aurore - an unusual love story √

part eighty

Twenty five days.

Was he worth this torture?

Raghav Raichand lay on the bed, closing his eyes tight, as if not wanting to see beams of light again.

With each passing day, he was weakening beyond his own imagination.

His son was gone.
His wife hated him.
And his daughter, stopped talking to him, completely.

The first week, he spent in disruptive anger. He hated everyone, everything. His wife shouted and he shouted immensely, shutting her up.

And then, the anger lessened, and a deep consuming sadness, almost crushed him into small crumbles.

Did he deserve this?
From his son at least?

It was usually that one of the two wards, would be more compassionate towards a parent. He had always considered Jai the dearer one, the one who loved him without being judgmental.

And today, he proved him all wrong. He did exactly what Maya wanted to do one day, but couldn't.
That is, break his father beyond recovery.

What completely ruined him, was Siddhi's blind eyes to his needs this time. She had changed over years. None in this house remained his.

Was this a life, he deserved?

The door was pushed open.. And Siddhi walked in with a food stroller.
Raghav could not see her face owing to the darkness in the room, just an impression. She thrashed the light switch on.

Her face looked calmer than most of the recent times. She pushed the moving object and placed it beside the bed, while Raghav shut his eyes back again.

" Get up. This is what I need to do. Pamper you and feed you even when it's all your own tantrums. This is my fate. " , Siddhi blurted.

" Then why don't you just leave me alone? " , Raghav shot up on the bed.

" Because I'm not selfish and inhuman!! ", Siddhi groaned.

" Siddhi, I've had enough of it for the last twenty five days. I cannot take this anymore. "

" As if I can!!! It's been t-w-e-n-t-y five days since he left. Are you a father even? Couldn't you call him up just once?? " , Siddhi was fuming again.

" No!!! I couldn't!!! Neither does he want that, otherwise he wouldn't have brought these upon us!!!  "

Siddhi clapped her hands before his face.
" God bless you Raghav.
You will go to what extent just to hide a guilt of your family, I shall wait and watch till the last breath of mine. "

" Siddhi!!!!! " , Raghav howled.

" Don't shout!! I too can! You ruined my daughter's soul. And you are on your way to do the same to my son. I've loved you blindly, till date. Enough now.
What is it that makes you do all these, if not guilt? "

" FEAR!!! Isn't it enough married life together to understand this much?? " , Raghav sounded demolished, devastated.

" It was enough....till date. Now I desperately believe you need a psychiatrist. You need long term treatment. You are hell to live with.
Sometimes I feel, Jai has escaped hell, and I should be happy about that. "

Siddhi Raichand left, slamming the door behind.

Raghav saw his world crumple like sand grains, right before his eyes.

______

The rains, added to a holiday, made Jai believe that he should try something he never did in life. That is, cook.