AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dad crumples the paper before it slips from his hand. Though shocked, there is no remorse on his face for hiding this truth from us. Tears cloud my vision, making it difficult for me to see him. I continuously wipe them away with the back of my hand, but they keep on returning.
“When Vishnu was hospitalised after being shot, I sensed your pain, Dad. I saw how restless and scared you were of losing him. Your anger, your determination to seek revenge on the person who harmed him, now I understand where it all came from. It wasn’t just your affection for a mere bodyguard who risked his life for you. It was because someone had injuredyourson...yourown flesh and blood.”
Dad’s expression softens as he takes in my emotional state, but I continue to pour out my feelings.
“All these years, I kept asking you and Vishnu about his family, but you never had any answers, and Vishnu always maintained his silence on the topic. Why, Dad? Why did you do this? Why did you deceive my mom?” I clutch his shirt, tears streaming down my face. “If you had another woman in your life and had a son with her, then why did you even marry Mom? Why did you betray her?”
Dad grips my wrists tightly in frustration.
“I didn’t betray your mother,” he finally snaps.
“You did,” I break free from his grip. “I remember that night vividly when Mom fell down the stairs and lost her life. You both were arguing about this. Maybe she had discovered the truth about the other woman and Vishnu that night, which is why she was hurt. I overheard her telling you that she would take me and leave for Grandpa’s house the next morning. I heard everything. I was too young to grasp the full context of your argument, but now I understand. She was already unwell and was upset because of you. Maybe…if she hadn’t been so disturbed that day, she wouldn’t have lost her balance on the stairs,” I choke on my words, tears running down my cheeks. “You’re responsible for my Mom’s death, Dad. You killed her.”
“No, Meher. No,” Dad raises his voice, pulling me to him again. “Meera wanted me to accept Vishnu as my son and bring him home. That’s what the argument was about when you overheard it. I had no idea Meera would...” his voice breaks, “...would leave us like that. Her death has affected me in ways none of you can ever understand.”
“If that’s true, then I can’t understand how you can be so selfish and refuse to admit your mistake. Why can’t you acknowledge your son before the world?” I argue, pushing him away.
As I finish, someone roughly turns me around, and I find myself face-to-face with Vishnu.
“Enough, Meher,” he shouts at me. “How can you speak to your father like this? Are you out of your mind? I won’t allow you to accuse him any further.”
“I’m talking to my father,” I snap at him.
“He ismyfather too,” he counters with a seething glare. “So, watch your tone.”
I’m speechless. I stare at Vishnu with no visible emotion or thought for a few moments. What is this man made of? How can he be so blindly loyal towards Dad despite all his wrongdoings? Then, in the next moment, I burst into laughter.
“Why am I not surprised to see you still taking his side?” I sigh. “The most loyal and obedient son of Pratap Walia, who will never ever go against his father. Never! Even if that father has wronged you your entire life.”
Vishnu keeps glaring at me with rage, but I no longer care.
“What has he done for you as a father to earn this level of loyalty from you, Vishnu? A title of a personal bodyguard? A place to live? Is that it?”
“You’re crossing your limits, Meher,” he mutters through clenched teeth.
“I’m not,” I assertively take a step forward. “I’m merely confronting my father about why he kept this significant truth from all of us and how far he was willing to go for his own selfish motives.”
Vishnu keeps giving me heated looks as though one word against Dad will set him off. But, right now, I don’t care. This is my battle against the injustice my father has inflicted upon me, my mother, Vishnu and his mother.
“All these years, you’ve followed his every order, Vishnu,” I continue. “While I might have defied Dad’s commands a few times, you never did. You’ve been his pillar through his good and bad times. You’ve guided him and even gotten your hands dirty to further his political career. You’ve done it all without question. In a world where children often disregard their parents’ wishes, you’ve selflessly done everything he’s asked of you. You’ve provided us with all the respect and protection this family has ever needed. You’ve given Dad so much love, respect and loyalty, which even surpasses my love for him as his daughter. You’ve devoted your entire life to him, Vishnu. But what has he given you in return? Forget about the outside world; he hasn’t even acknowledged that you’re his son, not even within the four walls of the Walia House, to his own family. And yet, you stand by his side today?”
“Yes,” Vishnu finally shouts back at me. “Yes, I am still standing by him because he is my father. I’ve vowed to protect him and his dignity, and I’ll never let anyone tarnish his or this family’s name and reputation. I made a promise to my mother on her deathbed to always watch over him and protect him, Meher, and such a promise can never be broken. I’ll uphold it until my last breath. You or anyone else here will never understand this, not even the man who is responsible for my being.”
I’m taken aback by his sentiments. He isn’t fulfilling his promise to his mother out of selflessness, but rather out of foolishness. I don’t even want to think about what to call my father for his role in this. I’ve seen and heard of people taking advantage of other’s kindness, but Vishnu has gone so far as to offer his entire life to my father, and even then, Dad won’t acknowledge him as his son before the world. How can someone be so heartless?
“Who gave you this birth certificate?” Vishnu changes the subject, snapping me out of my thoughts.
When I don’t respond, he tightens his grip on my arms.
“Meher, the elections are just around the corner. If this matter leaks outside, it will create another controversy and taint his reputation. He has overcome numerous obstacles to finally stand in these elections, and he has a chance to win. Don’t ruin it for him. Apart from the people in this room, I need to know who else knows about this.”
I shake my head in disappointment, glancing at Dad and then fixing my gaze on Vishnu.
“I am wondering what kind of heart God has given you,” I say. “Your father is right here in front of you, yet you won’t call him your father, and you’re okay with that. I just hope God has stopped creating men like you, who are nothing but sacrificial lambs for people like our dad.”
I break free from Vishnu’s grasp and head towards Dad, who remains stubborn in refusing to admit his mistakes. But if he’s unyielding, then so am I. After all, we share the same blood. I look at him with the same stubbornness and pain.
“Dad, hiding this fact from us has hurt each of us deeply, regardless of your reasons.” I declare. “It’s not easy to forgive you. But if you truly loved Mom, you’ll honour her final wish. Acknowledge your son before the world, regardless of the harm it might cause to your political career. Mom can never return to us, but this is the only way you’ll ever get your daughter back. Be the father I’ve admired you for, the father for whom his children are his top priority, even above his own ambitions.”
