Hate Turned into Love

Chapter 9

Naisha's POV

" I said get out."

Dad screamed and I stormed out of the bedroom crying. I opened the front door and walked towards the swing in the garden and sat on it. I cried profusely. Dad had never raised his voice on me. He scolded me, even though it was Aadhira's fault. She tricked me. It so happened that, I was reading Harry Potter sitting on the bed. She appeared from nowhere and snatched my book and tore one page. It was the climax page. When I sreamed at her, she threw me on the bed, sat on me and started pulling my hair. She also called me a bit*h. Yes she called me that, I didn't. As soon as she heard footsteps approaching us, she changed the positions and it seemed as if I was troubling her, but I wasn't. She started crying then. Well, what can I do? Like mother, like daughter.

I just can't believe that dad trusted her over me. He didn't even listen to me once. Everything has changed. I just hate Aadhira. She has taken my place and now she is dad's perfect daughter.

I continued crying. Just then, Naira approached me. Why was she here? To add fuel to the fire! She came near me.

"Do you wanna talk? You can talk to me if you want."

"Are you serious? Why will I wanna talk to you? You are the reason for this. Everyone hates me. Why are you here? Go near your daughter and pacify her down. I don't need anyone. Just go and leave me alone."

"But -

"I said go!"

I bursted into tears. She sighed and went inside.

Naira's POV

She was hurt. Badly.

I saw Kartik coming out of the kids' room. I approached him.

"How is Aadhira?"

"Good. I calmed her down. She is watching her favourite cartoon show."

I nodded.

"You should've listened to Naisha once."

"Oh come on Naira. Both of us have seen her pulling Aadhira's hair. What more proof we want?"

"But Kartik, there must be something else. There is always an another side of the coin. As far as I know Naisha, she can't do this without any reason. Kartik, we can't be unjust with one of them knowing only half of the incident."

"So you think, I am being a bad daddy. Its my hobby to punish my daughter."

"I didn't mean it -

"Naira, I am Naisha's dad. I have seen her growing up. I know her better than you do. I also know what is best for her. For now, she has to go through the pinishment."

He said and turned to go.

"Fine. Right now, your daughter is sitting on the swing and crying uncontrollably. She thinks everyone hates her. Do whatever you want."

He didn't reply and walked away.

I sighed and entered Aadhira's room. She was watching Tom And Jerry. As soon as she saw me, she switched off the TV. I sat on the bed and she hugged me.

"Mommy, Naisha's a bad girl. Its good that daddy gave her the punishment."

I released the hug and cupped her face.

"You shouldn't say this Aadhira. Naisha's your sister, right?"

She looked at me. I sighed.

" Aadhira, baby, as far as I know Naisha, she can't  do this without any reason. What's wrong, angel? Did you both get into a fight? You know what, she is crying -

Her eyes were filled with tears.

"Angel, what happened?", I asked her concerned. I hugged her. She jerked me away.

"You don't love me anymore. You love Naisha more than me."

"No baby. There's nothing like that. Mommy loves both of you equally."

"Then why are you taking her side knowing that she hurt me. Why are you blaming me?"

" I am not blaming you Aadhira. I just wanted to know -

"Leave me alone", she said covering herself with the duvet.

"But -

"I said leave me alone."

I got up from the bed and walked out of the bedroom. Great! Now my other daughter is also angry with me. Including my husband.

Kartik's POV

I was going through my files in the bedroom. But my mind was somewhere else.

"Fine. Right now, your daughter is sitting on the swing and crying uncontrollably. She thinks that everyone hates her. Do whatever you want."

Naira's words kept hovering in my mind. I shouldn't have scolded Naisha so much. She is just a kid. And kids do mistakes. Scolding was not the way to get rid out of the problem.  I didn't  scold her, but I screamed at her. I had never raised a voice on her, but today I did. I also said her to get out. That was harsh. Way too harsh for a little kid. My brain stops working sometimes. I decided to go check on her.

I paved my way towards the frontyard. There, I saw Naisha sitting on the swing and crying with hiccups.  My baby is hurt and I hurt her.

I walked towards her and sat beside her. She looked up and saw me. Her eyes were red and puffy with the continuous crying and she had a running nose. Great, Kartik Goenka. See what you have done to your daughter. My heart broke down and I cursed my mouth for speaking those words to her.

I hugged her but she jerked me away.

"Go away!", she said and burst into tears.

My heart broke into a million pieces.

"Daddy is sorry baby. He shouldn't have spoken to you in that manner."

"You didn't 'speak' to me. You screamed at me dad. There is a lot difference between 'speak' and 'scream' ", she said diverting her gaze from me.

I sighed.

" Daddy knows baby that what he did was wrong. He shouldn't have scolded you that badly. But my mind was not working that time. I did what I thought what right. But what I thought right was wrong. I am extremely sorry. Please don't punish me by not speaking to me."

"You always say this but repeat the same thing all the time."

"No I won't.  Please baby. Forgive daddy."

There was a moment of silence.

"uh - um. Fine."

I hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"You know that I love you."

"Yeah...I know", she replied casually.

We released the hug.

"So now that everything is sorted out.  Can I ask you for something?"

"Yeah...", she said shrugging her shoulders.

" I know Naisha that its hard for you. But you know, life is long and we should adjust with everything. I know you haven't come out of the trauma of your mum's death yet. Even I didn't. But Naira is trying to take me out of it and if you accept her you will come out of the trauma too. I have seen a new life, a new hope in Naira. Above all, I have seen a mother for you in her. I married her because of you, including the fact that I love her. Please try to accept her. Dont ingnore her because she isn't at fault. She has also gone through very much. I dunno what happened between you and Aadhira today but please baby, for dad's sake, try to accept them. We are a family now and you should respect that. Please princess, will you do this for me?"

She blinked her eyes.

" I can try but I won't promise."

"Its okay."

We smiled at each other.