Aarvik POV
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I was laughing at that girl but immediately I realized that this is the first time I have laughed after dad’s death. I immediately threw that thought away and took the drone toward my mother’s room where I heard her saying.
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“….If you want to help, then please take Aarvik away from here, and away from this place. If he stays here, then people around him won’t let him live peacefully. They will continue to blame him, and if this happens for a long time, then I am afraid that he may become that person who his actual father was. Aarvik needs a fresh start in his life where his past won’t haunt him.”, Mom said to her sister and her husband, 1 more couple was there. I don’t know them because I have never seen them before.
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“Do you really think that this all happened because of Aarvik?”, Mom’s sister i.e. Shravya Aunty asked.
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“A mother doesn’t think so but a wife does.”
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“Aarvik can stay with us.”, An aunty with a scar marks on her face spoke in which a person besides her started glaring at her, maybe he is her husband. But seems like his glare doesn’t affect that aunty much.
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“Really, mishty?”, Mom asked her to which she nodded with a smile. Okay. Mom decided this on her own and didn’t bother to share about it with me. I am not a kid anymore. I want to stay with her. But a part of me is a bit happy with the thought that at least she is making a decision for me so, indirectly she has not abandoned me.
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No one POV
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“I don’t want that criminal’s son anywhere around my kid”, Pravi’s Father (Sameer) hissed.
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“Aarvik will stay with us until he became independent.”, Pravi’s Mother (Mishty) crossed her arms around his breast and gave her husband and stern look as if she wanted to say ‘My decision is final and I am not leaving any room for argument.’ Sameer glared at his wife for a moment after that, he sighed in disappointment because he knew his wife won.
No One’s POV
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“Did you hear Aarvik’s mother correctly? Someone is out there to bring him back to the darkness from where he has come. Aarvik is just 19 years, Sameer. I am afraid if he doesn’t get the right guidance and protection then he can be a terrorist just like his actual father.”, Mishty explained on which Sameer showed her his thumb.
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“Do whatever you want but don’t expect me to behave sweetly with him because I won’t be able to do that.”, Sameer left the room. Mishty knew the reason behind Sameer's hatred toward Aarvik, so she knew it is a waste to discuss over the past.
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In the next few days ,
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Aarvik was not with her mother but always keeps monitoring her from far. Like a stalker? Well, you can say that. His father's death had broken his mother beyond repair. He can see that but he couldn’t do a thing because no matter what he does, neither a child can fill the emptiness of the life partner in their parent’s life nor a life partner can fill the emptiness of the child in the family. She always used to keep crying, sometimes while talking with someone else, or sometimes holding & hugging his father’s clothes.
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‘If loves to make someone that weak then I will not fall in love with anyone.’, He started preparing himself mentally for the future.
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In the evening, he received a message from his mother’s number to come home at 8 PM. She didn’t mention the reason behind this, but he already knew that today she had planned to send him away with those strangers. Maybe they are not strangers but her, but for him. They are. When he reached outside the home, he saw luggage was getting loaded in the car. He didn’t step inside the house, just stared at everything around him for the last time.
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“You will stay with Mishty & Sameer from now onwards.”, He heard his mother’s voice. He turned his gaze toward her. She looked like she grew older by 2 years in the last 2 weeks. She looked so plain and cold. Her eyes lost their shine. Her smiles lost its smile. She lost those ornaments which a married woman used to wear. The lady standing doesn’t look like his mother, more like a ghost. Aarvik just nodded. Mishty gave a small smile on which Aarvik gave a poker expression.
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‘How rude.’, Sameer thought.
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Before leaving, he came near his mother. Both had maintained a bold look on their face. Aarvik touched her feet to take her blessing, but he didn’t feel a hand on his hair. He didn’t wait for any single seconds there. He opened the car’s door and sat inside it with an afraid that he might start crying like a kid. Once Sameer and Mishty settled in the car, the care started moving toward its destination.
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Aarvik didn’t look back because it scared him that he finds that his mother will not be there to wave him then it will hurt him badly but he that no idea that his mother continued to stare toward the car even it disappeared a long time ago.
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“Di? It’s been approx. 15 mins since Aarvik left. Let’s go inside.”, Shravya said to her elder sister.
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Another side
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Pravi was waiting for parents.
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“Where do they leave leaving all of us under Aarav’s Papa observation?”, She talked with herself. At the same time, she heard the sound of car’s engine and started running toward the main door because she knew that her parents are here. And yes, she was right.
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“Dad”, She shouted & jumped in near Sameer who picked her in his arms.
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“Yes, my princess.”, Sameer smiled and kissed on her cheek.
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“Who is he?”, Pravi immediately ask when she saw Aarvik, forgetting about her chocolate. She had never seen him before.
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“He is a guest.”, Sameer beat Mishty when he saw Mishty was about to give family details. “He will stay with us. Sorry, correction, we will stay in India because of him. So, technically we all be living together.”, He said sarcastically. Aarvik wanted to continue his studies in Army college. That’s why Mishty even said that they will stay in India until his education gets complete. What can he say on it if his wife finally did something against his wish?
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“Hello,”, Pravi greeted Aarvik with a small smile on which Aarvik just stared at her.
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“Aunty, can you please guide me to a guest room?”, Aarvik asked, completely ignoring Pravi’s Hello. Tears started welling in Pravi’s eyes and Sameer’s blood started boiling in rage.
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“Sure. You can take the 1st room from left.”, Mishty replied. “I will call you for the dinner shortly.”. Before Mishty could complete, her sentence Aarvik left from there.
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“He is so rude. I don’t like him.”, Pravi started sobbing.
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“Pravi”, Mishty took her in her arms. “Don’t cry, baby. Aarvik doesn’t want to be rude to you. It is just he is upset. “Now, go and play with your brothers. Okay?”, Mishty said, on which Pravi left from there. “Now. Please don’t start yelling at me. Even Aarvik is a kid. He needs time to adjust himself.”, Mishty murmured on which Sameer just glared here. “We are leaving for Mumbai tomorrow, right?”...“Hmm”, Sameer nodded....“The city where our story bloomed after marriage.”, Mishty said, remembering the old days, and that was enough to change Sameer’s mood..
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#TBC