My heart was in my throat and it was beating like a drum. I could see his fingers fisted and gripping the sheets. His eyes were on her and screaming hate. His jaw tightened when he gritted his teeth. She moved closer with her trembling legs.

“Ved.” She called in her low voice, fear evident in her features.

He shut his eyes tightly as if controlling himself. The sheets were crumbling inside his fists and suddenly he opened his eyes and looked at me furiously. If a look could burn I would be ashes now. It would be a lie if I say that I am not afraid.

I avoided his accusing eyes and looked down.

There was silence for a few seconds before his mom talked again.

“Ved, please listen to me for once.” She said in a weak voice.

The next thing I saw was Ved throwing away the sheet covering him and grabbing his walking stick. He gave me a last glance before storming out of the room.

I sighed closing my eyes. Opening my eyes saw his mother standing there with a longing look at the door with tears flowing down from her eyes.

“I am sorry. I am so sorry.” She said looking at me and covering her face in her palms.

I walked towards her and kept my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me with guilt in her eyes.

“Please stay here. I will go and bring him back. I promise.” I said and she nodded her head.

I hurriedly walked out of the room to follow him. I saw Sid standing there looking confused and gazing at the corridor where Ved just disappeared.

I sighed and gave him a light smile before going behind Ved.

I walked fast and took the right turn where he just disappeared. I walked around a little looking here and there and finally spotted him near an empty corridor.

I sighed in relief and slowly walked towards him. His back was facing me and he was holding the rails and looking lazily at the city night. It was a pleasant cold night. The cool night breeze whistled softly, blowing lightly through my hair.

I stood behind him for a few minutes not knowing how to start a conversation. Taking a deep breath I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by his hoarse yet deep voice.

“Are you here to tell me how much of a failure I am? Or are you here to show me how much of a jerk am I that I could not change for you?” He said and turned around to face me.

My heart clenched looking at his red eyes screaming pain and agony. Now I was feeling extremely guilty to put him through this.

“I am not here to accuse you,” I said in a low voice while not looking at him.

“Oh really? Then what were you thinking while bringing that woman here? When you know what she did and how much I hate seeing her.” He whisper yelled making me flinch.

But I wanted him to listen to me this time before assuming things and making his conclusions.

“This!!! The hate, that you have piled up inside you. I want you to let it go Ved. That’s why I brought her here. Do you think she doesn’t care for you? If she doesn’t then she wouldn’t have to hang around since the day you were admitted here.” I yelled back.

He looked taken aback. His eyes roamed my face.

“What?!! You don’t believe it? She was here all along. Hiding in the shadows and praying for her son to recover soon. I have seen her every time looking through the glass door of the ICU when she thought nobody was watching. With folded hands and crying her eyes out for her son, who doesn’t want her. She might have done wrong things in the past but she is regretting it deeply. Do you think it was easy for her to bear the hate of her son all these years? She was also hurting like you.” I said while looking straight into his eyes.

He stared at me like I am talking in some alien language but I could also see vulnerability in them.

I moved towards him and cupped his cheeks.

“I am not asking you to forgive her or bring her back to your life. I am just asking you to hear her for once. You said you wanted to start a new one. You can’t do that without leaving your past behind. You are filled with so much hate and grief. If you want a new beginning you need to face your past. Please Ved, not for me, not for her, for you and you alone. Give yourself a chance for yourself. Just let out all the hate, pain, and grief you carry within you. Please.” I said looking at him.

He held my wrist with one hand and his other hand snaked around my waist pulling me closer. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on mine while sighing.

We walked towards his room in silence. No one said anything. He paused in front of the door and took a deep breath before opening it. Upon opening the door we saw Sid lying on his mother’s lap and she was running her fingers through his hair.

“I am so tired mom. I am so tired that I want to give up sometimes.” Sid said weakly.

“Shhh, Sid doesn’t say that. You are a strong boy. These things, it will pass soon. Be patient, okay” We hear her say.

“No mom, I am not strong. I am not like Ved. I don’t know how he went through all those alone. He has suffered a lot.” Sid said again.

“I know. I know he went through a lot because of me. I am the sole reason for all his sufferings. But I did nothing; I just flew away leaving him behind to deal with the miseries alone. I am a bad parent. I know I don’t deserve his forgiveness.” She said leaving trails of tears on her cheeks.

“Yeah, you don’t.” I turned sideways hearing Ved’s voice.

They both shot up from the bed immediately.

“Ved.”

Sid came forward but stopped when Ved signaled him with his hand.

His eyes were focused on the woman standing in front of him.

“Tell me what you want to say.” It was not polite it was a command.

Gulping she looked up meeting his heated gaze. She looked at me pleadingly.

“Uh…um, I. I will just take a walk and come back.” I said clearing my throat and turned around to leave.

But a firm grip on my wrist stopped me from leaving.

I looked at Ved startled.

“If you want to speak, then speak now. No one is leaving this room for you.” He said in a firm voice.

She looked shocked but nodded her head in agreement.

She cleared her throat before speaking.

“I. I know there is no excuse for what I did. I know I deserve your hate for the things I have done. But believe me, I am regretting it to my core. I am sorry I made you suffer a lot. I left you alone and never tried to make things right. It’s because I was ashamed of what I did. I never dared to bring it up in front of you.” She said biting her lips to stop its trembling.

“You must be wondering why I did that when I had everything I ever wanted. You are right I had everything money, status, home, two sweet children, and a happy family.” She said and her eyes again filled with tears.

“But sometimes all that does not matter. Sometimes all you crave is a little love and attention. You know ours was a love marriage. We got married against my parents' will. And because of that, they cut all ties with me. But I didn’t care. We were in so much love and he was my prince charming. Our life was like a fairy tale. I loved every moment of it.” She said and a smile crept to her lips reminiscing her memories.

“But I think every relationship has a breaking point. Slowly slowly the years go by a distance was building between us. I was so proud that he took his dad’s company to new heights but in between, he forgot he had a wife at home waiting for him. He started coming home late or sometimes he never came. I alone had to look after the two children, the house, and his aging father. All he cared about was his business. My days were closed around the children, home, and kitty parties. We never had a vacation in years. Even when he is home he was busy in his office room. There was no intimacy, no care, no affection, nothing. It was as if we were like two machines living together. We even spoke rarely. I tried to repair the relationship, I swear I did. But he never took it seriously. He just brushed it off by sending some expensive gifts or a lone trip for me.” She scoffed.

“After his father’s death, it worsened. His home visit was reduced even more. Slowly I was falling into depression. I had to take mental help when finally it came to self-harming.” She said her eyes giving out no emotions.

A gasp left my mouth and I could see the startled expressions on both brothers' faces.

“Mom,” Sid called her but she stopped him.

“Let me finish Sid.” She said and looked straight into Ved’s eyes.

“I don’t demand you to believe me but you can check with my doctor if you want.” She said.

Sighing she continued.

“It was such a time I met Nakul. Varun took me to a business party and left me to catch up with his business associates leaving me alone, like always. I know him as a friend of Varun and he came up to me and started a conversation. It was the start of a new friendship. I don’t know exactly when it started to turn into something else. I fell for him because I was getting all the love care affection and attention I was yearning for years. We both knew it was a forbidden relationship but we couldn’t care less. But the guilt was eating me from inside. I couldn’t even meet Varun’s eyes. And that is when I asked Nakul to marry me. I told him that we will get a divorce but he was not ready to divorce his wife telling her that his father won’t give him a penny. That is when told him that we have to stop the relationship because I couldn’t continue like that.” She said wiping her tears.

“On that day I was going to break up with him and I was going to confess to Varun. But when I told Nakul about this, he disagreed. He was not ready to give up on me and one led to another and we ended up in bed. And the rest you know.” She said trying to control the sobs.

“I am not trying to get your sympathy Ved. I know I shouldn’t have done that in the first place but it happened. If only I could turn back the time I would change it all.” She said.

“What I didn’t know was that Nakul was a fox. He used me for his gain and never turned back. I swear I didn’t know he was not paying back the debt. He made me believe that everything was going well. It was only that day when you came to my room I come to know that he never paid a single penny back.” She said sobbing hard.

I felt disgusted and I was starting to hate the man I called father all these years.

“I know no words are enough to tell how guilty I am. I am sorry I was a coward and never stood for you. I am sorry I dragged you through all those. I am sorry tried to separate you both. I am sorry for everything Ved. Please, please forgive this mother of yours for everything she did.” She said falling on her knees and touching Ved’s feet.

Startled he took two steps back.

I and Sid were looking at the two of them without a word.

After a few moments of the initial shock, Ved cleared his throat and his mother slowly rose to look at him.

“Whatever excuses you make, I cannot forgive you for what you did. Not today. I just can’t. You were not the one who saw dad in a pool of blood. You were not there when I took his lifeless body to a hospital. You were not there when he took his last breath. You were not there when I struggled to build back the company you pushed into debt. I am sorry I can’t forget everything in a day with your single sorry. But I will try to understand you and your situation and won’t restrict anyone from seeing you.” He said looking at Sid and he looked down not meeting his eyes.

“Maybe in the future, I might get past this, and maybe, just maybe I might forgive you but that day is not today. It is not easy for me to forget and forgive. I hope you understand.” He said looking straight at her.

Relief flooded through her and she nodded her head in understanding.

“If nothing else is there then I would like you to leave me alone.” He said without blinking.

She slowly got up and Sid went to help her up. With one last glance at Ved, she walked out of the door.

Sighing he sat on the bed and rubbed his face with his palm.

He kept his face in his palms and never looked at me.

I moved towards him and kept my hand on his shoulder.

He lifted his head and they were bloodshot and glazed with tears.

Suddenly he pulled me towards him and snaked his arms around my waist. He pressed his face on my stomach and then the sobs left his mouth.

My eyes stink, and the tears followed.

His body trembled, and the sobs increased. I just stood there drawing smooth circles on his back with tears in my eyes. I let him out all the pain he stored inside for years.

I hope the next day will be a new start for you Vedant. I want nothing more than your happiness. I love you.