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"Ye hai akshu, papa! "Aashi said, running to akshara and clutching her hand tight.

" Akshuu??? "The man whispered.

Everything seemed to freeze, as the everything came jolting down at the two adults.

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" Aashi's ,your daughter? " Asked a visibly confused akshara.

"Eh? Yeahh... Mam" He answered with a Smile.

"Rohan.. You finally married? Having a daughter? Well planned , huh? " Teased akshara.

Rohan chuckled nervously, and looked at akshara, from head to toe.

When aashi interrupted "papa, akshu dost h? "

Rohan amd akshara exchanged guilty glances, when akshara said

"Yes, aashi, just the way we are " And bent down for a hi-fi with aashi.

Rohan quickly studied the situation and called neha to take aashi to the kids area and dress her bruise as well.

Once aashi was out of the room,with neha. Rohan asked akshara to have a seat, and they settled down.

Sensing it getting awkward, Rohan started " Well, abhimanyu sir is better but ... "

He was cut midway by akshara's raised eyebrows with a glimpse of no feelings.

"I didn't asked you about anyone, we are here, let's talk about each other" She said with a forced smiled.

Rohan sensed it was not the right to scratch her.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

"Away from chaos" She replied with a sad smirk across her face.

"Ah... I see " Rohan said rubbing his nape, out of nervousness.

"You, here, all of sudden.. I mean..?" He tried asking again.

"Running away isn't my way,anymore.

Moreover I came to help aashi, nothing more" She said waving her head out of tiredness.

"Hha... I see... Well thank you so much for taking care of aashi, I couldn't have even imagined that aarya will loose her, it was so careless of her... Thank you so much, mam" He said out of gratefulness.

"Rohan, answer me honestly. " Akshara said looking directly into his eyes.

"Hn, ha puchiye na" He said.

"Aashi's your daughter?"

The awkwardness again came around, this time with a good bang.

"Ha, kyu?" He replied with a questioned glance.

" She's just three, you were not married when I left, moreover... " Before she could complete he interrupted and said with panic "she isn't, but I am her father, that's the only truth".

Akshara looked at him surprised, and he realised that he messed up , clearing his throat he explained "Aarya's real husband had passed away in an accident, no doubt she was strong enough to handle herself and am sure she would have managed herself well, even I hadn't married her.

But it was difficult, with a 8 month baby within her, that's when I met her through a common friend and we bonded over time, I married as to lend support, and even she agreed, i took the responsibility of her and the unborn baby,our aashi,but over time we bonded and are leading our life normally as parents and couples.

No matter ,what happens, it won't change the that aashi is my daughter, I don't have a family so I know that fear, that restlessness, that why I beg of you not to let this truth out, mam.

Please, you are the first person knowing this, after me and aarya. " He said with pleading eyes.

Akshara took few minutes to understand and said " You know you deserve to be respected... And dont worry it is all safe, believe you never told me anything" She assured.

Knowing that it is getting emotionally draining for Rohan she said "by the way, aashi is truly a well raised girl and Aarya is really lucky, convey my greetings to her".

Rohan smiled proudly at the compliment.

" Well.. I must say... " He was alerted by a sudden entry and boom.

Akshara stared at the sudden entry with a deep breathe and before they could continue, akshara stood up, picking her bag and said "well ,looks like it's important, we'll catch up later".

She made her way to the exit and stopped in front of abhimanyu, staring at her with shock.

" By the way, you were saying something, Rohan, complete it" She said looking straight at abhimanyu, while Rohan contemplated Whether he should go ahead with the words .

"No, nothing..." He said brushing off her question.

Three years had gone by, but still Rohan couldn't talk to akshara when abhimanyu was there, abhimanyu's love for her was known to him, very well and jealousy too.

While facing her back towards rohan and facing abhimanyu with a undefined gaze, she said " Go on Rohan, I give people their chance, instead of leaving them hanging" .

Was it a part of convo or more like a sarcasm?

They knew it better.

Abhimanyu was still processing, that he saw the same face after three whole years, but the words were still stammering to make their way.

"Vo.... Actually you got a nice perfume, that's all" He said rubbing his hands, out of fear, nervousness or whatever you assume.

"Well that's how HLT smells like" She replied, and had hardly took a step past abhimanyu, when he finally said "Is that a new brand, or you again made up a story? " Évident sarcasm, though.

She turned back again and stood in front of him, with their eyes reading each other's and said " Nahh, you always get it wrong Mr. Abhimanyu Birla,by HLT, I meant that that is how honesty ,loyalty and trust smells like, of course you must not have been familiar to this smell, must be lacking anyone of them".

Abhimanyu glared her while she turned and waved a bye to Rohan with parting words stating "Take care of Aashi, we can catch soon".

Abhimanyu turned stop her but she had already left.

With hands in pocket, he looked at Rohan with a how-could-you look.

Abhimanyu restlessly came out of rohan's cabin, I expected a better face off, with no question of how am I?

How could she? He thought, when a nurse brought him to reality asking him to see Dr. Srishti.

Putting a stern look he went his way.

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Here Akshara, sat in a park with the moments she had a few minutes ago.

She met him after dull three years, still meeting him didn't gave a ray to feel anything.

Her phone rang and it flashed Ava.

She wasn't in state of mind to carry out any business talks but still her professionalism was.

"Yes ,Ava?"

"Good morning, mam"

"Huh? Yeah... Good morning" She simply forgot that it isn't going to be noon in Sweden as well.

"Mam, Mr.James wants to see the interior ideas for living room, he insists them to be personally designed by you, should ask him to meet you day after tomorrow?" She spoke.

Akshara gave it a thought, she actually used to return the same day as her arrival in India, without letting anyone know, she again spoke "Ava, show him the photos from the laptop that is on the second bottom shelf, on the left side of my cabin, when you enter"

"Meeting?"

"Hold everything, related to me, except the work already kicked in, don't line up any meetings in coming days" She ordered.

"Ok"

"And yes, call me if it is urgent, don't hesitate. "

"Hangin... " Akshara was interrupted in between "You aren't coming back, by tomorrow? " Ava asked.

"Well there's something I need to take care of.

Bye ,take care" Akshara said hanging up.

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