2,190 Days

Chapter Title: Fragile Threads

A soft, tentative voice cut through the heavy tension.

"Papa?"

Omkara froze. The little girl's eyes were wide, curious but cautious, her tiny fingers clutching Gauri's suit jacket. He didn't know her name yet. He didn't know how to bridge six years of absence, and yet here she was, looking at him as if she had always known he existed.

Inside him, a storm raged. Guilt, longing, fear—all collided. I wasn't there... I left them... did she even feel my love? Will she ever forgive me? His hands lifted slightly, trembling. I can't mess this up. I have to be patient... I have to show her I'm her father, even if she doesn't know it yet.

Gauri's gaze never wavered. Her long hair fell below her shoulders, glasses perched perfectly, her suit sharp and commanding. She was every bit the powerful, confident woman she had become, yet inside, her emotions churned. He's here... after all these years... and yet, can I trust him? Can he really be the father she needs? Her daughter clutched her leg, a silent plea for protection, and Gauri's heart ached. I won't let him hurt her. Not now. Not ever.

What she forgot, though, was that their mate bond still pulsed beneath the surface faint, insistent, impossible to ignore. Even though she had built walls, that bond made her restless in his presence. Every brush of his gaze, every careful word, stirred something she hadn't allowed herself to feel for years. Gauri was still his mate. She had never rejected him fully, no matter what her mind insisted.

The little girl peeked around her mother, curiosity outweighing caution. "Mama... is that... Papa?"

Gauri inhaled sharply, fighting the rush of old feelings love, pain, betrayal. She forced herself to stay composed. Stay calm. Don't let him see your weakness. Don't let him see the hurt he caused.

Omkara's voice came soft, reverent. "It's... me. I'm your father."

Inside him, the words felt both inadequate and sacred. I am here. I am real. I am yours. Please... let her see me as more than a stranger.

The little girl's brow furrowed. "You... you're real?"

"Yes," he said, stepping no closer, careful to respect Gauri's invisible boundary. "I've always been here... in my heart, in my thoughts, every day. I never stopped loving you, or your mother."

Gauri's lips pressed into a thin line. He speaks like a man who regrets everything. But can words undo six years of absence? Her mind raced with memories, both tender and painful. And what about the child? She's my priority, my life. I won't let him just... step in.

Omkara's gaze softened, pleading. "I won't overwhelm her. I will wait. I will earn her trust. I just... I need to see her, to know she's safe. I cannot walk away again without knowing."

Inside Gauri, conflicting emotions warred. Part of me wants to throw him out, yet part of me... he looks like he's truly remorseful. Could it be possible... that he's changed? Her daughter's small step forward, tentative and curious, nudged at her defenses. He's not just a memory. He's here now.

The girl's tiny voice cut through her thoughts. "Papa... will you... play with me?"

Omkara's chest tightened. This is the moment. The bridge. I can't fail. "I... I would love to," he whispered, the raw emotion in his voice betraying the careful restraint he had tried to maintain.

Gauri's eyes flickered between her daughter and Omkara. She could feel the tension in his posture, the honesty in his words. He's not the carefree playboy the world thinks he is... he's vulnerable. And yet, can I allow this? Can I risk opening my heart again?

Omkara's thoughts spiraled, heart hammering. She's grown into a force... but she's still her. Still my Gauri. And this little girl... she's mine. My daughter. I have to be worthy of them both.

The room remained taut with unspoken history, every glance and gesture heavy with meaning. The tiny girl's shy smile was the first fragile thread connecting past mistakes with future hope. For Omkara, it was a lifeline. For Gauri, it was a test, a challenge to trust the man who had once left everything behind, and a reminder that their mate bond had never truly broken.