Meher shot back, her voice icy and unyielding.

“You think I care about your feelings? Your hate doesn’t even faze me. You’re just a coward hiding behind your grief, using it as an excuse to push everyone away, including your own daughter!”

Vikram’s face darkened, but Meher continued, relentless.

“You want to blame me for everything? Fine! But the truth is, you’re the one who can’t stand to look in the mirror and see the pathetic father staring back at you! If you really wanted to change, you would’ve done it by now instead of wallowing in your misery and dragging everyone down with you!”

As she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist, pushing her against the wall, effectively trapping her.

“You are not her real mother,” he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Meher leaned in, fierce and unyielding.

“True, I’m not her real mother. But just like Yashoda loved Krishna, I’ll love Aarvi! You think being a father is just about blood? It’s about being there, fighting for her, and being her rock. You blamed Aarvi for Shanaya’s death, Vikram! You pushed her away when all she needed was her father! I might not have given her birth, but I’ll give her everything!.

She said, then took Aarvi in her arms and left the room, while Vikram stood frozen in place, her words stabbing into him like arrows, each one hitting deeper than the last.

He was left standing there, reeling from the force of what she had just said, her accusations echoing in his mind.

His hands clenched into fists as he struggled to breathe through the flood of emotions.

Every word Meher had thrown at him—about being a father, about pushing Aarvi away, about blaming a child for something she didn’t even understand—it all hit him like a punch to the gut.

He had no defense because deep down, he knew it was true.

I failed her… I failed them both.

The guilt gnawed at him, twisting his insides as the image of Aarvi in Meher’s arms flashed before his eyes.

Vikram ran a hand through his hair, his chest tightening with a mix of regret and shame.

He could no longer deny the truth Meher had confronted him with. He had been running away, hiding behind his grief, and in the process, he’d been hurting the only people left in his life.

He sank onto the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, memories of Shanaya flooding back—her smile, her laugh, and the dreams they’d had for Aarvi.

But those dreams had died along with her, hadn’t they? He had buried them, buried himself in his anger and grief, but Aarvi… she was still here. She needed him, and he had been too blind to see it.

A wave of determination swept over him, and he stood up suddenly, his fists still trembling but his resolve strengthening. He had been a coward, hiding behind his sorrow, but maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe he could still fix this. He owed it to Aarvi—to Shanaya—to try.

After Some Time

Vikram stared out the window, deep in thought. His mind wrestled with doubts. Kya main yeh kar paunga? The question haunted him, but he couldn’t back down anymore. Aarvi needed him.

He heard footsteps and turned to see Dadi-sa entering the room, her expression calm but concerned.

"Tum bohot pareshaan lag rahe ho, beta,(you look stressed beta) " Dadi-sa said gently, moving closer.

Vikram let out a shaky breath. "Bohot pehle se pareshaan hoon, Dadi," he admitted, his voice filled with regret.

"Mujhe nahi pata...ki mai aarvi ke liye ek aacha papa ban paunga?"(“I don’t know if I can be the father Aarvi needs.”)

Dadi-sa placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Beta, jo cheezein humein peeche kheench rahi hoti hain, unhe chhodne ka faisla karna hota hain."

Vikram swallowed, her words hitting home. "Maine Aarvi ko blame kiya... Shanaya ki maut ke liye. Usse door kar diya jab use sirf apne baap ki zarurat thi. Ab main kaise shuru karun, Dadi-sa?"("I’ve blamed Aarvi for Shanaya’s death... I’ve pushed her away, hurt her... I don't even know where to start.")

Dadi-sa’s eyes softened with understanding. "Shuruvaat yahin se hoti hai, Vikram. Tum pehle hi pehla kadam utha chuke ho. Galtiyon ko badla nahi ja sakta, lekin tum yeh tay kar sakte ho ki aage kya karoge."(“The fact that you recognize it is the first step. You can’t change the past, but you can decide what kind of father you want to be from now on.”)

Vikram turned away, guilt pressing on his chest. "Aur agar der ho chuki ho?" ("What if I’m too late?")

Dadi-sa smiled sadly. "Der kabhi nahi hoti, beta. Kehte hain na, jab jaago tab savera." (It's never too late, they say whenever you wake up, that's your morning.)

Vikram looked at her, his heart heavy with regret. But Dadi-sa’s words gave him a sliver of hope. "Main koshish karunga... Aarvi ke liye,"(" i will try ...for aarvi") he murmured.

That night, the house buzzed with activity as preparations for the Navratri pooja were in full swing.

Servants hurried through the hallways, stringing garlands and setting up decorations, while the family discussed the arrangements in the living room.

The air was filled with the scent of incense and the soft rustling of pooja items being gathered.

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the entrance, and all eyes turned as Vikram entered the house, flanked by his guards. They carried multiple backpacks, looking serious and determined. Vikram’s face was hard, his jaw set with purpose.

He stopped in the middle of the hall, scanning the room until his eyes landed on Dadi-sa. "Dadi-sa, Aarvi kahan hai?" ("Dadi-sa, where is Aarvi?") he asked, his tone calm.

"Ye Aarvi ke liye kuch kapde aur khilaone laya hoon, waise hi jaise Shanaya chahti thi," Vikram said, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his voice.

The memories of Shanaya's laughter and her dreams for their daughter swirled in his mind like a whirlwind.

Dadi-sa's eyes softened as she took in the sight of the backpacks. "Tumhari biwi hamesha kehti thi, 'bacche khush rahenge toh ghar khush rahega.' Tumhe pata hai, Shanaya bhi choti choti khushiyon ki kitni parwaah karti thi." ("Your wife always said, 'If children are happy, the home will be happy.' You know, Shanaya cared so much about little joys.")

Vikram nodded, a wave of bittersweet emotion washing over him. "Main chahata hoon ke Aarvi ko woh sab mile jo uski maa chahati thi. Usse khush dekhna chahta hoon," he admitted, his voice low but filled with determination. ("I want Aarvi to have everything her mother wished for. I want to see her happy.")

Dadi-sa face light up seeing the determination on his face "Aarvi meher ke sath hai(aarvi is with meher)"Vikram face hardend as he remeber meher's word.

"ooh okay then "

The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the house.

The air was thick with the fragrance of flowers and incense as everyone prepared for the Navratri pooja.