Glympses of past
13th November, 2008 —
Without a warning to the world, a "mistake" was born.
Outside the operating room stood RitikAether, his hands clasped tightly as he prayed for the safe delivery of his second child. Minutes felt like hours. His heartbeat echoed louder than the hospital corridor itself.
At last, the doors opened. A nurse stepped out with a gentle smile and congratulated him on the birth of a healthy baby boy.
A warm relief blossomed inside Ritik's chest — like the first ray of sunlight after a long winter.
"I'm glad the delivery was a success," he whispered. "This was a hard time for me."
The nurse carefully placed the newborn in his arms. Holding the tiny life close to his heart, Ritik walked into the ward toward his wife, Gunjan Aether.
A little later, Ritik's elder son, Arnav, peeked at his newborn brother. His eyes sparkled with a joy so pure it erased every worry. Laughter escaped him freely — bright, innocent, and unrestrained, as if happiness itself had found a voice.
And with that moment, the child received his name —
Akshat Aether.
__________________
Four Years Later…[Year 2012]
Four years passed peacefully, yet fate had already prepared a tragedy — an incident that would forever change the way Akshat saw the world.
Akshat had started walking on his own when he was barely two years old. He was a curious and observant child, always drawn toward colorful things.
One ordinary afternoon, the entire family — Ritik, Gunjan, Arnav, and little Akshat — went to a bustling street market for shopping. Amid the noise and lights, Akshat's eyes caught sight of a beautiful toy displayed on a nearby stall.
Mesmerized, he wandered toward it… and within moments, he was separated from his family in an unfamiliar street.
Panic crept into his small heart, yet he did not cry. He searched left and right, hoping to see a familiar face — but the crowd only grew larger and stranger.
Eventually, exhaustion slowed his steps.
Just then, a tall man approached him. In his arms, he carried a sleeping girl. The man offered help, his voice calm and reassuring.
Akshat wanted to believe him… but trusting him would soon become a grave mistake.
The stranger lifted Akshat into his free arm and began walking toward a vehicle, promising to reunite him with his parents. Yet the faint, unsettling smile on the man's face told a different story.
Akshat sensed something was wrong but remained silent, intimidated by the man's size. His gaze shifted to the unconscious girl, realizing she might have been drugged. He decided he must stay alert at all costs.
Moments later, they arrived at a deserted, abandoned place. Fear tightened around Akshat's chest. The man suddenly grabbed him firmly and muttered with an eerie smirk,
"Don't worry, child… you'll find plenty of friends here."
Akshat tried to run, but the man's grip was iron-like. He was locked inside a small, filthy room crawling with roaches and beetles — alongside the unconscious girl.
Inside the dim room, Akshat spotted a half-filled bottle of water. Gathering courage, he sprinkled a little on the girl's face. After a minute, she slowly opened her eyes, only to burst into frightened tears.
Akshat gently brushed away her tears, his small hand trembling.
"I'm here," he whispered.
In those two simple words, she found more comfort than in a thousand promises.
The girl explained that she had been kidnapped while eating ice cream with her elder sister.
"My name is Akshat Aether," he said softly. "What's yours?"
"…Avantika," she replied between sobs.
"We need to find a way out and return to our parents," Akshat said, trying to sound brave. "But we shouldn't anger these bad people. They might hurt us if we disobey."
Avantika nodded quietly. "Okay…"
The cold air of the room seeped into their bones. They searched for a blanket but found nothing.
Their small bodies trembled.
After a moment of hesitation, Akshat spoke,
"Avantika… whenever I feel cold, my mother hugs me while I sleep. If you're feeling cold, you can hug me. I don't mind sharing my warmth."
Avantika thought for a second, then wrapped her arms around him tightly and whispered,
"Okay… but don't mind if I accidentally kick you while sleeping."
Despite the darkness, fear, and uncertainty surrounding them, the two children slowly drifted to sleep — holding onto a fragile hope that their parents would find them soon.
End of ch 3
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