Chapter 43: Chapter 43

At Night

Author's pov

"How many stars are there in the sky, uncle?" Neela asked Shivansh very curiously looking at the sky.

Shivansh replied patting her head from behind, "There are thousands and thousands of stars in the sky."

Well, Shivansh is sitting on the balcony holding Neela in his lap. He is spending a good time with his daughter. He came back from the office very early so that he can spend some time with her before she fall asleep.

Shivansh smiled looking at his daughter who is trying to count the stars in the sky. She is wearing a Doraemon theme Pj and looking adorable.

Neela said putting her index finger inside her mouth, "Oh! That's why I can't finish counting them."

Shivansh asked chuckling where an astonished expression appeared on his face, "You can count?

"Mommy taught me and I can count from 1 up to 10," Neela replied proudly and showed her ten fingers.

Her cute demeanour and giggle brought a smile to Shivansh's face. He kissed her forehead very gently.

"You are so intelligent. But, do you know there is a star in our world too?" Shivansh asked pulling her fluffy cheeks.

She asked curiously, "Really? Where?

" Here. You are the star in my life who enlightened my life eradicating the sorrow and darkness," Shivansh replied smilingly.

Neela asked thinking like a philosopher," But, I don't shine like other stars, uncle. Then, how can I be a star?"

Shivansh chuckled after hearing her question but he didn't like it when she called him uncle. He was eagerly waiting to hear the word Papa from her mouth.

"Sweetie pie, can you call me Papa from now on?" Shivansh asked hesitantly and Neela kept looking at him with innocent curious eyes.

She asked meekly, "What does Papa mean?

" It means Father," Shivansh replied affectionately and Neela started thinking why she should call him Papa. Her little mind wasn't understanding anything.

She replied blinking her eyes," Oh, you mean Daddy? But, I already have a daddy. My Daddy's name is Ranvijay Mehra."

Shivansh didn't like her reply but he can't blame her. He remembered Ranvijay's face and got angry instantly. But, somehow he controlled his anger for Neela's sake."

" You can call him daddy and call me Papa too," Shivansh suggested giving her a warm smile.

Neela is an innocent child and she didn't think too much. Moreover, she likes Shivansh so she decided to obey him.

" Ok, Papa," She replied smilingly and he got overwhelmed.

Shivansh hugged Neela very tightly. A happy tear rolled down his eyes after hearing the word. Finally, he heard the word what he wanted to hear from Neela. His heart fills with warmness whenever he thinks that he is the father of an innocent child.

" Say again, baby," Shivansh said with his affectionate voice.

Neela replied hugging him back," Papa."

" My princess," Shivansh said with his overwhelmed voice where Neela kept hugging him.

Shivansh is talking with Neela and giggling with her unknown to the fact that someone is watching and hearing them. And, the person is none other than Satya.

He started smiling automatically after seeing Shivansh. He can find some noticeable changes in Shivansh's behaviour after Neela's arrival.

Shivansh doesn't whore around anymore nor he drinks like a maniac. He has stopped smoking as well. He would go to the office every day and try to return early as possible so that he can spend time with his daughter. Neela has become his lifeline just in a few days.

" I want to see you like that always, Shiv. You are my firstborn and I want you to be happy always," Satya thought mentally where an affectionate smile appeared on his face.

After two days

" Papa, my head is hurting," Neela complained holding her head tightly where her fluffy cheeks were soaking with tears.

Shivansh assured holding Neela's tiny hand softly," It won't hurt, baby. Let doctor uncle check you,"

After that, the doctor started checking Neela where Shivansh was staring at Neela with worried and scared eyes. From a few hours ago Neela started feeling nausea, as well as her body, was warmer than usual. Shivansh returned from his office and after seeing Neela's condition he didn't waste any second. He panicked seeing Neela's tears and called a doctor immediately. Every single drop of Neela's tear felt like daggers in Shivansh's chest.

" What's the matter, doctor? Is it something serious?" Shivansh asked the doctor with his scared voice.

The doctor replied finishing his checking," Nothing to worry about, Mr Raichand. It's just seasonal flu. She will get better if she takes proper medicines and rests."

" Are you sure, doctor? Will she be alright? Should I bring her to the hospital for a detailed checkup? Has she any internal problem............." Shivansh started asking the doctor in one go with his most panicked voice.

" Hold on, Mr Raichand. There is nothing to worry about. Your daughter will be fine," The doctor assured giving the prescription to Shivansh.

Lalita was noticing all this with boring eyes. She never liked Niyati and now she also doesn't like Neela. Just for Shivansh, she was tolerating Neela otherwise she would have thrown Neela into some orphanage a long ago.

" You are behaving like you are the only one who has a daughter in this whole universe," Lalita mumbled making an annoyed face.

Shivansh replied kissing Neela's forehead," Ma, you don't know how much I love her."

Lalita rolled her eyes when Shivansh assured kissing Neela's tiny hand," Everything will be fine, sweety. Papa is here with you."

" I want mommy and daddy too. I am missing them," Neela said looking directly into Shivansh's eyes.

Looking at Neela's innocent eyes, Shivansh couldn't refuse her. Moreover, he doesn't want her to be upset at this condition."

" Don't worry love. I will call them," Shivansh said patting her head gently.

***************************************

Shivansh is sitting on his easy chair holding Neela in his lap. Neela was resting her head over his chest and sleeping peacefully. Her condition is now better than before.

" I curse you Shivansh Raichand. I curse you. Mark my words. A day will come when you will be begging in front of me to forgive you but I won't give you any forgiveness. I won't look at your face even if you die in front of me. You snatched my only happiness after ruining my dignity & self-respect. I wish you don't find any happiness in future," Niyati's words rang inside Shivansh's head making him more disturbed.

Well, a few moments ago Niyati & Ranvijay came to meet Neela. Both were scared shitless after hearing that Neela isn't fine. Niyati was like going crazy seeing her daughter on the bed.

Niyati wanted to take Neela with her for a few days but Shivansh didn't let her. She literally begged in front of him but he didn't show any softness. And, it was the last stroke he pulled.

Niyati couldn't tolerate all this and cursed him. She was already upset and his refusal just made her madder. She cursed him out of anger though she didn't have the intention to curse him. She can never think of happening something bad to him.

" She cursed me!!" Shivansh thought with disbelief and continued thinking about Niyati.

He is still in deep thought when he felt someone entering his room. He looked at the door and found that it was his mother.

" You didn't sleep yet, ma?" Shivansh asked while patting Neela's head gently.

Lalita didn't reply to him. She sat on the bed and looked at Neela with boring eyes. She wasn't liking Shivansh's too much attention on Neela.

"I want to talk with you about some important matter," Lalita said seriously.

Shivansh asked frowning his brows a little, "What's it?"

" I have fixed your engagement with Priyanka and it's after one week. Her family will be reachi........" Lalita couldn't complete her sentence because of Shivansh's interruption.

Shivansh said making a disappointed face, "Come on, ma. How many times do I have to tell you that I am not ready to marry Priyanka? I don't love her nor I will be able to love her."

" You are saying all these because of that shameless woman, aren't you?" Lalita asked and Shivansh just remained silent looking at the window.

Lalita tried to say something when Shivansh replied taking a deep breath," Ankush used to like Priyanka. I can't marry her."

"Yeah, that's it. He used to love her. Now, he is no more in this world and there is no need for you to think about him regarding Priyanka," Lalita said sternly.

Shivansh remained silent when Lalita continued," I know Ankush is not the only reason that you don't want to marry Priyanka. I know it's about Niyati. Then, let me advise you my child, that whore has already moved on and is happy with her husband where you are still madly in love with her. It's high time you should stop thinking about her and start thinking about your future."

Hearing his mother, Shivansh remembered Niyati and Ranvijay. He remembered the scene where Ranvijay was kissing Niyati. He remembered how Ranvijay was holding NIyati's hand and supporting her in the court. The thought of NIyati living with Ranvijay under the same roof, sleeping on the same bed just burned Shivansh's whole system.

He couldn't think anymore and said making a disturbed face," Ma, I don't want to talk about this matter anymore. Please, leave me alone."

" To see this day I raised you for all the years, Shiv. Wanting your happiness was my fault, right?" Lalita said shedding some crocodile tears and that's it. Shivansh just fell into his mother's trap again.

He can't see a single drop of tear in Lalita's eyes where his mother is crying in front of him because of his refusal! He can't tolerate it. He felt guilty seeing Lalita crying.

" Shh........Shh........Ma. Stop crying. I will do whatever you say. You want me to marry Priyanka, right? I will do that. But, please don't cry, "Shivansh said holding Lalita's hand with one hand.