The Gentleman: Part 3

It’s been almost 15 years since the incident. Dhruv and Ananya had a hard time getting over their unexpected loss. Both had their own dreams of raising a family. Ananya tried to console him many times but Dhruv couldn’t get a hold of it. He started to isolate himself from Ananya, unable to face her. He started to become an addict to alcohol: to him, that was the only way of draining his sorrow.

Ananya wasn’t in a good position herself. Seeing Dhruv so forlorn for a mistake he never intended to do was driving her crazy. They remained split (not legally like divorce) which of course, ached their hearts. This wasn’t what they imagined at all.

Mornings were dull. Breakfasts were silent. It wasn’t the usual lovey-dovey times they had during their honeymoon or pregnant period. Dhruv wouldn’t say a word nor would Ananya force him to speak. She had lost hope to make him normal.

“I need to go to Rizvi’s for speaking a deal with my father. If you come home don’t stay up, I might be late. Keys are under the vase as usual.” Ananya informed Dhruv blankly.

Dhruv just chugged his water as he nodded. She sighed.

“I don’t know how long are you gonna punish yourself while I keep telling you it wasn’t your fault, Dhruv, please,” she tried her hardest to convince him.

“Don’t you know how much both of us wanted it?” Dhruv started “Deny that?”

He was right. She couldn’t deny she didn’t want it. She kept mum and carried on.

“Although, we could always try again,” she suggested with little hope.

“I don’t want a replacement,” Dhruv stormed away.

… 

“I don’t know how long this is going to continue, baba,” Ananya said tired of the foregoings “I just want him to be normal again. I suggested him we could try again but he refuses to even listen. I’m scared for him, dad,” 

“Try to be in his shoes, Kanna. He was a gangster before wasn’t he? You came into his life and changed him: it doesn’t always happen that easily. Having a family would have been his long dream, wouldn’t it?” Rahul tried to make reason with her.

“So the situation was my fault, baba?” She asked, slightly offended “You know it isn’t!”

“It was nobody’s fault, dear! It was god’s fate the child perished. But don’t force him to change; let him go the way he wants. Sometimes, people learn things the hard way. I did, didn’t I?”

Ananya thought hard. Dhruv was only at the end of her noose and his state could worse if she let it go. But she listened to her father. And she decided to do it.

… 

“Dhruv, get up, it’s 10 in the morning! It’s broad daylight, go do something instead of lying in bed!” Ananya scorned him, grabbing his bed sheets.

“What’s to do on a Sunday?!” He yelled groggily.

“I dunno but don’t be lazy!”

Dhruv got up frustrated. He could use a shower. He sighed as he pulled himself towards the switchboard. But the peripheral vision of his eye caught some papers.

“Ananya, what’s this?!” He scrutinised the papers.

“What’s what?” She came inside the bedroom.

“These?”

“Lizzie came in today. She was offered the appointment as head of some orphanage in London. She suggested we could try for adoption there,” Ananya nervously revealed.

“And you said no, right?”

Ananya stared at the floor.

“Ananya?”

“I said we could try?”

Dhruv nodded and threw the papers slamming them to the wall as Ananya shuddered at his action.

“BULLSHIT, ANANYA! IF WE DON’T HAVE A CHILD DOESN’T MEAN WE AREN’T CAPABLE OF HAVING ONE! DO YOU THINK I WOULD LET SOMEBODY ELSE’S CHILD RUN THE LINEAGE OF OUR FAMILY?!”

“I just thought, I could be a mother for once, Dhruv,” she whimpered “You’ve only cared for yourself the past few months and I even gave you ideas to give yourself a second chance. But you kept ignoring them,” 

Tears pricked the corner of her eyes: 

That’s when it hit Dhruv hard. Yes, he had been overlooking her own desires to have a child while making himself suffer. He looked at her: the same expression he saw the first time he made her scared by yelling at her.

He got closer to her. Bringing his colossal thumb near her cheeks, he wiped her tears and tug her hair behind her ear.

“I’m sorry,” he finally whispered, silently sobbing “I was such a jerk and I didn’t consider your emotions as well, I’m sorry,” 

They got together in a hug. Dhruv condoled her by rubbing circles on her back as she shattered herself before him.

“Baby girl, I’m so sorry,” he sobbed.

“It’s okay,” she finally sniffled as she smiled, dimples forming at her cheeks.

“Should we try again?” Dhruv suggested with a smug smile as Ananya nudged him, still smiling.

“I thought we could check the orphanage. Something tells me we could try there,” 

… 

“Mr. and Mrs. Dhruv?” Lizzie called for the couple and ushered them inside.

“I hope you have filled all formalities,” Lizzie asked. Both of them nodded a yes with a smile.

“Ready to meet a few children? One of them might definitely be your future daughter or son,” she smiled with all good intentions. Dhruv just acknowledged with a smile as they went ahead. He knew it was just a formal visit.

They couldn’t believe so many young children had been abandoned or left with no other family to look up to. This reminded Dhruv of his own past.

From all the kids, one girl caught his eye.

She was fairly taller than the rest of the kids. She had black wavy hair and was probably in her teenage years. He couldn’t see her face properly.

“Who’s that?” He asked Lizzie.

“That’s Ria. She’s been here longer than the others, sir. Most parents ignore her and they don’t consider for adopting her owing to the fact that she is a teen and it would be difficult to raise one.” Lizzie informed.

“Can I meet her?” Dhruv asked inquisitively. Ananya found Dhruv’s sudden curiosity a little weird but she smiled at him and accompanied towards the girl.

“Hello?” Dhruv asked cajolingly “They told me you are Ria,” 

Ria hardly responded and continued to play with the cars she had.

“You are 15 years old?” He asked again.

“Ria, honey, answer them now,” Lizzie consoled her: 

Ria just nodded.

“I’m sorry, she’s had a hard life and she refuses to believe it would get any better. I’m sorry,” 

Dhruv nodded sadly. Ananya hugged his shoulders consoling him that it was time to leave.

——- 

“Dhruv, have your coffee!” Ananya reminded him for the fifth time “It’s getting cold!”

“Uh? Oh yes..” Dhruv finally lifted his cup.

“You haven’t been yourself since the orphanage visit. Is it because of your past?” She asked in concern.

“That girl keeps giving me the feeling that we are connected,” Dhruv sighed.

“It’s your past that’s making you feel like that. Otherwise, you know our reality, Dhruv.” Ananya smiled sadly at him.

“Yes, I do. But something tells me there’s no harm visiting again.” Dhruv suggested beaming.