Abhira Family-Volume 2

Happy Father's Day-I

(1 month after Abhira's wedding)

Harsh is sitting in his room working on some files. The Birla Hospital is opening a new IVF wing. Harsh is currently looking at the resumes' of the possible candidates for this new wing. He wants only the best candidates for this wing. It was his pet project. He would not let anything hamper this project. 

Akshara entered his room hesitantly. She knocked on the door. "Can I come in, Papa?" asked Akshara. Harsh looked up from the papers and saw Akshara standing at the door.

"Hmm. Aajao", said Harsh dismissively.

"Umm, Happy Father's Day, Papa", said Akshara hesitantly and handed him the gift and the handmade card she especially made for him.

Harsh was shocked was an understatement. In his whole life, he had never received any gifts on this day. He was a father for three decades and never did he received gifts or any wishes on Father's Day. He is so invested in the hospital or his professional life that he never recognised this day.

But today for the first time in his life he received the gift that too on Father's Day. He accepted the gift from Akshara and mumbled a small thank you to her. Akshara smiled when he accepted the gift and started going from there.

Harsh stopped her and asked the only question running in his mind at that time, "Why?"

"I was 10 years old when my father died in a plane crash. I couldn't see him for the last time.  Aaj 15 saal ke baad mujhe phir se kissi ko papa ko kehlane ka mauka mila hai toh mai uss day ko especially father's ke liye dedicated hai use kaise na celebrate karoo", said Akshara smilingly. She knew Harsh didn't accept her as his daughter-in-law. He doesn't like her. But Akshara sees him as his father and that is more than enough for her.

"Happy Father's Day, Papa", said Akshara and went from there. She left Harsh with a lot of thoughts. He couldn't think of anything that night. His mind revolved around Akshara only. It was for the first time something akin to affection generated in his heart.

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(1 year after Abhira's wedding)

Harsh is sitting in his room angrily. How did Manjari do this? How could she keep this news to herself? Who gave her this right? For the past 22 years, he has been taunting his own son. His own flesh and blood. The son he never knew was his. Who gave Manjari the right to keep this information to herself? 

Harsh is so angry right now that he cannot think straight. He took the nearby lamp from the table and hurled it against the wall. It broke into so many pieces. The glass pieces spread into the whole room. He never understood why Abhimanyu broke things when he was angry but this thing really satisfied him. It is like an outlet - a very good outlet to let out your emotions. He threw the glass on the wall but it landed in front of Akshara. 

"Ahhh!" shouted Akshara when a shard of glass hit her toe. Harsh immediately stood up hearing her voice.

"Kya hua lag gya kya", asked Harsh worriedly.

"Nhi kuch nhi hua hai. I am okay. Aap tension mat lijiye", said Akshara meekly.

"Kya theek ho. Dekho khoon nikal rha hai. Tum baitho idhar mai first aid kr deta hoon", said Harsh. He gets a little warm to her during the year.

"Nhi papa, aap rehne dijiye. Mai kr loongi. Aap tension mat lijiye", said Akshara.

"Shut up, aur idhar baitho", instructed Harsh. He made her sit on the couch and settle down on the floor to do her first aid. 

"Papa aap mere pairon ko haath mat lagiye. Maine kha na mai kr loongi", requested Akshara but Harsh gave no heed to her. He continues to clean her wound and put a bandage on it.

"Ho gya. I think injection lag wana padega", said Harsh but Akshara shuddered at the thought of injection.

"Nhi injection ki koi zaroorat nhi hai. Mai bilkul theek hoon,  Mai apko bhaag kr dikha sakti hoon. Mujhe injection nhi lagwana hai", Akshara pleaded with him. Harsh smiled at her antics. He knew she was afraid of injections so to tease her he played a little with her.

Looking at his smile, Akshara knew he was joking. After having a sigh of relief she asked him the question she wanted to know for some time. "Aap theek hai, Papa".

Harsh smiled at her. His own kids were busy consoling their mother even when she was at fault but here, his daughter-in-law asked about him. When the other people in the family failed to see his hurt, Akshara saw it. He was thankful for her. So, he decided to tell her what exactly he was feeling.

"No, I am not OK. Itna bada sach jan ne ke baad mai kaise OK ho sakta hoon. Neil mera beta hai, mera. Manjari yeh baat janti thi phir bhi usne mujhe itne salon tak kuch batana zaroori nhi samjha. Arey ise woh khud toh mahan ban gyi pr mujhe apni hi anakhaoin mai jhuka diya. Mai apne bache ko pichle 22 salon se taane deta jaa rha hoon. Manjari ko ek baar bhi yeh nhi lga ki use mujhe yeh sach bta dena chahiye tha. Ek baar bhi nhi", said Harsh emotionally.

"Agar apko sach pta chal jata toh aap kya krte. Aap Neil se ache se behave krte kya?" asked Harsh.

Harsh is speechless he doesn't know what to say to this. He knew what Manjari did was absolutely wrong but the way he behaved with his son all through these years was also wrong. Just because he was adopted in his eyes gave him no right to treat him like a sh*t.

"Maa ne jo kiya woh galat tha, Papa. It was absolutely wrong. I don't know unke kya reasons rhe honge yeh sab krne ke. Kyun unhone apko tak yeh baat nhi batayi, I don't know. Pr Papa apne bhi toh Neil se acha behave nhi kiya na. Arey insaan ko ek janwar se bhi pyaar ho jata agar woh humare saath rehta hai toh Neil se pyar kaise nhi hua", said Akshara. Harsh listened to her with his head down. He should be compassionate towards his kids. In his life, to be best in his professional life, he forgot to be the father his kids need, and the husband his wife needs. But he failed in this.

"Jo hua use bhool jaiyee, Papa. Neil has suffered a lot in these 22 years because of your and Maa's mistakes. Now, is the best time to give what he really deserves. He deserved all of your love, care and most importantly respect", said Akshara. She wanted Harsh to do the right thing now. 

"By the way, Papa this for you", said Akshara and handed him the gift and card to him for this Father's Day. "Happy Father's Day, Papa", said Akshara and went from his room. 

Harsh looked at the card and started crying bitterly. What has he done? He didn't become the father he always wanted to be. He hurt his kids so deeply that now they hate us. Today, his kids hate him and it's because of his negligence only. He always blamed Manjari for his salted relationship with his sons but now he realised that he was equally at fault. He failed them. He failed to be the father his kids truly deserved. 

But today because of Akshara he finally realised his mistakes. He realised what he did with his family was wrong, wrong at all levels. And he has no one to blame for this but himself. But now, he will do the right thing. He will be the man his family really deserves. 

TO BE CONTINUED