Recap : Sharan's rude behavior with Janaki, Ishana's parents leave for the town

Sharma Bhavan : At noon
Sharan's POV

When I came home for lunch, I saw my father reading a book in the living room. This is how he has been leading his life after his retirement from our business. Reading,reading and reading. I had to start a library at home for him and I guess he liked it.

He hasn't complained about it so it must be nice. He is the most loving father anyone could get in this world.

He looked up from his book and noticed that I am standing here.

"What is that son?" he asked referring to the packet in my hand.

"It's our lunch dad. Since the maid had to leave earlier today, I thought of bringing lunch home so that we can have it together." I explained.

"What you did in the morning is unforgivable Sharan. How can you categorize every woman as bad? There are good as well as bad people everywhere?" my father tried to explain me in a calm tone.

"Frankly dad...I have yet to meet a good woman after my sisters. I don't want my sisters to become like my mom. I care for them, a lot and I don't want them to be hurt thinking about their mother. That is why I lied to them that their mother is dead." I left that place unable to look at his face. I know him. He doesn't let it out but he is still hurting.

Ten years ago, the last time that I saw him crying like this, I stopped being nice. If you are nice, people will hurt you like they did to my dad and me. Me being like this will ensure that nobody can hurt me or my dad. I've even made plans for my sisters too which will ensure that they will never be hurt like us.

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Third Person's POV
Durga looks at his son and wonders if what happened in the past had affected Sharan more than him. He knew that Sharan had bottled up all the anger and hurt inside him and if he didn't find a release for it, it would erupt like a volcano causing explosions like the one this morning or maybe a bigger incident.

To calm him down temporarily he decided to distract him." Did you call your sisters? Have they eaten their food?

"Yes dad. They told me that they had some food from the canteen."Sharan replied finally calming down at the mention of his sisters.

"Well. Lets eat then" Durga directed his son to the dining room.

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Krishnapuram
Ishana's POV
I won this competition too. When Seetha akka told me that half of the money will suffice for the treatment, I bought dresses for both amma and appa. I know they will be happy seeing their daughter's gift for them.

I walked towards my house with a smile on my face when I imagined the reaction of my parents. As usual, there is a big crowd around my house. Are they back so soon? They said that the meeting might be delayed. Maybe they finished the meeting soon. I increased my pace so that I could meet them sooner.

When I was closer to the house, I noticed that everyone was sad. The whole atmosphere was gloomy. Did the meeting fail? Did the problem not get solved? But I noticed that some people are wailing. When they noticed me, they started consoling me. What is happening here?

"What happened anna?" I questioned the nearest person. I looked around for my parents but did not find them."Where is amma? Appa?" I shouted louder this time.

"You have to stay strong dear. If it is destined to happen then no body can do anything to stop it. We are all with you." somebody said but I couldn't decipher anything. I was now frantically searching for my parents. Where are they? Amma did not want to go but I forced her to it. Where is she?

"I am not understanding anything. What are you saying? Amma? Appa?" I called out louder. I started panicking and my words were getting jumbled up and faster.  

"When your parents were returning from the town, they met with an accident. Some people took them to the hospital but we couldn't save them. Sorry dear."

As soon as the words registered in my brain, my legs went limp and I crashed on the floor. How could that happen? They.. They were smiling this morning. Amma did not want to go. I had sent her forcefully. I killed her. My amma and appa were not going to come back home. I couldn't hear anything. The words 'amma and appa' are ringing in my ears. The last thing I saw in front of my eyes before I fainted was their smiling faces.

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Sharma Bhavan : In the evening

Third Person's POV

Varna and Veena were back from their college and so was Sharan from his office. They all had their tea together and then settled down in the living room.

"Go start your studies now" Sharan started.

"What? Bhaiyya, but we just came back. Let us relax for sometime." Veena pleaded.

"No excuses. Go and study." Sharan said sternly.

"Only one hour bhaiyya. After that we will study. Please." Veena tried again.

"Okay. But only one hour." Sharan finally relented. How could he refuse his sisters wishes.

"You are the best brother in the whole wide world." Both the sisters hugged their brothers and left from there.

Sharan noticed his father staring at them intently."What happened dad? You seem lost." he questioned.

"Whenever I see the three of you together, I remember my sister." Durga replied absent mindedly with a sad smile on his face.

"Why do you always have to think of these betraying, cunning women? Your sister, my mother. All these women are same. They don't have any feelings. They do everything for themselves and act like they are doing a big sacrifice in the end." Sharan stated in anger.

"How many women do you even know? Your mother and my sister might be like that but that doesn't mean that every woman is like that. There are women who sacrifice a lot for their loved ones too"

"Stop this lecture. I don't want my sisters to hear any of this." Sharan shouted in anger."You loved your sister but what did she give you in return? Pain ,pain and nothing else. But can you forget her? NO. You still keep thinking about these women who did not even think about you once"

"I don't think that my sister betrayed me. What she did wasn't wrong either? She loved somebody but my parents wanted her to marry a rich man. They were money-minded people. So she had to elope. She must be living happily with her husband and kids." Durga defended his sister.

"So she is happy but you are still worrying about her. Leave her. She chose her life leaving all of you behind, so you need not worry about her.

"Our parents never cared for us. I had been like a father to her not just a brother. I was the one who took her responsibility" Durga continued. 

"Can you stop it. Are you not satisfied with the betrayals?" Sharan questioned, exasperated with his father.

"If one of your sisters eloped with someone, only then will you realize my feelings." Durga replied without thinking much.

"How dare you compare that bloody woman to my sisters?" Sharan was so angry that he forgot that the person on the other side was his father. He pushed the center table away causing the things on top of it to crash on the floor. He walked away from the room before he could do further damage.

Both the twins had come down hearing the loud sounds coming from the living room. They saw the condition of the room and went to their father. This was what they were worried about. Their brother's anger.

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Sharma Bhavan : Dinner time

Sharan is serving dinner to his family. He knows that they were scared because of the incident that took place in the evening. He apologized to his father who accepted them but his sisters were still angry and he was trying his best to win them over.

It was then Durga's phone rang and he walked away from the table to attend it. When he came back a while later, they saw that he was crying.

Sharan got up immediately."Dad! What's wrong? Who called you?"

"My Padma.." he couldn't speak further.

"Dad, what happened to Padma aunty?" Varna questioned.

"She met with an accident today. She and her husband are no more" Durga was met with silence. Nobody had expected that.

Sharan was also shocked. Eventhough he hated her, he didn't want anything bad to happen for his father's sister.

"I want to see her one last time. I am going to Krishnapuram." Durga announced resolutely.

Sharan nodded."Okay dad, we will go."

"No Sharan, you stay here with your sisters. I will take the driver with me." Durga said.

"Dad! I can't leave you like this. Just a minute, I will arrange a maid for Veena and Varna and we can leave." Sharan requested.

"It will take a lot of time. Let me go Sharan." Durga said, without leaving any place for argument. Sharan had to relent as he did not have any other choice.

"I shall call the driver then. You get ready dad."He said. 

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Precap : Sharan and Ishana meet.

This part is dedicated to Priya_Sweety . She is the first one to comment on this story. 

You are welcome to share your views and give your suggestions about the story in the comment box below.  

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Final Editing Done On: 12/10/2018
Edited By: k21pt11