"What the- What is wrong with you, Kabir!?", She anything but shouted at me. I flinched as I patted my chest to push the stuck morsel down my oesophagus into my stomach. Reyansh scurried front, his body half lying on dining table as he struggled to forward a glass of water to me. I gratefully took it before gulping down the chilled liquid.

"I-", I cleared my throat. "I said it by mistake.", I mumbled as I played with the fork around my plate.

"I don't care if it's mistake or not! You shouldn't have said something like that.", She snapped at me and I sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"Your sorry won't reset that has already happened!", She gritted out.

"Damn! I'm sorry if I'm not allowed to make a mistake just because I'm a father overnight! I said sorry! It was my fault okay!? And it's not that he'll never learn those words! He'll eventually! May be not from us, but from someone else!", I shouted as I slammed the fork down and got up.

"Don't shout!", She hissed.

"Or else what!?", I challenged.

"Are you dumb!?", She clenched her jaw.

"Of course! Only I'm dumb here. You're a great example for all mothers out there, aren't you!?", I chuckled sarcastically.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Taila taking Reyansh away from dining table. Guilt washed over me and I breathed out to calm myself.

"I'm not! But I'm a responsible mother! I know how to treat my son and how to do correct parenting!", She bit back and I looked at her exasperatedly. She's really trying to stretch this subject too far.

"You're a responsible mother!? Is that a joke!? You hided my son's identity from me! You kept us apart for five fucking years! That's not what a mother do!", I screamed back and she flinched. "And you were about to run away with this child too! You're not a responsible mother! You're just selfish, self centered, self obsessed person who thinks she deserves the world to bow down in front of her!"

"I never thought that.", She whispered, tears brimming her eyes. "I left. I agree. But you told me to. You said I cheated on you and I should leave because we're not meant to be. And I did exactly what you told me to, Kabir. I always did. When I heard you were in accident, I was ready to come back even after all that happened. But you lost your memory. Aarav told me that doctor has warned to not try to make you remember anything. So I left. When Reyansh was three, I told him about you. I never kept your identity hidden from him. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I came here so I could conceive again. Because this child will be his bone marrow donor. I'm not a whore, Kabir. I'm just a desperate mother. I'm not selfish. I just want best for my son. I don't want world to bow before me, I just want some respect.", She said shakily. Her lips quivered as she tried to hold her tears.

"And I'm trapped, Rivaah. I feel like a criminal. But I don't remember anything that should make me feel like one. You need to understand that I'm trying. I'm trying to digest the fact that I did wrong to you. To my family. Indirectly to my own son. I'm not asking for any help. I just want you to understand me. I just want you to correct me if I'm wrong. Don't blow up. Point out my mistake and I'll do everything in my reach to correct it. Don't toss me away like a trash, let me make you feel as if you're important, and in return I just want some acknowledgement. That's it.", I said hoarsely. My heart raced, planning out multiple assumptions that may be her final words. I want her to give me another chance. I want her to understand me. And in return, I'll do everything for her and our son.

"It's hard for me, Kabir. You don't want to feel like a tossed away trash? I felt like that since I married you. You don't remember what you said to me, do you?", She smiled, but there was no genuine happiness or anything related in it. It was mocking and empty.

"Stop being so pathetic. God. I never knew you could be so fucking clingy? Get out of that fucking cheesy dream. It's over. Everything's ended. Curtains are drawn. This is real me. One that doesn't love you. Heck, I don't even lust for you anymore."

Although she repeated the words blankly, giving out no expression but I could see how hard her hands were curled up in fists by her sides.

"You want me to understand you? I'm sorry, Kabir Raichand, I'm done understanding you. Whether it was your horrible past, your abusive dad, or your shitty childhood, I'm done dealing with your mess. I don't care anymore! You're welcome in my son's life, but not in mine anymore!", She declared before turning around and storming out of dining room.

Abusive dad?

Shitty childhood?

Her words reverberated in my head like some spherical toy ball. As if the words were retaining their momentum, bouncing back against the walls of my brain. I strode out after her, heading upstairs and catching her wrist. She tugged at it hard to escape my grip before turning around and shooting glares at me through her honey like amber eyes.

"Leave me!"

"Abusive dad!? Shitty childhood? What the fuck are you talking about!?", I demanded as I yanked her closer. She stopped struggling and her face morphed into frown. Gradually her brows relaxed but her eyes widened. She closed her eyes which looked like out of frustration and took a deep breath.

"Nothing."

"Tell me!"

"I said nothing. I blurted out nonsense.", She said shaking her head.

"You didn't. You said something that I don't remember and now you're regretting it. But do I give a fuck!? No I don't! So now tell me!", I said through gritted teeth.

"I'm no one to tell you about this. Ask your mother.", She whispered weakly.

"And you're my wife!"

"Ex- wife!", She corrected me.

"Did we ever signed divorce papers!?", Her confidence faltered at my question. "Exactly. You're still my wife.", I nodded.

"After seven years of mutual separation, marriage is automatically nullified and considered as divorced.", She stated, her confidence returning.

"We were separated for five years. Not seven!", I sneered.

"You said this is only for Reyansh! Are you really going back on your words!? Are you again betraying me!?", She hissed looking straight in my eyes.

I sighed and left her arm.

She left no time in rushing upstairs inside her room. I know she was trying to find an excuse to avoid this conversation. But it was stick to me like an annoying chewing gum to leather shoes. I wanted answers to the confusion. And I'll definitely get them. Nodding to myself, I scurried to my room and grabbed my phone that was on nightstand.

I dialled my mom's number and waited for her to answer. She did after third ring.

"Now you got the time to call us?"

"Rivaah said I had an abusive father and a shitty childhood. What was she talking about, Mom?", I demanded skipping any pleasantries.

"She said what!?", Mom sounded angry. "How could she!?", I heard her whisper. "Don't- Don't pay attention to her words. She's talking nonsense!"

"Then why do I feel like what you're saying is nonsense. What was she talking about Mom!?", I asked, my patience thinning.

"It's nothing, darling. I was-"

"Mom, please.", I begged.

She sighed.

"Not now, Kabir. I'll come there tomorrow. And I'll tell you everything personally. Not now, sweetheart.", She tried to coax me.

"Mom, now! I need to know everything now!", I said, my teeth gnashing against each other to keep cool. I was losing it slowly.

"You-You're adopted.", I froze. "That bastard. Your biological father, he-he used to abuse you. But now he's dead. And we're your real parents, Kabir. I'm your only Mom. Vihaan is your real father. We did adopted you, but you're more to me than my own life. I breathe for you, darling. Please don't think that you're not part of us. You're everything to me. Kabir? Kabir, are you there? Kabir, speak to Mom. Kabir? Baccha, please say something.", Dropping my phone on bed, I left the room and that suffocating house.

I found it hard to breathe inside. As soon as I came in the front yard of house, I collapsed down on my knees and stared at the ground blankly. After losing my memory, I even lost my identity. I'm not real Raichand. I'm not their son. Now I know why Ahana felt bad that I was the center of attention. Every child would hate it if their parent's love and attention is snatched by someone who didn't even belong with them. I was that someone. I was that unwanted person who barged in their life. And what did I gave them in return? Instead of staying under the debt of their kindness, obliging with their every wish, I repay them like this? By damaging their daughter's relationship. By troubling them because of my unstable mind.

My shoulders shook as I cried vulnerably in the darkness of night. Hot, salty, drops poured out continuously. I sobbed to empty the weight of guilt and pain trapped inside me. I never deserved anything. She was right. I don't deserve to be understood. I don't deserve another chance. If my own father left me, if my own family never needed me, how can I dare to expect it from someone else. I sat down on my folded legs as tears poured out. There was an agonizing pain ripping my insides apart. I've destroyed everything. With my own hands I've ruined my whole life.

A feathery soft touch invaded my loneliness and I stiffened. My eyes stayed fixed on ground but I saw the little feet coming and standing before me. I was disappointed. I thought it was her.

Reyansh's little fingers cupped my chin and tilted my face up. I saw him sadly gazing at me through my teary vision. "You should stop crying you know. Even I don't cry this much.", He pouted as he managed to wipe my tears away with his small hands.

"I'm so bad, aren't I?", I know I was trying to gain some comfortable words. But I want something to assure me.

"No daddy. You're not."

"Nothing is mine. Even the surname I'm carrying is not mine.", I chuckled humorlessly.

"I'm yours.", He said before his arms looped around my neck, hugging me close.

Yes. He's mine. He's my son.

"You're mine.", I said brokenly as my arms tightened around his little body. "I won't ever let you go anywhere.", I sobbed in his arms.

"I'll never leave you, daddy.", He whispered as his hand caressed my back soothingly. I found peace in his embrace.

"Promise me, Rey. Promise me that you'll stay by my side. I need you, baby. I really need you.", I whispered in a quivering voice.

"I promise, daddy.", He said before pulling out and standing straight. "Stop crying, now. Let's go inside. It's cold out here.", He said forwarding his hand. I sniffled as I placed my hand on his and stood up. He led me inside and slowly upstairs to my room. He made me sit and crouched down. The moment he touched my feet, I flinched.

"Wh-What are you doing?", I asked as I pulled my legs away from his touch. He sighed heavily.

"Don't worry, daddy. You're tired.", He said as he grabbed my both legs and squatted down. He undid the shoelaces of my shoes and then removed them. "You should use slippers inside. What is the need of these shoes?", He shook his head as he removed my socks. "You should wash them you know.", He scrunched his nose adorably as he threw my socks in some corner.

"Do my toes smell?", I smirked wiggling my toes. He slapped my shin.

"Go and wash them. I'll wash my hands too.", He said tugging at my pants. I stood up and we both entered inside bathroom. After cleaning ourselves, I picked him up and straight went to bed. He crawled closer to my chest, snuggling perfectly like some soft toy. I smiled before kissing his head and then pulling duvet to cover us.

"Daddy, are you asleep?", He asked after a moment of silence.

"Hmm.", I hummed.

"I'm not."

"Close your eyes. You'll fall asleep eventually.", I mumbled pressing a kiss to his head.

"How did you met Mommy, Daddy?", He asked and I opened my eyes.

"Oh my bad. You don't remember. Sorry.", He said before turning on his side and nuzzling his face in my chest.

"How do you think I might have met your mother?", I asked, trying to imagine the scenario.

"Umm, she's short tempered. So I doubt it was anything peaceful.", He shrugged.

"Are you saying your mom goes on fighting even with the strangers?", I chuckled.

"You're not stranger."

"But I was when we first met.", I said and he nodded in realization.

"Right. But still. Whenever you both meet, you always fight. So I think it was nothing different when you first met.", He said and I snickered.

"We don't fight always.", I said as the few beautiful nights we spent together came rushing back in my mind. Damn! I need to keep my thoughts pure. There's a child with me.

"I doubt.", He said with a yawn. "Goodnight, Daddy.", He mumbled with a strain in his voice before falling asleep quickly.

"Goodnight, Champ."

_

_

_

"But why!?", I heard a loud scream and jerk up on my bed.

When my eyes fell to the side of bed where he was asleep last night, it now appeared deserted. Throwing the duvets off my body, I got down and walked out. My eyes froze at the sight of her dragging her luggage towards the main door while Reyansh kept crying at one corner of the living room.

"What the heck is happening here!?", I demanded as I marched downstairs.

"Reyansh, let's leave.", She ignored me.

"Rivaah, stop this childishness. Tell me what is the problem!?", I asked as I hurried towards her. Reyansh remain by Taila's side.

"Nothing. I just want to go back. Coming here was a mistake.", She mumbled avoiding my eyes.

"Is this a joke to you!? I left my everything behind so that I can mend what's broken. And you're just up and out!?", I yelled in disbelief.

"Did I asked you to!?", She snapped back.

"No you didn't. But can't you give me one chance?"

"No. Reyansh, come here right now!", She glared at him.

"You know what!? I'm done with you. Leave if you want to. But not my son! He'll stay here."

"And who are you to tell me that!?"

"His father.", I gritted out, raising my one brow at her.

"And I'm his mother. I was with him since the moment he was born. Not you. So he'll follow me.", She stated crossing her arms against her chest.

"And he needs me just as much as he needs you.", I retorted.

"That's your illusion.", She chuckled as if laughing at my nemesis.

"Let him decide then.", I shrugged.

Taila gasped.

"That's not needed. Reyansh, come here.", She said to him but he stayed rooted to his position. Tears streaming down his onyx eyes.

"Reyansh, come here.", I said and he just looked at me blankly.

"Rey, darling, come to Mommy.", She cooed at him.

He looked between us in a conflict.

"You promised me yesterday, Reyansh. Don't break your promise.", I felt worst for saying this but I was selfish. And if this stops him from going to her, then I've no problem in using it against her.

"Wh-What!? You're manipulating him, Kabir!", She sneered at me. "What promise are you talking about!?"

I crouched down on my knees to meet his eye level. "You promised me, Rey. Please don't go back on your words.", I begged. "Did you forget what you promised me yesterday?", I asked in whisper. He shook his head. "Are you going to break your promise?", I questioned and he again shook his head.

"Reyansh, come here!", Rivaah warned him.

Reyansh looked at her, before looking back at me and then turning around to hug Taila's legs. His body shook vigorously as loud sobs ripped out of his throat. It was painful to hear.

"This is the worst someone can ever do to their own child.", Taila looked at us in disgust before picking up Reyansh and walking inside kitchen.

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