54

Ekta rested her hand on his, taking his support as she climbed down from the bed and quietly followed him out. Ekansh and Eshita exchanged a brief glance before following closely behind.

Virendra nodded at the police officers stationed outside the ward before opening the door.

Ekta froze at the threshold. Inside, on the bed, lay her father in a battered state. Bruises marred his face, his eyes were swollen shut on one side, his jaw was heavily bandaged, and his hands were handcuffed to the bed rails.

Her fingers tightened around Virendra’s hand subconsciously, to hold herself up, as he guided her into the room. She thought he was dead. She looked at Ekansh, who was already staring at her with gentle, reassuring eyes.

“He... He is...” She stammered, unable to put proper words to the storm of emotions rushing through her mind.

“Abhiraj didn’t kill him,” Ekansh explained calmly, “He wanted to scare you... break you as much as he could without ending the game too soon. Your father owed him debt of about some crores. He took every small amount while you were there caged. You paid the price that wasn’t yours to pay.”

When the police found Bhairav alive, his first instinct was to kill the man right then and there. But doing so would have brought nothing. Ekta needed closure to understand that whatever happened in her life wasn’t hers to bear. It was her father who was at fault, her brother who was greedy, not her. She was never responsible for the choices they made or the sins they committed.

Ekta turned to leave when Virendra stopped her holding her hand. She looked at him, tears shimmered in her eyes as she shook her head. She don’t want to say anything she don’t want to ask why he did it, why she was never enough for him, or why he traded her life away as if she was nothing more than a burden. There was nothing left to ask anymore because every known answer had already destroyed something inside.

Virendra stood before her wiping away the tears tenderly. “Jab nariyal nadi mein girta hai toh ped uss nariyal par se apna haq chhod deta hai Ekta. Uske baad vo nariyal kis kinare taat par jaayega aur kaunsi zameen par phal ke roop mein ugna chahega... yeh sirf vo phal aur uski kismat tay karti hai.

Thik ussi tarah.... Janam dene ke baad ek bacche ka poora haq hai apni zindagi apne tarike se jeene ka. Maa-baap ke paida karne ka matlab yeh nhi ki baccha unka karzdar ho. Har ek insaan ko... Bhagwan apni zindagi jeene ki azaadi deta hai. Maa-baap apne bacche ko sahi rasta dikha sakte hain, usse paal-pos kar bada kar sakte hain, usse achhe sanskar de sakte hain, sahi aur galat ka fark samjha sakte hain. Yeh sab maa-baap ka farz hota hai... sauda nhi.”

Gently he cradled her face in his palm. “Tere saath jo hua vo kisi ek insaan ki lalach ki wajah se hua. Uss insaan ko laga ki vo tera janamdata hai toh jo mann mein aaye tere saath kar sakta hai. Aise insaan ki galtiyon ke liye agar tu khud ko dosh degi ya yeh sochegi ki tere saath hua har ek galat tu deserve karti thi... toh vo teri sabse badi galti hogi.

Kisi ko maaf karna ya nhi vo tere haath mein hai. Faisla bhi tera hai. Agar hum khud ko yeh samjha de ki humare saath jo hua vo humari galti nhi thi toh mann mein badle ki bhavna jaagti hai. Bechaini hoti hai saamne wale ko utna hi dard dene ki iccha hoti hai jitna hume mila. Lekin agar hum unhe maaf kar dein toh dil ka bojh halka ho jata hai.”

He stepped away pointing at Bhairav. “Jo isne tere sath kiya... Uski saza usse mill Rahi hai. Aur bhi millegi.”

His hand squeezed hers in reassurance. “Turn your sorrows into strength Ekta. And let me and your brother take care of the revenge for you.”

Ekta blinked away the tears that blurred her eyes. His words settled deep within her heart, loosening a burden she had carried for years without even realizing how heavy it had become. With shaking feet she stepped forward, still holding onto Virendra’s hand. Ekansh was beside her, Eshita was behind her. She could feel their unwavering support.

Bhairav felt the shadow fall over him before groggily opening his eyes. The moment they landed on Ekta he moved abruptly, “Beta...” The cuffs restrained his movements.

“Beta...” His voice shook desperately, “Mujhe... mujhe bacha le... Beta main...main wahi karunga jo tu chahti hai. Tu... tu chahti thi na... main tujhe apna loon... main apna lunga tujhe... mera wada hai tujhse. Bas... bas mujhe yahan se bacha le... mujhe jail nhi jaana...”

Ekta stared at him blankly. The irony of the situation was such that she could hear her own pleas calling out for him, begging him to save her, to rescue he,. but he had always turned away in disdain. Virendra was right. She could feel anger, hate and revenge starting to collide within her. Now that her father realised he had no one to lean on, he was ready to accept her. But she was sure he wouldn’t have done the same if his son had been alive.

“Mein...” Her voice shook as she began. It was harder than she thought. Meeting his gaze steadily she gathered her courage, “Mujhe aapki zarurat nhi hai! Na kabhi hogi!”

Silence fell in the room. Bhairav stiffened, shocked at the sharpness in his timid, scared daughter’s tone. It was the first time he was hearing her talk to him like that. There were no tears blurring her eyes that he could use to manipulate her. She seemed far different from the one he had known.

“Aapne mere sath jo kuch bhi kiya uske liye mein aapko maaf karti hu,” Ekta added quietly, her voice no longer trembling but carrying a strange calmness, “Kyuki agar nafrat dil mein rakh kar apni zindagi jeene lagi toh apne ateet se kabhi bahar nhi aa paungi. Aapko humesha kehte suna hai ki mere jaisi beti paida hi nhi honi chaiye thi. Mein aapke naam par ek kalank hu. Lekin aaj shayad pehli baar ek beti apne baap se yeh kahegi. Kisi bhi janam mein Bhagwan mujhe aapke jaise pita na de. Aapki beti banne se achha mein apni jaan dena pasand karungi lekin aapka naam apne naam ke saath kabhi nhi jodna chahungi.”

“EKTA!” Bhairav growled angrily, “Teri himmat kaise hui aisa kehne ki. Baap hu mein tera...”

“Baap vo hota hai jo apne bachon ki raksha kare.” Virendra interjected coldly. His voice cut through the air like a blade. “Baap vo hota hai jo apne bachon ko duniya se suraksha de. Apne do bachon mein farq na kare vo baap. Unka sahara bane aur galti karne par maafi maangne ki himmat bhi rakhe vo baap. Jo baap apni paanch saal ki beti ka sauda kare usse baap toh kya insaan bhi kehna pita shabd ke liye gaali hai.”

He stepped forward, leaning in, meeting Bhairav’s gaze coldly. “Teri beti ussi din mar gayi thi jis din tune apne bete ko chuna... aur apni beti ka sauda kiya. Aaj yeh jo yahan tere saamne khadi hai vo... MERI BETI HAI! Khoon se na sahi lekin dil ke rishte se... jo tere jaisa insaan kabhi nhi samajh sakta.”

“Aaj ke baad meri beti ki taraf aankh utha ke dekhne ki himmat bhi mat karna. Warna apni maut ka zimmedar tu khud hoga!”

He stepped back, pulling Ekta into a side hug protectively. “Tu sirf Ekta ko jaanta hai. Lekin... EKTARA VIRENDRA SEGHAL ko nhi. Jaise mere liye mere Ekansh aur Eshita... waise hi EKTARA.”

His firm declaration echoed through the room like a final verdict, leaving no place for arguments, doubts or objections. The silence that followed carried the weight of a father claiming his daughter before the whole world.

Ekta stood frozen in his warmth, her breathing faltering, shocked at the words, at the new name, and the new identity. Ektara Virendra Seghal. The name repeated inside her mind over and over again. It felt unfamiliar, yet strangely comforting. As though someone had gently erased the identity forced upon her for years and handed her one that carried belonging instead of pain. Her heart clenched painfully. Tears blurred her vision once again, but these weren’t born from fear. They were born from acceptance.

For eleven years she had believed she belonged nowhere. Today, someone had stood before the world and said she belonged to him. The emptiness she had carried for years didn’t disappear in an instant, but a tiny corner of it finally found a place to rest. A place she could finally call home.

With only one conclusion sinking through her heart like a ship disappearing into the depths of the sea... She liked it.

✨✨✨

The scent of marigold flowers and incense sticks wafted through the air. Bhajans played in the background creating a peaceful warmth that the mansion had missed for years. The ninth day of Navratri was finally here after the family had worshipped the nine forms of the Goddess. Prayers, devotion and hope that she would remove every darkness from their lives and bless them with the strength to begin again.

The mansion was still painted in the ashes of black and grey in every corner. Seghals didn’t get time to finish the renovation after the fire, however the only place that remained untouched and untarnished was the temple house and after the chaos finally settled, Eshita wanted to complete the tradition her mother carried on in the family. Kanjak Pooja.

Ekta sat near the temple quietly looking around. The little girls stood in line one by one getting their feet washed by Virendra. Ekansh gently dried them with a towel and Eshita lined them one after another in their places before serving them prasad with the brightest smile on her face.

Her heart felt light, her chest no longer carried the suffocating heaviness it once did, a small smile playing on her lips. She wasn’t allowed to move as ordered by her family. Due to the few injuries still healing, the doctor advised complete rest. She had to display her cute puppy eyes to make Ekansh’s heart melt so that he would let her come down. Otherwise Eshita was getting on her nerves with her stubborn self. The girl just didn’t know when to stop and the worst part, she was liking all the attention Eshita and Ekansh showered her with. Something was definitely wrong with her system.

Her gaze landed on Virendra. The gentleness in his actions, the tender smile that never failed to reassure every little girl sitting before him. He gave her a new name, a new identity, and she was yet to get over that high. For the first time in life she found herself holding onto something without the fear of it slipping away, a family that wasn’t connected to her by blood but had chosen to love her despite everything.

The only difference was her reluctance to call him what her heart yearned for. Maybe she was ready,  but a little afraid of taking that final step, hopefully she will when the right time...

“PAPA!” She called out adruplty shocked, rushing to Virendra’s side pulling him back with her.

The flowers fell all over the place, the basket tumbling from one of the staff members hands onto the floor.

Eshita and Ekansh rushed to their side helping them up.

“Aap thik ho?” Ekansh asked his father checking over worried. Fortunately Ekta saved him or his head would have hit the sharp corner of the basket.

Virendra nodded still in a daze after what he heard. His heartbeat refused to calm down. He glanced at Ekta. Eshita fussed over the girl making sure she hadn’t hurt herself while rushing.

He yearned to hear what every father dreamed of hearing from his child, but he understood the meaning of patience and space. Acceptance comes with time, effort and trust. He did what he should have done, what was right, but he can’t force Ekta to do something she wasn’t ready for.

But now that she did call him what he wanted to hear. He couldn’t hold back. Gently he turned her towards him.

“What... What did you call me?” His voice shook with emotions.

Ekta hesitated for a heartbeat.

“Arey papa bulaya. Aur kya bolegi?” Eshita chided casually while plucking stuck flower petals from Ekta’s hair.

Ekansh pulled his over-ignorant sister back.

“Pa... papa?” Ekta stammered meeting Virendra’s gaze. “Agar... agar aapko achha nhi...” Her words dried up as he pulled her into his warmth.

Virendra felt her stiffen instantly and tried to pull back but stopped as Ekta held the hem of his shirt curling her fingers around it like a baby seeking comfort and security. Even that felt enough and a huge step towards everything they had been trying to build between them.

Ekansh pushed Eshita forward towards her father unceremoniously. Taking out his phone he snapped the moment before anyone could realise it, silently capturing the first family hug they all had waited so long for.

“That was rude.” Eshita stated wrapping her hands around her father and Ekta shamelessly.

Ekansh shook his head. “Abhi tera drama ho gaya ho toh jara kaam kar le?”

Eshita raised an eyebrow.

“Please Princess!” Ekansh gritted out annoyed.

Ekta chuckled pulling back. “Learn to use magical words bhaiya. Warna di aapko aise hi pareshan karti rahegi.”

“Arey mein akeli kyu?” Eshita wrapped an arm around Ekta in a protective side hug. “Tu hai na mere sath. Mene kya kaha tha itni jaldi bhul gayi? Hum dono milkar inn dono ka khoon peeyenge. HAHAHA...”

Ekta covered her mouth pointing at the kids who were literally getting scared. “Aap unhe dara rahi ho. Yeh Darculla banne ke auditions online dena. Role mil jayega hopefully.”

Eshita’s eyes narrowed. She took a threatening step towards her. “Hopefully? Abhi tujhe batati hu meri action acting se hundred percent role confirm. Pehla experiment tujhe par hi karti hu.”

Ekta screamed running away. Eshita chased behind to catch her, their giggles filled the air echoing through every corner of the mansion that had once witnessed nothing but gloom and silence. The dark clouds that looked over the Seghal Mansion just a week back now made way for warm sunlight and a future filled with hope instead of fear.

“Keep me out of this girls. Mujhe bahut kaam hai.” Ekansh stepped away as they circled around him. Smoothly he moved away serving the little girls’ parsad.

This was just the beginning he knew. His upcoming years will be nothing short of absolute chaos, lucky part, he was prepared for that.

Virendra smiled softly. His gaze landed on his wife’s frame, the smiling face staring back at him. He promised her he would set everything right. And he did. At least now she would not be as angry as she might have been for years.

Healing would take time. Years will pass, new days, new beginnings and new memories would slowly replace the painful ones, but one thing that will remain unchanged will be the love between the Seghal siblings that wasn’t bound by blood...

But by strength, the choices they made for one another, with the Vows that were never spoken aloud yet fulfilled with every action, and the Ruins the past carried into the present to create a future where none of them would ever have to fight alone again.

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Share your viwes!

Epilogue coming soon!

Thanks for reading!!!

 

 

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