I wake up even before the alarm goes off. Reliving the past is never easy, whether by dream or otherwise. With the mail I was atleast happy to know Megha was well and fine. It was true that Ma knew about where I have been for the last three years I had gone M.I.A. And Ma had kept her promise of keeping it a secret.

But what left me uneasy was, why in the world was Arjun trying to reach me? As far as I remember he was the one adamant on making me leave his life. What changed now?

Maybe Renuka showed her true colours.

I smirk at my minds answer. But as though unconsciously my hand moves to the pendant on my neck. I still had a small part of me wishing I could be a part of his life, his happiness. I shake my head to remove all unnecessary emotional thoughts from my head.

I turn to look at my baby girl, sleeping peacefully. Kissing her forehead, I go freshen up and go for a run. I always keep the baby monitor switched on, especially when I'm not near her, so that dad could take care of her.

The sun hadn't risen yet, but there was this faint light in the sky, letting you see your surroundings even when there was no street lights. My legs start picking up speed as I near the running tracks. I lived with dad and as you can expect it was a posh area.

And when I say dad, yes he is my biological father. Mr.Shaheed Khan is my biological father. Who would have thought, the one person I looked up to was my own dad, in a twisted way.

After my accident, I was admitted to hospital by someone and the doctor there did recognise me. He had been to one of dad's, I meant Shaheed sir, party, the one which Ma made me attend to with her. He had thought that I was her daughter, not daughter-in-law, and was basically stalking me that night (he was pretty embarrassed when he told me, poor guy). So he directly called Ma and she came there.

We had hugged and cried a lot and then when I told her about my parents, she said she knew that long back. Right at the moment she met me she knew who I was. Basically I'm just a photocopy of my mom. She told me my parents, the real ones, story.

Ma was an orphan just like my dad, who was five years younger than her, and they were raised by an old couple together. So, them being siblings. When the old couple passed away, Ma and dad looked after each other going for small jobs and all. Then Ma met Arjun's dad and they got married a year or so later. She tried helping him with support of her husband but he refused. And when she insisted, he cut her off telling he wanted to be independent. (Made me remind of the time I cut of Megha and my brother back when I was in college)

My dad was still doing his final year at Highschool. He went to college and met mom during his first year there. Knocked her up, had me during their second year. And life being it's cruel self, my mom's parents weren't pleased. They came from this really religious background where sex before marriage was sin. And now being pregnant my mom had ended up being the black sheep in the family.

Her parents, meaning my grandparents, made her cut all ties with dad, sent her away to her sister, my aunt or so called ex-mother. Mom had fallen into depression with the verbal abuse from her sister. So after giving birth to me she tried to contact my dad but to no luck, there weren't any social media or for God's sake even a mobile phone. Same way dad had been trying to find her, like a nomad, travelling from city to city. And finally when he came, mom had already left us.

He fought for my custody with my aunt and uncle who was ready to dump me, but my grandparents were another case. Dad lost the suit and had to returned home. He completed his degree and made himself established. That was when Ma found her brother. Finally when they were ready to come get me, I had already moved out for college.

My internship was actually a bluff. There was no such program in any of the college. It was dad who made my ex-boss do all that because he was the big boss.

Then when Megha invited her home for dinner, was the first time she saw me and had this brilliant idea of getting me married to Arjun.

Arjun.

Not going there. Time to put full stop for your thoughts dear. Now get your ass back home, Esha is waiting for her mom.

I rush back home and check on Esha who was still asleep. Kissing her forehead, I hit the gym next door.

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I was busy going through the last few details with my team, when dad came to my office and sat back on the couch playing with Esha. Dismissing my team off, I go sit next to dad and watch Esha playing with his pen.

"Arjun wants to meet up with you.", he tells, looking at Esha.

"You already know my answer, dad.", my voice hard.

"Pooja. Just think. How long are you planning to push everyone out of your life? Atleast think of Esha. She would want a father, after all.", his eyes pleading as I walk towards the window.

"There is nothing to think dad. I wasn't the one who pushed everyone away. If I remember correctly, it was him asking me to leave. And as for Esha, do you really think he is going to accept her?", I stare out of my ceiling to floor window.

He lets out a defeated sigh, "I just want both my girls to be happy. You need a love, she needs a father."

God! The only thing I can't bear is when dad gets all emotional. Once he starts he would talk all the way back to mom. And from first hand experience I know visiting your past isn't a pleasant ride.

"Dad I already agreed to take up the project. And until I reach there I'm not going to meet or talk to anyone from there.", I say not leaving a space for argument.

"You want coffee?", I ask ending the topic.

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I get my best team with me.

Ryan, Nivya, Sharath, Joel and Imran, my bestfriends since the day I came here. The only people I trust, other than my dad. They are the only ones who know how much broken I am under my shell. And if I was to go to the Kashyaps, I needed them with me.

"Hey, should I pack this or this?", Ryan brags into my room, holding out two of my dresses in each if his hands.

"Whatever you think.....", I turn and continue packing Esha's luggage.

We had planned to leave for the airport together after everyone gathered at my place. Me being me, had tried to postpone the inevitable and here I am with nothing packed. And Ryan being the sweetheart he is and of course knowing me well had come to help me.

Done with Esha's luggage, I drop it by the door and go to my room. Ryan was still inside my closet packing, so I decide to head to the shower.

"Ryan pick out something for me to wear and also dress Esha when you finish.", I call out before entering the bathroom.

It was always easy to misunderstand my relation with Ryan. People at work even think Esha is his daughter. Ryan had been the first friend I made even before I came here. He was dad's assistant and was there usually around.

From the verge of falling into depression, he and dad were the only people there to make me sane. Even though it may seem cruel when hear, the only reason dad allowed him to be around his little girl was because Ryan was gay. And I guess that was the main reason I trusted him with my and my daughter's life. After all he wouldn't be able to stomp over my heart.

When people ask if we were girlfriend-boyfriend we would just play along and then come back home and laugh about it over dinner. The worst thing was once when Esha called him 'DaDa' during a client meeting in my office.

I come out in a bathrobe to see the room empty with my luggage next to the closed door. On the bed was a honey coloured crop top that ended just above my belly button and a black denim jeans. With my hair blown dry, I put it in a messy bun on top of my head and finish of my look with gold rimmed glasses.

I walk out with my luggage downstairs to see already everyone there, including Brett ,Ryan's boyfriend. Nivya had Esha in her arms. Regarding the fact who dressed my daughter, not so surprisingly Esha was wearing a ditto same top as mine with a black plated skirt.

We get moving with dad, Esha, me, Nivya and Sharath in dad's car and the rest in Brett's car. They drop us of and we board a very familiar jet, sent by the Kashyaps.

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