Sanyog

🌸 Chapter :- 22 🌸

Smit lay in bed, his eyes staring at the ceiling, but his mind was running in all directions. His chest felt heavy with emotions—grief for his parents, anger at Saurya for keeping the truth from him, and a strange relief that he wasn’t alone in this world anymore. Yet, he couldn't decide how to feel.

Saurya sat beside him, watching his kiddo lost in thought. He wanted to talk to him, to make him understand why he did what he did, but he knew pushing Smit right now would only make things worse.

After a few minutes of silence, Saurya finally spoke, his voice softer than usual.

Saurya: "Smit... I know you're angry. You have every right to be. But please... don’t push me away. I did everything thinking it was the best for you."

Smit clenched his jaw. He didn’t want to fight. He was exhausted. But his heart wasn’t ready to let go of the hurt either.

Smit: "You should have told me before."

His voice was quiet but firm.

Saurya sighed. "I know. And I regret it. But I was scared… scared of losing you again. I wanted to tell you, but every time, something happened. And when I finally decided, you ended up in the hospital."

Smit closed his eyes. The hospital… his body still felt weak from everything.

Smit: "You say you didn’t want to lose me again, but do you even realize what I went through? Do you know how it feels to think you’re all alone in this world?"

Saurya's heart clenched. He gently placed a hand on Smit’s, but the younger boy pulled away.

Saurya: "I do, Smit. Because I lived through it too."

Silence.

Smit didn’t move, but he was listening.

Saurya: "The night I lost you, I lost my entire world. I waited for years, hoping you'd come back. I searched, but I had nothing. No one. I grew up alone, with no one to call my own. I had to survive in a world that wanted to swallow me whole. And when I finally had you in front of me, I couldn’t risk losing you again."

Smit's fingers curled into fists. His mind was fighting with his heart.

Smit: "Then why did you keep pushing me away? If you cared so much, why did you act like I was just some random kid to you?"

Saurya lowered his head, guilt washing over him.

Saurya: "Because I was scared, Smit. Scared that if I told you the truth too soon, you wouldn’t believe me. That you’d hate me. That you’d leave."

Smit turned his face away, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Saurya: "But you know what? Even if you hate me now… even if you don’t forgive me… I will never leave you again. You are my brother, my kid, my responsibility. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe and happy."

Smit didn’t respond. His emotions were still tangled, but something inside him shifted.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t as alone as he thought.

For now, he needed time.

And Saurya was willing to wait.

Saurya was about to get up to bring water for Smit when the boy suddenly spoke, his voice hesitant but firm.

Smit: "Can I see them?"

Saurya turned around, confused. "See who?"

Smit looked down at his hands, fidgeting with the blanket. He swallowed hard before whispering, "Mom and Dad… I don’t remember them."