The car screeched to a halt, and Aanand's body jerked forward, pulling him back into reality. His hand instinctively grabbed Rudraksh's unconscious form in his lap to save him from any fall. The soft fabric of Rudraksh's jacket bunched up under his fingers as he grasped it tightly. His eyes darted to the entrance of his house, and he sighed heavily.

The thud sound echoed in the silent environment, punctuated by the sound of crickets chirping in the background. Balwant emerged from the driver's seat, the creaking of the door and the rustle of fabrics accompanying his movements. Aanand straightened Rudraksh's posture, making him lean back in the seat, and then stepped out of the car. The cool night air enveloped him, and he adjusted the shawl around his body in a swift motion. The car's door creaked shut behind him, and the sound echoed through the stillness.

The pattering sounds of his footsteps accompanied his steps, as Aanand approached Balwant on the other side. "Sir, let me," Balwant requested in a polite tone, seeing Aanand struggling to get Rudraksh out of the car. Aanand nodded, his eyes locking onto Rudraksh's limp form.

Together, they worked to get the intoxicated boy into the fresh air. Balwant kneeled to his waist level, ducking his upper body inside the car. The leather creaked softly as Balwant shifted his weight. He cradled the back of Rudraksh's head with one hand and his waist with the other. Aanand held Rudraksh's feet in place, and with care and precision, Rudraksh's unconscious form came out into the open environment. The sound of fabric rustling and the soft thud of Rudraksh's body being maneuvered out of the car filled the air. His head lolled on Balwant's right shoulder, and his hands hung limply by his sides.

Balwant held him firmly in place, supporting his waist. The sound of Balwant's breathing was steady and calm, a contrast to Rudraksh's limp form. Aanand extended his arms towards Rudraksh's body, but Balwant swiped him on his shoulder, making his upper and lower body hang limply on either side. "Sir, I will do this. You please go ahead," he said with a warm smile on his face. Aanand nodded, his eyes acknowledging Balwant's capability.

Aanand moved towards the house with his hands clasped behind his back. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the night air as they approached the house. Balwant followed suit, adjusting Rudraksh on his shoulder, in smooth and practiced movement.

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Anusuiya sat on the sofa, her hands cradling her bowed head, elbows resting on her lap. Her eyes were shut tight, and her lips were pressed together in a mixture of regret, frustration, and concern. The lines on her face deepened as she struggled to contain her emotions. The soft glow of the fancy LED lights casted a warm glow on her face, illuminating the fine wrinkles around her eyes.

Nearby, Yashoda gently caressed Vardhaman's hair with her wrinkled hands, her fingers moving in soothing strokes. Vardhaman's head rested on her lap, and he looked up at her with worry etched on his face.

"Dadi, will dad beat bhaiya?" Vardhaman's voice trembled, reflecting a mix of concern and fear for his elder brother. "Last time, when he came home after a fight, he got six slaps straight to his face. And, the marks were visible for a whole week." As he spoke, his eyes welled up with tears, and one escaped, rolling down his cheek, soaking into the white fabrics of the old woman's saree.

Anusuiya's head lifted, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Her lips trembled, and her voice broke as she spoke, "Why does he not listen to me? What should I do? He does not even talk to me properly. It's been decades since I last heard the word 'maa' from his mouth. What can I do? What can I..." Her words trailed off as she broke into more tears, her body shaking with sobs.

As she cried, her expression shifted, and eyes blazed with anger. "Everything is happening because of that witch!" she exclaimed in a low and venomous voice, pouring out her emotions through gritted teeth. Her hands clenched into fists, and her body tensed with rage.

The sound of urgent footsteps echoed off the walls of the living room, and their heads turned towards the sound in unison, followed by the rustle of clothes. Their mouths agape as their gaze fell on Balwant carrying Rudraksh's limp form with firm steps on the marbled floor.

Balwant stopped in his tracks exchanging gaze with everyone before landline it on Aanand. Aanand gestured towards the stairs. "In his bedroom." Balwant nodded and launched towards the stairs with firm steps, the sound of his footsteps growing fainter as he ascended.

Anusuiya's eyes followed him, her face etched with worry and concern. As Balwant disappeared from view, she threw a flurry of questions at Aanand, panic laced in her voice. "What happened? How is he? Why is he unconscious? What did you do!?" Her words tumbled out rapidly, each one overlapping the next. Her hands were clenched into fists, and her body tensed with anxiety.

Aanand's head snapped towards her, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and frustration. "Why do you always think I have done something? He is my son, too. And, I don't love him any less than you." His voice was laced with defensiveness to Anusuiya's accusations.

Anusuiya's face contorted in annoyance, her lips curling into a scowl. "Then, why is he unconscious?" she demanded in a shrill voice.

Aanand mirrored her expression, his face twisted in frustration. "What do you expect him to be after drinking the whole bar?" He paused, taking a deep breath to control his growing anger. His voice calmed, he said, "Go, bring warm water and a clean cotton cloth. I'm in his bedroom." Anusuiya's firm steps echoed accompanied by the jingling of her payal.

Aanand turned towards Vardhaman and Yashoda, his expression stern. "Vardhaman, take your grandmother to sleep. And, you sleep as well. You both can meet Rudraksh tomorrow." Both grandmother and grandson stood firm in their positions, their faces uncertain. Aanand narrowed his eyebrows and commanded firmly, "Go!" Vardhaman nodded hastily and held Yashoda by her arms.

"C'mon dadi, we will meet bhaiya tomorrow. Let's go to sleep, but before that tell me more of your Lord Rama's and Lord Krishna's story." Yashoda nodded gently, a soft smile on her face. Together, they made their way towards Yashoda's bedroom, the sound of their footsteps fading into the distance.

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The soft jingling of her payal echoed in the silent environment inside the living room as Anusuiya made her way towards the staircase. She was holding a medium-sized steel vessel with the cotton cloth pressed between her fingers and the metal, her grip firm but gentle. Her expression was a mask of neutralism, hiding the concern that lurked behind her eyes.

As soon as she lifted her foot to land on the first stair, the landline ringtone echoed through the room, making her action halt. Anusuiya's eyebrows furrowed in response. She turned on her heel towards the landline. The sound of the bangles was a soft accompaniment to her gentle motion.

She put the vessel on the glass table with precision, the metal clinking softly against the glass surface. Picking up the handset she pressed it against her ear and spoke in a soft voice, "Hello?"

"R-Rudra?" A trembling, high-pitched voice spoke from the other side. Anusuiya's jaw clenched in response, and she punched the handset furiously into the base unit. The sound of the impact was loud in the silent room.

The phone rang again, shrill and insistent, before she could reach the vessel. Her eyes darted towards the white landline, and with gritted teeth, she pressed the red button to disconnect the call. She lifted the handset and kept it aside firmly.

Adjusting her pallu, Anusuiya lifted the vessel with the help of the cotton cloth and moved towards the staircase with a stern expression. The soft jingling of her payal and bangles accompanied her as she climbed the stairs.

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Rudraksh lay shirtless on the bed, grey trousers replacing the black jeans that had clung to his legs earlier. His bare chest rose and fell with each slow, measured breath-the gentle rhythm a stark contrast to the turmoil that had ravaged him just hours before. His eyes were closed in a peaceful slumber.

Aanand sat beside him, tracing gentle paths through Rudraksh's hair. As he gazed at his son, his eyes cataloged the changes in Rudraksh's frame-the gaunt face, prominent cheekbones, sunken eyes, and pale skin. The abdominal area was flat, the thoracic part starkly defined, showcasing the collarbones beneath his skin. His wrist bones jutted out sharply, and his long fingers looked like they were made up of bones only.

Aanand's eyes lingered on Rudraksh's face, his expression softening as he continued stroking his hair. The action made Rudraksh's expression contorted, before he again fell in embrace of sleep. The gentle motion of his chest rising and falling seemed to be a soothing balm for both of them, filling the space with a sense of calm.

The door creaked open, and Aanand's gaze shifted towards it, his eyes meeting Anusuiya's as she entered. She approached the bed, her footsteps quiet on the floor. With a gentle movement, she sat down on the other side of Rudraksh's sleeping form, carefully placing the vessel on the mattress. The mattress dipped slightly as she settled in, her eyes turning to Rudraksh's face.

"How thin has he gotten?" Anusuiya's voice was tinged with sadness as she reached out to gently brush Rudraksh's hair back from his forehead. Aanand's lips pressed into a thin line, his expression somber.

Anusuiya sighed softly, shifting slightly in her position. She dipped the cotton cloth into the warm water, her hands moving with a gentle precision. As she squeezed out the excess water, her eyes returned to Rudraksh's peaceful form. She reached out to wipe his body with the cloth, but Aanand took it from her grip, his action prompting a faint frown from Anusuiya.

"What?" Aanand asked, his voice neutral, his face a mask of calmness. "Don't forget, when Rudraksh was a toddler, he always bathed with me."

Anusuiya's lips curled up in a slight smile as she recalled the past.

Aanand's hands moved gently, wiping Rudraksh's skin with the warm cloth, the pungent smell of vomit slowly fading away. Anusuiya dipped and squeezed the cloth, the sound of dripping water filling the air as she handed it back to Aanand. He repeated the motion, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on Rudraksh's skin, until the smell was gone, replaced by the fresh scent of Dettol and water.

"Go, and bring a fresh shirt from his wardrobe," Aanand commanded, his eyes diverting from Rudraksh's face to Anusuiya, his voice firm but laced with a hint of tenderness.

Anusuiya's jewelry jingled softly as she approached Aanand, extending a white full-sleeved woollen shirt. "Here."

Aanand's gaze met the shirt, confusion etched on his face. "Make him wear it."

Anusuiya's eyebrows shot up, her expression incredulous. "He is your son, too. Why don't you make him wear it?"

Aanand's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing. "He will wake up."

Anusuiya's face mirrored Aanand's expression, her voice laced with sarcasm. "He didn't wake up when you changed his clothes."

Aanand's tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth as he snatched the shirt from Anusuiya's hold. "Watch me."

Anusuiya's lips curled into a subtle smile, her eyebrows still raised. She folded one hand against her chest, the other cradling her chin, her eyes fixed on Aanand with a mix of amusement and expectation.

Aanand exhaled deeply, the sound of his breath a slow release of tension. He held one arm of the shirt with one hand and Rudraksh's right arm with the other, his fingers wrapping gently around his son's wrist. With a smooth motion, he slipped Rudraksh's right arm into the shirt sleeve and buttoned the cufflinks.

As he stood up to move to the other side, Anusuiya's gaze followed him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched his actions. Aanand sat down beside Rudraksh's head, his movements deliberate and controlled. He held the other arm of the shirt and slipped it inside Rudraksh's left arm, buttoning the cufflinks with the same precision.

Anusuiya's expression transformed from scrutiny to utter disbelief. Her limbs fell slowly to her sides, and she tilted her head to the side, her mouth agape. "What are you trying to do, actually?"

Aanand's focus remained on the task at hand, his voice neutral. "Can't you see? I am making him wear this shirt."

Anusuiya's eyes widened, her voice rising slightly. "With the collar in the front?" Her eyebrows furrowed as she commented sarcastically, "Who made you a judge?"

Aanand mirrored her expression and replied in the same tone, "It has nothing to do with my degree. And, it's your work, not mine. I only used to bathe him, not dress up."

Anusuiya's lips twitched up in irritation as she hastily approached the headboard. "Get up, and step aside. You have made my son a joker."

Aanand stood up, his expression furrowed in response to her tone. Anusuiya's gaze swept past him, focusing on Rudraksh's sleeping form. She swiftly unbuttoned the cufflinks on both his wrists, her fingers moving with practiced ease.

"Now, you watch me," she commanded, her voice stern and firm.

Anusuiya gently slipped one hand behind Rudraksh's head and the other under his exposed waist, cradling him close to her shoulder like a newborn baby. She adjusted the shirt, her hands moving deftly as she slipped his right hand into the right sleeve and his left hand into the left sleeve. Laying him back down, she buttoned up the shirt.

Aanand watched with an amused expression. "You have so much strength."

Anusuiya's gaze met his, her voice neutral. "I have a brain."

Aanand's stare lingered, but Anusuiya ignored him, turning back to Rudraksh. A gentle smile spread across her lips as she kneeled down, her lips brushing against Rudraksh's forehead in a tender, motherly gesture.

Aanand sat down beside Anusuiya, his eyes locking onto Rudraksh's peaceful face. The soft glow of the blue night bulb cast a warm light on their features, illuminating the gentle rise and fall of Rudraksh's chest. A small smile played on Aanand's lips as his eyes mirrored Anusuiya's affectionate gaze. "He looks so peaceful while sleeping, doesn't it? Otherwise, there is always anger on the tip of his nose."

Anusuiya's face softened, and a low chuckle filled the room, her shoulders shaking slightly. She averted her gaze from Rudraksh to Aanand, her eyebrows arching playfully. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," she said teasingly in a whisper. "But, there is a very big difference between you two." Aanand's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing slightly as he leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Like what?"

Anusuiya's fingers gently caressed Rudraksh's forehead, and a warm smile spread across her face. "He doesn't explode like a Deewali cracker."

Aanand's expression turned sarcastic, and he raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a wry smile. "He erupts like a volcano." Anusuiya's eyes flashed with mock annoyance as she glared at him, and he cleared his throat. "I mean, take care. Otherwise, someday someone will address him by calling Volcano instead of his name Rudraksh."

Anusuiya rolled her eyes good-naturedly and shifted her focus back to Rudraksh, her gaze lingering on his peaceful face. This time, a sad smile lingered on her lips. The room fell silent, the only sound the soft exchange of their breathings. Aanand's gaze followed Anusuiya's, and his expression sobered.

"Why don't you talk to him?" Anusuiya's voice was low, her eyes searching Aanand's face.

Aanand's eyes locked onto Anusuiya's with a half-smile, his eyes clouding over with memories. "You know, it has been years since he called me papa." His voice cracked slightly, and he looked away, his throat working to swallow the lump.

Anusuiya's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she reached out and took Aanand's hand, her touch warm and comforting. Aanand's face softened, and he squeezed Anusuiya's hand gently. "Don't lose hope, Anusuiya. He is our son. He will definitely come back to us."

Anusuiya nodded slowly, her eyes spilling over with tears. She wiped them away, her movements delicate. As the suppressed sniffles filled the room, Aanand pulled Anusuiya into a gentle side hug. "C'mon, let's go to sleep, and let him sleep as well. And, be ready for hearing his tantrums-who dared to change my cloth? I'm a grown-up man," Aanand said, his voice rising in mock indignation.

Anusuiya's face cracked into a smile, and a laugh bubbled up from her chest, but eyes still shone with unshed emotions. As they settled in for the night, the room grew quiet, the darkness enveloping them like a soft blanket.

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Ira's fingers clutched a pillow tightly to her abdomen, her eyes scrunched shut in pain. The other pillow was pressed beneath her waist, a desperate attempt to alleviate the discomfort. Her once-neat braid now lay in disarray, with strands of hair escaping in every direction. A single tear rolled down from the corners of her eyes, and lips trembled with each ragged breath.

The darkness of the room was filled by Ira's soft sobs and suppressed sniffles, the sounds growing louder with each passing moment. Beside her, Vaidehi slept peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. Her soft snores filled the room occasionally, a soothing contrast to Ira's distress.

Vaidehi's eyes flickered open, her gaze bleary from sleep. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her red-rimmed eyes focusing on Ira's contorted face. "Ira, what happened, beta?" she asked softly, her voice horse from sleep.

"It's so painful..." Ira's voice cracking between sobs as her words trailed off into incoherent whimpers.

Vaidehi sat up straight, folding her legs together, and extended a hand towards her forehead. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she felt her temperature. "It's a slight fever. Maybe due to the menses," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible.

She threw off the covers and got down from the bed, her bare feet making soft slapping sounds on the floor. The room was plunged into darkness as she stepped outside, but the sudden burst of light from the bulb illuminated the space when she switched it on.

Ira continued to writhe in pain, turning her position continuously in search of relief. Her face was contorted, and her lips were pursed tightly.

The jingling of Vaidehi's payal echoed in the silent night as she approached the bed, carrying a steel bowl filled with warm mustard oil. The aroma of the oil wafted through the air, a familiar and soothing scent. Vaidehi sat by Ira's legs, setting the bowl on the mattress, her heavy eyes struggling to stay open.

She gently pulled out Ira's black woollen pyjama, adorned with tiny white hearts, and her fingers curled around Ira's warm complexed ankle, resting it on her lap. Vaidehi dipped her fingers in the oil and rubbed it between her palms before applying it to Ira's legs, massaging them with a gentle pressure. Her hands moved deftly, working out the knots in Ira's muscles.

As Vaidehi's head began to nod, she jerked it back, widening her eyes to stay awake. Her gaze fell on Ira's sleeping figure, and she patted her head multiple times in a soothing manner.

The clinking of metal echoed as Vaidehi put the bowl down on a nearby window base. She turned off the light, and the room was plunged into darkness once again. The shallow pattering of her footsteps followed as she got back into bed.

The rustle of blankets and fabrics of clothes announced the arrival of their slumber, as the room fell silent, filled only with the sound of their gentle breathing.

A/N: Hello, my lovely readers!

Share your insights on this chapter. Here is a question you may like to answer:

1. What is your impression of Aanand, Anusuiya, and Vaidehi after this part?