We were watching some random movie after our dinner. I was having my favourite chocolate ice cream and Kavya was sipping her beer. I have told her the whole story during the dinner. She was silent the whole time. I was clueless what is going in her mind. That was something far different from her. Only our eyes were on the screen, both of us were wandering in our own thoughts.

“I think your father must have done something really bad with him. Otherwise who would take these extreme steps to get a hold on the board?” Kavya said with a thoughtful face.

I looked at her with a surprised expression. “Excuse me. Why do you think so? Whose side are you on? The man he declares to destroy is my father. My father is going to lose his life’s earnings. And you are accusing him being a bad guy?” I asked with a frowned face.

“Well, your dad is not a saint. Isn’t he?” she asked with sarcasm.

I looked down. “He had his reason.” I said with a low voice.

“Oh yes, the reason, to get more money he sold his own daughter to a monster. And never once care to see what his child was going through. And after two years, you returned from that hell alive and he not even sparing a consoling word. What a great father he is? Bloody gold digger.” She said with a disgusted voice.

“Kavya, he is my father.” I raised my voice a little.

“I don’t understand why you always support him with all his crap. You know that you can get a better job anywhere in the world. And why aren’t you leaving? Live your life like you want. I want to see that old happy smart Niharika again. Is this hotel so important to you? I know you are doing more than a general manager’s job there. He is just using you for his convince. Don’t you see it?” she asked.

“He might not show that much care but he is my father and I am his daughter. Which father doesn’t love his child? It’s just that he is not that expressive. I know he was not happy with my divorce with Karan. And I told him I will leave here if he is ashamed of me. But you know what he told? He said he doesn’t want me to leave here.” I smiled with a tint of happiness in my face.

“Doesn’t that mean he wants me to be with him? That he cares for me. He only asked me to start work in hotel. He is just not showing it.” I said smiling but that smile didn’t reach my eyes.

“You really think so? We have known each other from our first grade Hari. And from that time own wards I have never seen him around you once. It was always your grandfather. It was him who was always with you. Seeing your father sometimes I myself wondered whether you were adopted.” She said with sympathy.

I can feel my eyes burning. She was right. He was never around. It was always my Grandpa who was always there for me. My mother was not so unattended like my father but I knew that she always cared my sister more. But she never showed any cold attitude towards me unlike my father.

I was grandpa’s pet. I was his proud. I could always go to him for anything.

I still remember how proud he felt on my graduation day. He insisted me to do my masters but he couldn’t see me completing it. Cancer took him before that. I couldn’t even say my goodbye to him. I was in UK completing my masters. It was during my final exams his condition became worse. He insisted not to inform me so that I will do well at my exams. It was too late when I came to know about his demise.

It was the last day of my exam. I called him to inform that I did well in finals. But his butler attended the call and informed me that he is no more in this world. It’s been four days since that happened, and he had informed everyone that no one should tell me before I finish my exams.

I was a mess after that. I cried all by myself in my apartment for two days. It was after that I changed. I felt like someone put a hole in my heart, which cannot be repaired. Now tears were following down my face uncontrollably.

“Hey, hey, I, I am so sorry dear. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just slipped my mouth. I am sorry.” Kavya said in a concerned voice. She took my face in her palms and wiped my tears.

“I am sorry. Please forgive me. I am your only best friend right. I know you can’t stay angry with anyone for long.” She said holding her ears with both of her hands with a puppy face.

I shook my head with a smile in my face. That’s right. She is my only best friend and I can’t be angry at her for long. And damn, she is right. I can’t be angry with anyone for long. And perhaps that’s my weak point.

I sighed at my thought and gave her a bear hug and we both laughed. The rest of the night passes by our chattering and some random movies.