Zia's dad looked up at her and kept staring at her face expressionless. Their eyes met. Zia couldn't look at him for more than 2 seconds. His heart was in his eyes. She could see the pain he was going through. She remembered just 5 minutes back before she uttered those dreaded words, everything was so normal, so hopeful, so loving, so happy. . And suddenly the environment is turned gloomy.
Zia lowered her eyes and sat near his feet resting her head on his legs. His hands did not move to cuddle her hair. Zia could feel the emptiness in his behaviour.. Her eyes became moist. The touch of his body made her realise how old her dad is become. She recollected all the times when he bought her pretty dolls and lots of chocolates as a compensation for coming late from office. She realised how foolish she was to then enjoy his gifts without understanding the efforts he was taking for her. She clinged her hands tightly to his legs and bursted out crying. 'I am sorry dad. Please don't misunderstand me.' She cried and cried but none came ahead to console her. Her mom too sobbed looking away from her. Dad was still motionless.
After 10 minutes, zia got up and sat near her dad. She looked at her mom, her eyes were moist. She went near her dad and touched his cheeks 'Dad. Say something. Scold me beat me but say something dad.' Her dad removed zia's hands and stood near the window. 'Who is that guy,?' He said gulping down a teardrop. Zia looked at her mom but her mom looked away. She wanted that one look of assurance from her to hold her in the most difficult time of her life. But her mom showed no signs of compassion. 'Zia..' Dad repeated looking back at her. Zia knew she had no escape now. 'His name is Jai Sawant.' She stopped. She knew his surname itself will be sufficient to create a storm.