APPLE OF OUR EYES

14. HAUNTED BY GUILT!!

"Hamare issues hamare hain Naira. Let's not discuss here." His firm voice got to her and she understood. Abhi saw the pain his parents were in, about how 2 years of his life were ruined. They were furious at the coach but he knew that they were angrier at him.

Coach is a nobody. He has nothing to do with them. Hence he can't hurt them beyond a point. He on the other hand is their everything. The apple of their eyes. Anything he does or says has a profound impact on them and he knew that very well.

That only means one thing - He had hurt them the worst. His actions, his lies and his behavior must have cut deep. Their hearts might be constricting from the betrayal at the hands of the kid they loved and trusted so much.

Abhimanyu was ashamed. He never felt as ashamed as he is feeling right now for as long as he understood the feeling.

"Chalein?" A sobered up Naira asked him and he just let her take the lead, while police took away the coach, who won't be a coach anymore.

"Papa isliye Ghar pe nahi they morning?" Abhimanyu asked, in a daze.

"Haan...Abhi bhi humein Ghar drop karke station hi jayenge." 

That brought him out his daze "Per kyun mumma? Hogaya na jo hona tha..." He said because he didn't want his father going away. He wanted his Dad to himself but Naira misunderstood. She assumed that her son didn't want the coach to get punished.

"What do you mean Abhi? Do you think we should let that scoundrel go scott free?" She raised her voice at Abhimanyu, who slightly flinched, and she gentled her voice "Justice delayed is justice denied Beta. You were denied of that because you delayed informing us. But now that we know, we will fight for your justice." She continued without waiting for him to explain anything.

"You didn't deserve to go through all that. Tumhari galti hain. Usse hum bahut hurt hain. Gussa hain. Per us aadmi ko sabak milna chahiye taaki aagey se koi bhi apne power ka, good will ka, trust ka fayida na uthayein!!" She declared it and there was no space for any kind of argument there.

"Mumma!! Mera matlab woh nahi tha.... Ofcourse he needs to get punished. I am all in for that. Mujhse happy koi hoga hi nahi if he gets punished."

That made her frown "Then what was that?" 

He shrugged and said, "Mujhe Dad bhi apne paas chahiye."

Naira gave a look to her son who looked cute but it had the opposite impact this time. She whacked him not so gently, startling him.

"Jab yeh sab chupa Raha tha, tab nahi man Kiya hamare paas aane ka?" She berated him. The audacity of her boy to look like a child but not behave like one when it was needed, angered her.

Abhimanyu looked away as he replied "Bahut kiya mumma. Bahut zyada man karta tha. Trust me." That was the first time he talked about what happened and Naira shook her head, keeping aside the sadness that was trying to engulf her soul, "No, You Trust me Abhi. Agar tu aata hamare paas toh hum dukhi hote Teri halat dekh ke per itna bura nahi lagta jitna ab lag raha hain." 

He stepped closer but didn't hold her, as he apologized "I am sorry Mumma. I know I am messed up and I want to make it up to you both. Please tell me what to do.

Aise nahi reh sakta main. This is torture for me." He begged. He didn't want to stay like this, in guilt, the guilt which wasn't even letting him take liberties with his parents. And the regret that is questioning his everything.

Naira looked away wordlessly, not wanting to look vulnerable in front of her already hurt child, who was begging her. 

Abhimanyu's heart broke when she did that. He held her pallu, tugging it, he whispered "Is it too late mumma? Did I lose you guys already? Please tell me NO..." Tears were all set to stream down.