AAHARA

THE SIGH.

"Are you okay?" I asked as Witch sat up slowly, blinking her eyes to get her vision cleared. Once done she looked at everyone in the room then lastly her gaze meet mine.

"Thank you." It was almost as quiet as a whisper, but I still heard her.

"It's alright. Do you want any help? If you want I can contact the police." I said almost immediately once I saw Naana ready to open his mouth and spit some bullshit again.

"Aahara I-" Then even before a second passed, I was again reminded that this family had lost all its decency.

"Tell her you don't need it." Mammu anything but spat at Witch, who just flinched at his words and lowered her head.

"You shut it. I wasn't talking to you." I hissed and the venom in my voice suprised me but the threat worked as he turned away and left the room.

"I don't need it." I snapped my head in her direction only to give her a crazy look. Was she still out of it?

"What?" I whispered as my mind tried to cope up with her reply.

"I don't need your help anymore." She said while her eyes didn't leave her lap.

"You do realise that you are rejecting the only help you will every get, right? These people won't help you." I anything but snapped at her, taking a hold of her shoulders shaking them, as if that would snap her back to reality.

"I know. I am sorry." Witch said as a tear rolled down her eye, she started shaking in my gasp and finally broke down.

"Please don't. This isn't for you. I will help you, you know I can!" I tried once again, desperate to make her understand the gravity of her decision.

"Leave Aahara. Leave." My eyes widened at her words. Won't Mamma come back if I leave?

"Try to-" But even before I could say something else, I was pushed away. She took a hold of my arms and shoved me away. I would have landed on the floor had it not been for Revan's fast reflexes, who saved me just in time.

"Leave." She screamed on the top of her lungs and even before I could register anything else, Revan lifted me up and carried me away from her and out of the room. Then a heard a small crash, followed by Aana's shriek and Naana's grunt.

Looking back I saw him blocking the door which Revan took me out from, he turned towards me and I gasped, he was bleeding from his right shoulder while he pressed it with the opposite hand. It took my foggy mind a second to see the glass piece stuck in the wound, the broken vase at his feet and realise what had happened. Witch tried to hit me but Naana saved me.

Although even before I could say anything Naana ordered Revan to leave immediately, as Witch screamed behind him and Revan didn't think twice before taking off. He didn't put me down until we were infront of Dad and Mumma's door, there he gently knocked on the wood and I heard the door open. Faint whispers reached my ears but I was too out of it to understand anything that was being said.

I didn't move until I was transferred into another set of arms, looking up I saw Dad nod at Revan then we went in and he closed the door behind him with his foot. Mumma wasn't there but Dad still put me in the middle of the bed then went into his closest, there he took sometime before coming out with some clothes.

"Here little one, wear them while I change in the restroom." He said and I just nodded meekly. Once he left I turned to look at the clothes and saw they were his, a pink night shirt and tunks.

They were a soft pink unlike the dark colours I always saw him in, I imagined him in the clothes and chuckled. Changing quickly, I threw my old clothes in the corner of the couch and lied down. Dad came out soon after and took the place beside me.

"Need something?" He asked, his voice soft as he pulled me close and I just shook my head as I played with the buttons of his black night shirt.

We stayed in silence for sometime before I looked up to check if he was awake but saw his eyes closed yet they opened once they felt my eyes on his face.

"Hmm?" Dad looked at me and I couldn't stop myself anymore.

"Did you ever hit Mumma?" I asking and he just stared back at me with the most unreadable expression.

"No." He finally said and tears of relief escaped my eyes, I didn't know what would have I done had the answer been something else. I knew that he wasn't lying, I just knew somehow, somewhere deep in my heart.

"Why would someone do that?" I asked Dad and he just sighed before pulling me impossibly close as if to reassure me.

"Because people can be bad." He said and stroked my hair.

"But Mamma isn't- wasn't bad." I whispered between my hiccups, Mamma really wasn't someone like that, I have always remembered him to be a gentle giant and nothing else. I didn't know a side like that exitsed behind his warm smile and caring gestures.

"It isn't him." He said and pulled me up on the bed till we were on the same eye level then wiped my tears with his thump and bumped our noses. Wait, what?

"But Witch won't even accept my help-" I tried again and Dad just shushed me with a meaningful look.

"I don't get it." I pressed when I realised that he won't entertain my curiosity anymore.

"Hmm. And that's because you don't need to get it." He said with a gentle yet final tone and I just sighed.

"Why do you always say that?" I asked angry at his claims and ignorance.

"You are a kid." He said each word slowly as if to make me understand and prove his point.

"I am not! Just because you didn't see me grow up-" I stopped myself once I saw the look in Dad's eyes, it wasn't the time. I wanted to scream so much, I was so frustrated yet I couldn't, all I could do was turn away from him but I wasn't very successful as Dad pressed me to his chest, my back to his chest with his arm around my waist.

"Calm down Little one." He said and I felt like crying all over again.

Why do you feel like Naani? Why do you feel so comfy?

"Where's Mumma?" I asked after a few seconds of silence and heard Dad sigh again, I just wanted to distract myself from everything else.

"She's with your sister." I nodded at the information and then looked at Dad's face again.

"Why the sigh?" I asked again and he just pinched my cheek without saying anything.

Well, next question.

"You wear pink?" I couldn't help but be curious, it's just too awfully colourful for my Father.

"Your Mother bought it though I was lucky to get out from wearing it." He said and I turned my head slightly only to see him eye the shirt with an unknown expression.

"Huh?" Another sigh.

"She bought it when she was pregnant with you and Aahar, her mood swings were very spontaneous and problematic. We were at a mall when she suddenly started crying because I wouldn't let her buy this so I had to relent." He explained and I couldn't control myself before bursting in the biggest fit of laughter I had in a while.

Imagining a man like Dad standing inbetween a busy mall trying to calm his very pregnant wife down who was holding this ridiculously adorable night suite was something I didn't know would be that funny yet it was. I felt my stomach hurt from laughing so hard but I didn't stop.

Once I calmed down I looked at Dad to see the faintest of smile on his face, he then leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"Good Night Little one."

"Good night Dad."

Hey Everyone!!!!! 👋👋👋

Hope you enjoy this chapter, it's mostly from some fluff and bounding time!!!!