AVIOTHIC

25

Happy Independence Day 🧡🤍💚🇮🇳

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Prayagraj

Praveen stared at the yellowed photograph, the edges frayed from years of neglect. It was a picture of him and abhishree, his ex-wife, from happier times.

He could still remember the day they took that photo, full of laughter and dreams that seemed unbreakable. But life had a way of twisting those dreams into something unrecognizable. Their marriage had crumbled under the weight of misunderstandings and unspoken grievances, and two years ago, they had finally divorced.

He had moved on-or at least tried to. He threw himself into his work, convincing himself that he was better off without the pain of their failed relationship. Abhishree had disappeared from his life completely, leaving behind only memories that he had tried to bury deep within him. But now, sitting in his small apartment in Prayagraj, everything had changed.

Praveen had received the news of Abhishree death a few weeks ago. It had come as a shock-she had died nearly a year after their divorce, and no one had thought to inform him. Perhaps it was better that way, he told himself at first. After all, they were no longer connected.

But then, another piece of news shattered the fragile peace he had built around himself: Abhishree had been pregnant when they divorced. She had given birth to his child, and for the past two years, her best friend Preeti had been raising their child without his knowledge.

Praveen felt the ground beneath him shift. He had a child-a son or daughter-out there in the world, and he had been ignorant of their existence for two long years. The guilt gnawed at him. He had failed his child before they even had a chance to know him. But that guilt quickly turned into determination. He would find his child, no matter what.

The search was grueling. Prayagraj was a sprawling city, its narrow lanes and crowded streets hiding secrets within every corner. He began his search where Abhishree had worked as a teacher. The school staff was reluctant at first, but persistence and the sincerity of a desperate father eventually led them to open up. They told him what little they knew: Aisha had been a dedicated teacher, and Preeti, her closest friend, had taken over the care of her child after Abhishree's passing. They remembered Preeti as a kind woman, deeply protective of the child.

Armed with this information, Praveen began piecing together Preeti's life, learning where she lived and worked. He would often wander the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of his child. His child. The words felt foreign to him, but they were now the center of his universe.

But finding them was only the first step. Preeti had been the child's guardian for nearly two years, and by all accounts, she was devoted to the role. Praveen knew he couldn't just take the child away without a fight, and he wasn't even sure what kind of father he would be. Yet, the instinct to protect and care for his own flesh and blood was overwhelming.

He sought legal counsel, discussing the possibility of filing for custody. The lawyer warned him that it wouldn't be easy. Preeti had been the child's primary caregiver, and the courts would consider the child's well-being above all else. But Praveen was resolute. He didn't want to take the child away out of spite or to erase Aisha's memory. He simply wanted to fulfill the role that had been denied to him-of being a father, of giving his child the life and love they deserved.

As he prepared to go to court, Praveen couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for Preeti. She had stepped in when he had been absent, and for that, he would always be grateful. But this was his child, and he would do everything in his power to be a part of their life, to give them a future where they knew their father had never given up on them.