Meenakshi

C48: Father

Vikramaditya POV:

"Aditya, I want to have a word with you." My father spoke, his eyes still on Meenakshi. The daima was checking on her, as she lay on the bed, her breathing soft and shallow. I looked at him who was looking at me with a furious expression. I nodded wordlessly and followed him as he led our chambers to the corridor.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I looked at him still trying to figure the answer out. Seeing my blank stare, he sighed. "When no one around believed that she would survive, even her very own parents, you were the one who was stubborn about doing everything in your power to bring her back. You did not accept her fate and her destiny unlike everyone around her. But now, it is you who is praying that something shall go bad." I looked at him as if he had become alien to me.

"I never wished anything bad for her Paa." My voice broke as I tried to form words.

"No Aditya, you need not pray for that, but the way you act around her clearly shows what you intend. Instead of thinking of what you can't do without her, why don't you think about what you can do with her by your side? It's not easy to be a woman, and carry a child. And we both know well how much she has suffered, why do you continue to do this to her? Don't make her realis

e that you are no different than her father." My mouth hung open at his insult. I was never like her father and I would never be. I would never sideline her or make my child feel less important.

I gasped at the realization.

I was acting just like that around. My hands flew to my face as I tried to hide my face in mortification. What did I do? Oh my god. No, no, I am not like that.

A soldier came and informed me that daima had called for me. I followed him and found daima instructing something to Meenakshi who was sitting with her back against the headrest. Feeling my presence she gave me a small smile and extended her hand towards me. I quickly grabbed her extended palm and sat beside her, rubbing her palm softly between my palms.

"Maharani fainted due to stress. She is fine now. And the baby is also healthy." Daima spoke, making me and Meenakshi smile at her. She bowed and left us alone with each other.

"I am sorry." I spoke, kissing her palm softly.

"Why?" She asked, caressing my cheeks with her other palm. I leaned into her touch and she gave me a soft smile.

"I am sorry for being scared and scaring you all along. And about your question, no I am not regretting this baby, he or she is the biggest blessing after you, to me." I spoke, moving closer to her and cuddling her. She leaned into my embrace and I hugged her as we sat there in silence our heartbeats syncing with each other.

I pulled apart from our hug and caressed her bump. She placed her palm on mine and smiled at me.

Our baby.

"This won't happen again. I promise." I whispered, kissing her forehead followed by her stomach.

"I know it won't. And I am sorry for scaring you."

"No, you are not to be sorry at all. All of this is my fault and you have nothing to be sorry about."

"Okay how about this, let us stop saying sorry. We can talk about something else." She giggled, clinging onto me and I leaned into her.

"True, how about I love you?" I asked, and a prettiest shade of blush coated her cheeks. Cupping her cheeks I placed a long kiss on her cheek making her smile. She kissed me back, making me smile back at her. We chuckled at each other's childishness and broke out into a hearty laughter.