I'm not like them but I can pretend..

South City, New Delhi..

That evening, Vidhant sat down with Rishu and Reet. He gently touched Rishu's bruised cheek, his heart aching for his son. "Rishu, Reet, I heard what happened at school."

Rishu looked down, avoiding his father's eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't want you to worry."

"You don’t have to apologize, buddy," Vidhant said softly. "What those kids said was wrong, and I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself and your sister. But fighting isn’t the answer."

Reet, sitting quietly beside her brother, spoke up. "We didn't know what to say when they talked about Mom. We don’t know anything about her."

Vidhant nodded, taking a deep breath. "It's time we talked about your mother. She died when you were just babies but it had nothing to do with you or anything you did.", Vidhant explained gently.

"It... means... we are bad, that's why Mom left us?" Reet asked, tears welling up in her eyes. Rishu, sitting beside her, passed her a cold shoulder, trying to hold back his own emotions.

"No, my baby doll, never," Vidhant said, his heart breaking at seeing their pain. He hugged her tightly, his voice soft but firm. It was a pure white lie he was feeding to his twins. How could he tell them that their mom was so selfish that she left them? He didn’t want his children to suffer the emotional stress that would affect their mental health.

As he held Reet and Rishu, Vidhant’s mind raced. He had to protect them from the harsh reality. If she could be selfish enough to leave the twins, he could be selfless by shielding them from that truth. The lie was a heavy burden, but he believed it was for the best.

"If she can be selfish enough to leave behind the twins, I can also do the same by telling the kids that their mother died," he thought, his resolve hardening.

"God wanted your mom to be a star, so he took her," Vidhant continued, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "It had nothing to do with you. She loved you very much."

Reet sniffled, nestling closer to her father. "Will we ever see her again?"

"She'll always be with us in our hearts," Vidhant reassured her. "We can talk about her anytime you want. Remember, she’s watching over us from the stars."

Rishu, still struggling with his emotions, asked quietly, "Why didn’t she stay? If she loved us, why didn’t she stay?"

Vidhant took a deep breath, looking into his son’s eyes. "Sometimes, people have to leave for reasons we can’t understand. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t love us. Your mother loved you both very much, and she would have stayed if she could."

God wanted your mom to be a star, so he took her. It was nothing you did, and it wasn’t because of you."Reet sniffled, clinging to her father.

"But why, Dad? Why did she have to go?"Vidhant sighed, struggling to find the right words. "Sometimes, things happen that we can't understand. Your mom loved you very much. She would have wanted to be here with you if she could.ĺ

"Rishu, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "So, she didn't leave because of us?"

"No, Rishu," Vidhant assured him, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "She left because she had to, not because of anything you did. You both were the best thing in her life, and she loved you deeply."Reet wiped her tears, trying to process what her father was saying.

"Will we ever see her again?"Vidhant hugged both of them tightly. "She'll always be with us in our hearts, and we can talk about her anytime you want. We can remember the good things and know that she's watching over us."

Vidhant’s decision to protect his children with a white lie about their mother’s departure was a difficult one, but it was made out of love and a desire to shield them from pain. As they moved forward, the truth remained a delicate balance, one that Vidhant hoped would help his children grow into strong, resilient individuals, despite the complexities of their past.

*****************

Later that night, Reet and Rishu's minds were still processing the information their father had shared about their mother. Rishu, being the colder one, was adept at hiding his emotions, while Reet struggled to express herself.

Vidhant thought his kids had fallen asleep, so he moved to his room to complete his pending work that needed to be submitted by tomorrow.

Rishu didn't feel like sleeping. To distract his mind, he focused on his iPad, playing a game, while Reet stared at the stars, longing for her mother's love.

"Rishu bhai... I heard Grandma talking to Aunty about Dad's marriage," Reet said, still upset.

Rishu, who didn't want to discuss anything now, sighed in anger. He hated his mother for leaving them when they needed her the most.

"I don't know, Reet, how to respond to all this. All I know is I hate Mom for leaving us all alone," Rishu said in a cold tone.

"But God... took our mom," Reet replied, conflicted.

"I hate God and Mom both for leaving us in misery," Rishu's hateful words brought tears to Reet's eyes. Seeing his little sister cry, Rishu's own eyes began to well up with tears.

"Bhai... I want my mummy back," she sobbed.

"Reet... I too want... but... I..." He was at a loss for words. He quickly wiped away Reet's tears.

"You know, when I look at my friends' moms, I get jealous because they are so lucky to have a mom who adores them with love," Reet smiled painfully.

"Reet, we are mature enough," Rishu said, his eyes welling up. A 5-year-old boy, he acted far more mature than his age.

"You know Dad did everything for us, and he loves us so much," Rishu tried to validate his point.

"Yes, I know bhai," Reet whispered. "But it still hurts, Rishu. I miss her, even though I never really knew her."

Rishu nodded, feeling the same pain. "I know, Reet. It hurts me too. But we have to be strong, for Dad and for each other."

Reet nodded, wiping her tears away. "Do you think Dad will get married again?"

"I don't know," Rishu replied honestly. "But if he does, i don't know the new mom will be like."

"I watch in movies the stepmother abuses the children" Reet conflicted "You know Reet what to do. We will not tolerate anything and make her cry to enter in our dad's life"

As they sat together, Rishu put his arm around Reet, and they found comfort in each other's presence. They knew they had to be strong for their father and themselves, even if it meant dealing with their own pain and confusion.

Meanwhile, Vidhant worked late into the night, unaware of the conversation happening between his children. He hoped that by shielding them from the harsh truth, he was protecting their fragile hearts. Little did he know that Rishu and Reet were already grappling with emotions far beyond their years, trying to find their own way to cope with the loss of a mother they never truly knew.

Rishu was much more mature and sophisticated when it came to hiding his emotions. It was nothing short of a miracle how he behaved like an adult when faced with life-altering decisions. Despite being only five years old, he had developed an uncanny ability to mask his true feelings and remain composed.

Reet, on the other hand, had also grown beyond her years. She had learned to read situations and people, knowing exactly where to talk, how to respond, and how to react without making others doubt her maturity.

That night, after their heartfelt conversation, Rishu and Reet tried to sleep, but the weight of their thoughts kept them awake. Rishu, pretending to be engrossed in his iPad, was really reflecting on their earlier talk. He couldn't help but feel a deep-seated anger towards their mother and a sense of duty to protect his sister and support their father.

Reet, lying beside him, stared at the stars, her mind swirling with questions and emotions. Despite her age, she understood the delicate balance they had to maintain. She knew she had to be strong, not just for herself but for her brother and father as well.

***************

London, United Kingdom..

After the successful event, Ruhi's business exploded with new wedding bookings. It became increasingly difficult for her to maintain everything. She found herself overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with the nonstop demands of her job. The sheer volume of work left her with barely any time to breathe, as she juggled preparing for weddings, meeting clients, and coordinating arrangements according to each venue.

Every day was a whirlwind of activity. Ruhi spent her mornings at meetings with clients, her afternoons coordinating with vendors, and her evenings managing her team and finalizing details for upcoming events. Her phone was constantly ringing, and her inbox was perpetually full. Each wedding required her full attention, from choosing the right flowers to ensuring the venue was perfect.

Ruhi was incredibly proud of her team. Despite the overwhelming workload, they were doing a commendable job, handling everything from early mornings to late-night parties without showing any signs of anger or frustration. Whether it was coordinating last-minute changes, dealing with demanding clients, or ensuring every detail was perfect, her team managed it all with grace and professionalism.

Her team’s dedication was evident in everything they did. They were always ready to go the extra mile to ensure that every client’s wedding was a flawless event. From selecting designs to executing the smallest details, they worked tirelessly to meet and exceed client expectations. Ruhi often marveled at their ability to stay calm and composed, even when faced with the inevitable traumas and dramas that came with wedding planning.

***************

Despite being engrossed in her work today, Ruhi felt an overwhelming hollowness inside her. She couldn't decipher what she was feeling; it was as if a storm of panic, anxiety, and suffocation was brewing within her, leaving her heart unsettled.

Even though Ruhi had tried to immerse herself in work for the past few days, it wasn't helping. The distraction she sought from her tasks failed her. Instead, she felt a strange, inexplicable sense of deep pain, almost as if someone else was suffering and she was feeling it too. This mysterious connection frustrated her to no end.

Tillthengoodbye
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