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Chapter Three
Trishna had been waiting the whole day in her father's studio. She was waiting there for Om not because it was her favourite place but because it was the place which brought alive two of the people whom she loved the most, her father and Omkara.
Daksh looked up from his easel from time to time to keenly observe his daughter. She always said that she hated coming here because she felt like a secondary citizen here as all his attention was taken up by art here.
But things were changing. She came over here often. She smiled to herself. Her entire face was radiantly lit up in a rosy glow and he knew that he was not the reason for the exquisite happiness and bliss which manifested in her appearance.
It was Omkara who brought this smile to her face. He had nothing against the lad but still he hated him. He felt like a secondary citizen when he saw Omkara and Trishna together. He felt left out and that was something he could not tolerate nor could he afford to display his displeasure openly.
He was actually happy that Omkara had stopped coming recently. Just then a disturbing thought crossed his mind. Was he coming here today? Was that the reason Trishna was here?
Trishna snatching her father's words out of his mouth said, "You hate Omkara, don't you Papa?"
Daksh after a pause and with an intensity which indicated the contrary of what he actually spoke, "No!"
Trishna said, "I thought you did, Papa. He used to be your favourite student then what went so wrong? Did I come between you and your student?"
Daksh even more vehemently, "No. You did not. He came in between rather. People and things which come midway also leave us midway. Omkara is the same too, isn't he?"
Trishna greatly confused on how to respond to this, "Yes...I mean...No Papa! People come and go in our lives. But some remain with us forever even when they are not there. Just like Mamma for me and you. I know that she is no more but I know that she is always with me. I know that you too feel the same about Mamma!"
Daksh his subdued anger rising,"Your Mamma and I are altogether different for you from the rest of the people, isn't it? ... For example... just assume ...that we are talking about people ...like Omkara... "
Trishna in a soft and muffled tone, "I'd rather I were not ever in a position where I would have to choose between you and Omkara."
Daksh continued, "If you were whom would you choose?"
Trishna in a hardly audible tone, "I would break in the process!"
Daksh in a nonchalant manner,"You may rest satisfied on my count. I will never ask you to choose between either of us. But are you so sure Omkara will never ask you to choose between me and him?"
Trishna, her face all smiles, "I'm so so happy, Papa! That's how I knew it would be. My happiness means the world for you. I know Omkara. I trust him and I know that he will never break my trust."
Daksh spoke in a cryptic manner, "I wouldn't trust anyone so much if I were you. Blindly trusting someone, or testing your blind trust for someone are things I would never do if I were you. By the way are you waiting for someone. I'm done for today. You can come home with me if you want!"
Trishna innocently and honestly, "As a matter of fact Papa I'm waiting for Omkara. I did not tell him where I would be. If he doesn't find me before 6 today, I will not talk to him or meet him again."
Daksh within his breath, "I hope he never finds you ...(Speaking aloud) That's interesting. I hope your trust in him is not proved wrong. But I fear it will. There are hardly five minutes left."
Trishna with a triumphant smile, "Five seconds are enough to prove me right and you wrong. Just look out of the window. There he is at the door...Look Papa..."
In her excitement, Trishna had failed to notice the nasty expression that crossed across her father's face when she was saying this.
