KEDAR
✨

Life today feels like a full circle. I didn't know that two little lives can bring peace to any kind of heartache. A few days ago when we discovered that my existence was a mere lie and that my father had his own family in NY and my mother and I were a mere compromise in his life. It hurt.

I tried my best all my life to be his perfect son. I did everything he told was right. I topped every semester, I behaved the way he liked, I spoke the way he taught..only for me to discover he wasn't the perfect father. And my mother was devastated. Who wouldn't be? We were the illegitimate family. We destroyed someone else's happy family. However gradually I realised it wasn't us. It was him. Our father.

I was angry with Neil for having hidden this from all of us. For trying to be the big hearted sacrificing son. He wanted to protect us from a heartbreak but instead left our hearts shattered. I was fuming seeing those videos that Camellia sent. I didn't believe her initially because she was Isabella's sister and only I know how venomous they both are. If Bella was selfish Camellia was always a gold digger. It's just that my brother was blinded by her love. Can't blame him. I wasn't any less attracted to her sister after all. We both did our fair share of mistakes but Neil took it a notch higher by hiding it from the family.

I couldn't control my temper when I saw him with Shankar at our door step. How dare he bring him here? Doesn't he know how much it would hurt Mom. Second time in life I raised my hand on Neil that day. But he calmly explained everything to me. I understood he had been blackmailed and Shankar too was being wrapped in this game thanks to his daughter whom I couldn't help but adore. She was a bundle of cuteness. I couldn't be mean to her. But that doesn't mean I could accept her father.

However that night when Prakruthi said that her water broke I panicked. It was 3 am in the morning and she was already dilated more than what the doctor suggested I knew we had to rush her to the hospital. I knocked on Neil's bedroom door but neither Ava nor Neil opened the door. I knew I had to reach out to Omkar Anna or Rudra but unexpectedly Shankar stood in front of me asking if everything was alright. That moment nothing struck me. I told him it was Prakruthi. He rushed to the room along with me when Mom said that she saw some green liquid that she passed out and Shankar was alert

'Jeez!!! Look Kedar...The Amniotic liquid should mostly be colourless or yellowish but green isn't good. I don't know if it's serious but listen to me. When Camelia was pregnant she passed this liquid and doc told me it's a case of meconium in the Amniotic acid and it's not healthy for the babies. We have to rush her to the hospital. We can't wait for anything.' he said and I started panicking.

That's when he kept a hand on my shoulder saying 'Relax I am with you. You've got to trust me Kedar!!!' he said with such determination and I nodded. Without wasting a second I carried her in my arms and we took her into the car. Shankar said he could manage driving on the left, he has an IDP and that he could drive a private vehicle in any country. I was glad because Prakruthi was practically rolling her eyes in pain. Mom was rubbing her hands and legs when I cooed her in my arms.

I guided Shankar and within 10 mins precisely we were at the casuality of the hospital. The moment doctor examined he confirmed that it was critical and that we did the right thing by not wasting time and bringing her to the hospital immediately. I could only thank Shankar for being the angel in our lives.

Can't believe the man whom I hated until a few hours ago was a life saving angel to my family.

The reason why Prakruthi and I decided only he has rights to name our children. Seeing him right now with my children feels so good. He doesn't just look like Omkar Anna. He is very much like him. It's just that he's more silent, wears more clothes and eats very less compared to him. Lets just say he's the normal version of Omkar Anna. But that height, the beard and that hairstyle. Looks like it runs in our family. I won't be surprised if Pradar turns out to grow like one of us someday.

Suddenly I felt an arm around my shoulder and I turned around seeing Neil. I smiled looking at him when he chuckled saying

'Told you... he's a great guy! Believe me... he's a better brother!!!' he said and I looked down. Neil stood infront of me and said

'Ken bro!!! I know it's not easy for you. It wasn't for me either but he is our brother. You can't deny the fact. I am not asking you to take him in this house but atleast take him and our sisters as our family.' he said and I looked at him asking

'Sisters???' and he smiled saying

'Shankar Anna's mother was a wonderful lady. She and Anna went through a lot of hardships and built their business empire. She was a very kind lady I heard from Anna. She adopted two girls. Their father worked for Shankar Anna's mom but the man died in a road accident. The elder girl was eleven and the younger one was still a toddler. Hardly one. She gave them her name, a life and in return both kids gave them abundant love. Srishti can fight for her brother. Even with me. She loves Shankar Anna so much. Where as Sati...she is a doll. She cracks lame jokes and laughs at it herself. Ohhh and she's one good competition to Prarthana Vanni. Mannnn she's a disastrous cook!!!' he said and I chuckled. We both smiled when Neil said

'Blood isn't the only relationship na Anna!!! Sometimes it's beyond blood. It's heart. Our hearts are one!!! I have accepted them all. I hope you could also someday!!!" and I smiled.

Avanthi came in our way and gave us a bowl of Sheera (Halwa) and Neil suddenly walked away even before Avanthi could say something. Suspiciously I smelled the Halwa and Avanthi looked at me asking

'What is it Bhavaji?'

'Ummm who made this? Why did he run away like that? This isn't Prarthana Vanni's recepie right?' I asked when Avanthi said that she made it.

'Ohhh then why is your husband running away like that?' I asked when Avanthi narrowed her eyebrow tucking the loose end of her saree saying

'Because your brother is a grumpy gorilla!!! A demon!!! Its time I bring him down from the banana tree branch that he's climbed onto!!! Duffer!!!' she said and I absolutely didn't understand a word.

Gorilla? Demon? Banana tree?

I rolled my eyes and went towards Shankar Anna who was playing with Krithi and Pradar while his daughter was trying to hold their little fingers. He smiled looking at me when I smiled back too.

I offered him the Halwa when Prakruthi took the kids and Roshni followed her. She was already too attached to the kids.

'She has never seen little babies before. She's way too excited!!!' he said when I smiled saying

'Its fine!!! She's really cute and is playing the perfect elder sister!!!' I said when Shankar cleared his throat saying

'I will be going back to NY tomorrow!!!' and I was shocked

'You know you can stay right? Mom likes you too. It's just that it's not easy!!! I hope you understand!!!' I said when he smiled saying

'I didn't expect that even you would accept me Kedar and neither the Nayaks. But you folks did. That's all that matters!!!'

I took his hand in mine and said 'You are also a Nayak Shankar. More Nayak than Neil or I are...we are after all illegi-'

'Kedar please!!! I don't believe in these words and terms. A child is a child. You don't need to bind it in legalities. We are brothers and no one can change the fact.' he said and I smiled saying

'I would like to meet our sisters too someday!!!' I said when Shankar cleared his throat saying

'Sati should be easy. She's 19!!! But Srishti. She was more attached to mom than anyone else. It's not going to be easy with her!!' he said when I smiled saying

'My wife calls me a coconut. She says I'm full of love. Maybe I can win her over someday with that too!!!' and he smiled nodding to it.

Suddenly mom appeared infront of us and she applied the sandalwood paste (prasada) to my forehead and I took her blessings but next to my surprise she did the same to Shankar as well and she was shocked. But he smiled and bent to take her blessings too. Mom blessed him too. They spoke very less but mom was slowly accepting him. Atleast she had accepted Roshni as her own. Everyone could see the way she was making her sit on her lap and feeding her lunch and dinner by telling her stories and folklores and little Roshni was lost in her grandmother's stories and she ate like she didn't care about anything in the world. Let's say my mother was one terrific grandmother

Everything was falling in place but Shankar wanted to go to NY and I wanted him to stay. When I insisted he revealed it was Camellia again

'My lawyer told me that Camellia has took the legal route and has reopened the case asking for legal rights to meet her child. I have to fight this Kedar. She doesn't know Camellia is her mom and if she meets her, she will definitely try to manipulate Shine. I can't let that happen. Not this time!!! And not my child for sure!!!' he was determined.

'Why don't you tell her the truth. For how long will you hide it from her?' I asked and he cleared his throat saying

'I can't!!! Roshni is growing up. She's desperately looking for a mother figure!!!'

'Then why don't you get married to someone?' I asked and he was shocked. He looked elsewhere saying

'Because I don't believe in the institution of marriage. I don't want another headache in my life!!! I'm happy all alone in my own happy space. I can't handle another headache and what's the guarantee she won't double cross me like Camellia?' he said and I bit my lower lip and said

'Well sometimes there is no guarantee to anything. To life, to relationship...but we are still alive aren't we? Who knows the girl who enters your life might be a pure soul!!!' to which he rolled his eyes saying

'Kedar... women have only tried to take away my money or my whole and sole property!!! I haven't met any pure soul and neither do I want to discover one. I would rather deal it legally. Maybe I'll find a way out. Let's see!!!' he said and I nodded.

Life isn't so bad after all. Sometimes you are just blessed. Although my father destroyed so many lives. One blessing from that destruction was Shankar. I don't know if we can ever share a sibling bond like how I share with my other brothers but Shankar is definitely a good friend. A good brother. Maybe it'll take time to absorb that fact but I'm sure someday I definitely will.