CHAPTER XXVII
The moment our feet touched Indian soil, a wave of emotions hit me — warmth, nostalgia, and a touch of fear. India wasn't just a place. It was memory, family, and pain... all bundled together. The airport buzzed around us with familiar chaos, but my eyes were scanning for one face — and there he was.
My elder brother, Shomil, stood near the arrival gate, looking exactly how I remembered him — strong, steady, yet with an aura of gentle patience that only a true elder sibling could master. When his eyes found mine, a flicker of disbelief passed across his face, quickly followed by overwhelming relief.
"Vedu…," he whispered under his breath before striding toward me.
Without a word, he wrapped me in a tight, bone-crushing hug — the kind that spoke volumes of years gone by, of messages left unsent, and phone calls never made. I felt his breath catch as he held me close, and I couldn't stop my tears from silently spilling. I hadn't realized how much I missed the comfort of his presence.
When we finally parted, his eyes searched mine. "How was it? London? The journey? Are you back for good… or just visiting?"
There was so much hope in his voice, it made my chest tighten. I looked down for a second before answering, "I'll have to go back, Bhai. You know how Mom is… she doesn't like having me around too much."
He exhaled sharply and looked away for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Her anger isn't baseless, Vedu. It's heavy, I know. But beneath all that frustration, there's still love. She kept asking about you, you know. Not directly — but in small ways. She never stopped caring."
His voice trembled slightly as he placed a comforting hand on my head, the way he used to when I was a child seeking reassurance. "Please talk to her this time. Apologize, even if you don't feel like you should. I have a feeling… maybe this time things could heal."
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and nodded. "If you believe that… I'll try."
Just then, his eyes shifted toward the quiet presence standing beside me — Sita.
She was calm, dressed in her subtle yet elegant style, her posture respectful, her expression soft. There was a grace in her silence — an unspoken understanding that this moment belonged to my family first.
Shomil raised an eyebrow curiously. "And who do we have here? Your friend?"
Before I could answer, Sita stepped forward with a shy but warm smile and folded her hands. "Pranam."
I instinctively stepped in, my voice calm but guarded. "Yes. You recognized her correctly. She's my friend."
Sita gave me a sideways glance, her eyes full of silent amusement. She didn't contradict me, even though we both knew the truth was so much deeper. She respected my decision — for now.
Shomil smiled kindly. "Good. You did right by bringing her. It's good to have someone by your side."
He turned toward the car and motioned for us to follow. "Come on, let's head home. Everyone's been waiting eagerly. Especially Dad — he's going to be so happy to see you after all this time."
I nodded, trying to mirror his excitement. "Yes… I'm really looking forward to seeing Dad."
But as we walked toward the car, my heart pounded a little harder with every step. Because behind the joy, behind the relief, was the deep fear of what awaited us at home.
Would my family accept Sita?
Would they even accept me, after the path I had chosen?
Would love be strong enough… to mend what had been broken?
Only time would tell.
But one thing I knew — I wasn't going to let go of Sita's hand, no matter what happened next.
We finally arrived at my home — a quiet village nestled in the arms of tradition and time. The journey from the city had been long, but the roads here carried memories at every turn. My home was a beautiful blend of ancient values and modern touches, just like my family — rooted in culture, yet slowly learning to grow with the changing world.
As our car slowly rolled up to the gates of my ancestral home, my heart began to pound louder. I could already see them — my uncle, aunt, younger siblings, and… my father. They were all standing there, waiting. Eyes searching. Hands nervously clasped. Hope and anxiety written across every face.
The car came to a stop. For a moment, I froze.
And then I stepped out.
Before I could even say a word, my father rushed toward me, arms wide, and pulled me into a tight embrace — so tight, it felt like he was trying to hold together all the years we had lost between us. His voice cracked with emotion.
"You made us wait so long, beta…" he whispered, his hand gently cradling the back of my head. "Your grandfather… he kept waiting for you. Till his very last breath. But he left this world still waiting."
The words hit me like a thunderclap.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I stepped back, staring into his face — older than I remembered, tired yet loving. My voice shook as I spoke, guilt clawing at my chest.
"I'm sorry, Dad… truly. I couldn't be there in time. I wish I had… but I never stopped thinking of home. Of all of you. Not a single day passed when I didn't miss being here." I paused, my voice lowering to a whisper. "Maybe if Dadu hadn't passed, I… I wouldn't have come back either."
I couldn't meet his eyes after saying that.
But instead of anger, he placed a hand on my cheek and smiled — a soft, forgiving smile only a father could give. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is… you're here. You came back. Late, yes — but sometimes late is still just in time."
I nodded slowly, emotion swelling in my throat.
"Come. Let's go inside," he said warmly. "Your mother's been waiting restlessly ever since we heard you were coming."
I turned slightly and looked at Sita, who had been quietly standing beside me, her gaze lowered out of respect for the reunion. Her presence, though silent, was my anchor. Without thinking, I reached out and gently took her hand in mine — firm, reassuring.
Together, fingers intertwined, we stepped across the threshold of my childhood home.
I didn't know what awaited us inside — acceptance, questions, silence… or storm.
But for now, we walked forward together — Sita and I — ready to face whatever came next, side by side.
Because this wasn't just my return.
This was our beginning.
To be continue....