Chapter 29 :- The Road towards Healing (II)

Few minutes passed and Armaan took his time to let these words sink in. He repeated every word in his mind to gather his lost strength and realised he cannot live with the hatred of these people who love him.

"Please don't hate me." He murmured with his face buried in her neck, supplicating his need of the hour.

"Armaan! Shh... listen to me. Nobody hates you Armaan. Your parents, your friends, me, we all love you. You are not a burden on anyone. We all are with you because we love you. Whatever we do, that is our love, not compulsion." Khwaab proclaimed softly and Armaan wanted to believe in those words.

“I deeply repent my doing Khwaab. I’m sorry for giving you immense pain but please don’t go. You are not an option but my life. I love you.” He whispered, holding her in his embrace as firmly as he could. She rubbed his back with her right palm and cleared his tear stained cheeks with her left one.

“Please don’t think that way again Armaan. It hurts.” Khwaab voiced out her feelings, keeping a check on her tears. He parted away and stared at her apologetically.

“I never meant it. I’m sorry for being a dumbass, for making you cry.” He rubbed her back of the palm with his thumb, knowing it calms her down.

Staring squarely in his teary eyes, she leaned forward and kissed him softly, trying to reassure herself of his presence near her. She had gone through hell and now wished to relish this heavenly feeling, being close to him. He kissed her back with equal fervour, expressing all his feelings and apologies through a kiss.

“I love you.” She murmured breaking the kiss, their breathings harsh. Armaan's guilty eyes held her deep almond ones, filled with love for him. How could he forget these eyes while ending his life? How could he be responsible for bringing tears in them by his reckless actions? He is an indeed a monster who has made this innocent princess cry.

“I’m sorry.” He wanted to repeat these words with each breathe, till his heart could let go this guilt.

“I don't want your sorry. I want a promise." Armaan stared at her having a slight idea of what she will ask.

"A promise that you'll try. A promise that whatever goes on in your mind and heart will come out from your mouth. 'Mom I'm not liking that you are making me eat this. I want to hug you.' 'Dad I hate when you help me in changing my clothes.' 'Talwar I'm not a child. You can go back and I'll be just fine.' All these thoughts when come in your mind, speak them to us. You can have your moments of downs but all that you've to do is, share. Free yourself from your anger and helplessness and don't assume our answers. Let us have the privilege to answer your doubts."

Armaan blinked his eyes feeling fazed with her demand. He thought she would ask him to promise that he won't be sad or won't do something like this ever again but all she asked was her to be a part of his 'in-the-moment' thoughts.

"It's no.. not eas.. y." Khwaab saw his resistance breaking, he was still mulling over the thought trying to search for any unconvincing reason.

"It's not impossible either. Consider it just like your tantrums which you show everytime when you are sick." She sassed and his eyes shot up at her face to search for any kind of humour but he found her serious.

"I sh.. show tant.. ttrums?" It was more of a question than a statement as it was something unbelievable for him.

"You are a certified tantrum king." She busted his bubble and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"A certified tantrum queen is the right word Khwaab." Armaan looked at the entrance as his father's words fell into his ears. His parents approached him while his eyes were down, too ashamed to face them.

"Dare you call my son a queen. He is my prince."

"Which prince have you seen crying buckets?"

"You. Remember when I ask you..."

"Stop fighting and hug me." Armaan intervened, annoyed about how they are talking about him but not even looking at him. They chuckled and embraced him making a happy family hug which was completed when Rohit pulled Khwaab in.

He can bear anything but not their ignorance or hatred. He had always got everyone's attention and he lived for it. That was his weakness which they knew and was the only way they could force him to share his buried feelings . They weren't ignorant about his pain neither blamed him for his depressed thoughts but all they wished to give him the environment he could find himself comfortable to share.

He knew he was loved, cared and never judged by anyone around him. He knew he could always go to anyone around, his parents, his Talwar, anyone and they would listen to him but being so drowned in his thoughts he forgot the privilege he was blessed with ; the freedom and environment to pour his heart out. Not everyone is that privileged.

It's not that he wouldn't be depressed in future, it's impossible because the journey is still long and a demanding one but he realised he's not alone. He is allowed to have his dull moments and all he has to do is share it with them.

And now he won't think that he is burdening them with his pain because he understood, they won't be happy either way. He wouldn't have been if the situation was reverse.

A tough journey called life awaits him and now he is determined to make it worth it till it lasts.

THE END.

The epilogue will be posted soon.