Chapter- 20

Few weeks passed by, and the bond between Ekansh and Eshita was finally finding its way back home. Hesitations never existed, neither did misunderstandings, except for distance, but that was also fading away with each passing day.

When Eshita thought her brother had changed over time, Ekansh made sure to prove to his sister that he hadn’t. He was grounding himself in the present while balancing his past self. He was letting Eshita run wild as much as she wanted, but also knowing when to stop her reckless, impulsive self.

Like now, when the little devil decided that sliding down on the stair rails was the best adventure ride to satisfy her sudden burst of thrill.

With a big grin adorning her lips and excitement sparkling in her eyes like a ten-year-old mischievous child, Eshita sat on the railing and slid down carelessly, without a second thought. However, her leg hit the edge midway, and she gasped, lunging forward...

“DI!” Ekta called out from upstairs, shocked as she noticed Eshita losing her balance mid-air.

She sighed in relief as Ekansh caught Eshita in time. The girl would have broken her neck or something. Why does Eshita invite trouble on her own was beyond her understanding. It’s like the girl wakes up every morning and goes... Yes, today I will do this! Her intrusive thoughts were becoming the bane of their brother’s existence.

Eshita clutched to Ekansh tightly, her breathing uneven, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t expect that, one second late and she would have crashed straight onto the marble floor.

Ekansh held her close to his heart, his own heart ready to jump out, “Relax… you are fine,” he reassured her softly, sensing the tremor in her body.

Eshita gulped down the fear, pulling back slowly, staring at the floor. She could feel the shift in her brother’s demeanor, his blazing eyes glaring straight into her soul.

“So-sorry,” she dared to mumble.

“TO HELL WITH YOUR SORRY!” Ekansh’s voice boomed through the house.

Eshita flinched back. She winced as Ekansh got hold of her ears, dragging her down the stairs. Her eyes widened as he changed his route to the garden. No. Not again. She wasn’t a kid anymore.

“Bhaiya… bhaiya… please…” She pleaded instantly, holding his hand which gripped her ear tightly.

“I promise phir se aisa nahi karungi,” she muttered desperately, “Please… bhaiya…”

Her pleading fell on deaf ears. He dragged her to the center of the garden, leaving her ear with harsh tug all red and burning pain.

Eshita stumbled forward. She turned and looked at Ekansh, guilty. She understood her little stunt was too much this time. She never did that, but suddenly wanted to try and let herself fly feel free without thinking of consequences.

Ekansh’s eyes blazed with anger, “Agar ek minute late ho jata main… tujhe andaaza bhi hai kya hota?” He scolded harshly, “Dimag jagah se hil gaya hai tera? Bacchi hai paanch saal ki? Kya karna chaiye aur kya nahi, itna bhi fark nahi pata tujhe?” Furious, he picked up the lying switch from the ground.

In a swift move, he grabbed Eshita’s hand, striking down the switch against her palm like a thunderclap.

Eshita jumped as pain exploded through her palm in sharp waves. Her eyes filled with tears, “Sorry…” she mumbled weakly.

Ekansh raised his hand again, however, the swimming tears in her eyes held him back. He threw away the switch.

His glare hardened, “Stand here till your brain starts working properly again,” he commanded, walking a distance away, leaving her alone, but still within his sight.

Ekansh ran his fingers through his hair, frustration and fear colliding within him as memories flooded back, ones he had tried so hard to push away.

Eshita was nine when, like her reckless, curious self, she decided to climb a tree. The girl was craving raw mango, and they had a giant tree right beside their mansion loaded with fresh, tangy mangoes hanging temptingly from its branches. Rather than asking him or their parents to buy one from the market, she thought of grabbing one from the tree itself and climbed it without any sense of precautions.

If climbing wasn’t enough, then she thought of jumping straight down, believing it was nothing dangerous, like she really was a princess who had wings and magic to protect her from every fall.

Virendra held her just in time, breaking the fall, but her ankle struck the ground at a wrong angle.

According to the doctor, it was a severe ligament tear, the swelling was extreme, and the chances of Eshita using her right leg without any difficulty were uncertain, as it was badly strained.

For months, everyone in the house went through hell, each painful cry from Eshita cut through them all like a knife, leaving them helpless and shaken. But the good thing was that she recovered steadily, and within a few months, she was back on her feet, yet the fears lingered deep within Ekansh, refusing to leave him even years later.

“Bhaiya...” Eshita called out, stepping forward.

“Did I say you can move from there?” Ekansh snapped.

Eshita stepped back instantly, returning to her place. She looked at him sheepishly, holding her ears cutely, “Sorry... mein bas... aise hi.”

“Tere aise hi ke chakkar mein tera sar phat jata,” Ekansh cut her off, his tone sharp, “You could have rolled down the stairs, hitting your head hard. What do you think you were doing? Is this some amusement park ride? Can’t you be cautious of your own safety for once? Maine tujhe masti karne se roka hai kabhi? Par har cheez ki ek hadh hoti hai, Eshita. You can’t do reckless actions without thinking about the consequences. You...” He trailed off as Eshita stepped forward, throwing herself at him abruptly.

He tried to push her away, “Back off!” His tone sterned.

Eshita shook her head stubbornly, burying her face in his chest, “Sorry. Sorry, sorry. Sachi bhaiya. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I know I am wrong.”

She pulled back, staring at him, “But I am fine. See.” She twirled for effect, “Mujhe kuch nahi hua hai.”

She tried to reassure him, the fear in his voice wasn’t lost on her. She understood where it was coming from. Next time, she would try something different that doesn’t involve risking her life just for a moment of thrill.

Ekansh looked away, it’s hard to let go of fears despite knowing she was safe and standing right in front of him, however when you are already drowning in emotions that run deep, mixing up with past scars and lingering guilt, it becomes almost impossible to separate reality from fear, that’s what he was going through.

Trying in a relationship to find the right balance isn’t easy, everything should come naturally, and when it was happening with him the same way, he didn’t know which way to slide without being overbearing or too distant.

Ekansh shot her a sharp look, “Phir se tu mujhe aisa kuch karti dikhi na… I won’t spare you next time. Clear?”

Eshita nodded instantly, her face beaming up with relief, she forwarded her pinky finger, raising his hand and intertwining her pinky with his. “Promise!”

Ekansh shook his head, that was her silly way to make it up to him. He turned with Eshita only to find Ekta standing at the door, gazing at them quietly, almost hesitant yet observant.

“What?” Eshita snapped without thinking.

Ekta flinched, startled, shaking her head vigorously.

“Esha!” Ekansh chided firmly, “What’s with your tone?”

Eshita looked away. She was embarrassed. She didn’t mind getting scolded or facing the repercussions, but she wasn’t looking for an audience. Even the guards that were near the entrance walked away the minute they entered the garden, no one dared to be around when Ekansh lost his temper. They had known their bhaiya enough to know when to stay out of his way. So eventually, she was expecting to handle the scolding privately, not getting reprimanded in the presence anyone... especially the girl, who was younger than her.

“Kuch chaiye baacha?” Ekansh asked softly.

Ekta shook her head, “School se mail aaya tha. Aap ke baar check kar lijiye.”

Ekansh gave a small nod, “I am coming. Laptop mere room leke aa tab tak.”

Ekta nodded, leaving the siblings alone. What she had just witnessed was new to her, she had not seen that side of Ekansh before, and now it was her second time witnessing something so raw yet strangely comforting.

Truth be told, she didn’t even mind that Eshita snapped at her abruptly. Somewhere, it felt weird that she was starting to understand the grumpy cat Eshita Sehgal was. The girl was always goofy, loud, and unfiltered, but she turned into her royal angry tigress mode when she was first upset or hurt, then concerned or embarrassed… her thesis on Eshita were slowly beginning to make sense in her mind.

“Can’t you talk calmly with her?” Ekansh turned to his sister as soon as Ekta left.

Eshita shook her head, “Don’t even think about it. Meri kya galti isme ab? She should have walked away the minute she witnessed me getting roasted by you. But she stood there eavesdropping. Bad manners. Scold her, not me.”

Ekansh whacked her shoulder, “Are you even listening to yourself? There is a difference between getting embarrassed and yelling at someone without thinking. By now you should have known that she is sensitive to loud voices, can’t handle unnecessary anger. Mujhe usse aise baat karte dekha hai kabhi tune?”

Eshita looked away, “You are the most understanding brother anyone could ask for. Don’t expect me to do the same. I can’t change myself for anyone. She should have minded her own space and not hovered around.”

Ekansh cradled her face, making her look at him, “I am not asking you to change yourself, Eshu. All I am asking you is to be considerate of her feelings. Ekta aisi hi hai since the day I met her… Tujhe meri real voice mein aur kis tone mein Ekta se baat karta hoon, usme fark nahi nazar aata?”

Eshita sulked, “I knew you were biased.”

Ekansh pulled back, his glare hardening, “Tu aise nahi maanegi na?”

Eshita stepped back instantly, as he tried to grab her wrist, “Samajh gayi main!” She shrieked, scared, “Yaar achhe se samjho na. Apna fuse kyun uda dete ho itna jaldi? Even lights take a second before they flicker out. Learn to be a little patient.”

Ekansh shot her an unimpressed look, “Few minutes ago I was on that route only, but I forgot patient and you don’t go well in one sentence.”

Eshita sighed, “I understood your point, bhaiya. It’s just I don’t want to change myself…”

“Neither am I saying you to change yourself.” Ekansh’s tone firmed, “You are special for who you are. No need to change that for me or even Ekta. All I am asking you is keep your tone in check... at least tab tak jab tk tum dono ek dusre ko samajh nahi lete, jaan nahi lete. I don’t want misunderstandings, baacha. When you are ready to name the bond you both share, then you take any liberties like you do with me… otherwise maintain a basic boundary and respect. Hmm?”

Eshita nodded. She got the point, it was better to be polite and distant than being her annoying self and murmuring sorry every other day. She can’t do that. Better she stays away from Ekta, as naming their bond… she wasn’t prepared for it, neither was Ekta.

Ekansh sighed deeply. He could read through his sister, he understood why both the girls were hesitant, but he stood his ground. He could guide them, but he won’t impose his decisions. Relationships need to be forged, not forced.

His gaze fell on her red palm; gently, he caressed it. “Dard ho raha hai?” He asked softly, concern lacing his voice.

Eshita cried dramatically, “Ahhh… bahut dukh raha hai. Kitni zor se mara aapne apni bacchi ko. Zara bhi reham nahi aaya na mujh par? Agar khoon nikal jata toh… AHHHHHH…”

Ekansh placed his palm on her mouth, “Okay, enough! Mere kaan ke parde phaad degi kya? It was you who pissed me off, now deal with the consequences.”

Eshita pouted sadly, “You are such an AV bhaiya. Anyways, I don’t mind it… this isn’t the first time. Pichle paanch saal mein dad isse bhi zyada…” She stopped herself abruptly.

Ekansh’s head snapped toward her, “What did you just say?”

Eshita swallowed hard. She had said many things to her brother, how her father punished her, the gym routines, even his strict diets and relentless discipline. Within a week, when her bond with her brother bloomed under his protective warmth, his bond with their father had started to lose its roots, as if one strong wind and everything would collapse. She shared everything except this one thing, knowing he would snap in ways she won’t be able to hold back. Her brother’s anger and her father’s guilt would make things worse to handle.

“Eshita! Maine kuch poocha!!” Ekansh’s tone sharpened, “Dad ne tujh par haath uthaya in paanch saalon mein?”

He waited for the answer, despite his subconscious already giving away the truth, one that was hard reality to accept. The father he had grown up with, the care, the tenderness, and equal amount of fine discipline, he could never imagine him crossing that line, but the image his sister had grown up with… like a two-faced person, one who loved her more than anyone in the universe… suddenly turning into a stranger, cold and distant.

Ekansh didn’t know what to believe anymore. His heart ached with so many reasons, guilt, anger, helplessness, and a growing fear that he had been absent when she needed him the most.

Eshita remained silent. The lie rested on the tip of her tongue, but she held back. He would see through her lies, and telling the truth was not something she was ready to face right now.

Ekansh stepped back. Her silence was the loudest answer. The question was; why wasn’t he prepared for it? He had heard from Eshita about the gym sessions, the tough rigid training, the diets, the office work at the age of sixteen and so on… but he atleast belived in himself that he would heal those scars, they were emotional, but with his love and presence, he will fill them slowly. But the physical ones… how will he erase those memories tied to emotions?

Fury bubbled in his veins, uncontrollable, unrestrained. He turned on his heels, today, he wanted answers from his father, and he will get them.

“Bhaiya, nhi…” Eshita reached out instinctively, holding his hand. She stood before him, blocking his way, “Aap dad se kuch nahi....”

“Side ho.” Ekansh cut off calmly.

Eshita shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. Behind that calm voice, she heard the storm rising within him very clearly. Her brother’s anger, always directed toward strangers who harmed her or his family, today, it was directed toward their father. She can’t let that happen… not like this, not when everything is already so fragile.

“Bhaiya, ek baar meri baat sun lijiye…”

Ekansh met her gaze steadily, “I said back off, Eshita!” His laced with finality.

Eshita’s grip loosened in his hand slowly, it wasn’t a request or plea, it was a command, and no matter how old she got, she would never be able to defy that tone in her life. Reluctantly, she moved aside; there was no room left for talks or defiance.

✨✨✨

Virendra closed his laptop, removed his specs, setting them aside. His head pounding relentlessly, as if the weight of everything was pressing down at once. There were countless meetings lined up, new tenders, new deals and expansions waiting for his approval, and he was all alone handling the whole empire.

The effects of years of alcohol dependence were showing their consequences, hitting him hard with each passing day. Within the last five years, he had kept himself busy with work and alcohol for the remaining time, but now that he had cut off alcohol completely, the tremors rising were unbearable at times.

But he had to do that, at least make amends for what he could still salvage from the ruins he had created. His children would never forgive him… and his wife…

Eshita hated him, and Ekansh… his son’s indifference was as clear as crystal, both of them making their resentment and displeasure known without uttering a single word. He knew somewhere Anvita would also be disappointed in him. He wished he could undo even half of what he had done and be at a little peace, but it seemed next to impossible with every passing day reminding him of his failures. He had destroyed his whole family with his own hands and choices.

Virendra looked up, startled, as the door of the study banged open, Ekansh walked in like an angry storm unleashed, behind him Eshita rushed in, worried, trying to keep up with his pace, her heart racing.

“What happened?” Virendra asked, rising to his feet.

“Wahi toh mein aapse puchne aya hu, dad?” Ekansh’s tone cold and dangerously controlled, “What happened to the promise you made me? Ek bete ne aapne pita se kiya hua wada pura kiya, lekin ek pita ne aapne bete se kiye hue sabhi vaade tod diye. Aisa kyu, dad? Was it because the man I was raised by was biased towards me because I was an adopted child…”

“EKANSH!” Virendra’s voice echoed through the room, warning-laced in it. He hated that term, it was the truth, yet his love for his son was always unconditional and unwavering.

“Maine tujhe mere pyaar par sawaal uthane ki ijazat nahi di.” His tone hardened, “Gusse aur narazgi mein apni hadd paar mat kar, Ansh… or I won’t ever forgive you.”

“Sach kadwa hota hai, dad.” Ekansh scoffed, “but sach yahi hai na. Warna aapka pyaar apni hi beti ke liye itna paraya kaise ho gaya ki aapne us par HAATH UTHANA SAHI SAMJHA!”

Virendra stilled. It took him a moment to fully register and absorb those words. He was prepared; those accusations were not new; he had done that. Once, he had loved his daughter like a delicate flower… protecting her from every harsh wind, and one day, he himself became the one who crushed and withered that very flower.

He didn’t know what to say, because any explanation he might give would only display his failures as a father, stripping him of every justification he had been hiding behind.

“Aapne mere saath toh aisa kabhi nahi kiya, dad.” Ekansh added, the silence, that guilt which was now of no use, grated on his nerves.

He was angry at his father for breaking his vows. He was angry at himself for being the cause behind his sister’s agony, for binding her in vows that should have been broken, for choosing obedience over her pain, for standing by when he should have stood against everything.

Their mother had taught them that vows once bound by someone you love and respect should never be broken… but what if those vows became the very reason for your destruction, burying you beneath them? Beneath The Ruins… lay everything they had lost, everything they never spoke about, broken trust, silent sufferings, buried guilt, and raw, suffocating pain that refused to fade. How could he deal with them?

He glanced at his father. “Aaj mujhe jawab chaiye, Dad. Galat kaun tha… main, jisne aapne pita se kiye vaade ko pura karne mein apni bhen ko dukh diya? Ya aap, jisne kisi ko khone ke gham mein apni hi beti ko chot pahunchayi aur apne bete se kiye vaade tod diye? Because if we both are wrong, then who takes responsibility for what has happened? And will owing up to evrything will be enough?”

“Bhaiya, please…” Eshita pulled him back, tears glistening in her eyes, “Jo ho gaya, usse bhool jaaye....”

“Tu bhool sakti hai?” Ekansh cut her off firmly. “For once, tell me the truth… step out of that facade you are forcing yourself into. Neend ki goliyan khani chalu ki thi na tune? Abhi main hoon tere saath, isliye tujhe neend aati hai. Lekin apne dil par haath rakh kar jawab de… bina mere tu so sakti hai iss umeed mein that I will come back to you? Can you trust me again? Can you trust dad again? That no matter what, he and I are always there for you?”

Eshita tried to look away, but Ekansh didn’t let her.

“We all are so good at pretending that everything is fine.” His voice edged with pain, “Everything is fine. I agree. We are moving forward... but not healing. We are simply not looking back to see what we went through… too scared to face it, to feel it, to accept how badly it broke us right?”

Eshita averted her gaze. What her brother said struck the deepest chord of her heart, they were getting back to where they were, how they were… just not looking back to what caused it all, not acknowledging the cracks, the pain, the sleepless nights, the silent breakdowns they buried just to keep moving forward as if nothing ever happened. Because it was better than focusing on something that has already passed, rather than hurting ourselves.

Virendra felt a sharp pain shoot up his head, like something snapping inside, he held the edge of the table to steady himself. The truth that Ekansh spoke without realizing shook him to the core. His daughter was just eighteen, and he didn’t know since when she had started taking pills. He didn’t know what caused it… but the answer was clear. He was the reason behind it all.

The questions Ekansh shot out were precise, to the point, leaving no room for escape, no space for denial, each word coming out of his son’s mouth cut through him deeper than any punishment he could have ever endured.

Virendra tried to speak, to console what he had destroyed, or at least apologize, but the words felt stuck in his throat, his chest tightening, breath turning shallow as the pain intensified, spreading like fire through his veins, stealing his strength bit by bit.

“Dad…” Ekansh trailed off, his eyes widening as he noticed Virendra struggling.

Virendra stumbled back, his vision blurring, the room spinning uncontrollably beneath his feet.

“DAD!” Eknash and Eshita rushed to his side immediately, holding him, breaking his fall.

Virendra let himself relax in his children’s arms. He might take their hate with him if that was the price he had to pay, but at least they were there for him, their worried voices echoed in his head in the background before darkness slowly consumed his senses, pulling him into a silence he hadn’t felt in years.

In the hands of the children whose heart he broke… he was finally at peace.

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Was Ekansh’s outburst justified?

Is Virendra’s guilt genuine?

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Next Update: Tuesday!

Thanks for reading!!!

 

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