Prologue

'Arnav.'

He heard his mother shouting his name, but he ignored it.

Standing in the middle of the private lawn, the ten-year-old continued to dribble the ball in his hands, showing all his anger on it.

Why wouldn't he be angry?

His father promised him he'd be home early and said that they would have a great time. The time was half past seven but still, his father was not home. Arnav has been eagerly waiting for him with the basketball, happy to play with his father their favorite game, after a long gap.

For the past two weeks, his father had been engaged with work. He would come home only after Arnav's bedtime and in the morning, he'd still be sleeping tired while Arnav leaves to school. He'd been too swamped. But today morning, his father said sorry for not able to spend time with him and promised he'd be home early today with him.

But no! His father broke his promise. By this time, they both would have been together having lots of fun.

'Arnav! It's already dark. Come inside,' his mother Ratna shouted again.

But there was no response from him.

'Day by day, you are becoming very stubborn,' she scolded coming towards him.

Finally, he responded. 'No,' he looked up at his mother. 'I won't. Not until Dad comes,' he said with a cute pout.

Her face softened. Kneeling in front of him, she caressed his head. 'Darling,' she said softly, 'Your Dad is a busy man. He might have been held up by some work. Please listen to mommy and come inside.'

'Dad said he'd play with me,' Arnav whispered sadly.

'Of course. You both can still play after he comes home. He won't go anywhere leaving us right,' Ratna smiled.

Arnav nodded reluctantly. He went inside with his mother and waited for his father.

Three hours passed. Arnav had already changed into his pajamas and had his dinner. But still, his father did not return home. He thought to confront him for being late and not talk with him.

I won't talk with you, Arnav chanted in his mind.

But he knew he couldn't stay without talking with his father. Always when he finds his father coming home from work, he'd run up to him and ask him about his day and what all happened in the office. Arnav was always curious to know what his father does.

True to his mother's words... his father was a busy man. Being a CEO of one of the largest corporations, was never an easy job. There were many people dependent on their company and hurdles would come in one or the other form. But never did his father let those worries touch their house.

Even though Arnav was only ten years old, he knew what kind of hard work his father does. He knew how much of a dedicated person his father was and Arjun wanted to follow in his footsteps.

His father was his inspiration. He taught him a lot about life and other things. He told him, 'A man is called a real man when he respects a woman.' He taught him how to play basketball, which was their favorite sport and many other things like how to respect his elders, teachers, and education and bring a good name to his parents. He also told him to be independent and not to call out for others for every small thing. He reasoned out that a man would never depend on others and do their work by themselves.

With his father's lessons in mind, Arnav considered himself as a big man when he turned ten a few months back. Everyone tried not to laugh when he announced that out loud. Once his grandfather, Arjun, had ordered a new bed specially made for him. Arnav being as stubborn as a mule said he'd put a hand with others to carry his bed to his room. His mother tried to convince him that he couldn't handle such heavy things and there was still time for him to do such big tasks. But nope. Would he listen?

After climbing a few stairs, he understood what his mother tried to tell him. Panting heavily, he slumped down on the stairs with a hand on his stomach. He still remembers how everyone tried to hold back their laughter. At that moment, he did what every kid would do. He did behind his mother's saree.

But that moment, he failed to notice his father's face. He made him feel proud of himself. Who wouldn't when their son was courageous at a very young age?

To Arnav, his father was his hero. Whatever he does it's for everyone's good. There'd be a reason behind whatever he does. Arjun could never be angry with him, even if he thinks so.

The silence in the house was suddenly disturbed by the loud ringing of their telephone. Quickly, Arnav hopped down from the sofa and answered the call.

'Hello!' a frantic voice asked.

'Yes. Who is speaking?' Arnav asked politely.

Recognizing him as a child, the person on the other side of the phone said, 'Can you please call your elders, beta?'

Arnav nodded his head. Realizing the person couldn't see him, he said, 'Wait a minute.; Saying this, he put the receiver aside and ran up to his parent's bedroom.

Ratna just came out having her bath and sat in front of the mirror looking at her reflection. Suddenly she felt strange, like something bad was going to happen. She took the Sindhoor (vermillion) box and was applying on the parting of her hairdo when Arnav said, 'Mom. You got a call.'

'Who is it darling?' Ratna asked.

Arnav shrugged. Again, he ran down the hall and resumed his place.

Frowning Ratna stood up keeping the Sindhoor box on the dresser and followed her son.

'Hello,' Ratna said picking up the receiver. The next minute her eyes widened hearing the person and the receiver in her hand dropped down.

Arnav didn't understand what happened with his mother. Her face turned pale, and she started talking incoherently.

With slow steps, Arnav approached his mother but stepped back instantly when she'd let out a loud scream. He stared at his mother with a fear-stricken face. He had never seen her this way. She slumped down to the floor and sobbed fervently.

Arnav cowered back in fear just when his grandfather, Arjun and their servants entered the hall hearing her scream. They were all shocked to witness Ratna in that way on the floor.

Seeing his grandfather, Arnav ran up to him and his behind him scared to watch his mother like that anymore.

'Ratna,' Arjun said still in shock while he held his grandson, who at the moment was shivering from top to bottom, securely behind him.

Ratna didn't respond to her father-in-law. She covered her face with her hands and cried continuously. Arjun was getting worried minute by minute with her each sob.

Arnav was already on the verge of crying watching and hearing his mother cries. 'Mom,' he said, but she was not at all in a state to hear anyone.

Arjun ordered the servant to take Arnav inside and stay with him. But Arnav was reluctant to go anywhere scared. He obeyed when his grandfather assured him.

Ratna didn't stop or answer anything her father-in-law asked. Finding the phone receiver hanging down in its place, Arjun lifted and held it to his ear. Thankfully the person was still on the line, patiently waiting for someone to hear him. Arjun carefully listened to him and for a second, he too stumbled back. He asked again to confirm while hoping he heard him wrong. But no.

His knees weakened and he felt a slight pain erupting from his chest. Keeping a hand over his heart and leaning against the table for support, he recalled what he'd heard. With tear brimmed eyes and a painful heart, he looked down at his daughter-in-law who was still on the floor weeping. He had to keep himself strong for her and his grandson.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to stay strong.

━─━────

In the morning, Arnav stood near the large window in his room, staring at the driveway. His eyes were dull not having a proper sleep. Last night, after coming to his room, he didn't know what happened next. His servant Hariprakash informed him that his grandfather and mother were not at home and his father too didn't return home.

Arnav was perplexed. Right at that moment, there was no one home except for their servants and he doesn't know whom to contact. He wanted to at least go to school but Hariprakash informed him that his grandfather had ordered him not to go anywhere.

With a sulking heart, he stayed home, feeling bored with no one around. He looked up when he heard a car horn sound.

A bright smile appeared on his face when he saw his grandfather's car enter their compound. The car stopped in front of the footsteps but no one stepped out.

Arnav excitedly moved out of his room to finally have them home. He descended the stairs and almost approached them but halted abruptly in his tracks.

An ambulance entered their compound just when his grandfather and his mother stepped out the car. Both of them looked at Arnav with their sunken eyes. A sob escaped from Ratna and the next minute he was engulfed in a big hug by her.

Arnav didn't understand what was going on around him. Just as he was wondering, two men in white uniform exited the ambulance carrying a stretcher. They stopped right in front of him and placed the stretcher down.

'Dad...'

It came out as a question, not wanting to believe his eyes.

'He's no more with us,' his mother said hoarsely, hugging him tightly. His father laid unconscious in front of him covered with bandages.

'No!' Arnav exclaimed, pulling away from his mother, 'You are lying.'

He ran up to his father and ordered him to get up. 'Dad! Please get up. I will not bother you with my tantrums. Please, come back to me,' he pleaded, shaking his lifeless body.

Finally, it didn't take much time for Arnav to realize his father was no more with him. To say he was frightened would be an understatement. His father, his guide, his best friend laid in front of him lifeless covered with bandages all around his head and body.

Arnav felt dismayed, terrified and devastated. He hugged his father lifeless body and cried for him to get up. It all felt like a bad dream.

For days, Arnav cried for his father. His grandfather and mother were too depressed to look after him. Arjun fell sick after a few days while Ratna was busy dwelling herself in the memories of her dead husband. Arnav was not anymore the energetic boy everyone knew.

Six months later, Arnav was faced with another heartbreak. He was summoned down to the hall by his grandfather. Before he didn't understand why Hariprakash sounded hesitant while informing him. Not until he faced it.

His mother stood next to a man, whom he didn't see before any time in his life, with flower garlands hanging around their necks. There was also a boy around his age, standing in between them holding each of their hands.

His mother remarried. That too without his consent.

Arnav was disheartened and enraged. How could she do this? When reality hit him like a tornado, he created havoc that day. He threw everything at them he got to his hand without any care and shouted at his mother, 'How could you do this? I hate you.'

That day, he locked himself in his room and didn't allow anyone to meet him. Even his grandfather tried to reason him but again he didn't acknowledge him.

For a few days, Arnav avoided talking with anyone in the house. He felt abandoned and betrayed by everyone. He was furious at them. In his anger, Arnav didn't realize what he was doing. His grandfather received complaints on him of being a bad boy, not attending school and disrespecting his teachers.

That's what Arjun had feared. He was disappointed with his grandson after knowing about his activities. He scolded him and tried to shove some sense into his brain.

Arnav tried to get used to the fact that his mother remarried and accept the new people in his life. But everything turned upside down on one day.

Arnav freshened up after he returned back from school and descended down to the dining hall to have his evening snacks. He smiled at Karan, his stepbrother, who also came there at the same time as him. Karan just gave a glance and sneered at Arnav in return.

That reaction was not expected by Arnav. From what his grandfather had told him they were good people. But he couldn't find even a single quality of goodness in both these father and son.

Deciding to ignore his obnoxious behavior, Arnav thought to not say anything that would hurt his mother or grandfather anymore.

Pulling out a chair, Arnav was about to sit when he was pushed down harshly. He groaned in pain as the side of his face and knees touched the ground with a brute force. He heard Karan laugh and looked up to find him occupy 'his' seat.

'What the hell!' Arnav shouted, standing up on his feet. Karan just laughed.

'Why the hell did you do that?' Arnav demanded, coming to stand next to him.

'What?' Karan sounded innocent, 'I just came to have my snacks,' saying this he again pushed Arnav.

'Do whatever you want,' Arnav snapped, 'This is my place. Get up!' he ordered.

'Do I look like I will listen to you?'

'I don't want to have a fight with you. So just move,' Arnav said.

'What will you do, huh?' Karan pushed at his shoulder, 'You are just weak and pathetic.'

With that Arnav's patience broke and he pounced on Karan, kicking in his stomach. Karan fell on the ground clutching his stomach and cried loudly.

At the same moment, Ratna came out of nowhere and witnessed Karan crying and howling in pain. She immediately reached him and engulfed him in a hug.

'Arnav! What happened?' she asked looking at her son.

Before Arnav could say anything, Karan started complaining. 'Mom. He doesn't like me. He made me like this,' he said with tears in his eyes, even though his pain subsided. He smirked at Arnav and started to cry loudly.

'What the hell!' Arnav said, in shock, as wheels turned on his side.

As the words left out of his mouth, an unprecedented thing happened. His mother slapped him. 'From where did you learn to say bad words and hit people,' she scolded angrily. With that saying, she cooed Karan again and took him inside, leaving Arnav alone.

To say Arnav was shocked would be an understatement. Only then he realized how distant his mother had become with him. Neither after his father died n or after her remarriage, did she really make an attempt to talk with him? She was busy proving herself as a good stepmother and neglected her own son completely.

Arnav ran up to his room and cried his heart out. The person, whom he loved equally to his father, became a selfish person to even care for her own son.

That day he considered there was no value for relationship and love. They are just for namesake. Loving someone can only give us pain.

─━────

A/N:

Hello my lovelies,

How is the prologue?

I dedicate this chapter to all my readers. 

Please vote, comment, and share your feedback.

With love,

Revathi.