As the evening deepened into night, the family gathered around the dining table. Rudra joined them, eager to escape the confines of his room and try to figure things out. The warm, comforting smells of home-cooked food filled the air as Kiran placed dishes on the table.
During dinner, Karan cleared his throat, his gaze shifting between Rudra and Kiran. "So, there's something we've been meaning to talk to you about, Rudra. We were planning to discuss it earlier, but with everything that happened…"
Rudra looked up, his expression attentive. "What is it, Uncle?"
Karan exchanged a glance with Kiran before continuing. "We've been thinking about making you a permanent part of our family—officially. We want to adopt you, Rudra."
The words hung in the air, and Rudra felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He had known this was coming, but hearing it again, in this context, felt different—heavier.
Kiran chimed in, her voice gentle. "We've grown so fond of you, beta. You're like a son to us already, but we want to make it official. What do you think?"
Before Rudra could respond, Karan turned to their young son, Kartik, who was sitting across from Rudra. "And Kartik, how would you feel about having Rudra as your older brother?"
Kartik's face lit up with excitement, his eyes wide with delight. "Really? I'd love that! We can play together, and he can teach me all the cool things he knows!"
Rudra couldn't help but smile at Kartik's enthusiasm, the warmth of the moment briefly pushing aside his confusion.
Karan chuckled, reaching over to ruffle Kartik's hair. "Looks like you've got a fan, Rudra."
Rudra nodded slowly, his emotions a mix of gratitude, guilt, and something he couldn't quite name. "I'd… I'd like that too. Thank you, Uncle… Auntie… for everything."
Kartik, being the energetic little boy he was, clapped his hands excitedly. "Yay! I always wanted a big brother!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with innocent joy. "We can play together, right, Rudra bhaiya? You'll teach me all the cool stuff, and we can have fun every day!"
Commander Batra chuckled, ruffling Kartik's hair. "Yes, Kartik, you'll have someone to play with. But remember, Rudra will also need time to adjust. It's a big change for him too."
Kartik nodded eagerly, though the depth of what his father said may not have fully sunk in. "I know, Dad! But it'll be so cool to have him here!"
Commander Batra turned to Rudra, his voice growing softer, more serious. "Rudra, we know we can't replace your father and mother... And we wouldn't want to. There's a special place in your heart for them as well as in ours, and there always will be."
Karan reached over, gently placing a hand on Rudra's. "We miss them too, Rudra. Ranveer was my friend as much as he was your father. We don't expect you to forget him, or to feel like you have to... but if it feels okay, if it helps... you can call us Mom and Dad."
Kiran raised her hand and kept it on his other shoulder, her eyes warm and full of understanding. "We'll raise you like our own, Rudra, but we'll never try to take the place of your real parents. This is your home now, and we're all family."
The conversation continued, with Kiran and Karan discussing the legalities of the adoption, but Rudra's mind was elsewhere, still grappling with the surreal nature of his situation.
After dinner, Rudra returned to his room, where the familiar surroundings once again enveloped him. As he sat on the edge of the bed, the events of the day replayed in his mind. The gears in his head began turning, wrestling with the logic that traveling back in time or surviving such a catastrophic fall was impossible. His rational mind insisted that what he was experiencing couldn't be real, that it was beyond the realm of possibility.
Yet, his heart told a different story. It whispered that everything he had seen and felt was too vivid, too tangible to be a mere illusion. The warmth of Kiran's touch, the scent of the home-cooked meal, Kartik's innocent excitement—each detail was etched in his memory with the clarity of lived experience.
He took a deep breath, letting the reality of his situation sink in. Somehow, against all odds, he had not only survived that near-fatal fall but had also been transported back to March 1996. This wasn't just a dream or a hallucination; it was a second chance, a miraculous opportunity to rewrite his past.
Rudra's thoughts shifted from disbelief to determination. If this truly was a second chance at life, he couldn't afford to squander it. The mistakes he had made, the regrets that had haunted him for years—this was his opportunity to set things right. He resolved, then and there, that he would live fully, embracing every moment with purpose. He would fulfill all his duties, both to his past and present, and ensure that the choices he made this time would lead to a better future.
The weight of his decision settled over him, not as a burden, but as a sense of resolve. Rudra knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy—he was, after all, reliving a life that had already been lived once. But this time, with the wisdom of experience and the clarity of hindsight, he would navigate it differently.
Lying back on the bed, he stared at the ceiling, feeling the surge of emotions within him—gratitude, determination, and a sense of purpose. This was his second chance, and he wasn't going to waste it. With that thought, he slowly drifted off to sleep.