aurore - an unusual love story √

part ninety five

Ayaan found his eyes blurring.

He stood still, did not take a step in either side.

Sonara stared at Jai, who stared back helplessly. She reassured him, went ahead, and grabbed Ayaan's hand.

" Ayaan, come inside.
We can talk. "

Ayaan immediately removed his hand from her grip, and looked into her eyes meaningfully.

" There's nothing left to be talked about. It's fine. You people continue. I'll take your leave. "
He turned.

" Ayaan! " , Sonara raised her voice.

" What?? Oh, I guess you are preparing for another slap. " , Ayaan hissed.
" I'm sorry Maa! I am not ready to silently take that, before this man.. at least, once again.
You need him more than me. And I'm okay with it.
But don't force me to accept each and everything that comes on my way. I cannot. "

He shrugged, and immediately climbed down the stairs without waiting for a second more.

Jai gulped nothing in particular. While Sonara stared at him with tear filled eyes.

" I think we should not leave him alone. " , he said, his voice trembling.

Sonara immediately ran down the stairs, followed by him.

•

The rains had taken over every inch of his soul, as Ayaan sat on benches at the end of the cemented space, facing the helipad.

Showers as these always soothed him. But today, they burnt his skin.
Time and again he stared at his body parts, just to make sure they did not leave behind black charred marks, like they felt on the surface.

Drenched, he sat thinking nothing in particular. Everything seemed too vague to be even pondered upon.
Specially, his disgust.

Who was he disgusted with? Who was he angry upon? Who did he shower his hurt on?

His own mother, who had spent sleepless nights, sweaty days, teary mornings, melancholic dusks, silently looking after his needs.

There had been men in his seventeen years of life, who had wanted to hold her hand, desperately. He knew it all, he was not a kid.

She had cried alone but never in her worst nightmares could she ask for another man in life.

He might have grown to fantasize that he was enough for her, to look after her needs.
But, had he really believed that from the core of his heart? Didn't he know... who his mother longed for even in the deepest unconsciousness?
Didn't he know.... he was not enough for her, could never really be?

That's where the problem lied.
Now, the man in question stood face to face. The man whom she could dedicate her life to, without reflecting for a second. The calm, quiet, silent, sober man, challenged his every fantasy, every ego, without even a force on his part.

That's where, it was breaking lose, and he could really not give into the man, who was his own father.

Ayaan had a notion that, the person had however moved ahead in life, and his mother needed to stop the longing once and for all.

But, the man in question proved him wrong altogether, his sad eyes boring through his heart, yet challenging his mind.

Ayaan's chain of thoughts broke into pieces, when he realized, two silent figures took seat on either side of him.
The rain had suddenly decreased to minimum.

He stiffened.

His immediate desire was to get up and run away. But somehow, he kept sitting, staring at the ground.