DEDICATION: Secrets are fun to keep, But how long are they fun?

Chapter Thirty three

                 Abhimanyu's Pov
I'm nervous a lot today. He is here to see me and I'm going to meet him for the first time. Kid me had been feeling excited for this moment, Teen me irritated and the me now is a mess. I'm not sure what I feel about him.

I'll stop by the hospital before meeting him today. There's no way I can face this without Alia giving me a little push.

"Anxious?" Alia asked as soon as she saw me coming in her room.
"Hello to you too."
"Abhi, I wouldn't have said that if I didn't see it written all over your face."
"Okay, I'm a little anxious." She frowned.
"Alright, I'm nervous, anxious as hell, freaking out and probably going to throw up. Are you content?"
"You know I really like when you act like this. You look so cute." I raised my eyebrows but I felt everything in me lighting up. That's the effect she has on me.
"It's going to be ok. We talked about this yesterday. He is not a monster. Ok, maybe he is but he'll definitely not eat his own son. I assume." She said obviously making fun of me. I gave her a look.
"Hahaha... so funny. Next!"
"Come on give a smile Abhimanyu. I literally mean it when I say he is not going to eat you. According to what I know he really loved your mom and will cherish you too."
"Yeah, but I'm meeting him for the first time. He is my father. His blood runs in my veins but yet he feels more distant. He feels more unfamiliar then my students. I'm not sure what to feel about him? I first approached him just so I can keep you safe. His power by my side will keep you safe and protected by any dangers Ritu's brother might put you in. But now it's more than just that. Till yesterday all was just about you but you made me think and look deeper into it. First it was my mom who didn't break the ice even if she regretted it, then I blamed him and when I knew her story my ego stopped me from approaching him. Now, I don't want to take his power as a ladder I'll definitely cross that route with you by my side. At this moment it's just a son meeting his dad after years of misunderstanding. I want to apologize and really want to make things right with him."
She just smiled at me.
"What are you smiling for?"
"You understood the problem."
"Yes, thanks to you. He was indeed wrong in hiding his title from my mom but that doesn't mean he has to pay for his mistake by not even once getting to know his son. Of course I can't give him a second chance with mom but I totally can give him a chance in my life. Regardless of his title, he yet is my family."

"That's it. You're already prepared. Don't be nervous. Even if you stumble he is your father and he obviously cares he'll definitely guide you through. Maybe your old enough to walk on your own but he'll yet be sure to catch you whenever you fall. All you have to do is give him a chance." She said and bent to kiss my temple.

She quickly straightened my shirt and said,
"You'll be alright. You always figure it out and you'll again do that today. All the best Honey."
"Did you just call me honey?"
"Of course my boyfriend deserves nicknames too. I love you honey." She said kissing me.
"You're making me re think if I should go or just stay with you here. You know what for?" I smirked and she spanked my head.
"Go!" She said and we both laughed. She saw me off and I felt ready then ever before.

                    Alia's Pov
I saw him getting away in his car I was about to head in when I saw Ritu looking at Abhimanyu's car fading in the traffic. I was about to talk to her when I saw a doctor looking at Ritu. He's been there with her everytime. Abhimanyu said he was actually his college friend.

I went to that doctor.
"Hello, I believe you know my name."
"Why won't I? Alia who managed to steal a heart which owed never to love again." He looked at me and we both shared a smile.
"Ansh. And now that you know my name, I'm certain you're here for something."
"Well, okay I guess I'll cut the chase. First things first, have you never once tried telling Ritu what you feel?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I can see it in your eyes. I know you feel for Ritu. That is the real reason you follow her everywhere making sure she never feels alone."
"Caught off guard, I do love Ritu since a long time but you know we both love totally stupid people." He said laughing and I looked at him in a questionable way.
"Huh?"
"Yeah both of them are the dumbest people I've ever met."
"And why would you say that?"
"Abhimanyu the one you love never saw Ritu's love for him in all this years. And Ritu..." he chuckled.
"Never saw yours." He nodded.
"Why did you never once confessed to Ritu?"
"You did it because you were certain Abhimanyu loved you. My case is different Alia, Ritu loves Abhimanyu since her college. I would have lost her as a friend if I told her about my feelings."
"College?"
"Sometimes I forget you just know Abhimanyu's side of the story. I'm aware of both the sides."
"Do you mind me hearing to it?"
"Normally I wouldn't have trusted you with this but you earned the trust. You made the impossible happen. You finally made Abhimanyu realize that it was his ego that kept him from his father. I don't justify what his father does but he has never tortured or killed innocents. He has saved lives too. It's not moral that kept Abhimanyu and his mother from him but their own ego. Thanks you made him see the truth."
"I care about Abhimanyu. He is the person I love and care the most. I did my job as his partner."
"Yeah, I guess but it made me realize that Abhimanyu is not just a pawn to you."
"He never was."
"Yeah okay I judged you but before you start on how much Abhimanyu is important for you, do you yet want to hear the whole story?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then come with me."

There I learnt a story of tangled love and destinies. It's not a joke when people say that destiny's play is the hardest. It really is complicated.