Vritika malhotra has lived in Delhi her entire life with her mother. Her mother never had time for her as was too busy running her business. Vritika had all the luxuries growing up except love. She never knew her father as her mother never told her...
So I kinda forgot to mention it but the story is based in Delhi for now. Virat is settled in delhi.
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The silence in the car was.....awkward, painfully awkward.
It was not the kind of silence you show when you are showing a tantrum, it was the kind you throw when you don't know what to say. Even Leo sensed the awkwardness and curled up in the backseat silently chewing his ball.
His fingers drummed the steering wheel every few minutes like he was building courage to say something. Every time I caught him sneaking glances at me, he would look back at the road like he was studying it for an exam.
Bhagwan ke liye kuch baat karlo, verna mere andar ka yapper jag jayega.
As if reading my thoughts, Virat clears his throat and says "So how is school?"
I blink, my mind blank. Are you serious? Thats what you ask your daughter after you see her for the first time in 17 years?
"Um school is good." I have no idea what I am speaking now.
"So which stream did you choose?"
"Science. PCB."
He nodded like he was proud. "Ah, doctor material."
"Maybe."
"Favourite subject?"
"Biology." I kept my answers short. Not cold — just... safe.
"That's good. Biology was never my strong suit," he chuckled nervously, trying to fill the silence. "Anushka's better at science, honestly."
I hummed lightly in response, giving him a polite smile. I didn't know how to do this. I didn't even know what this was. Was I supposed to pretend we were close? That he didn't abandon me? That seventeen years weren't missing?
"So you have school on monday?" he asked again, desperate to keep conversation alive.
"Yeah." I answered.
He nodded again, stealing another glance at me. "That's good."
I just hummed and turned to look out of the window when I heard Leo bark suddenly, he too was looking out of the window, standing on the back seat, gazing at a squirrel as if she hurt him personally.
"Leo sit" I command and he royally ignored me and let another bark at a different squirrel this time.
Sala kutta
"Leo beth ja verna aaj khanna nhi dungi" I said my voice stern, as if realising that I really meant my words, Leo immediately settled down and whimpered softly.
"It looks like Leo loves food" Virat says throwing a glance at the sulking dog in the back seat.
