Invisible Strings * Ongoing*

23. The Call

Arnav snorts at that – " unbelievable yet again....not that I owe you any explanations on the same..but I'll just say this again because of what I feel for Khushi.My heart knows, no matter how much I resent you for what you did to us..despise you..for what you did....my love for Khushi exceeds my resentment for you..which is why..I could never use our present to seek some sort of revenge on you....get it?why don't you look in the mirror though? In the moment?.just look at yourself...what kind of a father are you?can..you never find solace in the sight off her happiness? Do you still feel like your ego is hurt because I came back stronger eventually?and you care about that more than her happiness yet again?And if that's truly the case..then why pretend it to her...in the first place? why do u wear this mask of pretence? You disgust me...and I know.. this side of you will royally disgust Khushi too...and this.....just makes..me wonder...if you ever even accepted her as your own wholeheartedly? ...did you ever??? ,"he finishes asking – in a angry huff.

And it is at that point, Arnav surprisingly hears an aching sob at the other end and for a second, Arnav looks at his phone. Was he still connected to Rajesh Maan? Apparently yes. But did he just hear an aching sob? Did he just flip his mode? Or loose his marbles?

Before he could say another word though, he hears Rajesh Maan's much softened and aching sob filled voice come through again – " I truly...did...accept her as my own...b..oy...I love her like my own...yes...I was...blinded...by my ego back then years ago...and I not just hurt her but butchered your heart too...and it is not about ego today...for sure...it is not that...the smile of hers today doesn't warm my heart...it isnt that i am not ashamed...it isn't that I am not happy for her...or you both...but my fear of losing her was greater than...my guilt at the moment...which is why...I began this call all intimidated for I thought...this was your agenda...to get back at me..eventually...blackmail me...with over telling her the truth....look Arnav...boy...I have regretted my act of the past greatly for years...for real...my heart knows ..my guilt began hard when the very minute I saw her weep profusely..the very first time in front off us..telling us...you had ended things...," he paused sincerely.

And because this was the first time, he'd heard the tone of sincerity from his end...Arnav asked..on reflex  even though his gut knew the answer – "exactly what I wana ask you now.....you saw her ache/long for me...for us...for years...and yet...you didn't ever tell her the truth??yourself? Why????"

He hears Rajesh maan say now in his aching sobbing voice again – " I couldn't ever tell her the truth...because..of my fear off loosing her...I knew she would be disgusted with me...she'd hate me...she'd probably cut all ties with me...so as much as it ached..i just kept burning in guilt by choice...I have already lost my child...once Arnav...I cannot lose my daughter again...you surely understand..where I am coming from...in the moment?"

Okay! Now Arnav was kinda confused with his two sides at display and so he asks irritated and frustrated – "look...I don't want to understand you.. so.. Can you just stop this please? stop shoving your Dr Jekyl Mr Hyde split personality behaviour in my face Mr.Maan...and tell me the freaking motive of your call to me...this time...around? What do you want from me? you surely know...you will never be able to drive a wedge in between Khushi and me again...try all the tricks in your books..if you have too...but you will never succeed at it again...I already hate myself for letting you get at me...years ago...never again...will I fall for your twisted games...so tell me..now...tell me straight...what the hell ...do you want from me?"