Apart from Lines

5.2 Incomplete wish

"Nothing feels the same,
anymore"

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"Ye hai akshu, papa! "Aashi said, running to akshara and clutching her hand tight.

" Akshuu??? "The man whispered.

Everything seemed to freeze, as the everything came jolting down at the two adults.
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" Aashi's ,your daughter? " Asked a visibly confused akshara.

"Eh? Yeahh... Mam" He answered with a Smile.

"Rohan.. You finally married? Having a daughter? Well planned , huh? " Teased akshara.

Rohan chuckled nervously, and looked at akshara, from head to toe.
When aashi interrupted "papa, akshu dost h? "

Rohan amd akshara exchanged guilty glances, when akshara said
"Yes, aashi, just the way we are " And bent down for a hi-fi with aashi.

Rohan quickly studied the situation and called neha to take aashi to the kids area and dress her bruise as well.

Once aashi was out of the room,with neha. Rohan asked akshara to have a seat, and they settled down.

Sensing it getting awkward, Rohan started " Well, abhimanyu sir is better but ... "

He was cut midway by akshara's raised eyebrows with a glimpse of no feelings.

"I didn't asked you about anyone, we are here, let's talk about each other" She said with a forced smiled.

Rohan sensed it was not the right to scratch her.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

"Away from chaos" She replied with a sad smirk across her face.

"Ah... I see " Rohan said rubbing his nape, out of nervousness.

"You, here, all of sudden.. I mean..?" He tried asking again.

"Running away isn't my way,anymore.
Moreover I came to help aashi, nothing more" She said waving her head out of tiredness.

"Hha... I see... Well thank you so much for taking care of aashi, I couldn't have even imagined that aarya will loose her, it was so careless of her... Thank you so much, mam" He said out of gratefulness.

"Rohan, answer me honestly. " Akshara said looking directly into his eyes.

"Hn, ha puchiye na" He said.

"Aashi's your daughter?"

The awkwardness again came around, this time with a good bang.

"Ha, kyu?" He replied with a questioned glance.

" She's just three, you were not married when I left, moreover... " Before she could complete he interrupted and said with panic "she isn't, but I am her father, that's the only truth".

Akshara looked at him surprised, and he realised that he messed up , clearing his throat he explained "Aarya's real husband had passed away in an accident, no doubt she was strong enough to handle herself and am sure she would have managed herself well, even I hadn't married her.
But it was difficult, with a 8 month baby within her, that's when I met her through a common friend and we bonded over time, I married as to lend support, and even she agreed, i took the responsibility of her and the unborn baby,our aashi,but over time we bonded and are leading our life normally as parents and couples.
No matter ,what happens, it won't change the that aashi is my daughter, I don't have a family so I know that fear, that restlessness, that why I beg of you not to let this truth out, mam.
Please, you are the first person knowing this, after me and aarya. " He said with pleading eyes.