The sleek lines of Abhi's luxury car glided through the city streets, purring like a contented cat. Abhi, cool as a cucumber behind the wheel, navigated the familiar route home with the ease of someone who could do it in his sleep. Rudra, his old partner in crime, sat shotgun, occasionally stealing glances at the world flashing by. In the backseat, Sashi had her nose buried in her phone, juggling messages like a circus act while still keeping one eye on the outside world.
As the car rolled along smoothly, Abhi's curiosity finally got the better of him. "Rudra, what's the story with Veer today? Isn't he supposed to be with us?"
Rudra's lips curled into a sly grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Veer's got his hands full. He's spending time with his future son-in-law."
The words hit Abhi like a bolt from the blue. His grip on the steering wheel tightened ever so slightly, his mind spinning like a top. "Son-in-law? Since when?"
In the back, Sashi looked up from her phone as if someone had hit pause on her world. "Veer? Son-in-law? Spill the beans! Who's the lucky guy?"
Rudra, clearly enjoying the moment, leaned back with the smug satisfaction of someone holding all the cards. "Why don't you two take a wild guess?"
Abhi and Sashi exchanged looks, their minds racing like horses at the starting gate.
The car hummed along, the soft background music creating an almost serene bubble. Abhi's brow furrowed as he glanced at Rudra, his patience wearing thinner than ice on a sunny day. Finally, he broke the silence. "Alright, Rudra, quit beating around the bush. Who's Veer's future son-in-law?"
Rudra's grin widened, the cat clearly enjoying its cornered mice. "His name is Nand."
The name hit like a thunderclap on a sunny afternoon, leaving Abhi and Sashi staring at Rudra as if he'd just sprouted a second head.
Abhi's hands gripped the steering wheel like a lifeline. Without realizing it, his foot hit the brake, and the car came to a sudden halt, the tires letting out a faint squeal. His voice was incredulous as he turned to Rudra. "Nand? Are you pulling my leg? How on earth did Veer decide on Nand? And what about Venya? Is she on board with this?"
Rudra, cool as a cucumber, met Abhi's bewildered stare with a knowing nod. "Veer and Nand are two peas in a pod. As for Venya, she's over the moon about it. They're head over heels for each other."
Sashi, still piecing the puzzle together, chimed in, her eyes wide as saucers. "Wait a minute. When did all this happen? Talk about keeping us in the dark!"
Abhi's mind whirled, connecting dots like a detective in a crime novel. Suddenly, a light bulb went off. He turned to Rudra, his voice sharp with urgency. "Hold on a second, Rudra. Who is Nand, anyway?"
Abhi had once caught sight of Rudra looking after Nand in a hospital, and it didn't take a genius to see that the two shared a bond deeper than just passing acquaintances. After being out of the picture for 15 years, Abhi had figured a lot of water must have passed under the bridge for Rudra during that time. Rudra had likely met all sorts of people, and Abhi couldn't help but wonder if he might have played some part in this chapter of Rudra's life. What intrigued him most was the nature of Rudra's connection to Nand.
Rudra's smile softened, a flicker of old memories lighting up his eyes. "Nand is my adopted son."
For a heartbeat, the car was as silent as the grave, the revelation settling over them like a heavy fog. Abhi's mind ran in circles, wrestling with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Questions buzzed in his head like bees in a hive.
He pieced together his own theory: Rudra had left Rajeev behind all those years ago. Could it be that guilt or longing had led him to adopt and raise Nand? The idea lingered in Abhi's thoughts, tying knots in his mind.
But another puzzle presented itself, pulling him in a different direction. Abhi couldn't shake the nagging thought: Nand and Nandini… they look so alike. Could they be two peas in a pod? Twins, maybe? He opened his mouth to air his suspicions, but before he could, Sashi's words cut through his musings.
Sashi leaned forward, her curiosity written all over her face. "Come on, Rudra, don't keep us in the dark. Spill the beans—how did Nand and Venya cross paths?"
Rudra, unruffled as ever, kept his cool. "That's a long story," he said with a faint smile. "One that deserves its own time and place."
Abhi wasn't about to let it drop, though. His eyes pinned Rudra with a look of determination. "No excuses, Rudra. Lay it all out for us. How did this all come to be?"
Rudra gave a slow nod, meeting Abhi's gaze with a knowing look. "Alright," he said quietly. "Let me tell you the story of Nand and how he became such a big part of my life."
Just as Rudra was about to dive into the tale, the way Abhi and Sashi hung on his every word struck a chord. It brought to mind memories of his parents, tugging at the edges of his heart. Deciding that the beginning was the best place to start, he resolved to share that part of the story first.