Chapter 33

After entering the house, Rashi hurried to Lakshmi and gently took Kittu from her arms. She carefully placed him on the mat, ensuring she didn't disturb his fragile sleep. Her movements were tender, almost reverent, as though the child's peace was sacred.

Once Kittu was settled, Rashi turned to Lakshmi, her eyes filled with concern, and asked softly, "What did the doctor say?" Lakshmi recounted everything the doctor had told her, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. Rashi listened intently, her face shadowed with worry. When Lakshmi finished, Rashi sighed deeply, a sound heavy with unspoken emotions, and quietly left for her home, leaving Lakshmi alone with her thoughts.

Lakshmi sat down beside Kittu, her fingers gently brushing his forehead as she gazed at his innocent face. A faint, bittersweet smile touched her lips, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a wave of guilt and sorrow. Her mind wandered to the life she had brought him into—a life of struggle, of poverty, of endless hardship. If he had a father, she thought, would he be suffering like this? Would he be lying here, so vulnerable, so dependent on a mother who can barely provide for him? The weight of her choices pressed down on her chest, suffocating her. It's all my fault, she whispered to herself, her voice breaking. I brought him into this world, and now he has to endure this life with me. A single tear escaped her eye, tracing a silent path down her cheek as she stared at Kittu's peaceful face, so unaware of the burdens she carried.

Overcome with emotion, Lakshmi lay down beside him, pulling him close to her chest. She held him tightly, as if her embrace could shield him from the harshness of the world. Slowly, the rhythm of his breathing lulled her into a restless sleep, her dreams haunted by the fears and regrets that plagued her waking hours.

The next morning, Lakshmi woke with a heavy heart but a resolute mind. She decided she wouldn't go to work that day. Kittu needed her, and she couldn't bear to leave him alone, not when he was so unwell. But as the thought solidified, another fear crept in—Vikram. What if he shouts at me? she wondered, her stomach knotting with anxiety. The thought terrified her, but then she looked at Kittu, his small frame curled up on the mat, and her resolve hardened. No, she told herself firmly. I can't leave him. not for anyone. I'm enduring all of this for him. If I don't take care of him, what is the purpose of my life?

With that, she convinced herself to stay.

On the other side, Vikram waited for Lakshmi. But as the hours passed, she didn't show up for work. A wave of concern crossed his mind, and then it hit him—she might have taken leave because of her son's health.

Trying to focus on his work, he found it nearly impossible. The hours dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity, the emptiness in the office only amplifying his thoughts of her. Without Lakshmi's presence, the day felt long and lonely, and despite his best efforts to distract himself, his mind kept circling back to her absence.

The next day, Lakshmi arrived at the office as usual. She looked more relieved, her son Kittu finally feeling better and back to school. Vikram arrived at the office sharp at 9 a.m., as always. Only he knew how he had counted down the hours, how he had waited for this moment just to see her again. He despised himself for it—for the way his heart quickened at the thought of her, for the way her absence had left him so unsettled. He felt like a man possessed. He hated himself for allowing his thoughts to be consumed by her, but he couldn't help it.

After settling into his cabin, Lakshmi entered with his coffee, just the way he liked it. The warm scent of it seemed to bring a sense of calm, but when she turned to leave, something made him stop her. "How's your son now?" he asked, his voice softer than he intended. Lakshmi froze for a moment, clearly surprised by the question. When she finally answered, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Better now."

She moved to leave again, but he couldn't let her go so easily. "What's his name?" he asked, his curiosity taking over.

"Krishna... we call him Kittu," she replied. Her tone was quiet, almost guarded. We? He couldn't help but wonder. Who was she talking about? Who else was in her life? He couldn't shake the thought, but he didn't press further. Instead, he hummed softly, an answer of sorts that didn't demand any more from her. Lakshmi nodded and left his cabin, leaving him with a thousand unanswered questions.

The day passed in a blur, but Vikram couldn't stop noticing every little detail about Lakshmi—the way she moved, the subtle shifts in her expressions. His thoughts lingered on her, trying to piece together the fragments of her life that she kept so carefully hidden.

As the clock neared 5 p.m., Vikram realized he still had work to finish. But when he saw Lakshmi glancing at the clock often, he couldn't bring himself to keep her there any longer. "You can go," he told her. "Take care of your son."

She was shocked to hear this from him and left with lots of thoughts in her. Vikram stayed behind, the weight of the unfinished work pressing down on him, but his mind was elsewhere—on the questions he still didn't have answers to, and most of all, on the woman he couldn't seem to forget.

The clock struck 8 p.m., and the office was cloaked in silence, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Vikram had finally wound up his work, deciding to leave the rest for tomorrow. As he reached for his phone, a notification caught his eye—a message delivered two hours ago. His heart skipped a beat, a strange mix of anticipation and dread tightening his chest. He hesitated for a moment, his fingers hovering over the screen, before finally opening the message.

It was the report he had been waiting for. His eyes scanned the lines, each word sinking in like a stone dropped into still water. The truth was there, staring back at him in cold, unflinching detail. Kittu was his son. His breath hitched, and the room seemed to spin around him. He slumped back in his chair, the phone slipping from his hand onto the desk. His mind raced, a storm of emotions crashing over him—shock, anger, disbelief, and an overwhelming surge of protectiveness.

His nose flared, his jaw clenched, and his fists tightened as the weight of the revelation settled in. How could she? The question burned in his mind, fueling the fire of his anger. Why had Lakshmi hidden this from him? Why had she kept his son—their son—a secret, even after they had crossed paths again? The thought of Kittu growing up without a father, without him, was unbearable. His blood boiled, not just at Lakshmi, but at himself. How had he not seen it? How had he not known?

Tears welled up in his eyes, unbidden and unstoppable. They streamed down his face as the enormity of it all crashed over him. His son—his flesh and blood—was out there, living a life without him. The boy deserved better. He deserved a father. And Lakshmi... she had no right to keep this from him. No right to deny him the chance to be a part of his child's life.

He couldn't sit still any longer. He needed to see them—both of them. Now. He grabbed his phone and keys, his movements sharp and hurried, and bolted out of his cabin. The elevator ride down to the parking lot felt interminable, each second stretching into an eternity. When the doors finally opened, he sprinted to his car, his heart pounding in his chest.

Sliding into the driver's seat, he fumbled with the keys, his hands trembling. The engine roared to life, and he sped out of the parking lot, drove toward Lakshmi's house. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions—anger, pain, longing. He didn't know what he would say to her, how he would even begin to confront her. But he knew one thing for certain: he couldn't wait another moment. His son was out there, and he had already missed too much.

As the car raced through the streets, Vikram's tears continued to fall, mingling with the ache in his chest. He didn't care about the past anymore—about why she had kept it from him, about the mistakes they had both made. All that mattered now was the future. His son's future. And he was determined to be a part of it, no matter what it took.

Vikram reached Lakshmi's house, his heart pounding in his chest. The house was dark, all the lights switched off, and the stillness of the night only amplified the turmoil raging inside him. He moved toward the door, his steps heavy but determined, and began to bang on it, the sound echoing through the quiet neighborhood. Inside, Lakshmi, who had been trying to lull Kittu to sleep, startled at the sudden noise. Her heart raced as fear gripped her. Who could it be at this hour? She stood up, her body tense, and Kittu, sensing her unease, clung to her hand tightly, his small fingers trembling.

The banging continued, relentless and urgent. Lakshmi slowly moved toward the door, her mind racing with possibilities. "Who is it?" she called out, her voice shaky but firm.

"Lakshmi, open the door. It's me, Vikram," came the reply from the other side, his voice strained and heavy with emotion.

Lakshmi froze. Vikram? Here? At this hour? Her mind spun as she tried to make sense of it. The anger in his voice was unmistakable, and fear coiled tighter in her chest. Lakshmi hesitated, her hand trembling as she slowly unlocked and opened the door. She glanced back at Kittu, who was peeking out from behind her, his wide eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of excitement. "Amma, it's car uncle!" Kittu whispered, his voice tinged with innocent joy as he remembered the man who had once taken them for a ride.

Vikram stood there, his face streaked with tears, his eyes burning with a mix of pain and fury. He looked at Kittu first, his gaze softening for a fleeting moment before it hardened again as he turned to Lakshmi. She took a step back, instinctively shielding Kittu behind her, her heart pounding in her ears.

"What... what do you want?" Lakshmi asked, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with fear and confusion.

Vikram stepped inside, his eyes scanning the small, modest house. His gaze fell on the thin mat on the floor, the worn-out toys scattered in the corner, and the faint signs of a life lived in struggle. His heart ached at the sight, but his anger flared again. He turned to Lakshmi, his voice low but seething with emotion. "Amma, why is the car uncle here now? Is he going to take us for a ride in his car again?" Kittu's innocent voice broke the tension, but it only deepened Vikram's pain.

"So you're happy now?" Vikram spat, his voice cracking. "You made my own son call me uncle. Are you happy?" His words hung in the air, heavy and accusing, as tears streamed down his face.

Lakshmi's world seemed to shatter at his words. How does he know? Her mind raced, but she couldn't find the words to respond. She lowered her gaze.

Vikram stepped closer, his hand gripping her elbow tightly. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and desperation. "Why did you leave me when you were pregnant with my son?"

Lakshmi's eyes widened in shock. He thinks I left him? Her mind reeled as she tried to process his words. "Stop it... please," she begged, her voice breaking. "Why are you tormenting me like this? You're the one who left me. But now, after all these years, you come here to blame me? To accuse me? I didn't even disturb you after you left. Why are you doing this to me?" Her voice rose, pleading and desperate, as tears streamed down her face.

Vikram stared at her, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What are you talking about? I left you? If that's true, then why am I here?" he shot back, his voice rising in frustration.

"That's what I'm asking!" Lakshmi cried, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why are you here? Do you want to use me again and leave me? Is that it?"

Vikram's face twisted in anger. "What? I used you? Do you think I'm some kind of monster who sleeps with anyone? I loved you, Lakshmi. Truly. But you... you used me for your physical needs and left me when you found someone else," he hissed, his words cutting through the air like a knife.

Lakshmi's breath caught in her throat. How could he say such things? How could he twist the truth so cruelly? He was the one who had proposed to her first, the one who had promised her forever. And now he was blaming her, accusing her of things that were never true. Her heart shattered, and before she could stop herself, her hand flew out, striking him across the face.

The slap echoed in the small room, the sound sharp and final. Vikram's head snapped to the side, the sting of her hand burning his cheek.

For a moment, there was silence, heavy and suffocating, as the weight of their pain and misunderstanding hung between them. Kittu, sensing the tension, began to cry, his small sobs breaking the silence.

Lakshmi stood there, her chest heaving, tears streaming down her face. "How dare you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and heartbreak. "How dare you come here and blame me for everything?

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