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“You were too young to understand and make a fair judgement on who was right or wrong between us,” Uncle reacts. “Do you believe that I did not love and respect my elder brother? Of course, I did, Aksh. More than you know. Your father taught me so much about politics. I did not snatch anything from him. My efforts and hard work towards the party made the members choose me over him to be their leader. That was not my fault. Your father lost the trust of the party members because of his deeds, not because of me. I had always hoped my brother and I would work together and help our party grow, but your father ruined that dream for all of us.”
My anger boils over, and I can no longer control it. In a fit of rage, I push the vase next to me, resulting in the sound of shattering glass reverberating in the room. The shards scatter on the floor, mirroring the shattered trust between Pratap uncle and me.
“Do you really expect me to believe your version of the story?” I retort, my voice laced with frustration. “You claim to have loved and respected my father, yet you seized the leadership role while he was disregarded. You took advantage of his downfall and used it to further your own ambitions.”
“That’s not true,” Uncle scowls. “You only saw what he wanted you to see, but that does not change the truth, Aksh. He was like a father figure to me, my only parent. His accidental death affected me more than you. For years, I have blamed myself for not being able to help him overcome his drinking addiction. I was so busy in my political career that I had very little time to attend to his issues and difficulties.”
Uncle comes closer and tightly grips my arms with a look of sympathy in his eyes.
“That’s why I took you under my wings. I taught you everything, just like your father imparted his wisdom to me. I always wanted to see you thrive in politics. To see you take on the mantle of power and influence and reach heights that even I couldn’t reach in my own political journey. Your father shared this same ambition, hoping to establish a legacy for our family and be remembered for generations to come. I knew you had the potential to become a great leader and make a positive impact on countless lives.”
Tears stream down my eyes, clouding my vision.
“I was so confident that one day you would make me proud. That you would make your father proud, Aksh. But now…”
He looks down, deeply hurt by my actions. After a few moments of silence, he meets my gaze again and slowly withdraws his hands.
“I don’t know what to say,” Uncle sighs, his voice choked with emotion. “All these years, I have poured my heart and soul into shaping you into the leader I wanted you to be. Every decision I made, every move I orchestrated in the political arena, had only one purpose—to pave the way for you. I dreamt of seeing you shine, to become the face of our family’s political dynasty, and to bring glory and prosperity to our name.”
A tear escapes from the corner of his eye, reflecting the depths of his emotions.
“But today, it feels like all my efforts have been in vain,” he continues, his voice tinged with sadness. “You have turned away from the path I envisioned for you, and in doing so, you have not only failed me but, more importantly, you have failed yourself.”
I’m speechless. If my uncle’s revelations hold even a shred of truth, then I have wronged him in ways I can’t even fathom. Had my father really sold the secrets of the party to outsiders? Was he a traitor?
“In many ways, I see my brother in you—from your anger to your impulsive decisions, everything seems to match with him. But I never dreamed you would backstab me one day like your father did out of jealousy.”
Jealous! No. I wasn’t jealous of my uncle’s power. What angered me was the idea of him having control and power over my father’s dreams and ambitions. However, after hearing his side of the story and his confession, I wonder if I have made the right decision to overthrow my uncle and take his power.
“You were deceiving yourself, Aksh,” he continues. “If you had doubts about what happened between me and your father, you could have asked me. We would have resolved it. But you chose the wrong approach to get justice for him.”
I can see in his eyes that I have completely shattered his trust. In the world of politics, trust is a precious gem, difficult to bestow even upon one’s own kin.
“I’ve no regrets,” I assert, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within me.
Years of resentment and bitterness toward my uncle cannot be erased with a few words or a revelation of his side of the story. The wounds run deep, and it is difficult to trust a man who has been deceptive and manipulative in the past. As I glance at his face, I can see the hurt giving way to a stern and rigid expression. Perhaps he expected me to show some remorse or at least consider his perspective, but I cannot bring myself to do so. I brace myself for his final verdict, knowing our paths have diverged permanently. There may be no turning back from the choices we have made.
“I’m not angry with you, Aksh. I’m disappointed. I have always treated you and Meher equally. You became like a son to me the moment I took you under my wing. I had so many expectations from you. But now that you’ve done what you had to, here is my decision. I don’t want you in my party anymore. If you are unwilling to resign, I’ll have to expel you for the same reasons I was going to expel your father once—selling the secrets of our party to outsiders.”
I’m rooted at the spot as our gazes collide. It wasn’t difficult to predict that he would make this decision, but I sense that he is unhappy with it for the first time. He should have been, though, right? If power was so important to him and meant more than family, love, or loyalty, he should have been happy to expel me from the political party. After all, I was a threat to his position, aspirations and legacy. Yet, as I look into his eyes, I can’t find that spark of satisfaction that one would expect from a man revelling in his triumph over his nephew. His expression is one of sadness and disappointment. It’s as if he has lost the one person he always leaned on for support.
“I only give one chance to people, Aksh,” he says, his tone heavy with emotion. “And you’ve just lost yours.”
His words have a sense of finality, as though he’s closing a chapter of our relationship.
I stand there, unable to comprehend my next actions. It feels as though all my dreams I’ve been devotedly working towards since childhood have been taken away from me. I often perceived politics as a mere path to seize power and authority. But, now that it’s slipping away from my grasp, I sense a deep loss, as if the very essence of my being is being cruelly taken away.
As Pratap uncle retreats to his room, I catch a glimpse of Devika wiping her tears with a look of disappointment and hurt on her face. My heart sinks as I realise that my actions have pained the woman I love. Determined to mend what is broken, I follow her into our bedroom.
Entering the room, I find Devika in the midst of packing her belongings, her tears flowing uncontrollably. The sight angers me, and I reach out to her, pulling her towards me.
“Where are you going?” Her silence only fuels my frustration, so I command her, “Talk to me!”
Devika shrugs off my arms and steps back, her voice laced with sorrow and resignation.
“Talk about what, Aksh? I don’t feel like talking anymore after overhearing what happened downstairs. Just let me go.”
My anger rises, but I desperately need to make her understand my feelings.
