Destiny or Coincidence?

Athira Patel

My friends used to say that there will be some situations where you can see everything but can't understand anything. I thought it was nonsense because if we see everything then we can understand it but first time Abhi came into my life by making my beliefs false. But now, it's totally different and god save me if I can understand anything. 

I can see everything that's happening in front of me but I cannot understand a bit of what's going on here. It's like there is a mute film playing in front of me. 

Yesterday after seeing Aunty, dad started to behave wildly and today, Aunty cried after seeing my family photo. It would have been digestible if not for dad coming and making a scene. He came inside as if nothing happened yesterday, but immediately turned into one of the horror-filled face after seeing Aunty. 

And Aunty? She was looking at him as if she was unable to believe like he was here and there was even guilt and remorse on her face. She can show many emotions at one time that it's playing with my brain to understand her original feelings.

Both of them were watching each other without blinking their eyes like they were seeing each other after a long time. 

Wait…. Are they really seeing each other after a long time? 

God….. Shit shit shit…. Why haven't I thought of this before??

Maybe they really knew each other for a long time and maybe the sole reason for him to behave like that yesterday was because of this? 

Wow…. It's kind of getting interesting here. My curious side was resurfacing from the back of my brain to see for herself if it's going to be one dramatic scene.

No doubt you are an idiot. Stated my brain. What are you gonna do if they knew each other from the past?? Asked my brain again but this time I can hear the curiosity in her voice too. Which means my whole body and brain is eager to know the past if they have it. 

Suddenly a bulb in my brain clicked, making me even more curious and surprised than before. 

Oh my god….. Past….?? Again I didn't think about this side of it before. 

If they really knew each other from the past then how?? Are they family??

Ewww… that would be awkward. I shook my head in denial. 

No way. They cannot be family. So what are they?? College friends?? Lovers??

Hmm… This sounds even more interesting now.

I was feeling excited to know about them. But one thing is sure from the facial expressions of them is that they knew each other from the past. But how?? Have to know it. 

I was dealing with myself all this time that I didn't see what they were doing. But when I saw, they came closer to each other with a distance of five feet between them.

All parts of me became alerted knowing that something is going to happen between us and my expectation didn't fail because the next moment they both hugged each other like there is no tomorrow while crying their heart out. 

At first, it was curious but after seeing them cry their hearts out due to happiness and longing, I felt out of space and happy for them. Whatever they might be but they were close. That much I can understand from the way they are holding each other. They might be best friends or even more. 

Then again something clicked in my mind. When I was leaving for Bangalore, dad was holding a photograph of their gang mates in which two of them died in a car accident but the other two were not in contact with them anymore. 

Would that mean??? She is one of them??

If she is, then that means they are best friends and a close-knitted group who got separated after that tragic incident took place. 

Dad used to say that he misses his friends a lot, but doesn't know how to contact them. They have tried to reach out to them for almost two years before they lost any hope that left in them and carried on with their lives because I was there for them to concentrate on. 

I never asked about their names, so I don't know if she is one of them or not. But I really hope she is because I saw how my dad gets hurt every time he thinks about his friends. They were very close to each other from the college days itself and it felt like he lost a part of himself with the tragedy that took with their friends. 

"Mohan….." whisper gasped Aunty after releasing from the hug but still held onto his arms still crying and looking at his face with an unbelievable expression on her face. Even dad became emotional and nodded his head while smiling at her.

"Mohan is that you for real?" she asked looking at his face to make sure that she was not dreaming but was in reality. My dad nodded my head in agreement with a smile that reached up to his ears by showing all of his teeth. He was smiling widely at her that she hugged him back with all of her feelings and emotions coming back and hitting her hard. 

At the same time, Dev and Abhi entered inside with a confused look on their faces but it was mostly with Dev because Abhi was in shock looking at them. 

My Abhi… all the emotions were resurfacing again making me an emotional wreck already. I composed and started walking towards their direction when Abhi saw me from the corner of his eyes and closed the distance between us by hugging me tightly to him as his life depended on it. Of Course, even my position was not any different from him because I missed him like hell and being in his arms felt safe again and it felt like I was at home. 

I started crying without making any sound because I don't want him to catch me like this. After a moment Dev came towards us with a confused face that i realized the matters at hand currently. So I turned towards them with still me being in his arms but the only difference is that I was standing beside him, with him wrapping an arm around my shoulder closely so that there is no distance between us. 

"I can't believe that you are here in front of me. That too safe and sound. Oh my god…. It's unbelievable" said Aunty feeling excited and happy all of a sudden that even dad chuckled nodding his head in agreement. 

"I accept. Even, I feel the same way" said dad, holding her hands in his and looking into her eyes adoringly. I didn't think that my dad is capable of having this expression after mom died. I think it's all because of aunt that he is back in his teenage days. 

"What's going on here?" Abhi asked whispering into my ears with both frustration and shock that I laughed soundlessly at his reaction.

"I too don't know but according to their expressions and words, I have a hunch that they might know each other from the past and they might be close friends or even more. I am not sure because even I am as confused as you guys are" I explained looking at them while shrugging my shoulders carelessly. Both of them looked at each other before returning their gazes in the direction of them. I even doubt that they know that we are here in the same room. 

"It's kind of awkward you know" Dev whispered still looking at them that I giggled in response.

"Don't ask me man" replied Abhi with an equally awkward expression. 

"How are you Hema? It's been so long that I have seen you. And what about Girish and your son?" Dad asked looking excited while asking all the questions to her while Aunty tensed a little listening to her husband's name. Not only her but even Abhi too tensed up at the same time as her mother. 

Even dad too noticed the change of her expression because he frowned looking at her face.

"Is everything alright?" Dad asked dragging her to the bed and making her sit on it before he too took a seat beside her. 

She nodded but said nothing. But everyone can see that she is about to cry at any moment. So seeing that dad hugged her again without saying anything. Even Abhi grasped my other hand in his hands for support and I squeezed it lightly to assure him that I am right beside him. 

"Girish is dead Mohan," said aunty after a moment of composing herself which made dad tensed up immediately and looked at her face for the confirmation. When she nodded with a tear-stained face, he hugged her back with all his might. 

"Life gives lemons to everyone I think" dad whispered making me tense up this time because I knew exactly where this topic is going and I think both of them also knew because the next moment they both squeezed my hands in assurance. 

"What do you mean Mohan?" aunty asked looking confused that dad gave her a sad smile in return but said nothing. 

I think it's all needed to say because the next moment aunty gasped closing her mouth with her hands and started crying with all her heart out. 

It made even myself shake that I too started crying by holding onto Abhi's chest. I can hear her hiccups and cry for her lost friend that it squeezed my heart, even more, knowing how close they might be if they are crying for each other's loss. 

If mom was here today, she would be happy to know that her lost friend reunited with them after such a long time. But wherever she and Abhi's dad at present, they might be happy to see this emotional reunion. 

Several minutes passed with all cries and consoling before she stopped crying and having the after-effects of the crying. Dad gave her the bottle of water which I bought earlier from the kitchen and stroked her hair affectionately. 

We were just watching them silently without uttering a word because it felt like they are making up for all the time that they have been apart by crying their hearts out. 

"How is your son Hema?" dad asked looking at her with a smiling face and continued "Is he still the same naughty kid or a grown-up man now?" Dad asked with a hint of teasing in his tone that she chuckled remembering something from their past. 

Son? She has both sons right? I think dad only knew about one of them or he is referring to the naughty boy among the two of them. 

"He was naughty. I had to agree with you on that," she said shaking her head while laughing lowly. "But he is not the same. Of course he is still somewhat naughty but he became a gentleman I dreamed of," she explained dreamily making all of us smile warmly at her. 

"Do you know Mohan, he took up the responsibilities of his grandfather and took over the company.'' She said making dad's eyes go wide with realization and fondness "And guess what, now he is the CEO of Srivastav and Co. He finally made his grandfather's dream fulfill Mohan'' Said aunty while crying happy tears but still there is a glint of pride in her eyes for her elder son. 

"Oh my god… That's really awesome. Uncle might be very happy for this then" said dad casually feeling happy like he knew everything she was saying.

"Ya he is." said aunty with a content smile on her face. 

Looking at them like this made all of us happy that we wanted to leave them alone so that they can make up for all the time and get to know each other again. By now we realized that they were best friends and one of them in their gang. 

But the moment we started making our steps towards the door, I stopped, listening to the question aunty asked dad with so much hope that I turned my body to listen to their conversation again.

"Mohan, that baby in the photo…." Aunty said making dad tense up again all over that he stiffened looking at her while she continued "Is that the same person whom I am thinking it might be?" she asked looking into his eyes with so much hope that it confused me even more than previously. 

"Who?" Abhi whispered only for me to listen.

"Me" I whispered, making him furrow his eyebrows but I am not in the condition to say anything because even I don't know what they are talking about.

"No," Dad said stiffly giving nothing away. His total demeanor changed all of a sudden like he was yesterday night. He was all happy and smiling one moment but the next moment he became hard and steel like no one else would be able to get to him. 

"No... ?" Aunty repeated looking at him with a confused yet frustrating face. "What do you mean by no Mohan?" she asked again raising her voice with frustration filled eyes but still there is no change in his demeanor. 

"I am not blind to not recognize her Mohan. I have clearly seen the photo and I know very well what I have seen. But I want you to tell me the truth" she said with a loud voice looking at him seriously but still, he didn't utter a word. He was just looking at the wall behind her as if none of this is affecting her. 

Abhi tried to go to her mother's rescue but I stopped him from going by catching hold of his hand. I don't know why but I think there is something which needs to be revealed and I think this is the time it will be. So I don't want him to interfere in between so that whatever this secret is, will come out eventually. 

Another reason I stopped him from going there is because of the word baby in the photo. If I am not wrong, she was talking exactly about the photo which she had seen a few minutes before they all arrived here. 

So, yes I stopped him from going there with just a shake of my head while I was still watching them animatedly like a robot while preparing myself for the unexpected. 

But whatever or however I might have been prepared myself for this unexpected, I would have never thought about this kind of thing in my whole dream or nightmare. 

It suddenly felt like the ground was crumbling beneath me and it felt like I cannot breathe properly listening to the words aunty said. 

"Athira said that she is the baby in the photo whom Priya was carrying in her arms." aunty said glaring at him while taking deep breaths but still shouting at him.

"And that baby is my daughter Mohan. It's my daughter whom I thought had died years back in that accident" she said shouting and clutching his shirt by shaking him to respond to something. 

This made dad look at her in horror while she was shouting for him to say the truth and I just stood there in shock looking at them while Abhi was holding me tightly.

"SHE IS MY DAUGHTER MOHAN. SHE IS MY DAUGHTER" Aunty cried her heart out while shouting her lungs out making him shake his head in denial and frustration. He pushed her back and pulled his head while screaming out loud and crying at the same time.

"YES SHE IS YOUR DAUGHTER HEMA" he shouted looking into her eyes with so much regret, frustration, hurt, loss and even more. 

The moment he accepted the truth, she fainted by falling down that Abhi rushed to her side immediately and making me slump down to the floor like a statue. 

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Hello everyone,

Here is your awaiting chapter. I really hope that you like it because the secret has been revealed now.

Do let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter. Will be waiting for your responses.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share it if you like.

Will try to update the next chapter as soon as possible. Till then see you...

Love...

Sprinkle....