( Avni died 5 years back and left Neil and their daughter Ananya behind.)

Neil leaves for Khanna mansion. He was drunk badly. After avni's death he joined the family business. He became addicted to alcohol. The driver stopped the car and Neil stepped out.

He towards his room and saw Ananya's caretaker. She asked him for a half day leave. He agreed and went in his room. He dozed to sleep.

After sometime he woke up and saw Ananya besides him. He was still drunk.

Neil- what happened?
Ananya- daddy.. I made a painting..
He took the paper and looking at the drawing. She made avni's drawing. He threw the paper and stormed out off the room. Ananya looked on. She picked up the paper and slowly walked towards her room. She took avni's photo and sat on the bed. Her little fingers caressed the picture.

Ananya- mumma.. daddy hamesha gusse mein kyu rehte hai.. kabhi mujhse baat nahi karte.. mere saare friends ke Dad unke saath khelte hai.. par daddy kyu nahi.. voh mujhse pyaar nahi karte?? Her eyes welled up. She wiped her tears and walked in the hall with avni's picture. She played with the toys for sometime. The maid fed her food and tucked her to bed as no one was there in the house.

Next day, in school.

Ananya met her friends. Her friends told her that their parents were coming for the annual meeting. Ananya became sad and went from there. She sat on the bench and looked up at the sky.

Ananya- mumma.. mujhe pata hai daddy nahi aayege..

Soon the program started. Ananya's eyes searched for her father. But he was no where. She returned home with a sad face. She played in the garden with her caretaker for sometime. Her caretaker went inside to bring something. Just then Ananya slipped and hurt her knee and elbow. She started crying.

Just then Neil came there. He saw her crying. He walked to her and knelt down to her level. Ananya looked at Neil and thought he will shout at her. But something unexpected happened.

He slowly picked her and took her inside. He placed her gently on the sofa and brought first aid kit. He cleaned her wound and applied antiseptic.

Neil- kese Lagi chot..
Ananya- voh.. Mai gir gayi..
Neil- sambhal ke khelna chahiye na..
Ananya looked at him. He would always scold her if something like that happened.

Neil called her caretaker. She came there and saw Neil angry.

Neil- what the hell sneha.. why did you leave my child alone in the garden.. because of you she got hurt.

Shocked would be an understatement. Neil never claimed Ananya as her daughter. She apologized. Neil told her to Leave. She left.

Neil looked at Ananya. She looked scared. His eyes softened. He sat besides her.

Neil- want to eat something..?
Ananya nodded.
Neil- why are you so scared?
Ananya- aap mujhe datoge nahi na..
Neil's eyes welled up. His own daughter was scared of him.

Flashback starts

Neil returned at night and thought to have a check on Ananya. Though he showed that he didn't care for her he would always go to check for her at night. He saw she was awake. He stood near the door. She was talking to avni's photo.

Ananya- mumma.. aapko pata hai aaj daddy annual meet ke liye nahi aaye..
Neil looked on.

Ananya- Mai aapko bahot miss Kar rahi hu mumma.. aap mere paas aao na.. hum milke drawing karege.. khelege.. park jayege.. jese mere friends apne parents ke saath jaate hai..

Neil felt bad. His daughter was experiencing all this because of him. He got so drowned in his pain that he forgot to stay by his daughter. He walked to his room.

Flashback ends

Neil- nahi baccha Mai aapko nahi datunga.. Chalo.. aaj daddy cook karege.. he picked her and took her in the kitchen. He kept her on the kitchen counter.

Neil- daddy cook karege.. aur aap dekho.. so aap Kya khaoge..
Ananya- poha..
Neil smiled. She was just like her mother. He made avni's special poha for them. They both sat on the table and started having their food.

Suddenly Ananya coughed. Neil patted on her back and gave her water.

Neil- baccha Kya hua.. spicy hai?
Ananya nodded.
Neil- sorry.. shayad spicy ho Gaya.. Chalo hum kuch aur khayege..
Ananya looked at him.

She walked to her room silently. Neil looked on. He became sad. He looked at Ananya who came back with a book. She handed the book to him.

Neil- yeh Kya hai?
Ananya- cooking book.. mumma ki hai.. mujhe unke cupboard mein mili.. aap iss mein se kuch banao na..
Neil smiled and nodded.

Neil made pancakes for her. He served the pancakes to her. She tasted it.

Ananya- acha hai.. aap bhi khao na..
Neil sits besides her and was going to take his plate but Ananya stopped him.

Ananya took a piece and fed him. Neil smiled with tears in his eyes. He kissed her on her cheeks.

After sometime Neil took her to park. They played for sometime. Ananya behaved so friendly with him. Neil smiled as he remembered avni. The mother-daughter are same. They get friendly with everyone easily.

He didn't want anything now because he had his daughter with him. His most precious gem.

THE END

Hey guys here is the another chapter. Hope you like it 😊

I wanted to write it from a long time. Phew.. finally did it!! 😘

Looking forward for your response ❤