Dually Devoted ?

CHAPTER 30

Rajiv had taken slow steps forward, despite wanting nothing more than to turn around, and walk away. When he had heard the doctors say before, that Arnav's face had been disfigured and needed a plastic surgery, he had stiffened visibly. But on seeing the result of it himself, the amount of remorse that had cut through him had been colossal.

Carefully sitting down next to the boy's bed, he had remained mum, not knowing what to say, or ask. However, he had certainly not readied himself to hear a tired, weakened version of Arnav's deep, strong voice. Nor had he prepared himself for the question, the boy had popped.

"Are you, my father?"

His heart had dropped, as he sat there staring at the strange emotions swirling in the seventeen-year-old's eyes. He had known that very moment, he would not be able to utter a No. Not to that gaze filled with tiredness, looking at him with hope; not to that voice, which had once been so deep, but now, sounded hoarse. Not to this boy who took it all and yet was trying to come off as strong. Thus, he nodded, and when he saw the boy smile a small smile, he found himself returning it. And just like that, a weight was lifted off his shoulders. And that was when he had found himself more determined than ever, to care for and love this boy as his own. As his Son.

His son.
If his biological son had been alive, he'd nearly be of the same age as this boy. Would his dark eyes look this way too? What would he have looked like? Rajiv wondered.

The boy cleared his throat subtly. "Can you tell me- my name?"

"Siddharth," the name had rolled off his tongue, before he could've stopped himself. The name of his real son- Siddharth Tripathi.

Shocked at his own skip of tongue, that day, he had excused himself quickly, not knowing how to correct his mistake. He had been worrying about it without a break, but had never gotten the courage to rectify it. However, now, it seemed to have happened for a reason.

Now that the doctors were saying the chances of him recalling anything were low, heart-wrenchingly, he was glad he hadn't told the boy the truth.
For how could he tell the boy who had suddenly lost everything, that the only person here with him was next to a stranger to him?
How could he tell the boy, whose once sharp mind could no longer remember himself, that he was an orphan, with no one in this world to love him?
That he wanted to be adopted secretly because there was something that had been troubling him?
That Rajiv had cared about his business alone and had wanted him only as an heir?

He stroked Siddharth's hair gently, before opening the car door for the boy. He didn't see just an heir in this boy anymore. He wanted to protect and support him. He wanted to see this boy grow up, and become someone he would be proud of.

Rajiv was still to know what all would come their way. But whatever was to come, the boy would now be Siddharth Tripathi alone. With a father to love and support him.

***

Over the years, the decision he had made that day brought him and Siddharth closer and closer. Rajiv was glad. Even though nothing could ever silence the pain the death of his wife and son still caused him, he did not ever feel he had wronged them. Surely, he had given his son's name to Arnav, but he had consciously not changed it. Because when the plane crash had happened, he had still been a middle-class businessman. No one important for the world to know, and the plane crash being a topic he had always avoided speaking about, there was rarely anyone who knew of it. Thus, Siddharth could easily be placed as one of the Tripathi's, simply with his name.