Divya and Abhishek were still in their room when they heard Swati calling for them frantically, "Abhi! Divya! Abhi! Abhi!" They ran to the hall only to find Vinay sitting on the sofa, slightly worried, Swati pacing around and Diya looking at both of them. Abhishek made his mother sit down on the sofa, while Divya gave water to her. Finally, Abhishek asked, "What happened, Mom?"

Swati looked at her son and said, "What happened? You are asking what happened? Ask what has not happened? Your aunt is coming...within half an hour."

Abhishek asked childishly, "Should we run away?" Divya stared at him and finally asked, "What is the problem?"

Vinay answered, "Lata jiji is my cousin. She is about fifteen years elder to me. She is not very broad minded and that is why, she always found a reason to find my or rather our faults." He looked at Divya, hoping that she would understand his unsaid words.

Divya looked at them and said uncertainly, "You mean she is not happy with...." Abhishek held her hand and pointed towards Diya. 

"Running away is not a solution, Abhi. She will find someway or the other to meet you. It is better that it happens within the house," said Swati.

Vinay got up and kept his hand on Divya's head, "Don't worry. You are our family and she is a guest. You are more important."

The doorbell rang. Abhishek opened the door and touched the feet of the old lady, standing in front of him. She entered the house and almost shouted, "Which idiot has changed the nameplate?" 

Vinay and Swati touched her feet and Vinay answered, "I did. Diya is our grand-daughter. So..." 

Swati too spoke(pointing at Divya), "She is Divya, your daughter-in-law. Divya, she is Lata jiji." Divya moved forward to touch her feet but Lata gestured her to stop. "She is not my daughter-in-law. And this girl, Diya, she is not your grand-daughter. She is not Abhishek's daughter." 

Diya, who was just a mute spectator till now, went to Abhishek and asked him, "You are not my Daddy?" Before Abhishek could answer her, Lata pulled Diya away from him and answered, "Yes, he is not your Daddy." As soon as she heard these words, Diya ran to the room. Divya wanted to go after her but was stopped by Lata.

She asked Divya, angrily, "Where do you think you are going? To that foolish child? From where did you get her? And why have you married Abhi? I know your type of girls....you just want money. Why did your husband leave you? Because he caught you whoring around......"

Abhishek shouted, "SHUT UP. I WON'T TOLERATE ANYONE INSULTING MY WIFE. IF YOU CAN'T TALK TO HER PROPERLY, THEN THERE IS NO NEED TO TALK." Saying so, he pulled Divya with him to the room. 

Divya and Abhishek's Room

Diya was lying on the bed crying bitterly. People always kept telling her that she had no father. Three years, she waited for for three long years before she could actually meet her father. Everyday she prayed that he should come back to her and he finally did come back. But now she is being told that he is her father. 

Divya and Abhishek rushed into the room. Diya looked at her mother and asked between hiccups, "Mumma....where is...my Daddy?" Divya wiped her tears and pointed at Abhishek. The child went to him and sat on his laps, asking, "Why did you leave me alone? Where were you? I waited so much? I prayed to God daily. Why did you take so much time to come back?"

Abhishek eyes moistened with tears. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "I had gone very far that is why I couldn't come back quickly. But now I will not go anywhere leaving my Diyu alone. Promise." 

At the very same time, Lata entered the room and said, "Stop lying."

Abhishek took a deep breath and said in a dangerously quiet tone, "She is my daughter. And not even God can change this fact. Now, I don't want any arguments on this topic. Or you know my anger better." 

And then he turned his attention to his daughter, not bothered about anything else. What mattered to him was his daughter, his child.

_______________________________________

So, how is it?

~Purnima