Dare Trilogy | Book 3 Editing | ✓

3.9 | Future Plans

Posted: July 2017 | Edited: January 31st, 2019

| . . . C H A P T E R . . . . 3 . 9 -  F U T U R E - P L A N S . . . |

After greeting mom and bringing in our luggage, we went to see dad who was resting in their room. Mom had told us of his steady progress over the phone, but it was entirely something else seeing it with my own eyes. He couldn't walk yet, but it also wasn't just his eyes moving. "Dad..." I had called him by the entryway. His head turned in our direction and seeing us, he had moved his fingers to usher us in. Happily, I walked up to him and helped him sit while Armaan placed a pillow behind him. I hugged him tight, having missed him and seeing the movement of his fingers was a celebratory news for me.

He surprised us all when he lifted his hand to my head. Stunned, I pulled back to confirm I wasn't dreaming this up. Mom informed, "When you all said you were going to come home for Diwali, I thought you should see for yourself."

I held my dad's trembling hands in mine and nudged my cheek in his palm. He had been paralyzed for long now. There was no limit to either mine or Armaan's happiness seeing he was getting better. Little by little, he was attempting small movements. Doctors had said we shouldn't keep much hopes, but I say we should definitely hold on to our hopes. He lifted his other hand to place on top of Armaan's head. I haven't seen my brother cry often, but this was one of those exceptions.

Happy tears were flowing down both our eyes.

Dad's gaze traveled to Arnav. Mom nudged him to walk, "He's asking for you." Arnav walked up to us, and I shifted a bit so he'd have room to sit on the bed side.

Dad slipped his hand out of mines and forwarded it towards him, reaching for his hand. He blinked his eyes at him to express something. At first, I didn't understand it until he looked at me and I noticed it was relief in his eyes. He was saying thank you to Arnav.

It had been the news that Arnav had given him about my rape that had paralyzed him. This realization was something else. There was a reason behind my dad recovering, and it was seeing me happy... seeing Arnav wasn't one of the bad guys. He was far from it.

Just... having dad's blessing meant a lot to me, and the way Arnav squeezed back my dad's hand told me it meant a lot to him as well. He was the kind of guy to hold on to guilt, and he never said it to me, but I was sure he felt guilty for telling my dad. He hadn't foreseen the impact it would have on him. In his way, he had thought telling him would mean he would cancel the marriage arrangement he had planned. He too must be feeling some relief seeing him recovering.

"Hey Uncle, don't forget me." Riddhima marked her presence with a pout.

Dad smiled the bit he could and nodded for her to join the group as well. She came up and hugged him, expressing she too had missed him. She had a father of her own, yes, but my father had been like one for her as well. We had after all grown up together in the same neighborhood. Both of our families had been close due to our friendship, just like I considered her parents to be like mines as well.

We spent hours talking to dad. He couldn't talk back yet, but he smiled and nodded at parts and listened to us telling him about our life in Mumbai. I even told him about the trip we had taken to Goa and the adventures we had there as well as the shoot in Rome while Armaan and Riddhima shared about their experience recording an album and the things they do at the hospital.

Time for dinner came sooner than we had thought and mom reminded us that Riddhima's parents must be waiting for her. Armaan walked Riddhima to her place and I told her to tell her parents that I would certainly come by tomorrow to meet them. Tomorrow was Diwali after all. I'm sure our parents must have planned to spend the evening gathered together.