Fates

Part 33- Relationships

Pragya had barely composed herself in front of the kids. Now all she wanted to do is be alone in her room and break down. So as Pragya was headed towards her room Prachi grabbed her hand to keep her from leaving.

"Mumma, are you okay?" Prachi asked Pragya worriedly.

"I'm fine, beta. Just a little tired. I'm going to go to sleep now, you should too because you have school in the morning." Pragya said with the little strength that she had left in her.

"Goodnight." Pragya said kissing Prachi's forehead and walking away.

Prachi was about to stop Pragya again, about to ask Pragya what really happened, when Shahana came in and walked past her with a dreamy smile on her face, not even acknowledging Prachi. Prachi got distracted by this and followed Shahana to find out what was going on.

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On the other hand, Alia was still trying to calm Abhi.

"I messed everything up Alia. I couldn't do anything right. I couldn't be a good husband. I couldn't be a good father. Because what kind of father separates his child from her mother? What kind of husband kicks out his wife in the middle of the night with their day-old daughter?" Abhi said tears streaming down his face.

"No, bhai, you are a wonderful husband and father. Whenever anyone, whether it was me or even the whole world stood against Pragya bhabhi it was you who held her hand and always stood by her. When you didn't even know about your relationship with Kaira you treated her like she was your daughter. And for Riya, you're both her dad and mom. You even learned how to do different hairstyles so that Riya could have any hairstyle that she wished when she used to go to school. You are a wonderful dad and husband and no one can say otherwise, not even you." Alia said with conviction.

"I am, Alia, I am. Whenever things got difficult I blamed Pragya. I blamed Pragya when dadi died. I blamed Pragya when Kaira died. Even though none of those things were her fault. And you say that I'm such a great dad but that's not true. I saw my Kiara die right in front of my eyes and I couldn't do anything. My other daughter, I have no idea where she is, or what she looks like. And princess framed someone for stealing, and she went to prison recently for reckless driving, she hates her mother, and I have no idea why because nobody has said bad things about Pragya to Riya. You say I'm a good father, but if Pragya had raised princess, even by herself, she would've raised her 10 times better than I did with the help of all of you." Abhi said drowning in self-doubt.

"When Dadi and Kaira died you reacted out of anger and blamed Pragya bhabhi. They say that we are only angry at those who we love the most. And you love Pragya bhabhi with all your heart. When Kaira died no one could do anything because it was such a messy situation. And I know that wherever my other niece is she loves her dad. And we all that your princess has your anger, and in her anger, she ends up going too far. But she is sorry, she realized her mistake, and she even went to apologize but then the accident happened, it was a mistake and it made things worse between Prachi and Riya. Riya never meant to do it, but Prachi thought it was on purpose and got Riya arrested. But you believe Riya right? You believe that Riya could never harm another person, right? And no one could raise Riya better than you did because you made her brave, kind, and smart. Riya isn't afraid to speak her mind because you taught her that she never has to conform to society's ideals. Riya's made so many charities that we don't even know about. And Riya basically runs this business when you're not here and she's only 21, and she never even takes credit for it. You raised Riya and you made her into a wonderful human being and that makes you a great dad." Alia said with conviction.

"Yes, I do believe that Riya would never harm another person. And she's a good human being. But what about what I did to Pra-." Abhi began to say, about to tell Alia that there was no excuse for how he treated Pragya. But Alia interrupted him, knowing that if she wanted her brother to feel better, she needed to take the conversation away from Pragya.

"But nothing no more of this self-doubt. You're a wonderful husband and dad. Just look at me, you raised me when mom and dad died. You raised me like a father and look how great I turned out." Alia said to change the topic, but she meant every word.

"A brat who couldn't handle not getting what she wanted?" Abhi asked jokingly referring to how she made him marry Pragya, so she could get Purab.

"Hey! Me being a brat is what got you and Pragya bhabhi married. So technically you should thank me." Alia said knowing what her bother meant, they had all matured and could joke about that now, and technically there was truth to what Alia was saying.

"But, you're not a brat anymore. You're a mother now and sometimes I can't believe how much you've matured." Abhi said smiling like a proud father.

"It's all your doing." Alia said smiling when she saw her brother smile. Hugging him, knowing that her mission was accomplished, she had finally succeeded in getting Abhi to smile.

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Pragya had locked herself in her room, and slid down the door, leaning against it for support, and only when she knew that she was entirely alone did she let the dam break. Hot and heavy tears streamed down her face. She put a hand over her mouth to stifle her sob so that she wouldn't alarm anyone. And cried. Cried for Abhi. Cried for Kiara. Cried for the daughter she never knew. Cried for the 23 years of pain she had endured.

This is why. This is why Pragya didn't want to know how her daughter was now. This is why she didn't want to know how Abhi was now. It made everything worse. It made it hard to stay away. It was better to not know. But now that she knew, Pragya couldn't ever forget. And it made everything worse.

With blurred vision because of endless tears falling from her eyes and shaking hands from crying, Pragya reached out for her phone which was laying on the floor next to her. Dialing a number that she knew by heart with shaky hands. Pragya put the phone to her ear.

"Mumma." Pragya let out in a broken voice when the person on the other side of the phone picked up.

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