After dinner, Siya and Kabir had fallen asleep right there on the sofa. They were lying as if unconscious, completely unaware of their surroundings.
Raghav was busy organizing things as instructed by Aman ji.
Chandrika ji picked up Kabir in her arms and said,
"Raghav, let's go, son… You have school tomorrow too. Dad will take care of the rest alone."
Raghav looked toward Aman ji, who blinked in approval.
He said good night to Yamuna ji and Raj ji, then held onto his mother's pallu and walked back home.
Aman ji also returned to his home after putting everything away.
Next Morning
When Raghav woke up, he heard loud voices from downstairs.
He went to check and saw that his grandfather (Dadu) had arrived at their house.
Raghav ran up to him and hugged him tightly.
Dadu smiled and said,
"How is my little prince?"
Raghav, jumping with joy, replied,
"I'm so happy that you came, Dadu!"
Raghav was his grandfather's darling.
Even though Dadu had never forgiven his son and daughter-in-law, he had wholeheartedly accepted Raghav as his own and had come all the way from Kolkata just to see him.
As Chandrika ji stepped forward to touch his feet, Dadu stepped back and said,
"I'm here only for my grandson. No one should misunderstand that."
Raghav looked at his Dadu with his innocent blue eyes, and Dadu melted, saying,
"May you always remain married and blessed…"
Chandrika ji smiled, and Raghav, delighted, began telling Dadu about his school.
Every now and then, he would mention Siya, and Dadu listened to him very intently.
Chandrika ji brought tea for Dadu and asked Raghav,
"Son, aren't you going to school?"
Raghav, hugging his grandfather, said,
"Mom, I'm not going today… I want to stay with Dadu."
Dadu lovingly patted Raghav's head and said,
"No, my prince. If you don't go to school, how will you learn? Education is very important. I'm going to be here for two days. We'll talk a lot, but for now, go to school."
Raghav nodded and ran upstairs to bathe.
Chandrika ji said to Dadu,
"Father, you've come from so far… please rest a little."
Dadu stood up and replied,
"What you both did—I can neither forget it nor forgive you for it… so there's no need to show such concern now."
Aman ji stepped in and said,
"Father, please… can't you forgive us just once more… this one last time? I promise, from now on, I won't go against your word ever again…"
Kedarnath ji gave a faint smile and said,
"You didn't respect our words back then, my son, and now you're trying to win me over by promising things again… How noble of you…
You've fulfilled your duty as a son so wonderfully—it makes my chest swell with pride."
Aman ji lowered his head in silence, and Kedarnath ji walked toward the room.
Chandrika ji came beside Aman ji and said,
"Even after all these years, Father hasn't been able to forget the insult… maybe he never will."
Aman ji replied,
"Knowing that I was the reason for Father's humiliation makes it unbearable to live, Chandrika ji…
If only I had spoken to Father earlier, perhaps things would have turned out differently…"
Chandrika ji said, "I had told you that running away from home is not a solution to any problem, but you swore me to silence...
If only you had spoken to Father in time, he would never have promised to marry you to his friend's daughter."
Aman ji replied, "It was the foolishness of youth... now the past cannot be changed, we can only find a way to soften Father's anger."
Chandrika ji nodded in agreement, and the two of them held each other's hands, looking at the door to Father's room.
Meanwhile, Kedarnath ji sat in his room, sobbing. Even today, the insult still pierced his heart like glass. Wiping his weary old eyes, he drifted into memories of the past.
15 years ago
It was the atmosphere of a wedding. Kedarnath ji was joyfully managing everything under his own supervision. He had promised his friend, Ranjan Chaudhary, that his son, Aman, would marry Ranjan's daughter.
Aman's mother had passed away in his childhood, so Kedarnath had raised him with both a mother's and a father's love.
But on the day of the wedding, Aman ran away. Ranjan Chaudhary's daughter was sitting ready as a bride.
For Ranjan, this was a great insult. After all, what father could bear his daughter being left like that before marriage?
Ranjan Chaudhary hurled harsh words at Kedarnath, broke their long friendship, and cursed him—saying his children would never find happiness. Then, he left the city with his daughter.
Kedarnath couldn't bear the humiliation. He suffered a heart attack. Nearby people admitted him to the hospital, but he could never forget Aman's betrayal. From that day on, he severed all ties with his son and daughter-in-law forever.
However, when Raghav was born, his anger softened a little. In Raghav, he began to see a reflection of Aman's childhood. Slowly, he started visiting just to see Raghav.
Lost in his old memories, Kedarnath ji fell asleep right there on the sofa.
Later, Chandrika ji came into the room and, seeing him asleep, quietly left without waking him.
When Raghav returned from school, he ran straight to his grandfather's room. But seeing him asleep, he turned around to leave—just then, Kabir came dragging Siya by the hand and began trying to wake up Dadu.
Before Raghav could stop him, Kabir had already climbed on Dadu and started pulling at his mustache, saying,
"Dadu, wake up! Look, I'm here!"
Dadu, waking up, said with a smile,
"So, the grandfather of all little devils has arrived!"
Kabir: "Not grandfather of devils... just Dadu! Mom said you're my Dadu!"
Dadu pulled his cheeks and said,
"That's fine, young man, but at least tell me where you've been all day? Not once did you come to meet Dadu!"
Kabir, fumbling with his words, replied,
"Actually... it's like... ba-ba-ba...barbar-dar. Mom didn't tell me you were here. Bhaiya told me..."
Dadu laughed at his language and said,
"First of all, it's not barbar-dar, it's barakhurdar... And come, Dadu has brought you chocolates!"
Then Dadu opened his trunk.
Kabir, practically diving into the trunk, said,
"Dadu, did you bring the car? The one I asked for last Diwali?"
Dadu, pulling him back by the neck, said,
"Yes, Dadu brought everything—but first, get out of the way or you'll get hurt..."
But Kabir, being Kabir, pulled out each item from Dadu's trunk one by one and finally found the car and sat inside the trunk with it.
Dadu pulled his ear and said,
"You little rascal! You threw all my clothes out! You've got a PhD in mischief!"
Kabir, climbing out of the trunk, said,
"Dadu, this is Siya, my best friend. You should meet her!"
And he pointed to Siya.
Dadu glanced at Siya and then turned to Raghav, saying,
"Why is my prince standing there all alone? Won't you come to Dadu?"
Raghav ran and hugged Dadu tightly, while Siya, feeling ignored, stood there with a heavy heart.
Kabir showed the car to Siya and asked Dadu,
"Dadu, what did you bring for Siya?"
Dadu, in a cold tone, replied,
"She's not mine... she's an outsider. Gifts are for one's own."
Kabir, pulling on Dadu's dhoti, said,
"No, Dadu! She's my best friend... she's mine! Why didn't you bring anything for her?"
Because of Kabir's constant tugging, Dadu's dhoti came undone and he rushed into the bathroom trying to hold it up, while Kabir and Siya burst out laughing behind him.
Even Raghav couldn't help but laugh, though he covered his mouth and gave Kabir and Siya a stern look—prompting both of them to quickly run outside.
Raghav came out with Dadu, and Dadu began feeding Raghav with his own hands. Seeing this, Kabir also came running to be fed, and Dadu lovingly fed him too. But Siya wasn't going to be left behind—she too walked up and sat beside them. However, Dadu completely ignored her. Siya's eyes welled up with tears, seeing this.
Raghav gently broke a piece of his food and offered it to Siya.
Dadu looked at Raghav in surprise.
Siya took the bite from Raghav's hand, then made a face at Dadu and ran away playfully.
Dadu muttered in his Bengali tone,
"Se khubi badmash..."
("She's very naughty...")
Chandrika ji laughed and walked into the kitchen.
But deep down, Dadu didn't like Raghav's soft corner for Siya.
He didn't want his grandson's name to be tied to some ordinary girl.
That night, Dadu couldn't sleep. He spent the entire night worrying about Raghav. A dilemma had taken root in his heart—and even he didn't know what the outcome would be.
By morning, Dadu had made a hard decision—
He would take Raghav with him to Kolkata.
When Raghav came to him in the morning and touched his feet,
Dadu smiled and said,
"May you live a long life, my prince."
Raghav held his finger and pulled him outside.
Chandrika ji and Aman ji touched Dadu's feet too, and though unwillingly, Dadu gave them his blessings in Raghav's presence.
Kabir, watching everyone, also went to touch Dadu's feet, but Dadu quickly held his dhoti and said,
"Son, are you really here to touch my feet... or are you planning to embarrass your Dadu again?"
Kabir, with his mischievous smile, replied,
"Till now, I came just to touch your feet, but now... I'm reconsidering my intentions!"
Chandrika ji pulled his ear and scolded,
"Is that how you talk to your grandfather?"
Kabir, in pain, said,
"I won't do it again, Mom! Sorry! Dadu, save me!"
As soon as Chandrika ji let go of his ear, Kabir clung tightly to Dadu.
Everyone laughed and had breakfast together.
Afterward, Raghav walked toward the car with Kabir. Suddenly, Siya came running from her house and was about to bump into a pole. Raghav caught her forehead just in time and pulled her back—causing her to fall slightly against him.
He steadied her and said firmly,
"Walk with your eyes open..."
Siya, making a face, went to walk with Kabir.
Raghav sat in the front seat while Siya and Kabir sat in the back—and soon, the two were bickering over something again.
Raghav, tired of their endless arguments, turned to look out the window. The cool morning breeze brushed against his skin—these were moments Raghav cherished deeply. That gentle wind gave him the same comfort and peace as his mother's lap once did.
Watching dry leaves fall from trees brought him an odd sense of fulfillment; to Raghav, they were like tiny treasures.
The early morning sky—bathed in a soft bluish hue, blended with the golden sunlight—formed ever-changing shapes in the clouds, and trying to recognize those shapes gave Raghav a joy unmatched by anything else.
The journey from home to school took barely 15 minutes, but in those 15 minutes, Raghav lived what felt like 15 full hours. Every time he observed the miracles of nature, a thought echoed in his mind—How magnificent and captivating must the Creator be... the one who designed such a breathtaking world? Each corner of this earth holds a unique joy. What a magical mind that must be, to imagine such wonders...
Lost in these thoughts, Raghav reached school. As always, he silently walked toward his classroom without saying a word to anyone.
He always sat by the window—so he could gaze at the garden, at the lush greenery, at the tiny lives hiding within that green world.
He loved listening to the birds chirp, watching squirrels dig small holes to hide their food, and when the fragrance of blooming flowers reached his nose, even the most expensive perfumes at home felt dull in comparison.
Raghav paid little attention to what the teacher said—his heart remained captured by nature's poetry unfolding outside the classroom.
Back at home, after Raghav left for school, Dadu (Kedarnath ji) finally shared his decision with everyone, and the room fell into stunned silence.
Chandrika ji, her voice trembling, said:
"Father, he's my son... he's still very young. How will he live without his mother at such a tender age?"
Kedarnath, with a trace of sternness, replied:
"Why? Didn't Aman also grow up without a mother? Did we not give him both a mother's and a father's love? Is there any fault in the way we raised him? Tell me—was anything lacking in your upbringing?"
Aman ji spoke up:
"You didn't let me feel any lack—if anything, you loved me more than other children. But my situation and Raghav's are different. I didn't have a mother... but Raghav does. Separating a child from his mother while she's alive—is that justice?"
Kedarnath, laced with sarcasm, retorted:
"Yes, of course. That must be the greatest crime... But when she took our son away from us forever, that wasn't a crime? When a father's honor was dragged through the mud in public, when his self-respect was torn to shreds—was that not a sin? Today, all we asked for is our grandson, and now suddenly we are the criminals in your eyes... So be it. If that's how it is, then I have no place here. I'll leave this house by tonight."
Chandrika ji, falling at Kedarnath ji's feet, pleaded—
"Please don't say that, Father… Raghav is as much yours as he is ours. All I ask is for a little time—please, give us some time."
Aman ji tried to intervene—
"But Chandrika ji..."
Chandrika reassured him with a blink of her eyes, and Aman stepped back silently. Kedarnath ji stood and walked back to his room.
That night, no one could sleep.
Chandrika ji explained everything to Raj ji and Yamuna ji, and after much discussion and contemplation, everyone agreed—Kedarnath ji was right. When they finally gave their consent, Dadu was overwhelmed with joy. His grandson Raghav would be going with him.
Raghav, on the other hand, had no expression on his face. He didn't want to leave his parents, nor did he want to be separated from Dadu. And besides… who would clean up after all the mess Kabir created once he was gone?
No one asked Raghav what he wanted. And Raghav didn't say anything either. He simply watched everything in silence—like an inanimate object.
Dadu brought lots of gifts and chocolates for Kabir. Then, taking Raghav by the hand, he began to walk him out of the house. Just then, Chandrika ji rushed forward and embraced Raghav tightly. Tears welled up in Raghav's eyes too, and he clung to his mother, crying.
It was a rare and heart-wrenching farewell between a mother and son. For a moment, Dadu's heart softened, and he almost reconsidered taking Raghav with him. But his ego overpowered his emotions, and he hardened himself once again.
Aman ji hugged Raghav and said—
"Study well, don't trouble Dadu too much, eat on time... And if there's any problem, call me. I'm not that far away, son."
Raghav nodded silently. He hugged Raj ji and Yamuna ji, who kissed his forehead one after another and told him to take care.
When Raghav looked at Kabir, the little boy burst into tears and threw himself into his brother's arms—
"Bhaiya, where are you going? Please don't go... I won't eat your chocolates, I won't even ask you to help with homework... I'll be a good boy like you... Just don't leave..."
Raghav didn't say a word. He simply stroked Kabir's head lovingly.
Aman ji picked Kabir up, but the boy thrashed in his arms, crying and begging to be put down.
Raghav turned toward Siya, gently wiped her tears, and said—
"Take care of yourself..."
It was the first time in all these years that Raghav had spoken to Siya with such warmth. He never used to talk to her—truthfully, he barely spoke to anyone. He was always a quiet, withdrawn boy.
He walked forward, held Dadu's finger, and waved goodbye to everyone.
Dadu opened the car door, seated Raghav inside, and then got in himself.
The car started to move. As it rolled away, everyone followed behind, as if unwilling to let go.
They kept walking behind the car until it disappeared from sight.
Kabir still hadn't stopped crying. He was lying on the ground, sobbing. Chandrika ji, on her knees, wept as well. Aman ji stood motionless, still staring in the direction where the car had gone.
Siya's eyes were full, and Yamuna ji hugged her tightly, crying. Raj ji held Aman by the shoulder to console him.