Only you. (Part 2)

Family was always my first priority. Dad. Krish. Riya. My family. They were all I had. Never really knew what hardship was untill I went out for college. Why? Dad.

Dad made sure me and Krish were always happy, even when mom died, he did his very best to give us the childhoods we deserved.

My mom died when I was 8 and Krish was 3 due to an accident. Since then, dad's everything to us. No matter how hurt and sad he was, he never showed it. He was always the cheerful, happy dad for me.

He did a pretty good job hiding his pain. Plastering a smile onto his face, showing the world that he's fine, when he's every thing but that.

Every night, when I pretended to sleep and later went to his room to check on him. I found him kneeling in front of mom's picture and crying. Even after all this, he never let his pain show. Not even once. Because he didn't want his pain to affect us. That's how much he cared for us.

He was, is and will always be the strongest person I know.

When dad asked me to marry a year ago and started pestering me about it since then, I never really knew why he was so concerned about my love life all of a sudden. But then, when I actually thought about it, I realised that he didn't want me to end up like him.

He didn't want me to sleep alone in a bedroom like him because he knows how loneliness can occupy your soul and start disturbing you. He didn't want me to cry every night wishing I had a partner. He just doesn't want me to be alone because he knows how it feels.

And for someone who cared for us so much, looked after us his whole life, supported us in whatever we did, couldn't I grant one wish of his? All he wanted was to see me happy with a partner. Couldn't I give it to him even if it's just for a while?

All of this fake dating I'm doing is for my dad. No matter how much I hate Akshay. It's nothing compared to how much I love my dad. I don't want to hurt him because this is the first time he's asked me something, And I don't want to break his heart by not giving it to him.

He wants to see me with a partner, and I'll give it to him. Even if it's only for three months. I know that he'll get over it and let me be after that.

And that is why I'm sitting across the man I hate the most right now. Akshay.

I had asked him to stop by a cafè nearby as I had to discuss a few things with him before we start. There's no way I'm letting him take advantage of our fake relationship. I'm not letting that happen. Not in this universe atleast.

"What do you want to order?" He said making me snap back to reality.

"Huh?" I say seeing a waiter standing next to him, "Oh. I'd like a cappuccino, thank you."

The waiter writes down his order and scurries back to bring our order.

I look down fidget with my fingers, take a deep breath, and look up to find him looking at me.

Old memories come rushing back into my mind faster than a train looking at those eyes. Those eyes asking for a chance. Those eyes apologising to me every time they look into mine. Those eyes saying things more than he could.

Only if he hadn't kissed that girl, we wouldn't be faking this. Only if I hadn't seen that video of him kissing, we wouldn't be faking this. Only if he hadn't gone to that party, we wouldn't be faking this. Only if I had given him a chance, we wouldn't be faking this.

But he had hurt me. I had trusted him. Trusted him with my soul. And my ego would never agree to give someone who broke my heart a second chance. I hate him. I despise him. And I could never love him again. Never.