Chapter 11 (B)
Rishi entered the sighania mansion, welcomed by ranvijay. Both of them moved to drawing hall and settled there.
"Whats the matter, ranvijay? Everything alright?" Rishi asked him, he could see his best friend was tensed about something.
"Rishi, did you talked to your daughter? Hows she these days?" Ranvijay asked him back. At the mention of his daughter, Rishi's eyes shot up. He was confused why he was talking about her.
"Last time i called jodhpur, maid said taani is in mumbai. I haven't talked to her yet. I'm going home from here, and will meet both the kids there-" Rishi trailed off, from past few weeks, he was so busy with his business, wasn't getting time for his kids.
"Rishi, come with me." Ranvijay said to him, he got up and walked toward Rey's bedroom. Confused Rishi followed his behind silently.
"In your absence, your daughter has gone through alot." Ranvijay mumbled, he slightly opened the door and made him look inside, where Rey was feeding taani, who was staring off into space.
Rishi stare at her, his heart broke seeing the bandages, if he look closely, he could see marks on her arms.
"Ranvijay, what is this?How did this happen to her?" Rishi asked him, he was feeling so many emotions all together, angry on who had done this to his little princess, worried for her, and heart broken seeing his daughter like this.
Ranvijay told him whatever his son had told him, Rishi was feeling miserable, He was trembling with rage, but this wasn't the point to lose his anger, first he wanted to see his daughter. He rushed inside, ranviijay followed him behind, trying to stop him, knowing taani is not in state to meet him, nor they know how she will react seeing him.
Taani's head snapped at the person who had barged inside the room, on instinct, she moved close to Rey. She was trembling with fear, looking at her father, but for her, he is still her tauji. She couldn't recognize him, nor she tried to. The memories she had with her family and loved ones before, were far away from her reach. Her pain of losing her child had blocked her mind to think about anything else than the painful moments when she lost her child and how vishesh beat her to death. Her memory was stuck there.
Rishi's heart broke when his daughter flinched away as he approached her.
"Taani! Beta, it's me, your tauji." Rishi whispered softly. Taani hide her face in crook of Rey's neck, Rey placed the food plate aside and wrapped his arm around her.
"She is comfortable around him, but whenever someone else come close to her, she would flinch away. She easily get scared-" Ranvijay told him in low tone, Rishi was looking at his daughter who had hided herself in arms of Rey. He was feeling angry, on vishesh for doing this to her and on himself, for trusting a wrong guy. He thought vishesh was perfect for her daughter, he was her best friend after all, but he was wrong. And he regret leaving her alone in jodhpur.
"Uncle, can she stay with me?" Rey asked him, holding her securely in his arms. Rishi look at him, he could understand why his daughter was trusting him when she couldn't even recognize others. Her heart was connected to his. Her heart still trust him.
Rishi nodded positively, knowing only he can bring his daughter back to life. There was undying love in Rey's eyes for taani, which was hard to ignore for anyone.
"I hope, I'll get my daughter back soon-" Rishi whispered, his eyes were moist seeing the painful condition his daughter was in, and its all due to vishesh's obsession for her.
"You will, uncle. She is recovering, but it will take time. But can i ask you for something?"
"Off-course, Rey, say-"
"Please don't tell swayum or anyone about her yet. Its a request." Rey said to him, Rishi nodded in response, understanding there must be a valid reason behind this.
"Taani-" Rey called out for her softly. Stroking her hair lovingly, taani tighten her grip around him, he again called out for him and this time, she lifted her face.
"He won't hurt you, he is you tauji." Rey assured her, taani lifted her eye lashes and stare at rishi, Rishi held his breath, it was really heart breaking to see daughter getting scared of him. Rishi controlled his emotions, and smiled warmly at his daughter who was staring at him, examining him curiously.
She was stealing glances at him, like an innocent child. Then she gave a small smile to him, finally recognizing him after a lot of thinking, but still, fear in heart didn't allow her to go near him.
"Its enough for today, i guess. Lets not trouble her more. I'll come tomorrow to meet her. Take care of her." Rishi said once he sense, she needs little time to get comfortable with him again, Rey smiled at him, assuring him that he will take care of taani.
Ranvijay & Rishi walked out of the room, leaving them alone in room.
"Are you okay?" Rey asked her, taani look at him then nodded slightly. Which made him smile widely, after her dinner he made her have her medicines. After some time, taani slept due to the medicines affect while Rey sat there on the bed and studied for exams.
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