Emma's POV:

"Abhish...",
"Anna...[Brother]", we three shouted seeing him running out but it was to deaf ears. I looked at his phone in my hand and remembered that someone was at the call.

"What happened? Where is Abhi?", Vandhit asked, coming down running. I gave the phone to Vandhit and his eyes grew big seeing the number. What happened to him? "Who's that Vandhit?" asked uncle worriedly.

"His MOM", he whispered and the ground below me vanished. His mom!! Why did she call? That too after these many years. "I knew this would happen when she called me weeks before", aunty said and uncle nodded sadly. I and Vandhit looked at them shocked. "What!! Why did she call? He had already faced lot Maa. That time, I couldn't do anything but this time, I am not letting any harm nearing him", Vandhit said determinedly.

"No Vandhit. This time she has a valid reason. She is dying slowly from CAD(a type of heart disease) and she badly wanted to meet her son", uncle said to which Vandhit managed an 'Oh'.

"But I don't think he would be going Maa. Remember his dad's funeral? It was Jay and you people who pestered him to at least attend it", he said gloomily.

"When did this happen?", I asked. "He attended my wedding but was sick at that time and eventually passed away after a month", he said.

"If they had thought about Anna[Brother] at the time, this chaos would have never occurred. We knew many families who are happy even after divorce because they thought about their kids and cared for them", I said looking at the door, expecting him to return.

"What to do Emma? People always fail to repent for their mistake when they have strength in their body but die every single day thinking of their sins when that strength vanishes. Same goes with his mother", said aunty.

"Yeah. So now, we have to let Abhi know this and convince him by nook or crook to meet her. No turning around this time. He refused to even see his dad's face for the last time and stood at the last row at the funeral. This time he has to be with his mom, no matter what!", uncle said sternly. Vandhit frowned and said. "I don't think this would be possible and to be honest, this would hurt him."

"We knew it, Vandhit. But you can't deny the last wish of a dying soul", aunty said and it was my turn to frown. "If so aunty, how could they leave a 15-year-old boy at the road all alone just for their happiness? Was that fair? Wasn't it a sin?", I asked furiously. Aunty sighed and said, "You are right Em, but this is not the time to argue those bygones. Right now I am afraid of Abhi. Though he didn't bother about them and accepted his past, he didn't forgive"

"If acceptance is must and forgiving is also equally important to live a peaceful life. I know their action was not a petty one, but he has to forgive them not for their sake, but for his soul to heal. Though he is not my blood, he is my son. I can read him just like an open book. He let his past in its position, he accepted his situation and created his way to make it colourful. They are his parents and we can't change that. He loved them immensely and that immense love vanished after that gruesome incident. But deep in, those memories are eating him. Memories always bring back those vanished emotions."

She got a point. Memories have both good and bad advantages on human's emotions. "Okay. Now how to tell this to him? Firstly, where he is?", asked Vandhit annoyedly. "He would be somewhere but safe. Let him be in his way and let's go to Krishu's house now, we have informed them about his mom's call that day. We will go there and inform them about Abhi", uncle said the small plan he formulated. "But Abhi Papa?!", he asked worriedly. "Don't worry beta[Son] he will be safe and will come home soon. Now keep going", he said and moved to pick the car keys followed by aunty. I and Vandhit looked at each other and he nodded slightly with a faint smile. With that, we both got into the car and we left for Vani's house.

The whole journey was quite and our brains formulated all possible ways to convey Abhi Anna the information but worry tugged my heart remembering his face. First time since his arrival I have seen him this confused and helpless. We reached and all were delighted looking at Vandhit. He was welcomed with a warm hug of Jay Anna and Vani stood there looking at him smiling. Once we settled ourselves on the couch, Jay Anna[Brother] narrowed his eyes and asked, "Where is Abhi? He went with Emma but where is he now?" Taking a deep breath, Vandhit's dad opened up the information. Just like me and Vandit, Vani and Jay Anna didn't know about her call weeks before. Vandhit's dad further added about her call today and their decision. Hearing him Jay Anna[Brother] started yelling,

"No way uncle. He is not going to meet his mom and I don't care about her. Call me anything, I won't mind it. All I want is my Abhi. He is done with all this rubbish. I'm not going to let him go. Not now. Not ever."

"Jay is right. He had re-built himself with great difficulty and if we let him go now, I'm sure he can't put his shattered pieces together, ever. So no way uncle", Vani said sternly.

"Guys listen. You both have a point. But it's about him. Don't you want him to get over those incidents? I admit, he accepted his life as it is with all his heart but did he got over that? Nope. He didn't. Because he didn't forgive them. Only when you forgive people and accept your life, you can be at peace", Vani's dad said calmly. Both the parents are saying the same and I sighed at the thought.

I looked at Jay Anna[Brother] and Vani as if tracing some emotion from their faces. Both were in deep thoughts and finally, after a few minutes, Jay Anna[Brother] looked at us. "Okay. If this is for his well being, we are fine with it. But family, I'm gonna accompany him to meet his mother as I want to make sure that he is doing good by myself and if something happened there which results in hurting him, I'm sorry to say, that will be the extreme point of my decency" he warned everyone and looked at Vani to which she showed a thumb's up. Both the dads nodded their heads sighing.

An hour passed and still, there was no trace of Abhi Anna[Brother]. Worry panged on our hearts especially on four of us. The elders were calm and were discussing something regarding this. We four got restless by every passing minute. This annoyed us and we decided to go out in search of him. The elders protested first but after seeing our restlessness and Jay Anna's irritated expression they let us go. Once we stepped out of the house, Vani jumped on Vandhit, hugging him tightly and cried.

"You Idiot! How dare you ignore my calls?! And why didn't you share your pain with me and kept on crying silently?", she asked him, grabbing his tee. "I'm sorry dear. I didn't know what to do. All I knew was you are suffering and I became the reason behind it directly or indirectly. But don't worry. I'm here for you and no matter what, I won't let you fall and I will bring all the happiness of this world to you. It's my promise", he said lovingly, wiping her cheeks and kissed her forehead. Vani smiled and hugged him tightly, resting her head on his chest.

"Hrmm...Vani, I am here, your brother", teased Jay Anna[Brother]. "You're a jerk!", snapped both of them in unison and I laughed looking at Anna's[Brother] scrunched nose. He looked like a pig!! And so, we left in search of Abhi Anna[Brother]. Two hours passed and we couldn't find him. I tried my best to control myself but him missing and the way he ran out from the house kept on flashing in my mind. I couldn't control and started to sob hugging Vani, who was also crying silently.

Currently, we all gathered at a park near Vandhit's house. Jay Anna's[Brother] phone rang notifying his dad's call. This time, they were also worried and it was visible in their voices. After promising them that Abhi Anna[Brother] will be safe, he hung up the call and looked at us gloomily.

Both the boys were controlling themself from crying as they need to be strong at least for us. We all sat there at a bench with our hearts trying to thump out of the ribs and our brains bringing all the negative thoughts. I prayed for the first time after sixteen years. I prayed to keep him safe. I prayed to give him strength. I prayed FOR HIM.

**********************************************************************

Hello again!! As I said, the dramas are unfolding one by one. So our Abhi is missing.

Correction girl. You wrote the script in that way.

*Sighs* Fine fine. Now, What happened to Abhi? Is he safe? 

And do you guys think that Abhi should meet his mother? If yes state the reason and if no state the reason as well *laughs*

Is this an examination idiot? Anyway, answer the questions at the inline comments and shower the chapter with your views. Vote and share if you feel so, no compulsion in that.

Yep. Till the next update,

Bye and stay safe.

Wid love, Mr.X

Harshini