The Ruined Rainbow

CHAPTER 26

Quote: Love requires Sacrifice. But it is worth it. Always.
The longest ride. (2015)

Ayesha

I dropped to my knees once I read the letter. My hands shook vigorously, unable to hold the paper straight. I stared at my long thin handwriting written in black ink; it was dad's handwriting.

Tears came out of my eyes. Like streams from a waterfall.  What I read in the letter did not shock me, but destroyed me. It shattered my heart into millions of pieces. I reread the letter many times,

Dear Ayesha,

You will not see this letter if I am by any chance going to be alive tonight. I am going to die, and I know that. In this letter, I am going to tell you everything. Everything that I should have told you long ago.  If I am alive tonight, I will tell you them by myself. The poison can give me a maximum of three hours. I don't want to go find the remedy for it now because if I don't make it, the questions will be unanswered. Forever. 

First of all, I am so happy to tell you that you made it to MIT. I got a call today, in the morning. I feel so proud of you. Years of hard work and you have finally done it. Well done Ayesha.

And then, the company is falling apart. I withdrew all my shares. And probably that's one of the reasons for me writing this letter today. 

I was in your room a week ago, and I read your journal. I am sorry for that. I knew you were writing a memoir, writing down all your feelings, but then I read it today. I read things that smashed my heart Ayesha.

Why the hell didn't you tell me my brother was torturing you? Why didn't you tell me that you were  Child abused by him? Why didn't you tell me he used to drag you to the washroom and do stuff there to you? Why?

But it is my fault again. I was not a good father. I was not a good friend to you. I was always behind the company that I failed to notice my daughter suffering. She was that girl who would hug me goodbye every morning, and greet me with a pretty smile every evening. I am sorry I didn't notice you falling into the depression.  I always thought I gave my daughter the best, but then, I gave her nothing but pain and suffering. I never wanted the company Ayesha. Never wanted to own it. I am sorry, Ayesha for ruining your life.

My heart crumples when I think my brother did such things to you — my own brother. My hands shake with anger as I write this.

The journal fell from my hands when I read it, your shaking handwriting and the tear blotches that had smeared the ink, made me drop to my knees. I am sorry for those tears and pain you endured. I am really sorry, Ayesha.

Only one thing flashed in my mind: Revenge.

I immediately left the house to the company. I ran to my brother's room and slammed him to the wall and gave him three tight slaps. I could have beaten him to death for the pain he gave you, but then he pushed me away.

I confronted him and told him about these. Tears rolled out of my eyes when I screamed at him. The fact that this person with whom I grew up, gave so much pain to you, ripped my soul. It shattered me. Completely.

I gave him three more slaps and then pushed him to the ground and gripped his neck; I told him that we three are going to leave the company. I am going to withdraw all my shares and leave him rotting behind the jail. I promised him that I would file an FIR right now and ensure that he goes to jail.

And then he told me a shocking truth.

Neeta was in love with him.

I couldn't believe that. I just couldn't believe that.