Siren of Hearts

24. The Acceptance

Vinay, respecting their privacy, drove away, leaving Siddharth and Ishita standing close to each other. As they faced each other, their bodies almost brushing against one another, Siddharth noticed the redness in her eyes. Concerned, he straightened his jacket on her, a silent gesture of care.

He looked at her with a puzzled expression, prompting Ishita to gather her thoughts. Trembling lips gave way to determined words, "I've found those answers."

Perplexed, Siddharth inquired, "What answers?"

Ishita took a deep breath, mustering confidence. "Being a doctor is not just a job or a source of salary. It's the purpose of my life, and it all started with you." Her eyes welled up with tears, blinking rapidly as she continued, "I embarked on this journey because of you, and now it has become my responsibility to serve the general people. Just like you, I want to find joy in a patient's relative thanking me. I want to share in their sorrow. I want to live like a normal human, just as you do." Siddharth sighed, overwhelmed by the depth of her feelings, as tears streamed down her face. 

Siddharth sighed, gazing up at the night sky for a moment to collect himself. His hold on her arms tightened gently as he mustered the courage to ask a painful question. "Will you tell me something?" Ishita nodded, her tears drying on her cheeks. He looked into her eyes, the pain and vulnerability evident in his gaze. The question that had lingered for six years finally found its voice. "Why... why did you leave without telling me anything? No call, no text. Nothing. Six years. Why did you leave me?"

She saw the old Siddharth in his eyes, full of pain. It was time to disclose the truth. Ishita took a deep breath. "My mom... snatched my phone that day. So I couldn't inform you at all. My dad gave me two options. Either stay out of this country for medical studies, or stay with mom and learn her business. I chose the first. I thought, at least I'll have an escape. Three years, four years, five years, doesn't matter how long, I'll come back to you. That's why I agreed with his condition. Had I stayed with mom, I could not have returned here." She sighed and continued, "My dad... he is not my biological father."

Siddharth's eyes widened in shock, and she nodded. "Still, he loved me and my mom so much. So when he presented this condition, I couldn't go against it. I couldn't be ungrateful." Understanding flickered in Siddharth's eyes. Then, her tears returned as she confessed, "So, I gave everything to become a doctor. I did everything to come back to you. But I was ashamed to tell you these things. I thought you would say I was making some excuse. But it's the truth, Sid. I love you. I missed you so much, damn it." She clutched his shirt, and he ran his hand over her hair on her shoulder.

Siddharth sighed, "Go home, Isha." The use of her nickname caught her off guard.

 Isha?! 

She nodded with a grin, her eyes still blurred with tears. Walking up to her car, she took a last look at him and drove away, a happy feeling in her heart, knowing she was getting her lover back.

That weekend, Siddharth returned home, finding his sister absent but his grandma in the kitchen. Entering quietly, he received a warm welcome from his grandmother, who inquired about his injury and its rehabilitation. However, she couldn't help but notice the worry etched on his face and questioned him about it. Siddharth sighed, "Grandma, do you hate Ishita for my accident?"

Arching a gray eyebrow, his grandma responded, "Hate is a very strong word. I don't think anyone deserves it. But I must say, that accident was totally your fault for running on the busy highway like a mad man."

 Siddharth rolled his eyes in acknowledgment, admitting, "I know."

His grandma then confessed, "I'm really angry with her, though, for leaving without telling us."

Siddharth looked down, "Her parents forced her." Surprised, she looked at him, and he nodded, "She's back now, doing okay." 

Observing him closely, his grandma sensed there was more on his mind. He sighed, "I want to approach her again. I love her. I tried to forget; I really did. But I failed. Seeing her made me feel like living again." He held her hand earnestly, asking, "Will you allow me, Grandma? I promise I won't let go of her again." 

She sighed, "I don't have any problem. But you have to talk to your sister about it." He nodded with a grateful smile; his grandma's approval was a relief.

As Siddharth stepped out of his house in search of his sister, he noticed two figures approaching him. Engaged in a lighthearted conversation, they seemed oblivious to Siddharth's presence until their eyes finally landed on him. Anuj Sharma, one of Siddharth's subordinates, was quick to react.

"Captain!" Anuj stuttered, a mix of surprise and respect evident in his voice.

Siddharth sighed, recognizing Anuj immediately. "Anuj Sharma, what brings you here?"

Shraddha, Siddharth's sister, who was accompanying Anuj, sighed in response. "Bhai, he helped me with something in the City, so he's here to drop me off." She shot Anuj an appreciative glance. "And he's not a stranger. I've known him since my junior college days."

Siddharth sighed again and directed his question at Anuj, "Sharma, shouldn't you be with your newcomer group in the training ground?" 

Anuj stammered in response, and Shraddha came to his rescue, "Today is the weekend," she explained, attempting to ward off any potential interrogation. Then she looked at Anuj, "You don't need to treat him as your Captain outside of the station duty."

Anuj, perhaps relieved by Shraddha's intervention, bid Siddharth farewell with a salute before making his exit. Siddharth, left alone with his sister, shot her a glare, feeling the weight of the frustration that, except for her, everyone else either respected or, in some cases, feared him.

The siblings continued their walk towards home, the crisp air of the evening surrounding them. Shraddha couldn't help but offer a playful jab, "You can't take advantage of being in a senior position, Bhai."

Siddharth rolled his eyes, a familiar reaction to his sister's banter. "Stay away from that Sharma kid. He's lazy and talks back to the instructor when his mistakes are pointed out."

Shraddha, somewhat surprised, responded, "Really? He seemed like a good guy."

Siddharth shook his head with a sigh, "He's not a guy, he's a kid, just like you."

After a moment of walking in companionable silence, Siddharth decided to broach a more serious topic. "Shraddha, I want to tell you something." He proceeded to explain Ishita's situation – how her parents had compelled her to leave the country, the reasons behind her reluctance to meet them, and her sincere apologies.

His sister fell silent, processing the revelation. "So, you want to start things over?" she inquired.

Siddharth nodded, his eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. "Will you be happy about it?"

Shraddha huffed a bit, trying to mask her emotions. "You need my permission or what?" Despite her nonchalant demeanor, Siddharth knew that her opinion mattered greatly.

He nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, because you're my only family, along with Grandma. So yeah, your wish matters the most."

She averted her gaze momentarily before finally nodding. "I'll be happy if you're happy. That's all I want. Ishita and I, we get along really well. So... okay."

Siddharth chuckled, expressing his gratitude, and patted her shoulders. "Tell me what you want for dinner."

After a brief pause, Shraddha thought for a moment and declared, "Spicy mushroom."

Siddharth smiled. "Okay, let's go for grocery shopping." The two of them continued their journey towards the local market, the evening unfolding with a promise of familial warmth and understanding.