Akshara: A Shattered Past, An Uncertain Future

CHAPTER - 3 (FIRST CONVERSATION)

The old woman, showed Akshara to Hiranbhanu's cottage, which was noticeably larger and different compared to the other cottages/huts in the area. Akshara slowly regained her composure and forced a small smile as the woman patiently explained everything around her. A house helper assisted Akshara inside, and the old woman introduced the helper before leaving for her duties. The house helper, warm and welcoming, showed Akshara to her own room and told her to settle in, offering help if needed.

Though exhausted both mentally and physically, Akshara felt guilty for not properly engaging with the kind people who had been so good to her. But her mind kept drifting back to her past. Despite the house helper's insistence, Akshara refused to eat lunch or dinner. Her thoughts wandered as she sat by the window, gazing outside all day.

That night, the house helper informed Akshara that she was leaving for home, and Akshara remained seated by the window and dozed off. Suddenly, in the middle of the night, Akshara screamed, jolted awake by a nightmare, and began pleading, "Papa... please don't beat me... I won't do it again... papa, please!"

Hiranbhanu, who had just returned to his cottage, rushed to her side. He was shocked to see her crying out in fear and tried to comfort her, but she begged him not to touch her, terrified. Hiranbhanu's heart broke seeing the state she was in. In a soft voice, he called her "Gudiya" (Doll). Akshara looked up slowly, meeting his gaze. He gently reassured her, saying, "Baba won't let anyone hurt you, Gudiya."

It took a moment for Akshara to process his words, but then she hesitantly asked, "Promise?" Hiranbhanu immediately responded, "Promise on my life, Gudiya." His words calmed her, and the room fell into a sudden quiet. Hiranbhanu kept his distance, sitting down and looking at the ceiling, while Akshara remained by the window, staring at the sky.

After an hour, Akshara finally asked, "Why did you call me your daughter and bring me into your home?" Hiranbhanu simply replied, "Why not?" Confused, Akshara frowned and asked, "A question to a question isn't an answer, sir (raja)!" Her cute, frustrated expression made Hiranbhanu smile. It pained him that she still called him 'raja' ........ But he decided to play along, replying, "That applies to you too, Gudiya." Hearing him call her 'Gudiya' again made Akshara's heart calm slightly. She realized no one had ever addressed her so lovingly or given her a pet name before.

Hiranbhanu noticed a slight moisture in her eyes and immediately felt bad, wondering if he had overstepped. He wished his son had been there to handle the situation. His boy, who had inherited his mother's calmness and charm, could have lightened the mood. But Hiranbhanu tried to ease the atmosphere himself by saying, "Back to earth, Gudiya," earning a playful glare from Akshara. Her frown deepened when she saw him smile, so she turned her head away. Realizing that his smile might have upset her, Hiranbhanu softly said, "Baba is sorry, Princess.I won't tease  you again."

This made Akshara smile a little, but her mind was still filled with doubts. Why was this man treating her so kindly when her own father had treated her so cruelly? Instead of dwelling on it, she decided to confront him directly. She asked, "Why are you doing this? What's your reason for declaring me as your daughter and bringing me into your home?"

Hiranbhanu simply replied, "Because I feel like......" His response confused Akshara, but strangely, she didn't feel scared of him. Instead, she felt a genuine warmth from him. Realizing he wasn't going to answer her question right away, she asked if she could do some work to earn money for herself. She knew that if one day he decided she wasn't worthy of his love, he might abandon her, and she would need money to survive.

Hiranbhanu frowned, wondering why his Gudiya would need to work when he was there to care of her. But he decided against arguing and told her to rest for a while, then she could look for work later. Satisfied, Akshara thanked him, once again addressing him as 'raja.' He let it go for the time being, deciding to discuss it with her later, and then left for his own room.

Though still confused, Akshara felt a sense of peace knowing that this man wouldn't hurt her. She drifted off to sleep, thinking about her uncertain future......

Meanwhile, in his room, Hiranbhanu took out a bangle from his locker—a bangle that had belonged to his late wife, Meenakshi, the love of his life. Holding it tightly,he began to speak, saying, 'Meenu, you know what happened.....,' and started recounting the events of his day as if he is conversing with her. He also promised to take care of their Gudiya(Akshara) and Champ(Their son) until his last breath. Eventually, he fell asleep while holding the bangle tightly, as if it was her hand—his wife, his love."

Will Hiranbhanu abandon her after learning about her past, or will he cherish her until his last breath? Will Akshara truly become his daughter, or remain a stranger forever? Only time will tell...