𝐀 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

10

Parking her car in the garage , Nimrat slowly made her way through the mansion , being careful to not wake up anybody since it was past midnight , everybody would have been probably asleep. As she was about to climb the stairs , the sound of clearing throat came from her behind , halting her steps abruptly. And she closed her eyes shut , sighing.

Guess what , not everyone was asleep.

Slowly turning around , she faced her father-in-law , standing a few feet away from her , disappointment was all on his face as he signaled her to follow him. Keeping her hand bag quietly on the couch , she followed him to the swimming pool area , all the while praying to not get scolded. Its not like Akash really will scold her. In these two years of living with them , she came to know a lot about her in laws. As extrovert Akshara was , Akash was more on a introvert side. He would always have that calm soft expression on his face . And that he loved listening to his wife and was whipped by her.

She was scared because she saw disappointment on his face , for her. It was rare for him show any feeling and if he did , it means that its serious.

Sitting beside him on one of the arm chair , she looked ahead . Gazing at the star filled sky , it was her favourite thing to do after coming home. Sitting in silence and just staring at the dark sky.

After a long silence , Nimrat finally decided to speak .

"Papa" She looked at him.
(Papa - father)

"Being grumpy all the time is not good. Jaldi buddhe ho jate hain" Nimrat said , her eyes eyeing the grumpy man beside her as she cleared her throat to stop herself from laughing.
(We become old soon)

Seeing no reply from Akash and his straight blank face , she sighed. "Sorry Papa,  abb se late nahi aaungi. Night stay bhi nahi karungi. Breakfast bhi roz karungi. Please don't be angry" She said sincerely,  clearly knowing the reason of his anger.
(I won't come home late from now on. I won't do night stay as well and I will do my breakfast everyday)

Sighing at her , Akash looked at her. And said , his voice soft "I am not angry Nimrat beta. I am just disappointed of how you are treating yourself. This is not how it works. You can not always ignore yourself and your health"

Nimrat looked down as a wave of guilt took over her. It wasn't right. Just because of her own feelings and battles , she couldn't see the only two people who genuinely care for her and love her , being worried just because of her. Heaving out a sigh , she looked up , a small fake smile plastered over her face as she said "I won't do this again Papa,  I promise"

"The day I said that you were my daughter was not just a mere words for me Nimrat. That day you became our daughter and I very well know when my daughter is saying a truth or lying. When she is genuinely happy and when she is faking her smile" Akash said softly but the disappointment he felt at that moment was clearly visible on his face.

Akash was feeling helpless. The girl whom he called his daughter , the girl to whom he promised that he would always keep her safe and happy , that same girl was bit by bit breaking in front of him. He couldn't see the smile on his daughter anymore. He couldn't see the sparkle, the hope anymore.

Meanwhile Nimrat just stared at him , now with a genuine soft smile because who would have thought , that the girl who was alone for all her life will ever have the people who would live her and care for her. Craving for her mother's embrace and her father's love for all her life , she would have never thought that she will find that love and care from her in-laws .