"You know what she has done... she left the house after knowing the truth. She fought with Vedansh and she left..."

Krishna's breath had hitched that moment.

"What? Why will she do that, Rahul?" he had asked softly, disbelief clouding his eyes.

"She did, Nana. She did," Rahul had snapped before walking away, his footsteps heavy with anger.

Now, hours later, Krishna hadn't moved. He sat there, eyes fixed on the card, tracing those uneven letters written by a little girl's innocent hand years ago. Each stroke, each smudge, each childish curve seemed to whisper her laughter, her warmth, her love — and his heart broke all over again. His vision blurred as old memories flooded back........

FLASHBACK

The house was quiet that Sunday morning. The sky outside was pale, draped in a soft drizzle — the kind of rain that carried both comfort and sorrow. Krishna sat on the veranda reading the newspaper, unaware of the tiny footsteps sneaking up behind him.

"Mamaya..."

 A soft voice broke the silence.

He turned, lowering his glasses, and there she was — little Nidhi, maybe eight or nine years old, clutching a piece of paper so tightly it had wrinkles all over. Her eyes shimmered with nervous excitement.

"What happened, bangaru thalli(princess)?" he asked gently, smiling.

"Nenu... nenu oka card chesanu..." (I made a card...) she said shyly.

He frowned playfully. "Card aa? For what?"

She looked down, biting her lip. Then, almost whispering —

"Today... it's Father's Day."

Krishna froze for a second. His heart skipped. Nidhi never had a father to celebrate with — she'd lost him too soon. He slowly kept the paper aside, his throat tightening.

"Father's Day aa? So... for whom did you make it, kanna(sweety)?" he asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.

Nidhi walked closer, her tiny fingers trembling as she held the card out to him.

"For you... Mamaya."

Krishna blinked rapidly. His hands hesitated to take it.

"Naa kosamaa?" (For me?)

She nodded eagerly, her little voice shaking but brave —

"Because... you always take me to school... you sit with me when I'm scared of thunder... you tell me stories when I can't sleep. Everyone in my class made cards for their fathers... I don't have one... but I have you, Whatever my friends' fathers do, you also do the same thing, right? Then I should give this to you only, na?"

The last line came out in a whisper.

For a moment, the rain's patter seemed to fade. Krishna just stared at her, his lips trembling, eyes glistening. He took the card from her hands — a small handmade thing with uneven drawings. Two stick figures — one tall, one tiny — holding hands under a crooked sun.

Beneath it, in messy handwriting, she'd written:

"Happy Father's Day Mamaya — I luv you."

Krishna couldn't hold it anymore. Tears rolled freely down his cheeks. He pulled her into his arms, holding her so tight that she squealed and laughed between his sobs.

"Naa bangaru thalli... you don't know what you've given me today," he whispered.

She smiled, wiping his tears clumsily with her small hands.

 "Then don't cry, mamaya. Strong fathers don't cry!"

He laughed through his tears, kissing her forehead.

 "But this one does... because his little girl just made my day"

And now, years later, Krishna sat on that same veranda, holding that same faded card. The edges were worn, the colors dull, but the words still screamed the same innocence — "You're my everything."

A tear slipped down, landing exactly on that heart she'd drawn years ago.

He whispered into the empty air, voice breaking —

"You gave me a reason to be called a father, Nidhi... and today, I broke that gift."

.

.

.

The morning was calm — the sound of spoons clinking against plates and light chatter filled the dining hall. Everyone was gathered around the table, having breakfast.

Nidhi, who had been silent for a while, finally looked up at Vedansh.

"Annaya... nenu clg ki vellali ... chala rojulu ayyayi. Exams start avabotunnayi," she said softly.

Brother... I should go back to the college... it's been so long. My exams are about to start.

Vedansh nodded gently, understanding her tone.

"Sare... eppudu veldam cheppu, drop chestha," he replied calmly.

Okay... tell me when you want to go, I'll drop you.

"Eroje veldam annaya," she said, eyes lowered.

we'll go today itself, brother.

Vedansh nodded again, trying to hide the heaviness in his heart.

When they were about to leave, Rajalakshmi overheard and immediately called out, her voice trembling.

"Nidhi itu raa..."

Nidhi dear, come once.."

Nidhi couldn't ignore her plea. She followed until she reached Krishna's house, but stopped at the door — refusing to step inside.

Everyone came out hearing Rajalakshmi's cry.

Rajalakshmi rushed to Nidhi, hugged her tightly, kissed her forehead, and tears rolled down her wrinkled cheeks.

"Come soon Nidhi... I'll miss you maa," she said, voice trembling.

Nidhi nodded quietly, hugged Lakshmi next, and turned away.

Then Krishna stood there silently — hoping she would at least look at him. But she didn't. Not even once.
She turned to leave, eyes glistening, when Krishna held her arm.

"Ee mamaya toh anta kopam gaa unnava amma? Bye kuda cheppava naku? Atleast intlo ki raa ledu?" he asked, voice choking.

Are you that angry on your uncle, dear? Won't you even say goodbye to me? Won't you step inside home?

No matter what happened — Krishna loved her deeply. Even more than Anu. But yesterday, in anger, he had said words he never should've.

Nidhi freed her hand slowly, eyes filled with hurt.

"Paraya vala intiki velle alavatu ledu..."

I'm not used to walking into strangers' houses...

She said that and walked away, tears blurring her sight.

Krishna froze. Her words struck him like a blade. His eyes filled — regret burning inside.
He wanted to run behind her, but his feet wouldn't move.

Outside, Rahul watched Nidhi running toward the car. His chest felt tight.
The thought of Vedansh taking her alone to Bangalore twisted something inside him. He wanted to go — but after last night, he knew she wouldn't come if he did.
So he just stood, helplessly watching her leave.

Vedansh dropped Nidhi at her hostel safely. But on his way back — his mind wasn't on the road.
All he could think about was Anu — her silence, her fear, her tearful eyes from last night.

His phone buzzed — Kavitha calling to ask when he would reach.
He didn't pick. He didn't even see the lorry speeding from the front.
A loud crash followed — metal against metal — and silence.

At home, Kavitha kept calling again. This time, someone answered.

"Hello? Patient admitted to hospital... accident case."

Her hand trembled. The phone slipped. Her breath grew uneven.

The maid screamed for help.
Lakshmi came running. Rahul and Krishna rushed in.

Kavitha collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
When Krishna tried to touch her, she pushed him away.

Rahul quickly held her, helped her drink water.
Anu stood frozen — tears streaming down her cheeks. She adored her atha, and watching her break down shattered her completely.

Krishna stood in a corner, broken. His sister — who once trusted him with everything — now hated his touch.

Through sobs, Kavitha finally said,
"Rahul... Ved... Ved ki accident ayyindi anta... hospital lo unnadanta..."

Rahul... Ved had an accident... they admitted him to the hospital...

Anu's heart stopped. She couldn't breathe. Her knees gave way.

Lakshmi held her just in time.
Rahul quickly led her to the car — she couldn't even speak, only trembling, whispering Vedansh's name.

At the Hospital...................

They reached the hospital in a rush.
The doctor came out, wiping his hands.

"Don't worry," he said. "He has a bandage on his hand and a small cut on the forehead. He just needs rest. Nothing serious."

Everyone let out a breath of relief.

They entered the room — Vedansh was unconscious, pale but stable.
Anu stood beside him, her hands trembling as she touched his hair.

Rahul convinced Rajalakshmi, Lakshmi, and Krishna to go rest at the nearby hotel.

"Athaya, meeru hotel room ki vellandi please... nenu unnanu kada. Vedansh leste nenu teskostha mimalni... please. Vadu ila chusthe badha padtadu."

Aunt, please go to hotel room for a while. I'm here, right? When he wakes, I'll bring you. He'll feel worse if he sees you like this.

Kavitha nodded tearfully and left with the others.

Before leaving, Krishna came near Anu.

"Anu ra, matho raa ippudu... repu morning vadhuvu le..."

Anu, come with us now... come tomorrow morning.

Anu immediately shook her head, voice trembling.

"No... nenu ranu bava ni odilesi nenu ranu!"

No! I won't come, not leaving bava alone!

"Anu -" rahul cut him off..

"nana i will be with her you guys go.."

Krishna sighed, his eyes softening despite everything.

Rahul placed a hand on his shoulder, gesturing to let her be.

When they left, Anu sat beside Vedansh again.
She gently ran her fingers through his hair, brushing away the strands from his forehead.
Tears streamed down endlessly.

She bent down, kissed his forehead.

"Bava... I'm sorry... please le... nenu ninu ila chudalenu... please le bava..."

Bava... I'm sorry... please wake up... I can't see you like this... please wake up...

She kept whispering, her tears falling on his bandaged hand.
All night, she sat there — awake.
Sometimes caressing his hair, sometimes kissing his knuckles.
Rahul asked her to sleep on the couch.

"Anu, koncham paduko... nenu chustha le," he said softly.

Anu, sleep for a while... I'll take care.

She didn't even turn. Just shook her head, eyes fixed on Vedansh.

"nenu podukonu ikkade unta"

i will not sleep...i will be here.."

.

.

.

Morning light filtered through the window blinds.
The nurse entered quietly, checking the IV drip.

Suddenly — Vedansh's fingers twitched.

He blinked, slightly, his throat dry.

Anu woke up by his movement...

"Bava how is your pain...." she asked touching his arm

he jerked his hand "mutukoku nanu"

don't touch me....

"fuck " he groaned..because he jerked his injury hand....

The nurse came.

She smiled gently.
"Good morning, sir... how do you feel?"

he nodded slightly.

The nurse smiled softly.

"You're really lucky, sir," she said.
"Your wife stayed awake the whole night... didn't even close her eyes for a second."

Vedansh's gaze lingered on Anu.
Her face looked tired, streaked with dried tears — but peaceful, her hand still holding his like he was her entire world.

He just stared at her "thanu na pellam kaadu(she is not my wife)..she is a distant relative of my mother..i barely know her."

Thats it anu shattered ..i deserve this..i deserve this pain...she thought...

"really but she was awke for you whole night..how can she be if she is a distant relative...strange.." nurse said.

"Actually vaala nana chepuntaru undamani....ee ammai chala padati vala  nana maata javdatadu...." he said sarcastically..

Actually i think her dad said to stay because she doesnt cross his words..

Anu started crying "bava-" about to touch again and again he jerked and winced loudly..

"bava please nenem mutukonu le ala cheyaku.."

bava please i wont touch you please dont jerk

SO GUYS SORRY TO STOP HERE ITSELF WILL CONTINUE IN NEXT CHAPTER..................PLEASE CONTINUE SHOWERING UR LOVE AND VOTES AND COMMENTS...