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“If you both want your respective family to be safe and sound, then you need to do exactly as I say. No more fighting, no more arguments. It’s time to show unity between our families again.”
“You can forget about working in tandem, Ayaan,” Pratap Walia scoffs. “You can’t dictate me. And now, after knowing whose son you are, get one thing in your head. My hatred for Tej is far more potent than my enmity with Kailash. I’m ready to face defeat, but I’m never taking orders from you. Ever.”
His words pinch my heart. I wouldn’t have minded if he had said the same without mentioning that the reason behind his disagreement was me being Tej Khurana’s son.
“Dad?” Meher calls out to her dad, but Pratap Walia strides out of the mansion without even glancing back.
Meher is also hurt by whatever her father said to me, but I know his venomous words carried a bitter truth from which I will never be able to escape. The dynamic between her father and me has never been smooth, and after this, the path ahead is destined to be even bumpier.
“Ayaan,” Vishnu approaches me. “Don’t let his words get to you. He’s already grappling with today’s revelations. He’ll cool down, and then we’ll talk to him and try to convince him. We stand by you in this fight. The man who sowed the seeds of misunderstanding between my parents, who threatened my mother and became the reason why I could never acknowledge my father publicly, won’t be spared.”
His pain is noticeable in his eyes. I give him a nod.
“You have our full support,” Aksh further mentions. “Once uncle realises the gravity of the situation, he will soon understand that the only way to beat our enemy this time is by joining forces and doing this together.”
Meher looks at her brothers, appreciating their supportive smiles. I take the lead once again, guiding them on what steps to take next.
“You both will have to amp up Walia’s security from now on. Tej Khurana probably knows by now that our two families are on the same page. That each one of us is aware of who our enemy is and what to expect from them. We must be vigilant to anticipate his next move. Therefore, intensify the security for the Walias, and I’ll ensure the same is done for the Shergills, too. Whatever measures you implement, make sure Krish is kept in the loop so that the security protocols for both families are synchronised. If Tej Khurana can try to harm Dad in the accident, he can target anyone from either family. We need to be alert and cautious. None of us can afford to have any more security lapses.”
Vishnu and Aksh both nod in unison before they disperse from the mansion. It’s been a long day, and I know the night is going to be even longer. After everyone leaves, Krish and I discuss the progress of the CBI’s investigation into the pub and what steps we need to take next. Although Krish suggests that I take a break for the night, as it was a day full of revelations for me, I refuse. We can’t afford any delays in planning our next moves, as it can cost both families dearly.
An hour later, I enter my father’s room. He is sitting alone on the recliner, lost in thought. He tends to overthink when it comes to me and the country’s important matters. As I make my way inside, he looks at me, and I sit down at his feet.
“Haven’t you slept yet?” I ask, taking his hand in mine.
“How can I sleep when my son is fighting an emotional battle?” he replies, breaking down the guard I had been holding up until then. Not wanting him to see my teary eyes, I rest my head on his lap. His fingers automatically run through my hair, soothing me.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I confess. “I spoke to you rudely when I returned home. But I needed to know what you were hiding from me and why. The revelations that came to light today between Raghav and me and the medal that Meher found in your possession made me angry and doubtful, and I lost my temper. Please forgive me for raising my voice at you.”
“No, Ayaan, don’t feel guilty about that,” Dad responds, lifting my head from his lap and meeting my gaze. “Four years ago, when your Aunt Geeta and I told you that I am not your biological father, I should have told you who your real father was. If I had done that, you wouldn’t have had to find out from someone else today. It’s my fault. At that time, we thought Tej was already dead, and I didn’t want to burden you with the sins he had committed in the past. How could I subject you to the weight of your real father’s wrongdoings? And even though I knew you were mature enough to understand that none of it should affect you, I, as a father, knew it would still impact you in various ways. So, I chose to keep it hidden from you. Little did I know that it would all unravel like this in the future. If I had told you everything earlier, you would have been more prepared to handle this situation today.”
I remove his hand from my face and kiss the back of his palm. I now understand why he kept the truth from me.
“All these years, I have loved you even when I had no idea that I wasn’t your biological son. Then, four years ago, when you told me the truth, I started worshipping you for taking me under your wing and giving me your name. But today, after discovering the identity of my real father, I can proudly say that you are the greatest blessing in my life, Dad. You gave me the name ‘Ayaan,’ which means ‘gift of God,’ but the truth is, you are the biggest blessing in my life, sent by God. You are God’s biggest blessing in my life.”
A lone tear escapes from my eye, which Dad wipes away, kissing my forehead as I continue to express my gratitude towards him.
“If I had been in that hospital room that night, then Tej Khurana would have taken me along, and he would have raised me. Had that happened, I would have been a different person today. I wouldn’t have had the values and morals you instilled in me since childhood. I’m so grateful that you could give me a life that I am proud to live. Regardless of who gave birth to me or who my real father is, the place that you have in my heart is irreplaceable. I love you, Dad. I love you so much.”
Dad pulls me up, and we hug each other tight.
“I love you too, my son, and I am so proud of the man you have become. So proud.”
He strokes my back with love and warmth, enough to soothe all my immediate worries at the moment. As we pull back from our tight embrace, Dad cups my face in his hands, unshed tears glistening in his kind eyes.
“I knew you had a twin, but we thought he died in the hospital fire that night. I raised you as my own, the lone survivor. Fate works in such twisted ways. And I shudder even thinking about what darkness must have shaped Raghav under Tej’s guidance,” he says, emotion causing his voice to quiver.
My chest tightens painfully at those words.
“Raghav is the older one between you two. He was born ten minutes before you. The doctor, whom I confided in, disclosed that. You were the younger twin at birth...smaller, weaker, more fragile.”
I swallow painfully, my eyes welling up again, unsure how to process this news. I have a brother... A part of me I was unaware of. But look at the irony... We met in circumstances that put us on the opposite side of the spectrum, and I cannot even be happy about it. Raghav symbolises the darkness I fight against. I should feel only enmity for his crimes, yet there is an inexplicable pang of longing for the brother I was robbed of since my birth. Can I ever bring myself to aim my gun again at the man who is my reflection? If the time comes to pull the trigger at my own brother, will I falter? These disturbing questions continue to haunt me.
“How can life be so unfair, Dad? To give me a twin brother, only to place him squarely on the opposite side!” I choke as emotions threaten to overwhelm me. “I don’t know what to do,” I rasp, my voice barely a tortured whisper.
Dad’s eyes glisten with sorrow.
“We don’t even know the extent of hatred and lies Tej has been feeding to Raghav since birth. But the bond of blood triumphs, no matter how much darkness intervenes, Ayaan.”
