Chapter 36 - Chapter 35

The sun had begun its descent, casting a warm, golden glow across the clearing where Nitish's parents had gathered, along with Lord Parasurama. The air was filled with a sense of anticipation as they engaged in a solemn discussion. The prospect of Nitish's future, his training, and the unfolding events weighed heavily on their minds.

Nitish took a seat beside his parents, his gaze alternating between their faces and the verdant surroundings. Lord Parasurama's presence added a gravitas to the discussion, his wisdom and experience serving as a guiding force.

As they deliberated, Nitish's thoughts meandered through the recent revelations. The encounter with Rama, Sahasraa Advaita, and the prospect of the gurukula had left him contemplating the choices that lay ahead. He yearned for clarity, for a sense of direction in this ever-expanding web of destiny.

Amidst the discussion, Nitish sensed a ripple in the atmosphere—an arrival that carried no hostility. His attention shifted, and his gaze settled upon a pair of elderly figures who approached the gathering. Their demeanor exuded a sense of grace and serenity that spoke of years well-lived.

The old couple's eyes held a mixture of emotions as they stood before Nitish. The air crackled with a poignant silence, each moment charged with unspoken feelings. Then, with a soft smile, the woman spoke, her voice carrying a weight of truth that resonated within Nitish's heart.

"We are your birth parents," she said, her words a gentle revelation that cascaded like a waterfall through the clearing.

Nitish's heart skipped a beat as he met their gaze. Emotions surged within him—curiosity, wonder, and an inexplicable sense of connection. He looked from one face to another, recognizing familiar features that were etched within his own visage.

The man nodded in affirmation, his voice tinged with warmth. "We lost you at birth, and our lives were marked by an eternal search."

Nitish's mind raced, attempting to reconcile the past with the present. He had grown up with the love and care of the parents who had raised him, but the sudden appearance of these individuals stirred a storm of emotions within him.

The woman's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "It was only recently that destiny led us to the very sign that marked you as ours—the sun-shaped mole on your shoulder."

Nitish's hand instinctively moved to touch the mark, his fingertips tracing the contours of the sun-shaped birth sign. The weight of the revelation settled upon him, intertwining the threads of his life with those who had borne him into the world.

A new presence emerged from behind the couple, a young man whose features bore a striking resemblance to Nitish's. He was handsome, his eyes alight with curiosity and an air of recognition. Their gazes locked, a silent acknowledgment of the connection that bound them.

The young man extended his hand, his voice holding a note of camaraderie. "I am your brother."

The sun's golden rays bathed the clearing in a warm embrace, casting a sense of serenity upon the scene. Nitish stood before the couple who had revealed themselves as his birth parents, a multitude of emotions coursing through him like a river of memories. His heart pulsed with curiosity, joy, and a touch of trepidation as he faced the past he had never known.

The woman's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice soft but resolute. "We were forced to make a painful choice, one that haunts us to this day. But with time, our hearts never ceased to long for the child we had lost."

The man's features carried the weight of years, etched with the traces of a life marked by the absence of a loved one. "We could never forget you," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "As the years went by, the void you left in our lives grew deeper."

Nitish listened with a mixture of compassion and curiosity, his heart open to the revelations that were pouring forth. The truth of his origins was finally unveiled, and he couldn't help but be moved by the profound depth of their words.

The woman's gaze met Nitish's, her eyes reflecting a lifetime of longing. "We were young and vulnerable, and circumstances forced our hands. We wanted to protect you, even if it meant giving you a life we couldn't provide."

The man's voice quivered with regret as he continued, "We entrusted you to those who could give you a better life—those who adopted you and raised you as their own."

Nitish's heart swelled with understanding as he realized the gravity of their choice. The complexities of life and the choices it demanded were laid bare before him. He harbored no resentment, only a profound sense of empathy for the parents who had made a heart-wrenching decision for his sake.

"We abandoned you, and for that, we can never truly forgive ourselves," the woman said, her voice heavy with sorrow.

Tears welled up in Nitish's eyes as he stepped forward, his heart filled with compassion for the parents who had now revealed their story. He extended his hand, a gesture of reconciliation that transcended the past. "Life's paths are often winding and unforeseen," he said, his voice soft but firm. "But the present is an opportunity for healing and understanding."

As Nitish's words hung in the air, the clearing seemed to hold its breath. The weight of years of separation and longing converged in this moment, a crossroads where the past intersected with the present.

Just then, a rustling in the underbrush caught their attention. Emerging from the foliage, Lord Parasurama stepped forward, his presence a calming influence upon the charged atmosphere. His wisdom was like a balm for the wounds of the past, a bridge that connected the dots of destiny.

"Forgiveness is the cornerstone of growth," Lord Parasurama said, his voice carrying a wisdom that transcended time. "The choices of the past have shaped your lives, but the present offers a chance to rewrite your story."

The birth parents looked to Lord Parasurama with a mixture of gratitude and awe, their hearts touched by his words. They nodded, the weight of their shared past gradually easing.

As the sun began its descent, Nitish's birth parents took a step forward, their hearts heavy with hope. "We have found you again," the woman said, her voice a fragile thread of emotion.

Nitish met their gaze, his heart brimming with a newfound connection that was both humbling and profound. "The past cannot be changed, but the future is a canvas awaiting our touch."

With those words, the past seemed to release its grip, and the clearing was transformed into a space of renewal and possibility. The birth parents took Nitish's hands in theirs, the touch of their hands bridging the years of separation.