“No!” she whispered to herself. “I can’t let this happen, I just can’t.” Vrinda’s voice was now choking. She parked her car just a few meters away from the old age home, the place where her elder brother had left her father.

“Had I known about this earlier I would have come to India long back.” She said while waiting for her father to return from the evening walk. She knew for a fact that he would not let go his habits. Vrinda’s father was 92 year old and leaving him alone in this stage would be the most insensitive decision of all.
While she was eagerly waiting for him to return, she observed a lean and tall figure slowly appear from a few yards away. The blur image now became clear.
“Appa!” she said while unlocking the car’s door. She immediately got down and ran to Valmik, Vrinda’s father.
“Appa?” Vrinda started shouting as she was running towards him. But Valmik was too old to pay any heed to anything that was going around him. He was lost in his little world, walking in the snail’s pace, his trembling hands loosely held the walking stick. Suddenly Valmik sensed a rough pull to his left. Regaining his senses, he saw a young woman breathing heavily.
“Appa? What are you doing? That car would’ve hit you down. Where are you lost?” screamed Vrinda who was just in time to save her father from a ghastly mishap.
But Valmik seems to be in the most calm and carefree forms of all. He just gave a tiring smile and then patted Vrinda on her shoulders.
“Glad you’re here.” Valmik said. He wasn’t too much excited on seeing his daughter return after 7 whole months. This made Vrinda wonder what had gone wrong with him. The person who would shower everything on me isn’t even happy about the fact that I’m here in India, thought Vrinda.
“Appa, let’s go for a walk nearby. I need to tell you so many things and I’ve come to take you back. Let’s go.” Vrinda said fighting back her tears.
A silent walk led them to the garden. Vrinda made Valmik comfortable on the bench near the garden and went to bring two cups of tea from the stall.
“Two cups.” She said while she was staring at her father from a respectable distance. She was deeply moved and saddened by the way her father had changed in just a few months. Valmik was the Principal of a renowned school in his working age and Vrinda had always seen his strict, disciplined and radiant form. Seeing him like this was something that Vrinda couldn’t take.
“The old age home has left Appa devastated and miserably weak.” Vrinda thought.
“Appa tea? Vrinda asked as she gave the cup to Valmik. There was a long silence before Valmik decided to speak, after all she was the only one who stood up for him.
“Varun won’t be happy if he sees me back.” He said while he was trying to fight back his tears. Varun was Valmik’s elder son who had left him at the old age home.
“I’m taking you to my house Appa. Vrunal needs you, he needs your guidance. After Vrushal passed away he slipped into being silent. He would be more than happy when he finds you at home. He would soon be returning from school.” Vrinda was quick in responding. Vrunal was Vrinda and Vrushal’s only son who was born just a year before Vrushal died in a deadly accident.
“Vrunal! Yes yes. My grandson. My hope.” Valmik was mumbling to himself.
Vrinda saw this as the best opportunity to convince him to come along with Vrinda.
“Come Appa, let’s go. Vrunal is waiting for you.” Said Vrinda as she helped Valmik hold his stick. But as soon as she turned to leave, there was Varun standing smoking a cigar. Varun was a drunkard who didn’t like anyone interfering and changing his decisions.
“Varun? What made you come here?” exclaimed Vrinda who was astonished on seeing Varun.
“This is something that I should be asking you.” Varun said smiling wickedly. “No Varun! You can’t continue with this. He is my father as well; I’ve all the rights to take care of him. You ju…”Even before she could complete what she was saying, Varun smacked her saying “Don’t try to teach me what I should be doing.” Vrinda was spellbound on seeing her brother fight over a sensitive issue like this.
Vrinda had had enough for now; she couldn’t tolerate the scene of Varun standing shamelessly. She roughly pushed Varun back which made him tumble down. Varun got up to protest but he became weak in front of the rage that Vrinda displayed.
“Say even a word and I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life behind the bars!” said Vrinda firmly. She was so stubborn that Varun was left none other option than just watching her leave.
3 months passed by. Sitting on the rocking chair in the veranda, Vrinda was watching her father playing with her 5 year old son.
“I brought him back to re-live his youth.” Vrinda said to herself. With a relieved smile she laid back her head to rest.