PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3)

SHOT 9

Abhay's pov!

It has been a long day at the office. The troubleshooting had finally succeeded and the new version of the game was deployed and it turned out to be a success too.

I ordered the creative team to make improvisations to the game and offer free bonus coins as a compensation.

As I stepped foot into the house, I saw a new face there. As I stood there, my gaze lingered on the young woman in her twenties. Who was she?

How does it matter anyways? The truth was, it didn't.

Nothing mattered to me anymore, not since that fateful day when I lost Kiara, and with her, a part of myself.

But my attention quickly shifted to my daughter, nestled contentedly in Siddhu's arms. She was blissfully unaware of my presence, lost in her own little world of comfort and safety. I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes, fearing the accusatory questions they might hold.

Guilt gnawed at my insides, a constant reminder of the irreversible damage my carelessness had caused. I had robbed Kiara of her life, leaving our daughter without a mother. How could I face her, knowing that I was responsible for her loss?

The thought of holding her, of showering her with love and affection, filled me with a longing so intense it was almost unbearable. But every time I reached out to her, my guilt would rear its ugly head, reminding me of my crime. My sin.

I didn't deserve her love, her affection, or even her forgiveness. I had denied Kiara the right to hold her baby, to watch her grow and thrive. How could I possibly make amends for such a grave injustice?

My heart ached with the weight of my remorse, the knowledge of my own inadequacy crushing me like a ton of bricks. I yearned to hold her, to tell her how much I loved her, but deep down, I knew I didn't deserve her love.

So I stayed here, a silent observer in my own home, watching from a distance as my daughter laughed and played, her innocence a stark reminder of the innocence I had taken from her.

I quickly averted my eyes and climbed the stairs leading to my bedroom on the first floor.

I pulled up the inserted shirt and opened the few top buttons of it and fell on the bed with a sigh. I closed my eyes and Kiara's face appeared behind my eyes.

Her crying face.

"I can't believe you, Abhay! How could you do this to me?" Kiara cried, as she looked at me accusingly.

"You are blowing this out of proportion." I said helplessly.

"Out of proportion? You are choosing your family over me! How am I supposed to feel about that?" Kiara asked angrily.

"They are my family, Kiara. I can't just abandon them because you want me to."

"I am not asking you to abandon them! I just want to know where I stand in your life."

"You know where you stand, Kiara. You are my wife, of course you are important to me."

"Then why do I feel like I am always second best? Why do I feel like I am competing with your family for your attention?"

"That's not fair, Kiara. You know I love you, but I can't ignore my responsibilities to my family."

"Responsibilities? What about your responsibility to me? To our marriage?"

"I am trying, Kiara. But you have to understand, I can't just abandon my family."

"And what about me, Abhay? Don't I deserve your loyalty too?"

"Of course you do, Kiara. But you are not making this easy for me."

"I shouldn't have to compete for your love, Abhay. I shouldn't have to fight for a place in your life."

"Why are you treating my family like enemies, Kiara? They love you. My mom loves you. She was starting to see you as the daughter she lost. But you just don't want to get close to them. Why is that so, Kiara? If you open your heart for my family too, our life would be heaven, Kiara.." Abhay tried to make her understand.

"Oh! So, you are saying our life could be a heaven only if I serve your parents like a slave. I married you, Abhay. I need only you. Just the two of us. We can make it a heaven, far far away from here.." Kiara said angrily at first and then desperately.

"You are overthinking everything Kiara. You are my wife. My other half. You mean the world to me. But they are my family too. How can I give up on them? We can move out after a few years, Kiara. Once Siddhu gets married. Until then, let's stay here as a family. Please." I begged, not wanting to give my mother the pain of losing another child. She already lost a child years ago. She wouldn't be able to bear it if she lost me too.

"Then maybe you should decide once and for all, Abhay. Who is more important to you? Me or your family?"

My phone rang, bringing me out of my thoughts. I looked at the caller ID and saw Shravan's name on it. I just let it ring off. I wasn't in the mood to talk to him now.

I quickly took a shower and went downstairs as it was dinner time. More than dinner, it was my daughter's face that drew me to the dining area for every meal time. Watching her from afar is the highlight of my day. The only happy time of my days now.

As I reached the living room, I found it unusually quiet. Usually, the sound of her giggles and her rattles would fill the room, making the house lively. But she was nowhere to be found. I quietly moved towards my parents bedroom to see if she was asleep. After all, she has a long journey from somewhere in Tamil Nadu to Bangalore. But my parents' room was also empty.

My heartbeat picked up its pace in panic. I hurried towards the living room again and found Siddhu sitting there, talking to dad. And mom was in the kitchen. Kriti wasn't there anywhere.

I looked around in panic.

"Looking for someone?" Siddhu asked in a serious tone and I didn't know what to say. The only time he fights with me is when he demands to know why I stay away from Kriti.

"Where is she?" I asked desperately.

"Who?" Siddhu asked in a nonchalant tone.

"Damn it, Siddhu! Where is my daughter?" I asked furiously and he looked equally furious.

"Why do you care?"

A/N

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