1-Hatred

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Typed On - 01/10/2018
Chapter 1- Hatred

It's been twenty-five years today. The day he lost his wife but also the day he saw his daughter for the first time. Those years weren't easy for them, the father and daughter. Growing up without a mother wasn't as easy as it seemed but he did a great job raising his only child Jaanvi Ahuja.

Her name was enough to bring a smile on his face. Now, even after twenty-five years he howls in growing pain of his daughter's biggest loss in her life every night after she sleeps. He couldn't live without Ishaani—still can't—and as the time passes, it got difficult to keep a strong face but one thing kept him going, his daughter. Ansh knew he had to stay strong for his daughter. For his Ishaani's daughter.

Picking up the pineapple cake from the kitchen he made his way to her room. Walking quietly he opened her bedroom door seeing her sleeping peacefully. His face automatically beams once his gaze falls on her face. She looked just like her mother, or actually even more beautiful. Looking at his wrist watch he saw it was eleven fifty-nine pm. He strolls towards her bed and stops only when he's in front of her.

Looking at his wrist watch once again for the desired time it was finally twelve o clock.

"Jaave" he mutters close to her ear. His familiar breath blowing onto her glowing face from the reflection of the street lights outside her window.

"Go!" She murmurs with her eyes close in her sleepy voice

"Jaave." He can't pronounce her name so he used the sounds, as in 'jaaa-viii.' The father went closer to her, kissing her right cheek making her smile.

"Superhero." She knew the touch of her father.

"Haaap" He tried to wish her. For the past years he tried so hard to actually say the word 'happy' but failed miserably. The effort, however, always touches the bottom of her heart.

She opens her eyes seeing her father standing in front of her with a delicious cake which happened to be her favourite. She rose up from the bed licking her lips ready to attack the cake but stopped as her father moves back.

"Hero." She pouts getting irritated. She couldn't wait to eat the cake even if it was in the middle of the night.

He shook his head as a 'no.' Jaanvi sighs heavily taking his hand and begins walking into his room. Opening her father's bedroom door their heavy yet familiar soft eyes fall on a huge picture of her mother, Ishaani. She lit the diya carefully first. Closing her eyes she wishes/prays for the same wish she asks since childhood.

'I wish that my mother is happy in heaven looking at us. I wish my superhero smiles every day and spoils me. And I wish to be your daughter again mum and dad.'

She's been repeating the same wish for years. Since her fifth birthday Ansh taught her to light a diya on her every birthday in front of her mum's picture and make a wish. She never told anyone what she asked each year on her birthday. It was kept as a little secret. Her pretty little secret. A small gesture every year made her feel a little closer to her mother.

She never heard her voice, never saw her smile in person but somehow she felt her existence because of her father. He always spoke about Ishaani—even now—he wanted his wife to be a part of their daughter's life. And she indeed is.

Kissing the picture she turns around seeing her superhero smiling. Placing her hands on her hips she said, "Can I eat it now that I have done the prayer?" Her thin dark black eyebrows raise up in question.

He nods placing the cake on the table inside his room. Jaanvi followed her father to the table. Kneeling down she blew the candles in one go in excitement.

Her love and hunger for food would never die out.

"Haap" he cheers clapping his hand like he's the happiest father in the world. Every years when he said—or least aimed to say— 'haap' Jaanvi becomes emotional. Her father was with her but she can't hear him even say her name. She never cried in front of him, she wanted to stay strong. After all he stayed strong for her.

"I love you superhero." She smiles hugging her father tightly. She swallows a lump and starts blinking her tears away so he wouldn't know she was getting emotionally. Pulling away he points at the cake. Grinning like a little kid Jaanvi cuts the cake into a sloppy slice and feeds it to her father.

"Now feed me." She orders seeing him enjoying the cake all by himself. Chuckling he cuts a slice and brings it to her craving mouth "It's yummy dad." She takes another small piece before licking her fingers.

It was rare when she calls him 'Dad or Papa.' Jaanvi calls him superhero because he raised her all by himself and protected her like Superhero's are meant to without showing their difficulties. Their hardship. He was her mother and her father. A complete super hero in her small world.

He felt a nice warm blooming sensation within him whenever she addressed his as dad or papa. It swells his heart. He was so used to superhero that he felt like she was his friend more than his child.

"Seep." He mouths telling her to sleep.

She rolls her eyes, "Sleep? How can I sleep hero? You woke me up at twelve and you want me to sleep? Not possible." Jaanvi mumbles with no trace of fatigue now. The girl knew whatever her father would try to say every time.

It was pure too many years of practice.

Chuckling he takes her hand, walking her to his bed. "What?" she asks puzzled. He sits on the bed gesturing her to lay her head on his lap. She did as he said. Closing her eyes while her dad pats her head gently and lovingly, she begins remembering old fond memories of her childhood. She loves this sweet side of her father, he cares too much that sometimes it hurts thinking about leaving him one day.

"Jaave" he smiles seeing his daughter sleeping peacefully. "Iaaa" He quietly whispers looking at his wife's photo.

Our Jaanvi is growing Isha, she's growing too fast. He thought as a tear slips down his old wrinkly cheeks but quickly wipes it away so it wouldn't land on his daughters face.

She's my pride not the reason behind my tears.

____

"Jaave" She hears her father's voice again. The warm rays caste on her face as she groans shuffling in the bed.

"Go superhero." She mumbles pulling the blanket closer to her body. After her love cakes, sleep was her second favourite or perhaps sometimes other way round depending on her mood.

"Jaave" He repeats again shaking her shoulders.

"Superhero!" She yells, gritting her teeth at him.

He mentions a name that never fails to irk her. "Keeaa" he raises his voice again shaking her.

Oh Kiaan. She thought nodding to herself but then realises her father was talking about that Kiaan.

Her Enemy.

That show-offer! That arrogant Kiaan.

She got up fast looking at her father with wide eyes and a little fear. She didn't want to see him. "Kiaan is coming? Why is that Kaan coming?" She called him Kaan when he lived close by, which sounded like his name but somehow always bothered him for obvious reasons. (Ear)

"Jaave" her father says sternly this time.

"Dad please," she gets up from the bed wearing her slippers, "Why are you still in contact with them anyways? I hate him, a lot and you know this! Our mothers were best friend but since Ma isn't alive why do you even meet them? I know his dad and you are friends but seriously. The last thing I want to do is see that idiot's face, I mean do you remember his annoying smile? I wish I could glue his mouth together so I'll never see that grin again." She hisses in anger recalling his face which she saw ten years ago. She was only fifteen at the time and he was seventeen.

"Jaave." Ansh repeats. Walking to his desk he pulls out a paper and pen. Scribbling something on it he walks up to her and shoves it in her hand. She frowns before taking it and starts reading it out loud.

"They are coming over for your birthday—" she stops reading and gazes at her father accusingly, "You invited them?" She yells not believing what he just did. "DAD!" He gestures her to read further on, sighing a little she starts again.

"—to your birthday lunch. I did not invite them your grandma did. They are coming over with their family so please behave—" she pauses crossing her arms across her chest, giving her father a brutal and betrayed look.

"I don't behave?" Jaanvi asks her father in disbelief. He sighs joining his hand in a 'sorry,' because he knows he can't defeat her in an argument. She read further on considering the apology.

"I know you don't like Kiaan but that was ten years ago. He's an adult now and so are you, so keep your hatred aside. His mother was very close to your mum (and me) so please, I hope you understand."

"Dad! He, Kiaan started it all ok? He was the one who fell on the damn pool by himself I did not push him! You know I'm not mean." She lowers her eyes not making eye contact because it was the biggest lie she ever said.

"Nhhh" He says disagreeing with her.

"Fine, but I'm not that mean. I'm only mean to him." She confesses truthfully. "Hero you know I don't like guys who show-off and he does. I mean who cares about his expensive shoes?"

Her father laughs loudly—heartily—before pointing at her.

"What?" She exclaims offended. Her voice tight forcing her father to take back what he said but he doesn't. She refuses to believe he'll side Kiaan and not her. "Okay, fine, they looked nice but that was ten years ago, I'm mature now."

"Hhhh to" He says, meaning 'he too'

"We'll see." She mumbles walking out of his room and into her. Once she got inside she saw her cousin Jay and Rashi. They were twins of her chachi, Juhi. Unlike her they loved Jaanvi. Beside her cousins sat her best friend Aditi. (Aunty)

"Happy birthday!" They all shout and envelope her into warm friendly and loving hug. Like every other birthday—or as they try to—the four of them celebrate it in her room. Pulling away she tried her best to smile.

"What's wrong? Why are you faking the smile?" Aditi asked looking at her friend with concern.

"Kaan is coming." She mutters furiously, "or should I say Mr SHOW OFFER" She yelled sitting on her bed.

"Di come on. You have to admit the guy had looks." Her cousin Jay spoke sitting in front of her smiling,

"Looks don't matter, do they? There's a thing called personality which he lacks in. Why is he coming? To accuse me of killing him again?" She cried laying down. Jaanvi can't comprehend what's so unique or important today—or this year—which brings them to India after ten whole years.

"So, his brother is coming as well?" Rashi asks shyly.

"Sister, he doesn't like you get that." Jay mumbles making fun of his sister. Rashi had a huge crush on Dhruv who happened to be Kiaan's younger brother. He was always quiet and reserved so it was hard to really understand him. Perhaps he's louder now?

"Just ignore him. It's your birthday be happy." Aditi advices with positive grin. She settles herself beside the birthday girl.

"How?" Jaanvi whispers unhappily, "I'm getting older Adi, I'm twenty-five now! Chachi said nothing till now but I know she'll burn me with her words very soon about how I'm a burden and should be married off." she spoke the truth—like always—not realising Jay and Rashi were sitting in front of her. "No offence." She comments looking at the cousins guilty.

"None taken." Jay answers dismissively but Aditi notices his expressions changing from playfulness to a little hard and sharp. He knew his mother didn't like Jaanvi and he hated how she treated her but that doesn't mean he'll love his mother any less.

"I don't want to leave dad. He only has me." Her voice was low and heavy full of pain, "I—I love hero so much, h-he does everything he can to keep me happy. But I can't do anything. My whole life he never asked me to do anything for him, I feel guilty for not contributing to his happiness."

"He is happy because he has you." She looked up to see her old grandma walking her way past the bedroom door. The young lady stands up and hugs her dadi. (Grandma) "Happy birthday Jaanvi." The old women kisses her forehead.

"Thank you, dadi." She pulls away "Can I stay at Adi's house today? To celebrate my birthday?" Her grandma looks over her grandchild's shoulder and focuses her old weak eyes on Aditi. The old women arches her eyes at Aditi and mouths 'why?'

To which Aditi replies mouthing, 'she's lying.' The whole time Jaanvi couldn't see her best friends face as her back was facing Aditi.

"Dadi!" She was getting impatient now. (Grandma)

"No," she shook her head seriously "Ishaani' best friend is coming to meet you specifically, so, no, you can't go." The old lady says unsmiling.

She took a deep breath in before replying, "Fine but don't expect me to be nice to that Kaan." She clarifies beforehand. (Ear)

"When are you ever nice?" Her grandma jokes, giggling at her own revolution which was obvious making everyone laugh expect Jaanvi, of course.

I don't want to see that Kaan again.

Married My Enemy.
Edited On – 25/04/2020

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