Author's pov
Coming out of the jail VR inhaled the air as much as he could. The blistering Sun rays almost burnt his skin but he didn't feel it was disturbing. Instead, he loves the sun rays on his skin. After 15 years he was inhaling oxygen freely.
A proud and affectionate smile formed at the corner of VR's lips seeing Neela on the billboard. He felt his eyes getting teary looking at Neela's face that is similar to Niyati's. Neela is not only one of the youngest talented artists but also a popular model.
" My daughter!! I am so proud of you," VR said wiping away the tears from his eyes.
The first person he wants to meet is none other than Neela. His daughter. He can't explain in words how much he had craved to see her, hear her voice and hug her affectionately. Taking Neela's present address from Akash VR started his journey there.
The whole journey of him went wondering about Neela's reaction. She might have forgotten him but he will remind her about him. He just hopes Shivansh and Niyati don't show their hatred in front of Neela.
Soon VR reached in front of a big mansion. Before he could enter there the guards stopped him. They looked at him suspiciously because he wasn't looking rich at all.
" What do you want?" One of the guards asked.
VR answered," I want to meet Neela Raichand."
" Why?" Another one asked.
VR answered truthfully," She is my daughter. I want to meet her."
A roll of laughter echoed through the whole place after hearing him. The guards shared sarcastic looks after hearing VR.
" Look, you old man!! Before we beat you into a pulp just leave this place politely," One of the guards warned VR.
Without caring about the guards VR started yelling Neela's name. He was calling her name so loudly that his voice could be heard from a great distance.
" This shit!!" Cursing VR the guards started beating the hell out of him.
Hearing his yelling sound Neela came to the balcony. Looking downwards she found the guards were beating an elderly man. She felt her blood boiling after seeing the man crying and requesting the guards to not hit him.
" Stop. What the hell are you doing?" Neela shouted from the balcony.
The guards looked at Neela and stopped beating VR. He raised his eyes to meet her eyes. Neela became emotional unknowingly looking at VR's eyes. She felt weird like she has some emotional attachment to this unknown man.
On the other hand, VR wasn't understanding how he should react seeing her after so many years. She isn't his little pumpkin anymore. Now, she is a lady. A beautiful and kind lady. Though she looks similar to Niyati and Shivansh, only he knows what she meant to him.
" Why are you beating him like that?" She questioned the guards.
One of the guards started saying," Mam, he wants to meet you. We thought he might be any bagger or........
" Shut up. Bring him inside," She ordered and the guard obliged her.
VR was sitting on the couch while Neela was treating his wounds. Blowing some air she continued cleaning his wounds. Though Neela was busy treating him, she was wondering why this man was looking at her with emotional affectionate eyes. He was staring at her without blinking his eyes. He was admiring her.
" Do I know you, sir?" Neela asked politely.
VR replied shedding tears," Pumpkin, you aren't recognizing me. It's me. Your Daddy."
Neela was a little bit surprised of course but she didn't show it on her face. Maybe he is going through a tough time that's why he is behaving like that.
" Sir, can you tell me your address or someone you know? Like your wife, son or daughter. I will take you to your address," Neela told politely.
VR replied grabbing her hands," Call me Daddy for once. I can't explain how desperate was I to hear this from your mouth."
" You are misunderstanding. My father is Shivansh Raichand. I don't know you," Neela said jerking away his hands. Annoyance was clearly written all over her face this time.
VR was going to say something when he heard a familiar voice approaching the living room.
" Neela, are you arguing with your father again?" Niyati said entering the living room.
Silence. It was a pin drop of silence for some time. Niyati couldn't believe whom she has just seen while VR wasn't understanding what he should say. He just noticed the changes in Niyati with wide eyes. Surely, she has aged but still, she looks confident like before.
" Mommy, do you know him?" Neela questioned her mother noticing her shocked expression.
Niyati whispered," Very well."
" Neela, I talked with yo.................." Shivansh couldn't finish his sentence seeing the uninvited guest. He became a statue right in his place.
Neela was completely pissed off by their reactions. So, she decided to step in.
" Are you guys going to tell me something or do you want to continue standing like statues!!!" Neela's voice echoed through the place.
Shivansh ordered Neela," Get back in your room."
" But, Papa........" Neela tried to protest.
Shivansh yelled seriously," No argument."
" Come with me," Niyati started dragging Neela inside her room.
Neela opposed," But, Mommy....who is....."
" I will tell you everything," Niyati said taking Neela inside her room.
On the other hand, Shivansh grabbed VR's collar the moment Neela left the place. Shivansh is still like before except for some of his white hair. He has maintained his fitness properly.
" How dare you enter my house!!" He shouted in VR's face.
Pushing him away VR answered with the same intensity," I don't need your permission to meet my daughter."
" Look I won't say anything to you even though you dared to enter my house. But, I am warning you, don't even think of going to my sister's house," Shivansh warned VR who has forwarded his legs already.
Turning behind he answered," You know what I don't care about your petty threats. Actually, I never did."
***************************************
VR reached Orni's current address. It was a two-storied building surrounded by a massive garden. He didn't find any guards at the main gate so he entered the property without any worry.
With every step towards the door, his heartbeat was increasing rapidly. It took a lot of effort for him to collect her address. He doesn't know why Akash was so reluctant to give him Orni's address. He didn't know that Akash was trying to save him from heartbreak.
VR will just step right in front of the door when he heard footsteps approaching and the door opening sound. Becoming nervous he hid behind a tree and peeped from there.
He noticed that a man who might be in his early 40s came out of the door holding a file in his hand. At first, VR was a little bit confused because he felt the man's face familiar. Suddenly, his mind reminded him that he was none other than Orni's lawyer.
VR's breath hitched, and blood turned cold like someone has thrown him into a cold lake after seeing Orni. He couldn't blink his eyes for some time looking at her face. She is now a complete woman and the ageing couldn't have decreased her beauty at all. Instead, she looks more mature, confident and graceful than before.
VR's heart crumbled inside his chest noticing the nuptial chain surrounding her neck. The vermilion on her hair partition felt like poison to him. He lost his mind after seeing the man kissing Orni's forehead. It wasn't any rocket science for him to understand that Orni has married someone else.
Tears clouded his vision when Rudraksh held Orni's waist tightly and pulled her closer to him. Kissing her cheeks he joined his forehead with Orni's forehead. VR saw Orni giggling like she was enjoying all these. She was looking so happy with Rudraksh.
Rudraksh whispered something in Orni's ear and then got inside the car. Orni waved her hand at him.
When Rudraksh left Orni turned behind to get in the house. She forwarded her legs but a familiar voice stopped her from taking the next step.
" Angel," VR called from behind.
Blinking her eyes she stood like a statue for some time. She couldn't believe whose voice she just heard right now. She felt her palms sweating and her heart beating abruptly. Gulping down she turned her head behind to see her nightmare standing in front of her again.