. She inhaled deeply, steadying herself, and walked toward her children.

"Beta?"

Rudraksh's hands stilled mid-motion, one supporting the baby's back as he adjusted the boy on his thigh. The smile he had worn a moment ago thinned, a faint clench of his jaw flickering beneath it as his gaze shifted from the squealing toddler to his nervous mother.

Antara's eyes moved between them, catching the subtle shift in their expressions. She remained tight-lipped and placed a warm, grounding hand on the edge of Rudraksh's shoulder.

Anusuiya extended the aarti plate toward her son and reached for the Kumkum, pinching a bit of the red powder. Her eyes drifted to his forehead as she pressed it gently between his slightly furrowed brows, shaping the powder into a rough, thin triangle.

Rudraksh's eyes closed instinctively, his head bowing in quiet reflex, born of tradition.

"May you become a record holder and make a big name in this world," Anusuiya murmured, offering a whole piece of Kaju-katli near his closed lips.