(Author's POV)

Some people lose the love of their lives.

Some lose their dreams.

And some lose both at the same time.

But life has a strange way of moving forward, even when your heart refuses to.

For Laksh Kapoor...

Life didn't stop the day his wife left.

It simply changed its meaning.

Because from that day onwards, his entire universe fit into the tiny hands of a little girl named Eira Kapoor.

---

"Papa... utho..."

A tiny voice echoed inside the spacious bedroom.

A pair of little hands continuously patted the sleeping man's cheek.

"Papaaa..."

Laksh groaned, pulling the blanket over his face.

"Hmm... five more minutes, princess."

The little girl frowned before climbing on top of him with all her tiny strength.

"Paaapaaa... uthooo!"

The next second...

Plop!

She sat right on his stomach.

Laksh's eyes flew open.

"Ouch!"

A soft giggle filled the room.

Eira clapped her tiny hands proudly, showing her four tiny teeth while laughing at her own achievement.

Laksh looked at his daughter and sighed dramatically.

"So this is how my own daughter treats me every morning?"

Eira blinked innocently before hugging his neck.

"Papa..."

The irritation on Laksh's face disappeared instantly.

It always did.

No matter how exhausted he was...

No matter how stressful his day had been...

One hug from his little girl was enough to make everything better.

He kissed her chubby cheek.

"Good morning, my sunshine."

Eira smiled brightly.

"Mowning..."

Laksh chuckled.

She still couldn't pronounce many words properly, and he hoped she never grew out of it too quickly.

These little moments...

These tiny mispronunciations...

These cuddles...

They were the only things keeping him alive.

"Come on."

He picked her up in his arms.

"Let's get ready before Dadi complains that her granddaughter hasn't had breakfast."

At the mention of her grandmother...

"Dadiiii!"

Eira squealed excitedly.

Laksh laughed.

"Yes, yes. Dadi is waiting."

Downstairs...

The Kapoor mansion had already come to life.

The aroma of fresh breakfast filled the dining area.

Meera Kapoor looked toward the staircase just as Laksh walked down carrying Eira.

"My princess!"

She immediately stretched out her arms.

Without wasting even a second...

Eira jumped into her grandmother's embrace.

"Dadiii!"

"My baby."

Meera kissed her forehead repeatedly.

"Did Papa wake up late again?"

Eira nodded dramatically.

"Papa... soo..."

Everyone laughed.

Rajveer Kapoor folded his newspaper.

"Laksh."

"Good morning, Dad."

"Late night meeting?"

Laksh nodded.

"There was some pending work."

Rajveer simply hummed.

He never interfered in Laksh's decisions.

Ever since Laksh had taken over the family business completely, Rajveer had slowly stepped back.

But one thing remained unchanged.

Every morning...

Breakfast together.

No excuses.

Vivaan Kapoor entered while adjusting his watch.

"Where's my favourite girl?"

Before anyone could answer...

A tiny voice shouted...

"Chachuuuu!"

Vivaan grinned.

"There she is!"

He lifted Eira high in the air.

"My princess missed me?"

Eira nodded enthusiastically.

"Mish..."

"Oh really?"

He dramatically wiped imaginary tears.

"I missed you too."

Laksh shook his head.

"You met her last night."

"So what?"

Vivaan shrugged.

"I miss her every five minutes."

Everyone laughed.

Laksh watched all this quietly.

People often told him that raising a child alone was difficult.

Maybe it was.

But he had never really been alone.

His family had never let Eira feel the absence of love.

Not even for a day.

Still...

There was one place no one could fill.

A mother's place.

And every time he thought about it...

His chest tightened.

Not because he still loved the woman who had left.

But because...

His daughter deserved better.

She deserved someone who would choose her every single day.

Not someone who walked away.

Breakfast began peacefully.

Meera fed Eira tiny bites of stuffed paratha while the little girl kept looking at Laksh.

"Papa..."

"Hmm?"

"Aa..."

Laksh immediately understood.

"You want me to feed you?"

She nodded.

Without another word...

He shifted her onto his lap.

"Open your mouth."

"Aaa..."

She obediently opened her mouth.

Vivaan looked at Rajveer.

"See?"

"No matter who feeds her..."

"The final bite has to come from bhai."

Meera smiled softly.

"She's completely her father's girl."

Laksh only smiled.

He didn't mind.

Not even a little.

If feeding her every meal meant spending more time with her...

He would gladly do it forever.

After breakfast...

Laksh was about to leave for the office when he felt someone tugging at his trousers.

He looked down.

Eira.

She looked up with watery eyes.

"Papa... no..."

Laksh crouched down.

"What happened?"

She wrapped both her tiny arms around his neck.

"No office..."

His heart melted.

Every single time.

He kissed her forehead.

"Papa has to work, baby."

She shook her head stubbornly.

"No."

Vivaan tried distracting her.

"Come with Chachu."

"No."

"Dadi?"

"No."

Only one answer remained.

"Papa."

Laksh smiled helplessly.

He looked at Rajveer.

"I'll leave after she's calm."

Rajveer nodded.

"Business can wait five minutes."

"But your daughter shouldn't have to."

Laksh sat down on the couch with Eira still hugging him tightly.

After several minutes of cuddles, forehead kisses, and countless promises of chocolates and evening park visits...

She finally whispered,

"Jaldi aana..."

Laksh gently touched his forehead to hers.

"I promise."

A promise he never broke.

Because no meeting...

No deal...

No success in the world...

Was more important than the little girl waiting for him at home.

He walked out of the mansion.

Completely unaware...

That somewhere else in the city...

Fate was quietly preparing someone who would soon change both his life...

And little Eira's forever.

While one house echoed with laughter...

Another remained silent despite being filled with people.

Not every orphan lives on the streets.

Some live inside beautiful houses...

Yet spend every day searching for a place they can call home.

That was Aarika Khurana's reality.

The first rays of sunlight hadn't even entered the room properly when a loud voice broke the silence.

"AARIKA!"

She opened her eyes immediately.

"I'll be there, Badi Maa."

Without wasting another second, she folded her blanket neatly and got out of bed.

Unlike the luxurious bedrooms upstairs...

Her room was nothing more than a small servant's quarter attached to the back of the bungalow.

A single bed.

A small cupboard.

A study table.

And a frame containing the only picture she treasured.

Her parents.

Every morning...

Before beginning her day...

She gently touched the frame.

"Good morning, Mumma... Papa."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"I miss you."

It had been years.

But the pain had never become smaller.

People said...

Time heals everything.

They lied.

Time simply teaches you how to smile while carrying the pain.

"AARIKA!"

The voice came again.

"I'm coming!"

She quickly washed her face and hurried downstairs.

The dining table was already set.

Her Badi Maa, Kavita Khurana, looked at her with visible annoyance.

"So the princess finally decided to wake up?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sorry won't make breakfast."

Aarika silently walked into the kitchen.

She had become used to this.

No matter how early she woke up...

She was always late in someone's eyes.

Within minutes she prepared tea, toast, stuffed parathas and fresh juice.

Her Bade Papa, Mahesh Khurana, entered while reading the newspaper.

"Breakfast ready?"

"Yes, Bade Papa."

He nodded without even looking at her.

Not once did he ask...

Have you eaten?

Not once did he wonder...

Are you tired?

To them...

Aarika wasn't family.

She was simply another responsibility.

"Naina!"

Kavita called.

A beautifully dressed girl came downstairs while checking herself in the mirror.

"Mumma, my coffee?"

"It's ready."

Aarika immediately placed the mug before her.

Naina took one sip.

"This is cold."

"It was hot just a minute ago..."

"I said it's cold."

Without another word...

She pushed the mug away.

Some coffee spilled onto Aarika's hand.

"I'm sorry."

"You should be."

Naina rolled her eyes.

"You can't even make coffee properly."

Aarika quietly cleaned the table.

No arguments.

No complaints.

She had learned long ago...

Silence hurt less.

Just then...

Rohan entered.

"Morning."

"Good morning."

He smiled politely at Aarika.

"Did you eat?"

Before she could answer...

Kavita interrupted.

"She'll eat later."

Rohan looked at Aarika for a moment.

He knew the truth.

But just like always...

He remained silent.

His silence hurt almost as much as everyone else's words.

After everyone left...

The dining table was finally empty.

Only then did Aarika sit down with a single paratha.

Before she could take a bite...

Kavita appeared again.

"Leave that."

"There are clothes to iron."

"I'll do it."

"And don't forget to clean the guest rooms."

"Ji."

She quietly placed the plate back.

Her breakfast remained untouched.

Around noon...

Aarika finally entered her room carrying a glass of water.

Her phone vibrated.

The screen displayed one name.

Siya ❤️

A genuine smile appeared on her face.

"Hello?"

"Aaru!"

Siya's cheerful voice instantly brightened her mood.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay."

"Liar."

Aarika laughed softly.

"Am I that easy to read?"

"You've been my best friend for years."

There was silence.

Then Siya spoke gently.

"Did they trouble you again?"

Aarika looked out of the small window.

"It's nothing new."

"You deserve so much better."

"Maybe one day."

"No."

Siya replied firmly.

"Definitely one day."

Aarika smiled through moist eyes.

She wished she could believe that.

---

Far away...

In another part of the city...

Little Eira was running around the Kapoor mansion with a soft teddy in her arms.

"Dadiii..."

Meera laughed while chasing her.

"Slowly, princess!"

"Nooo!"

The tiny girl burst into laughter.

Her innocent giggles filled every corner of the house.

Back at the Khurana house...

Mahesh entered the living room after returning from a meeting.

"Kavita."

"Hm?"

"I met someone today."

She looked up.

"Who?"

"A business associate."

"And?"

"He told me about a proposal."

Kavita frowned.

"For Naina?"

Mahesh shook his head.

"For Aarika."

Silence filled the room.

Aarika, who was dusting the bookshelf nearby, froze for a second.

Her hands instinctively tightened around the cloth.

She wasn't trying to listen.

But every word reached her ears.

"A proposal?" Kavita asked.

Mahesh nodded.

"The man is rich."

"Who is he?"

"His name is Laksh Kapoor."

"The Kapoor family?"

"The same one."

Kavita's eyes widened.

"But... isn't he..."

Mahesh completed the sentence.

"A widower? No."

"He isn't a widower."

"His wife left him."

"And he has a little daughter."

Kavita fell silent.

Mahesh leaned back on the sofa.

"They're looking for a bride."

"Someone who can take care of the child."

Kavita looked toward Aarika for a brief second before smirking.

"Then this proposal is perfect."

Aarika's heartbeat became uneven.

She didn't know why.

But something inside her whispered...

Her life was about to change forever.

The words echoed in Aarika's ears long after Mahesh stopped speaking.

"He has a little daughter."

She stood there, completely still, the dusting cloth clenched tightly in her hands.

Marriage?

To a man she had never met?

And... a father?

She wasn't shocked because he had a child.

She was shocked because no one had bothered to ask her if she wanted to get married at all.

To them...

Her opinion had never mattered.

Mahesh folded the newspaper and looked at Kavita.

"I've already told them we'll give our answer soon."

Kavita nodded immediately.

"What is there to think about? This is the best proposal she'll ever get."

"Exactly."

"The Kapoor family is wealthy, respected, and influential."

She lowered her voice.

"And honestly... this is a good opportunity."

Mahesh understood what she meant.

One less responsibility.

One less expense.

One less burden.

Neither of them saw Aarika as a daughter.

She was simply a duty they had carried for years.

Now...

They finally had a chance to hand that duty over to someone else.

"Aarika."

She immediately looked up.

"Ji, Bade Papa."

"Come here."

She quietly walked towards them.

Mahesh looked at her for a few seconds before speaking.

"A marriage proposal has come for you."

She lowered her eyes.

"Ji."

"The boy's name is Laksh Kapoor."

"He belongs to one of the biggest business families in the city."

She nodded silently.

Mahesh continued,

"His wife left him after their daughter was born."

"He has a two-year-old daughter."

"If this marriage happens..."

"You'll have to accept the child as your own."

For the first time...

Aarika looked up.

"A... child?"

Mahesh nodded.

"Yes."

Kavita crossed her arms.

"If you have any problem with that, tell us now."

Aarika remained quiet.

A little girl...

Only two years old...

Without a mother.

For reasons she couldn't explain...

Her heart suddenly felt heavy.

Children never deserved to suffer because of adults' decisions.

Mahesh mistook her silence.

"So?"

She softly replied,

"If... if everyone feels this is right..."

"I'm ready."

Neither Mahesh nor Kavita expected any resistance.

After all...

Aarika had never learned how to say no.

"Good."

Mahesh stood up.

"I'll call the Kapoor family."

As he walked away, Kavita looked at Aarika.

"Don't start dreaming."

"This marriage is your responsibility."

"Behave properly after going there."

"We don't want anyone complaining about the way we raised you."

Aarika simply nodded.

She quietly walked back to her room.

The moment the door closed...

She sat on the edge of her bed.

Her eyes automatically shifted towards the framed photograph of her parents.

Picking it up carefully, she whispered,

"Mumma..." "Papa..."

"They've fixed my marriage."

A lone tear escaped her eye.

"I don't know anything about him."

"I don't know what kind of person he is."

"I don't even know if he'll ever accept me."

She smiled faintly through her tears.

"But if his little daughter really doesn't have a mother..."

"I'll try my best to never let her feel alone."

Outside her room...

Neither Mahesh nor Kavita heard those words.

But fate did.

Miles away...

Inside the Kapoor Mansion...

Little Eira sat on the living room floor, surrounded by her toys.

"Dadiii..."

She held up a tiny pink hairclip.

"Pretty?"

Meera smiled lovingly.

"My princess is always pretty."

Eira giggled before trying to clip it onto her teddy bear instead of herself.

Vivaan laughed loudly.

"I think Teddy is getting ready for a fashion show."

"No..."

Eira protested in her tiny voice.

"Teddy... baby."

"Oh?"

Vivaan teased.

"And who's Papa's baby?"

Eira immediately pointed at herself.

"Me!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Just then, the main door opened.

Laksh walked inside after finishing an important meeting earlier than expected.

The moment Eira saw him...

Her face lit up.

"Papaaaaa!"

She dropped everything and ran toward him on her tiny legs.

Laksh instantly bent down and caught her before she could lose her balance.

"There you are, my brave girl."

She wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.

"Came..."

"I promised I'd come early, didn't I?"

She nodded happily before planting a noisy kiss on his cheek.

The entire Kapoor family watched them with warm smiles.

Rajveer looked at his son.

"You left an important meeting halfway."

Laksh adjusted Eira comfortably in his arms.

"I can always schedule another meeting."

"But if I break a promise made to her..."

"I'll lose something far more important."

Rajveer didn't say anything.

Instead...

He smiled proudly.

At that very moment, Laksh's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Unknown Number.

He answered the call.

"Hello, Laksh Kapoor speaking."

On the other side, Mahesh Khurana introduced himself.

"I'd like to talk regarding the marriage proposal."

Laksh instinctively looked at Eira, who was busy playing with the buttons of his shirt.

He had agreed to consider remarriage only for one reason...

His daughter deserved the warmth of a mother.

But could a stranger ever love Eira as her own?

That was the only question that mattered.

Because Laksh Kapoor wasn't looking for a wife.

He was looking for someone who would never let his little girl feel abandoned again.

And somewhere across the city...

Aarika Khurana unknowingly prayed for a little girl she had never even met.

Destiny had already begun writing the first page of their forever.

♡ Author's Note ♡

And that's the end of Chapter 1. 🤍

What do you think about Laksh, little Eira, and Aarika so far?

I'm already in love with tiny Eira, and I hope you are too! 🥹🤍

If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to:

- 🤍 Vote

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- 🔔 Follow me so you never miss an update!

Your votes, comments, and support mean more to me than you can imagine. Every notification motivates me to write the next chapter with even more love. 🫶🏻

I'd love to know your thoughts:

- How did you like Laksh's bond with Eira?

- What are your first impressions of Aarika?

- Do you think Aarika will be able to win Eira's heart?

Drop your theories in the comments—I read every single one! 👀💖

Thank you so much for reading.

See you cutiepie in Chapter 2! 🤍

With love,

Miliwrts