aurore - an unusual love story √

part ninety six

Raghav Raichand could not shift his gaze... from the boy, who stood at the corner of the room, staring straight at him.

Though his eyes displayed nothing that looked welcoming, Raghav's heart melted like butter.

He, as if, could see before his eyes, little Jai...standing straight and tall.

His lips curved into emotions he couldn't define, he slowly and staggeringly climbed down the stairs.

He, once, threw a glance at Sonara, who stood still, her eyes welled up, though her face expressing nothing he could read.
Jai stood motionless, equally expressionless, holding her back.

Ayaan watched the man approaching, his heart pacing to peaks, his jaw stiffening beyond retrieval, his fist growing tighter.

Raghav stopped in front of him, looking into his eyes.

And Ayaan, immediately shifted his gaze from him, to the grounds.

Why even?
This always happened to him!

However prepared to fight back, when situation arrived, he would just wish to turn off.

" Ay.....aan.....

I....... I..... Am.....  " , Raghav tried to gather words, his eyes blurring.

Ayaan closed his eyes tight, and the next moment looked at Jai.

" Where's my room? "

He loudly declared.
As if, making it very clear to Raghav Raichand, that he was here alright..but not to take any of his shit. Also, he had no desire, nor the mindset to scream at or insult him anyway, though he could have badly done that.

Or could he? Ayaan hardly knew.

Jai, immediately signalled one of the staffs.

Utterly horrified, Raghav stared at his son, who, in no way cooperated with his last wish to gain apology from....them...who he had wronged.

Rather, Jai made way for a no-conversation.

Jai, as if reading his father's eyes, said.

" He's home Dad.
A confrontation doesn't need to happen in the first second, with him at least.
Let's give him some time. "

Another staff had arrived to fetch Ayaan to his room.

However, Ayaan glared at Jai for his words.
" I think I had made it clear, I don't want any confrontation ever. "

" Go to your room Ayaan. " , Sonara mumbled instead.

Ayaan helplessly stared at his mother,
" Where will you stay? " , he asked, waiting for a moment.

" In the room next to yours. " , Jai answered.

Ayaan silently stared at him for sometime. Utterly dissatisfied.

But then, silently followed the staff up the stairs.

Raghav Raichand stood speechless, till his grandson exited the frame.

Jai now walked towards him.

" He's disappointed.
And that's justified.

He's just seventeen.

When we old people can be stubborn enough, he has the right enough.

We cannot expect things to be silk smooth for us, when we don't make it for others. "

Raghav knew... exactly where.. the crystal clear words by his son had meant to hurt.

He slowly nodded in agreement.