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I’m not sure how to feel about this, but Trisha seems to read my mind.
“Rest assured. I won’t fail this time. My sole mission now is to protect you at all costs and keep you away from danger. I would give my life for you, Meher.”
I swallow hard at her determination as she continues.
“Krish Sir trusted me during that phase of my life and offered me a job when nobody else had faith in my abilities. I’m indebted to him. I’d rather give up my life than disappoint him.”
“You’re a brave woman, Trisha,” I reply with a smile. “If Ayaan and Krish believe you can protect me, then I have nothing to worry about. In fact, I’m grateful that you have my back.”
“It’s a pleasure,” she says with a kind smile before returning her gaze to the road.
I breathe a sigh of relief, but it’s short-lived as the car enters the gates of Walia House.
It’s time!!
****************
Walia House
As I step into my childhood home, I am greeted by the decorations that still adorn the interior. They remind me of yesterday when my father accompanied me from this very place to the wedding mandap set up in the garden. His parting words as he escorted me from my bedroom to the canopy echoed in my mind.
“A father can go to any lengths to protect his children, Meher. Any trouble, and you come to me. Only me.”
Yes, that’s what any caring father would say, but is my dad truly a good father? This question has been haunting me since last night.
“Meher,” Devika bhabhi’s voice interrupts me, bringing me back to the present. “Aksh, Uncle, come out. Meher is home!” she shouts excitedly to alert the others as she rushes to greet me in the living room.
Bhabhi envelopes me in a warm hug. I hug her back, and for a moment, we both are overwhelmed with emotion. Bhabhi has consistently been my pillar of support, my confidante here. Every morning, we would sit together, sipping coffee and nibbling on biscuits while chatting about anything and everything under the sun.
“I missed you so much this morning,” she confides, pulling back from the hug, her eyes glinting mischievously. “And I’m jealous of your after-marriage glow,” she playfully teases, gazing at my face. “How was last night?”
Last night! I’d rather not dwell on how that unfolded. I couldn’t stop thinking about my father’s betrayal and was restlessly tossing and turning in bed until Ayaan came back to the bedroom and held me in his arms.
“Looks like he didn’t let you sleep. Your eyes say it all, Meher,” Bhabhi remarks with keen observation.
I offer her a warm smile as Aksh bhai emerges from his room.
“Meher,” he reaches us and pulls me into a tight hug. “How’s my sister doing?”
“Absolutely fine,” I reassure him. He glances behind me and spots Trisha standing at a distance.
“That’s Trisha, my new full-time personal bodyguard. Ayaan hired her for my security.”
Trisha nods curtly in his direction before returning her gaze to me.
“I’ll be outside if you need me,” Trisha states.
“She’s with her family,” my father’s voice reverberates in the room. “Meher doesn’t require protection within her own home.”
My heart skips a beat as I watch Dad descend the stairs, with Vishnu following closely, as usual, always by his side. I tremble in anxiousness at the sight of Dad and my inner voice strains to make itself heard. But I won’t succumb to my weakness today. Could it be possible that my father, who has always provided me with happiness and even allowed me to marry the son of his enemy, is hiding a side of himself that I never knew existed?
“My daughter is safe here,” Dad’s voice brings me out of my reverie.
I turn to Trisha and nod reassuringly, conveying that I am fine here without her watchful eyes on me. She acknowledges me with a nod and promptly leaves the room.
“If that Shergill thinks he can replace all my guards with a woman like her to protect my daughter, he has lost his mind,” Dad mocks.
“Stop calling him ‘Shergill,’ Dad. He has a name. Ayaan!” I snap.
