“We are sitting in Aditya’s underground room. I know he calls it his den and he has told me that whenever he feels lonely and restless, he comes here and plays his favourite guitar. But I don’t know why he feels lonely and restless. Today I am here to step into that unknown territory of his heart. I know he has an ocean of untold emotions and pain hidden inside him and here I am to share that burden.”

Aditya makes Nandana sit on the edge of the bed and pulls a chair to sit on it facing her straight.

“You wanted to know how I lost my parents…right?”

Aditya says in a grave voice, eyeing Nandana’s wondering orbs. Nandana bobs in consent.

“But before that, you should know who my parents were and how was my life with them.”

Aditya pauses for a while and sighs. He sits on the chair squarely and starts reminiscing.

“My Dad Mr Raj Oberoi was one of the top business moguls of this country. You can say money, power and influence were part of his daily life. Needless to say, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Dad loved me to the moon and back but due to his hectic and busy schedule, he hardly could give me any time and my mother Mrs Malini Oberoi used to fill this void in my life. She was a singer. A classical singer. I heard that she used to perform on stage and functions before her marriage. My father saw my mother at one such function and he fell in love with her. Within a week he proposed to her and after a couple of months, they got married. But you know, when my Dad married my Mom, he was not that rich. He didn’t belong to the middle class though, his business started shoring high after my Mom came into his life. And for this reason, he considered her his lucky charm. Their love was an example in society. A true fairytale love until that lady entered this story like a witch. Ms Menaka Patel. Mom’s best friend. A playback singer.”

Aditya looks at Nandana. His eyes are filled with some abhorrence. He gets up from the chair and walks toward the bar counter. Nandana’s silent eyes are measuring his agitation. She knows that he needs something to calm him down. Aditya pours some whiskey in a glass and again comes to Nandana but doesn’t sit. Abruptly he asks,

“Do you know who was Menaka in our mythology? She was an Apsara (nymph) who was sent to lure saint Vishwamitra and break his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishwamitra’s lust and passion and broke his meditation. Just what Menaka Patel did to my Dad. She entered our house and our happiness eluded our life. My Dad Mr Raj Oberoi could never give proper time to his wife and his married life but he never threw my Mom out of his heart. The husband's love and care were there…always; until he saw Menaka. Menaka Patel was very close to my Mom and knew very well about her frustration due to Dad’s workaholic nature. She encashed my Mom’s vulnerability and started creating differences between my Mom and Dad. I remember how they used to fight even in front of me. I used to hear my Mom’s sobs for the entire night. On the other hand, Dad was inclining toward alcohol and gradually moving away from my Mom. Here Ms Menaka Patel played her masterstroke. She gave her shoulder to Mr Raj Oberoi and he got trapped. They started their illicit affair behind the back of my Mom. My Mom was so naïve and innocent that she never expected this betrayal from her husband and her best friend.”

Aditya is roaming in the room, occasionally sipping on his drink. It is evident that this painful reminiscence is not easy for him. If some other times, Nandana might have stopped him but she knows how much necessary for him to vent out the poison which is burning inside him. Aditya refills the glass and continues with a razor-sharp tone.

“One day I saw my Dad with that bitch in a compromising position and told everything to my Mom. At first, she didn’t believe me but later she confronted Dad and ironically that honest man admitted his guilt. It was like a bolt out of the blue for her but this time she made a strong decision. She asked for a divorce and tried to come out of our house along with me. However, my Dad was not ready for it. Perhaps he never expected this big step from his demure and mentally soft wife. He never imagined how his life would be without my Mom and his only son? Maybe we value those things only then when they are no longer in our life. My Dad surrendered to my Mom. He accepted his mistake and asked for another chance because it was too much for him to lose both of us. My Mom agreed. Maybe because of her love towards him or maybe because she didn’t want me to be deprived of fatherly love. But now I think she did the biggest mistake of her life. In order to save her home and relationship, she put her life at stake. When my Dad chose his family over Menaka, she showed her true colour. She planned to uproot the hindrance on her way to achieving her ultimate goal…my Dad and his opulence. She planned to kill my Mom and me. But it had to look like an accident. One day my Mom was supposed to take me to my music classes. She used to go with me to my every activity class like music, summing or lawn tennis. Initially, I used to complain about it. But that time I was an 8 yrs old kid and my Mom was overprotective about me.”

A soft affectionate grin flashes on Aditya’s eyes. He perches beside Nandana. His eyes are fixed on his guitar, but his mind is far…far away from this room. His lips part.

“We were about to leave for my class. My Mom drove the car and stayed in the class until it was over. And after that, we used to go to an ice cream shop or to my favourite beaches. It was my reward or compensation for behaving like a good boy in the class. Ha…ha...That day was not an exception until Dad said he will drop us in the class as he has some important work on the way. I was a kid but not that much ignorant that I can’t understand his intention. He wanted to spend some time with his family. Perhaps he started realizing his mistake. We reached my class and as expected my Dad was with me. He didn’t have any such important work that he couldn’t ignore. After a long time, I was happy. I was with my parents….together. My family was complete. That day was the happiest day of my life. But as it is said…nothing is permanent and happiness is not for sure. After almost a whole day out with lots of fun, ice cream, lark in the seashore and piling up the car dickey with toys, we were returning home. It was near about 9 pm. The road was partially bleak. Dad was driving. Mom was sitting beside him and I was in the back seat, playing with my play store. Suddenly a truck zoomed past our car. Mom yelled in fright. Dad tried to pacify her and pressed the brake. But…but….”

Aditya’s eyes widen in fear. He gulps the liquor and licks his lips. Nandana rests her palm on his thigh. It breaks his reverie. He looks at her and keeps on staring for a while.

“But?...”

Nandana asks softly.

“But the car didn’t slow down. It was fanatically racing on the bleak road. Dad was trying his best to keep the steering steady. Mom was looking at the road ahead with her panic-stricken eyes. I screamed…Dad…slow down…It’s scary. Mom turned and stretched her hand to hold me. I grabbed her trembling hand. With a dry throat, Dad said that the brake is not working. He can’t slow down the speed. My Mom yelled again and impelled my Dad to do something but nothing was in his hand. That bitch Menaka Patel planned everything very efficiently. She knew that every day Mom takes me to my class and an accident can wipe away the hindrance from her way forever. But your God had some other plan too. Perhaps he didn’t want her to play this game so smoothly and he sent my Dad into the scene. Maybe your God wanted to punish my Dad for his disloyalty but he forgot that two innocent people are going to be punished too in his game. My Mom and me.”

Aditya takes a deep breath and continues,

“Dad said to my Mom to go to the back seat and jump from the car with me. There was no other option to save their son. Initially, Mom denied but Dad pushed her towards me and she came in the back seat. I hugged her in fear. At that tender age, I was watching our death approaching us…slowly. Mom tied her dupatta on my head like a turban and kissed my forehead with all her love. I still remember how her eyes were shimmering with tears yet hope. The car was still racing like a formula one car. Suddenly Mom opened a door and pushed me outside. Simultaneously, a bright light and a deafening crashing sound turned everything upside. A scream let out of my mouth….MOM…a sharp pang made me dizzy and I sunk into the darkness.”

Aditya pauses for a while. Sweat beads form on his forehead. Nandana shifts her hand from his thigh to his shoulder.

“After that?...”

She asks in a trembling voice. Aditya sighs and bends down his face.

“After two days I gained my sense in a bed of a nursing home. At the last moment, my Mom decided not to leave her husband. He chose death over separation from her love. She pushed me from the car and because of her dupatta which was tied to my head, I only fractured my hand. The eyewitnesses said that our car became a ball of iron after ramming a truck and the next moment it exploded like a bomb. The police didn’t even find out my parents’ dead bodies. They became ashes.”

Nandana could feel the void in his tone. She squeezes his shoulder as she tries to lessen his pain.

“Didn’t the police find out Maneka’s hand behind this accident? Didn’t you have any relatives who can take care of you? I mean you were a kid. How did you manage all this? Your life, your Dad’s business. How?”

Nandana can’t hold herself from asking. Aditya gets up and again heads to the bar counter but this time Nandana follows him. It’s enough for her. It is just the morning and she doesn’t want him to be drunk. As he opens the lid of the whisky bottle Nandana rests her hand on his and wobbles in denial. Aditya’s eyes beam with abhorrence.

“Don’t you want the answer to your question? I can’t answer them in my sense; so, let me have it.”

His eyes had something which forces Nandana to remove her hand. Aditya pours a good amount of whisky into the glass and gulps it in one go and grimaces.

“My relatives came to the nursing home only to see if I am dead so they can swoop on my Dad’s wealth as vultures. But they forgot that I not only had my Dad’s blood but also a businessmanlike brain. I took all the control in my hand. Dad’s manager, Ayan’s father Abhiroop uncle helped me with this. I finished my studies and along with this, I was taking care of the business. Police investigated but didn’t find any clue about the murder and eventually shut down the case as a random road accident. Menaka had gone from my life but I didn’t go from her life. After 10 years I met her but within two months she died in a car accident. Same place, same spot and the same destiny. It’s was like history repeats itself.”

A sinister smile creeps on Aditya’s lips.