Redeeming Love by Shikha Mishra (e book reader android txt) 📖

Disha's POV

“I am going to Seattle." I announce. The smile vanishes off of mother. Mia stops her animated talk with my nephew. Bhai huffs but doesn't say anything as if he expected this. And dad was just still, with a blank look, as if contemplating my recent decision of going to Seattle. Silence surrounds us except the gibberish sound of my nephew. But he also stops talking as if understanding the situation.

It got so quiet, just like the silence before the storm. I can hear the sizzling sound of food cooking. The dip-dip sound of water droplets falling from the basin knob, as it is not closed tightly.

After a full two minutes of me watching everyone while them watching me, dad finally says “Why? …….Do….do you want a vacation? If yes, then we can all go together to other places. Besides, we don't travel much, so we can do it now, right?" He glances at everyone, mummy nodding at dad's suggestion, bhai just stands and Mia also copies mummy's action. At last his eyes fell on me.

My eyes for a split second move down to my wrist watch.

I still have half an hour to tell them everything.

“I would love to go for a vacation dad. But today…." my lips twist up in a smile. A genuine smile after days takes over my lips. I glance outside the window “I am going to Seattle. To meet vihaan. To do what my heart desires."

“So you are forgiving vihaan? Can you forget what he did? Can you live with his intense, toxic, unbearable love?" I move my eyes away from the window and stop it on bhai. The soft smile is still intact on my face.

I think about his question.

“I don't know. I don't know if I really have forgiven him. But I want to meet him. I want to talk to him calmly."

“So you are not getting back together with him?" Dad ask. From his tone I can't predict if he is happy or sad, his voice is monotone.

“I don't know. But after meeting him, I will know. And this time I will make a decision without any regret."

“But are you sure he is in Seattle, because uncle didn't say anything…… I think we should wait till he decides to come back." Bhai inputs.

“I am sure he is in Seattle. My heart says that he is there….. And if he is not there then I don't know him."

“Okay you can go but…. hrithik is going with you. And that's not negotiable." I nod my head in acceptance of dad's decision.

Mummy serves us breakfast. I didn't eat much as I was not hungry. While in the middle of eating breakfast Mia comes down with a duffel bag. I bid them all goodbye. Dad takes us to the airport. Bhai books a ticket for him, which he gets, but away from my seat.

I hugged dad. “I will always be with you." 

“Mmhm"

 I parted from dad as the announcement for our plane was made. Me and bhai get mixed in the crowd of people. I settle in my seat. I take a deep breath and leave. 

I am coming vihaan.

I put my foot on the ground, the second follows it. I take a few steps more and stop. 

This is the place I left with a broken heart. The place where I was vulnerable, ignorant, lost. The place where it started so beautifully that I always used to get jealous of my life, and with the same velocity it destroyed like a mirror that can never be redeemed in its shape. 

I don't remember very much of that day. The pain of that day is forgotten, I don't know why? Maybe my heart didn't want to have me remember that pain all my life.

“Are you okay?" I take a deep breath. I turn my head towards bhai.

“Yeah….yeah I am." I say. “Let's go." We amble along with the people going out. We hail a taxi.

“Where do I take you both?" the taxi driver ask. Bhai's eyes were on me waiting for me to tell the taxi driver the address. I tell the taxi driver the address.

While on the road I get a nostalgic feeling. Many things have changed, a few things have remained unchanged. I feel bhai's hand on mine. I turn it over and hold his hand tightly.

My breathing stops as we arrive at a more scheduled place, away from city life, crowded people. My eyes are intact on the window.

Suddenly I see myself running in this place in the clutches of the darkness.

I shake my head to get rid of that image. I still as the humongous gate comes into my eye sight. My hold on bhai's hand loosens, him still covering my small hands with his big ones.

“Should we go back?" I shake my head at Bhai's suggestion.

I have to meet him.

“Who are you?" the gate keeper ask. My eyes are intact on the house. 

“Hrithik and Disha singh." Bhai answers. 

“Sorry mam, I didn't know that it was you. I will immediately open the gate….. By the way mam are you going to live here from now on?" 

I turn my head towards the cabin where he is, moving my eyes away from the house. A man in his 50s is standing there. I know him, don't remember how?

“Oh sorry mam, I forgot to introduce myself. It's me Robby." My eyes widened in realisation. He still works here.

“Hello Robby. You still work here." He nods his head.

“Mam sir is not in a good mood, I guess. From the day he came, he had not stepped a foot out of this mansion. He has not talked to anyone. He just keeps staring in the sky. We all are very worried for him." My heart thuds in pain.

You are okay, right vihaan.?

The gate opens, revealing a long path, ending at the fountain. The gate is opened by a man. I glance at him, I move my eyes beside him to see many maids waiting in a line.

“Welcome madam." I step out. They all have their heads bowed down.

Why are they treating me like this?

I glance at the mansion. A sudden surge of desperation hits me. And I find myself pacing towards the stairs. My legs are habitual of the ways as if even if I forget the way they will remember it. I reach the floor.

My steps slow down as my eyes fall on the photos. My sight gets blurry as I see the photos still intact in their places. My shivering hand lifts to lightly graze them as if my hand are afraid to touch them.