Frames of Destiny

Chapter 14

Two days later..

Late evening...Sidharth returns home early after the shoot was cut short due to some unexpected mishaps on the set..

He is sitting in his room, speaking to his technical team and trying to focus on fixing the mishap when Samaira walks into the room with her notebook in hand and her eyes are full of curiosity..!

"Daddy..?" she calls him with her soft voice..

"Yes beta?" ...he replies while being completely occupied with his laptop..

"Can you tell me more about Mumma? I want to write an essay for Mother's Day and aapko pata hai it is going to be a competition in class. I want to make it special..."...her eyes twinkle with excitement!

Sidharth tries to not get carried away now.."Not now Samy..Daddy is busy beta!" he mutters, not looking up from his work..

"But Daddy..I want to know more about her! What was her favorite color? How did she look? What was her favorite pastime? Please tell me na Daddy! I want to be the best here!"..she insists..

"Samaira! I said not now!"...Sidharth snaps and probably for the first time at her!! His voice becomes sharper than he intended! Though he didn't mean to raise it but the stress was too much for him to take and eventually the room fell silent!

Samaira's eyes widen in shock! She has never heard her father speak to her like this before, especially not about something so sensitive!! Her lip shivers as she struggles to hold back her tears!

Sidharth quickly realizes the tone was not right and his heart wrenches to see his little one in tears!
"Samy I am sorry baccha!! I am so sorry!"...he says while quickly reaching out to her but she pulls herself away and runs out of the room..!

Sidharth stands there, filled with regret and guilt for a while! He realizes he should have cherished the moment when she asked about her mother! The weight of his emotions unsettles him and he feels like he has broken the promise he made to Meera to never be harsh with Samaira..!

Sidharth hurries to Samaira's room and takes shaky steps to find her nestled in Shehnaaz's arms, quietly weeping against her chest! Tears well up in his eyes and his heart almost aches with the realization that he has caused her this hurt..!

He steps closer but Samaira only tightens her grip on Shehnaaz, refusing to let him get any near..
"I am so sorry beta..! Please come..".. Sidharth's voice almost cracks as he tries reaching out to her but she turns away, hiding her face in Shehnaaz's chest...

"Aap ne Mumma k liye mujhe daanta! I am very hurt Daddy!!..she cries inevitably!

These words directly sting his heart and they become too much to bear! This particular thing is equally sensitive for him! He feels like a child himself and his tears begin to fall freely as he tries once more time to hold her but she only clings tighter to Shehnaaz..!

Shehnaaz is literally shocked to see Sidharth breaking to this extent, especially over something so small! It is so evident that he is all vulnerable when it comes to Samaira!!

"Rehne dijiye..theek ho jayegi..You please calm down..!"..Shehnaaz hints to take it easy while having Samaira in her embrace..

He gasps and can't stay in the room any longer, thus walks away immediately..

*************

An hour later, after putting Samaira to sleep, Shehnaaz slowly leaves the room to check on Sidharth. When she doesn't find him inside his room, a house help informs her that he is on the terrace. She takes the stairs and finds him there, drenched in alcohol and despair! She approaches him, unsure of what to say, but surely knowing that she can't leave him like this..!