Silver Strands [Part 2]

Silver Strands
A night to remember...

[continued...]

He remembered his hostel days... yeah, he was a victim of the school bullies and always found it tough to fight them off... the first time his dad came to pick him up from the school and had met his senior, he so wanted to tell his dad about the horrors of being in a boys hostel... of him being in a boys hostel...
This was when he'd first started observing the cobwebs... those silver strands above his dorm bed... he liked to think of them as his companions, always there to give him company. It always felt good to mark his memories on these cobwebs, something to look at and ponder...

He realised that he had changed a lot. How less he used to interact with people around him before, and now...? 4:15 am

Armaan, like his name, did have wishes and dreams. He always dreamt of a nice family, and now he had one, a family that he never felt he deserved. He wished for getting education, and he was in one of the best schools.
He'd dreamt of having fun loving and enthusiastic siblings, but he had Swati, who he could die for. Now, he'd only wished for her to get better...
But he just saw another silver strand taking form...

He felt old. He realised that he missed the cobwebs. Missed? So he'd been happy all these years? Had he forgotten Swati, his angelic akka? How could that happen?

Yeah, he'd not been an interactive child... ever. But his wishes and dreams were like honey [nice, tempting and slightly unattainable(bee stings)] which attracted lots of bears. So he was always surrounded by people with whom he never connected. But yeah, he was charismatic. Maybe he was not totally aloof, but the kind of interaction that he wanted to have, never existed. That connection was there only with his akka, though there was hardly any verbal communication. With her, he felt like he was he, Armaan, who was not being judged, appreciated or ridiculed at. He was just he, and he was okay.

He always dreamt of things that were not unrealistic, but just extraordinary. He just wanted his sister to have everything that was possible. And to make this a reality, he dreamt...

... and became the CEO of the company founded by him and his friends. It had taken him years to come to that stage, and now he had the power to give Swati everything. But where did that Swati go?
She was a very mild case of autism and no wonder she outgrew that part of her within a few years. Now nobody could tell looking at her that she was a victim of autism. Armaan was proud of her. That Swati was gone, but she still looked at him that way. She was still his angelic akka. No, he could never forget that swati... never. It was her, who made him happy. This happy. This content. He was happy that Swati was a school teacher now. He was happy that she was an independent lady. He was happy that he didnt have to give anything to her akka, cuz she already had everything, cuz sh attainted it herself, cuz she deserved everything. He was a proud, happy brother. And yeah lucky too.
Did he really miss the silver strands? 6:58 am

"Ummm, DAAaad?"
Armaan still had a smile on his lips. He turned back to see Swati, his daughter, coming towards him, half asleep, scratching her head and yawning.
"Hey darling, good morning! Had sweet dreams?"
"Yeah dad!", Swati's face lit up and her sleep evaporated into thin air.
"How about you? Tea hunh? So you woke up early? Btw, Swati aunty is coming today na? I miss her already, kinda feel sad that she had to go out of town for that stupid "Teachers exchange program", I sometimes feel that these school people take advantage of her kind nature. You know what? I love the way she looks at me while talking, i have this strange feeling of security you know, strange kind of assurance that, okay whatever! Anyways, i think its her eyes... hmm, do you know what it is dad? Hmm, anyways, Aryan is going to pick me up and drop me off at the college. Yeah, you didnt tell me. Why didnt you sleep? And when is aunty coming? Hmm, anyways, I better get ready for the college. See you in the afternoon. Its already 7:15, got to be ready in 30 mins, else Aryan would have to wait. Strange that he never minds waiting! Hmm, okay, see you and aunty at lunch. I'll get going"
"Sure honey", he smiled back. Swati, she could be such a kid, unlike his akka, who would believe that she was 20? He admired his little girl's choice - Aryan. He was a nice chap who happened to be an employee of his company and his daughter's love as well. He had a wonderful family. A beautiful wife, a beautiful daughter and his akka who was married too.

Did he miss the cobwebs, the silver strands? Not exactly, maybe he'd forgotten and hence it all got flooded in his mind today.

He got up to freshen up. He was already awake, but still felt like washing up his face. He dragged himself towards the bathroom, went near the washbasin, splashed water on his face and looked up in the mirror. He spotted a few strands of sliver hair on his head. Silver strands...?
His gaze suddenly turned towards: Garnier Nutrisse Level 3 Permanent Creme Haircolor, Truffle 50 ... lying on the shelf...

Power of Human Expression