“Do you…still wish that?”

“No.”

His answer was crisp and without any hesitation. Only his heart whispered a loud yes.

Taashi closed her eyes and let the tears fall. She knew she had lost him. Lost the man she loved. The man she loves and will always love all her life.

“Did you ever…”

The question was too painful to ask. But she had to.

“Did you ever…wish you could…save our babies?”

Devyansh’s breath hitched. The reminder of them. Their babies. The reminder itself brought tears to his eyes.

“With every breath in me. I wish I had a chance. Just once chance. To save even one of them. Had it been on me, I would save all of them. But if I get a chance to save either, I would. Without a second thought.”

Taashi choked back a sob and sniffed before asking.

“Do you still wish that?”

“Every second.”

His answer was a painful whisper. Taashi let her tears free. He deserved to know. And she didn’t deserve him at all.

“You need to see her.”

She whispered. Devyansh looked at her with confusion. Taashi met his eyes. Both of their eyes were glassy with tears.

“You need to see her, Dev. You deserve to meet her. I’m so…sorry.”

The look in her eyes made Devyansh pause. He couldn’t think. She got up and he followed wordlessly. His heart thudded in his chest at the possibility of what he was thinking being true.

There was no way that he was right. His mind screamed. But his heart screamed louder.

Taashi entered the room, leaving Devyansh outside. He couldn’t get the courage to enter. Her parents came out two minutes later.

Both of them had solemn expressions. Devyansh bent down to touch their feet. Her father only patted his back once and left without a word.

“Andar jaao beta.”

(Go inside son.)

Her mother said and caressed his back. He wiped his eyes and entered inside only to freeze at the door.

There on the bed, sat his ex wife with a little girl. The most innocent pair of eyes he’d ever seen, looked at him with questions in them. 

Devyansh froze on his spot. He had no idea how to react or what to say or what to think.

Taashi looked at him with tears in her eyes. Tears of guilt. Devyanshi turned to her mother and asked.

“Ye kaun hai mumma?”

(Who is he mumma?)

Devyansh was silent. He just stared at the little girl. So many similarities. She was a complete carbon copy of Taashi. 

Taashi sniffed through her tears and looked at her daughter with a smile.

“Ye…”

(He…)

She looked at Dev and said.

“...tumhare papa hai.”

(…is your father.)

The girl beamed instantly. She grinned at Dev and called excitedly.

“Papa!”

That was all it took. That one word. And he broke down. He fell to his knees and cried. Taashi turned her face away and let her tears fall.

“Papa? Mumma! Papa lo  kyu lhe hai? Papa ko bhi uii hui hai?”

(Why is papa crying? Is papa also hurt?)

Taashi wiped her tears and looked at Devyanshi with a soft smile.

“Nhi betu. Papa aapko itne time baad dekh rhe hai. Wo happy tears hai.”

(No baby. Papa is meeting you after so long. Those are happy tears.)

Her eyes widened in understanding and she looked back at her father who was still recovering from his break down.

“Papa! Idhal aao na!”

(Come here!)

Devyansh looked at her and cried, remembering all the prayers he made. She was the answer to them.

“Idhal aao na papa. Mujhe uii hui hai na. Mai waha nhi aa skti. Yaha aao na papa.”

(Come here papa. I am hurt. I cannot come there. Come here papa.)

Devyansh did not wait another second and walked to her. He immediately engulfed the little girl in his arms and sobbed, holding her close. 

Letting himself believe that he wasn’t dreaming. That she was real. His daughter. His little princess.

“Meri…meri beti. My princess. My daughter. Mai…”

(My…my daughter. My princess. My daughter. I…)

He was a father. To the most beautiful girl.

After his heartbeat was back to normal and he was sure she was real, he pulled back and got a better look at her innocent face. She smiled up at him.

He kissed her forehead and she pouted suddenly.

“Dekho na papa! Uii hui hai mujhe.”

(Look papa! I am hurt.)

She said pointing towards her thigh, where she was bandaged. He took her in his arms and rubbed her back.

“Koi baat nhi. Papa aa gye na ab. Bilkul thik ho jaayegi meri princess.”

(No problem. Papa is here now. My princess will be completely fine.)

He kissed her head again and she looked at him.

“Aap pehle kyu nhi aaye?”

(Why did you not come before?)

His eyes cut to Taashi in a fierce glare and she lowered her eyes. He then looked back at Devyanshi and smiled.

“Papa kaam kr rhe the. Late ho gyi. Sorry.”

(Papa was busy. Got late. Sorry.)

“Ab toh kahi nhi jaaoge na? Hamale saath lahoge na?”

(You will not go anywhere right? You will stay with us?)

“Bilkul. Ab mai hamesha apni princess ke saath rahunga.”

(Yes. I will always stay with my princess.)

“Plomise?”

(Promise?)

“Pakka promise.”

(Promise.)

He tweaked her nose and she giggled.

Devyanshi was still under medication and she was soon given the blood. Taashi’s parents sat with her in the room while Devyansh took Taashi away to talk in private.

They were near a secluded stairway. He was glaring at her and she was biting her lip in nervousness.

“You hid my daughter from me! How dare you, Taashi?”

He whisper-yelled and she closed her eyes, knowing this outburst was about to come.

“I …I had my reasons, Dev-”

“What reasons? What reasons could you have to keep my daughter hidden from me?”

“I will tell you everything. Sab kuch, Dev. But ek baar ye discharge ho jaaye yaha se. Please.”

(Everything, Dev. Once she gets discharged from here.)

He gritted his teeth, but nodded.

“The moment she gets home. You and I, we’re talking.”

She nodded and he exhaled sharply.

“What did you name her?”

He asked after some time. His voice, much softer now. Taashi smiled and answered.

“Devyanshi. We call her Devi.”

He looked at her surprised. 

“You…you named her after me?”

Taashi smiled and said.

“Bilkul tum pr gyi hai. Dikhne mai mere upar hai but harkatein saari A to Z tumhare wali hai.”

(She has taken up after you. She looks like me but her antics A to Z like yours.)

She chuckled and Devyansh shook his head with a chuckle, imagining her cutesy antics in his head.

“When did you find out about her? That you were having her?”

Her smile fell and she knew he was going to be angry again.