His Replaced Bride

Two weeks have passed since my world was turned upside down. Two weeks of conversations, cautious steps, and tentative rebuilding. I've been talking to Raveena—no, Mom—regularly now. I still stumble over the word sometimes, but it's beginning to feel natural.

And today, for the first time in my life, I'm going to meet my real father and siblings.

The car ride to Raveena and Sahil's house is quiet, my fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of my kurti. Dhruv sits beside me, his presence steady and calming. He hasn't said much, giving me the space I need to process my thoughts.

As we pull up in front of a modest yet welcoming house, my heart races. This is it. This is where they've been waiting for me.

"You sure you don't want me to come in?" Dhruv asks gently, his hand resting on mine.

I shake my head, managing a small smile. "No. I think I need to do this on my own."

He nods, his eyes filled with understanding. "I'll be right here if you need me. You have been saying that a lot lately, though, I might start to feel wounded."

I smile weakly at his attempt to lighten the mood. After a quick goodbye kiss, I take a deep breath and step out of the car, my palms clammy. The door opens before I even reach the porch, and there he is—Sahil.

He's older than I imagined, with streaks of gray in his hair and lines etched into his face. But his eyes—his warm, tear-filled eyes—mirror my own.

"Jeea," he says, his voice breaking as he steps forward.

I freeze, unsure of what to do, but he doesn't hesitate. He wraps me in a hug, his arms trembling as they hold me tight.

"My daughter," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "My little girl. I've waited so long for this moment. So long."

Tears spill down my cheeks as I let myself sink into the embrace. For the first time in my life, I feel the warmth of a father's love, and it's overwhelming.

When he finally pulls back, his hands remain on my shoulders, as if he's afraid to let go. "You don't know how much I've missed you," he says, his voice trembling. "How much I've hurt knowing you were out there, but I couldn't hold you, couldn't protect you."

I nod, unable to speak, my throat tight with emotion.

"Come inside," he says, stepping aside to let me in.

The living room is cozy and inviting, with family photos lining the walls. My eyes immediately land on two people, a boy and a girl who look like they've been bursting with excitement.

"Jeea!" the girl exclaims, bounding over to me. She's tall and slim, with a radiant smile and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I'm Aanya, and this is Aarav," she says, pointing to her twin brother.

Aarav steps forward, grinning shyly. "Hey," he says, scratching the back of his neck. "It's so cool to finally meet you."

I can't help but smile, their enthusiasm contagious. "It's nice to meet you too," I say, my voice softer than I intended.

"Jeea! You're here." Raveena enters the living room from what I suppose is their kitchen. She is wearing a pink apron with tiny pandas on it.

"I said I would be, didn't I?" I mutter dryly.

If I'm being honest, I'm still unsure where I am with her. I know I want to forgive her but its not easy to forget that your parent willingly let you go and live with a monster for 22 years, all the while letting you believe that they were dead. On the contrast, I don't have those feelings for Sahil, maybe because I didn't even know he existed until a few weeks back. And the prospect of a father that finally accepts and loves me like his own child is chipping away at the little girl inside me who yearned for her dad to hold her hand just once, hug her when she cried, wipe her tears and tell her that he'll protect her against everything.