Chapter 29

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

~29~

Samar stood looking at himself in the mirror. All the students were gone by now and the academy was empty. The empty dance academy echoed the emptiness in his heart. She had left a big gaping hole in his heart. He wondered if it was to remain the same forever when the click of the door opening interrupted his musings.

"Anuj?"

"Hey buddy..."

"Hi... what is it? Is Mummy okay? Anything wrong?"

"Nothing... why shouldn't I come and meet you just like that...?"

Samar gave a small smile.

"Of course..."

"Here... your burger..."

He looked the burger and at him again.

"Mummy...? She is at the apartment... anything wrong?"

"No no... I will be going to pick her up later... I wanted to bring this to you today... its been so long since we talked alone... man to man... sit... let's eat.."

They both sat down and proceeded with the meal.

"Samar..."

"Hmmm?"

"Give it some time..."

He looked at him.

"But..."

"Listen... you might have loved her... but if she felt suffocated, it is best that you let her go... it would never to do to hold anyone captive in love, son... sometimes you need to let go..."

"It hurts..."

"Hurts will heal..."

"But what if it doesn't...?"

He sighed knowing only too well about it.

"Then we will learn to live with it... but let's not lose hope so soon..."

Samar said nothing and focused on the burger.

"Samar... I want you to go away from here... staying here is going to keep reminding you of her and look at you... you are not concentrating on anything... You need to move on, son... if not for yourself, at least for me and your Mummy..."

"Where would I go?"

Anuj took out a sheet of paper from his pocket.

"Here... ticket to Europe... I heard you got an international concert and rejected it... I talked to them... the offer is still on... go ahead... see the world... come back when you are ready, we will be waiting here for you..."

"But, Mummy..."

"I am there with her... you don't have to worry about her..."

"The academy..."

"We will work it out... online classes you can take care... leave the rest to us... Go ahead, buddy... it's your chance to shine... show them what you are made of..."

A knock at the door interrupted them. They looked up to see a young woman entering the academy with a kid. The kid was holding her pallu and stood half hidden behind her.

"Excuse me... I am so sorry I am late but I just got off work..."

Anuj nodded his head.

"No issues, please come..."

"Actually my daughter wants to learn dance... so I wanted to enroll her in dance class.."

Samar looked at the little girl and got down on his knees.

"Hello... do you want to learn dance..."

The kid nodded.

"What's your name?"

"Pooja..."

"Pooja? And how old are you, Miss. Pooja?"

"I am 5 years old..."

"Wow... so big..."

He let his jaw drop and the girl giggled at his antics. He held out his hand and she took it. They shook hands solemnly.

"Welcome to the academy, Miss. Pooja..."

The woman smiled at their exchange.

"She is usually very shy. You are really good with kids... thank you. Should I pay any advance for the classes?"

"No not necessary... you can pay the fees monthly and she can start tomorrow. Kids class start at 4 pm."

She nodded and Samar looked at the kid.

"See you tomorrow, Miss. Pooja..."

She giggled again and they left. Samar looked at Anuj.

"You see why I don't want to take your offer..."

Anuj raised his eyebrow.

"Thank you so much, Anuj for thinking about me. I really do appreciate it. I don't think the man who calls himself my father would even think something like this... honestly he doesn't even know that I am broken... but you knew... and you thought so much... Thank you."

"No need to..."

"Let me finish. Except Mummy, no one has ever been able to read my pain. But you did. You knew how I was feeling... thank you... thank you for trying to fix my pain. But... I don't want to go anywhere. I know it would be painful to stay but Mummy, right now... I know she needs me... she won't tell that to me... oh no, never... if I tell her now that I am going, she would force herself to smile and wave me goodbye. The minute I go, she will break down..."

"I will..."

"You will take care... I know... but she has been through a lot and she needs me... her son... to stand by her when she makes big decisions about her life... and these kids in the academy... they need me too... I don't think it's the right time to go on an international tour. There are two important competitions coming up and these kids they depend on me. They look up to me. How would they feel when I run away somewhere when they need me the most? Some day, I will take the best of the bunch with me... we will rock the world... together... but I won't be selfish today and run away because I can't handle my pain."

"But... you..."

"I will become better. You will help me... won't you?"

Anuj placed his hand on his shoulder. His eyes were wet with unshed tears. The kid had a heart of gold. He swore to himself that no one would ever break that heart again.

"I will..."

"Thank You... for being here..."

"I will always be there for you, son."

***

"GK?"

He sighed looking her sitting quietly on the bed and walked toward her and sat beside her.

"You fought with Anuj?"

"Hmmm..."

"Why?"

"He wrote a legal paper dissolving my business partnership with Vanraj."

"You know he doesn't trust that man... As a matter of fact, I don't too..."

"But he should have talked to me..."

"I agree on that... but you know when it comes to you, he is over protective. Specially after your parents death."

"But why doesn't he trust me?... Even Anu Bhabhi didn't... she knew he was drafting papers yet didn't find it necessary to mention it to me... why don't they trust me? Why why why?"

"Because to them... you are still their little baby... you know quite well that they would lay their lives down to protect you... I know you are angry... I didn't come here to ask you to reconcile but just wanted to let you know what it feels to be a parent..."

Mukku said nothing and he got up to leave. 

"I met Aarav..."

He stopped in his tracks. She walked towards him and hugged him from behind.

"I know about his mother... I am sorry... so sorry GK..."

He shut his eyes and stood quietly reveling in her unspoken sympathy as the image of her kind smile flashed before his eyes. He knew he had a call to make.

***

"Aarav...."

"GK"

"Won't you let me in?"

"Come..."

"I am sorry..."

"You didn't come... I needed you... you could've informed Coach... whatever was his anger... he would have come. But you chose to do neither... I had no one... I was all alone."

"I don't have anything to offer but an apology."

"Which only means, you would do it again given a second chance..."

GK took a deep breath but did not reply. Aarav looked at him and sighed.

"GK, you did so much for mom and me. You were our backbone. Though I do understand why you did what you did... I need time to really let the hurt and pain I felt during those long lonely days go."

"How long?"

His voice was a broken whisper.

"Long ago, when I wanted to go to far away places to play, you told me... Aarav, run wherever you want to... just remember to come back.... I promised you then I would always remember... and I have never broken that promise. I won't do it now."

GK nodded, turned around and left.

***

Precap: Happy New Year.

A/N: Let me know how it turned out. Hope you like it.