Day we met

Chapter 15 - Home

"Dad, what are you doing outside at this hour?" I questioned with genuine concern as I stepped closer to him. The night air was chilly, and I could see wisps of his breath in the dim light of the streetlamp nearby. He looked up at me, his face bearing a mix of surprise and sheepishness.

"Do you realize you're not that young to be doing these kinds of things?" I teased gently, trying to lighten the mood despite my worry. Dad had always been someone who loved the quiet of the night, but I couldn't help but feel protective, especially since he wasn't getting any younger.

"I know, I know. Stop making fun of me," he replied with a wry smile, He pretended to cough lightly, I patted his chest gently and pulled him into a warm hug. Despite my earlier irritation, I had missed him deeply.

"I missed you too," he repeated softly, meeting my gaze with a tender expression. His words caught me off guard, making me wonder if he had somehow sensed my unspoken feelings.

"Dad, I never said I missed you, so why are you saying 'I missed you too'?" I questioned, trying to understand his unexpected statement.

"You're my daughter, and I know everything about you," he replied gently, his words resonating deeply within me. Tears welled up in my eyes as his words touched my heart. Since my grandmother's passing, our bond has grown stronger than ever. He made a concerted effort to spend as much time with me as possible, especially on weekends. Despite portraying a strict facade, I knew deep down he wasn't as stern as he pretended to be.

Over time, I had come to learn more about my father's true nature, especially in the aftermath of my grandmother's death. His dedication to me and our relationship was unwavering, and I cherished every moment, the depth of our connection and filled me with a sense of gratitude for having such a caring and understanding father.

We can't able to know about someone through their actions, we come to know about them when we spend our quality time with them. Then I realized that one shouldn't judge one's character/behavior through their actions. I thought my dad didn't like me but later I realized I was wrong.

"Dad, you haven't told me yet why you were waiting outside at this hour," I reiterated, hoping for a clearer explanation.

"Oh, about that... I called your friends because they told me you were on your way back home. When I tried calling you and couldn't reach you, I got worried and came out to look for you," he explained earnestly, his concern evident in his voice. Realizing that Dia and Aadhya would now know I had lied about my dad's arrival, guilt washed over me.

"By the way, who is this guy?" he continued, gesturing towards Ric. "They told me you were alone."

I apologized to my dad for not mentioning Ric earlier and introduced him formally. Ric nodded politely as Dad acknowledged him with a question about being Antony's son. Ric affirmed it, and Dad proceeded to inquire about Ric's well-being and studies, maintaining a stoic demeanor throughout the conversation.

As I observed them both, I couldn't help but feel a slight unease. Dad's demeanor seemed reserved, and I worried he might not be warming up to Ric. Nevertheless, I refrained from jumping to conclusions, choosing instead to watch their interaction closely.

" Then take care of yourself and study well," Dad said and patted on his shoulder.

"Okay uncle you too take care of yourself" Ric politely said to my father he's being more polite this is the first time since I met him.

"Thank you for escorting my daughter," Dad said and After we parted ways, we went inside. Ric went back to his home.

After Ric left, I accompanied my dad inside our house. As we settled in, I realized there were unresolved matters between us, particularly regarding Ric and why I hadn't informed my dad about him earlier.