It’s never too late to try

The night had taken a somber turn, and the once hopeful atmosphere had been replaced with an uneasy tension. Abhi, who had planned this evening with the intention of bringing the family closer together, now stood by with a heavy heart. The flicker of joy he had hoped to see in everyone’s eyes had instead been snuffed out by the harsh realities of unresolved pain.

As the group slowly dispersed, Abhi approached Rudra, his expression filled with regret. “I’m so sorry, Rudra. I really thought tonight would be different. I didn’t mean for things to get worse.”

Rudra, still holding the guitar loosely in his hands, shook his head and offered Abhi a faint, weary smile. “It’s not your fault, Abhi. This was bound to happen sooner or later. Fate has a way of catching up with you, no matter how much you try to avoid it.” His voice was calm, but there was a deep sadness underlying his words, a resignation to the weight of his past mistakes.

Sashi, who had been observing quietly from the side, step