AAYANSH ✨

She draped a stunning red saree, paired with a matching red blouse that highlighted her elegance. 

The sight of her pale, milky back peeking through made my heart skip a beat—such a divine sight first thing in the morning. I couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man alive, having the privilege to wake up to my queen every day. 

As I watched her getting ready, I silently prayed to God to keep blessing me with her beauty forever. And if not, I'd defy the heavens themselves just to catch a glimpse of my angel. 

Overwhelmed by the moment, I slipped out of bed and wrapped my arms around her from behind, feeling the warmth of her presence.

I placed both my hands on her belly, gently hugging her and pulling her close—closer to my chest, closer to my heart. The warmth of her soft, milky skin against my bare hands sent shivers down my spine. 

I could feel her plain back pressed against me, with the knot of her blouse resting right over my chest. 

It was a perfect moment of intimacy, and I wished I could freeze time just to savor the feeling of having her so close.

At first, she was taken aback by my sudden action, but then she melted into my embrace, her right palm gently finding its way to my cheek. 

"Good morning, my sunshine," I whispered, my voice tender. 

She smiled, her eyes softening as she replied, "Good morning to you too, my love."

For a few precious moments, we lingered there, soaking in the warmth of each other's presence. But then, everything shifted. A thick veil of darkness descended, swallowing the light and leaving me alone in a void. 

The sudden absence of her warmth was chilling. 

Panic gripped my heart, and I found myself screaming into the abyss, "Sunshine, please don't leave me! It's so dark here. Pull me out of this emptiness. I can't live without you. Please, come back to me!" 

My voice echoed through the darkness, raw with desperation and the fear of losing her forever.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I realized it had all been a dream. Sleep abandoned my eyes as the clock inched towards four in the morning. 

Feeling the weight of my emotions, I headed to the boxing gym, the only place where I could vent my anger and frustration. 

After two hours of intense training, I heard a knock on the door. I glanced at the clock—it was 6 AM. I opened the door to find Maa standing there, her face etched with concern.

"What happened, beta? Why do you look so exhausted?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

I tried to reassure her with a smile. "Nothing, Maa. I just woke up a bit early today. It's Pihu's first day of school, after all. Is she up?" I asked. Maa nodded with a gentle smile. 

"Yes, I managed to wake up your little princess. She was a challenging rouse this morning" she said. Her words brought a moment of warmth and comfort amidst the morning's haze.

"Okay, get her ready. I'll be ready soon," I said with a smile. Maa beamed with excitement. "Yes, just watch—I'll make sure she looks like a queen on her way to her palace."

I quickly got dressed and headed downstairs to the dining table, where my sweet little princess was sitting, her legs swinging back and forth. "Is my princess ready for her first day of school?" I asked, looking at her with pride.

She turned her head towards me, flashing a big, bright smile—the kind that always lights up my world. "Yes, Papa," she nodded enthusiastically. Her joy and innocence were the very reasons I found meaning in life.

Just as we were about to leave, my brother walked into the room, his face lighting up at the sight of Pihu. "Look at you, all grown up and heading to school!" he said, ruffling her hair affectionately. 

Reyansh Singh Rathore the COO of Saraswati & Co. "You're going to have so much fun, Pihu. Just remember to make lots of friends, okay?" Pihu giggled and nodded, her excitement bubbling over. 

"I will, Chachu!"

At that moment, my father entered the room, his stern demeanor softening as he looked at his granddaughter. "First day of school, huh? You'll do great, beta," he said, placing a gentle hand on her head in blessing. 

Abhimaan Singh Rathore, my father—a stoic figure to the world, but the kindest soul when it comes to his granddaughter. "Remember, always be kind and listen to your teachers." Pihu smiled up at her Dadaji, her eyes full of admiration. 

"I will, Dadaji. I promise." 

As we all gathered at the door, I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride and love for my family. With everyone's warm wishes surrounding her, I knew Pihu was starting this new chapter with all the love and support she could ever need. 

We stepped outside, ready to take on this special day together.

We arrived at her school, and I quickly got out of the car to open the door for my sweet little princess. 

As she stepped out, she gazed at the towering school building with awe, her eyes sparkling and a wide smile spreading across her face. The sight of her excitement was heartwarming. Her innocent awe filled me with a mix of pride and nostalgia. 

I knelt down to her level, pulling her into a warm embrace. 

"Take care of yourself, okay?" I said, my voice tinged with both love and a hint of apprehension at this new milestone. 

She nodded, her smile unwavering. 

"Yes, Papa. Aap bhi time se khana kha lena aur apna khayal rakhna. Pihu will miss you," she said, her small voice full of sincerity as she wrapped her tiny arms around me and held her close, feeling a surge of emotion. 

"Papa will miss you too, princess," I whispered, my heart swelling with a mixture of pride and the bittersweet realization that she was growing up. 

As I released her, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment—a tender goodbye and a hopeful beginning all at once.

Soon, I heard a familiar, cheerful voice call out, "PIHU!!" The bright energy and excitement in her tone were unmistakable. A girl stepped out of a luxury car; it was Anaya, Pihu's childhood friend and the daughter of my best friend. She ran over and hugged Pihu tightly. 

"Shall we go? Today is the first day of our school!" 

"Yes!" Pihu responded eagerly. "Bye, Papa! Pihu loves you!" she called out, her voice full of affection. 

I kissed her cheeks and said, "Papa loves you too, Pihu." I watched as she walked hand in hand with Anaya into the school, feeling a sense of relief knowing she had her friend by her side. She wouldn't be alone on this important day. 

As I stood there, lost in thought, I noticed Abhishek leaning against his car, watching the scene unfold. Abhishek has been one of my closest friends; we've done multiple deals together and shared countless memories.

"So, how does it feel seeing your daughter take another step forward in her life?" Abhishek asked, folding his arms and smiling. 

I turned to him, my face lighting up with pride and warmth. "More than happy," I replied, the words accompanied by a big, heartfelt smile. It was a mix of emotions—joy, pride, and a touch of nostalgia—as I witnessed my little girl growing up.

"Yeah, it feels like just yesterday when I held Anaya in my arms," Abhishek remarked, gazing wistfully at the school entrance. I nodded, feeling the passage of time keenly. 

"Come on, let's get back to work," I said, my tone shifting to a more commanding one.

"Aye aye, captain," Abhishek responded with a mock salute and a sigh. We soon arrived at my office, entering the towering Saraswati Co. building together. 

As we walked through the halls, we were greeted by every employee we passed. Some greeted us with admiration, while others with a hint of apprehension. I made my way to my cabin and called for my secretary. 

Anamika, a young woman with thick black lashes and light makeup, entered promptly. Her demeanor was professional as always.

"Good morning, sir. Here's the list of today's meetings and the sites we need to visit," she said, handing me a neatly organized folder. Her voice was formal, reflecting the seriousness of our work environment.

In the evening, the clock was ticking towards 5 PM, and Abhi and I were anxiously waiting for our princesses to come back to us. As the school gates opened, I spotted Pihu and Anaya walking towards us. But as they got closer, I noticed something that immediately made my heart sink—Pihu had a large bandage on her knee.

Without wasting a second, I hurried over and knelt down to her level, concern etched across my face. "Pihu, what happened? Did someone hurt you? Was there an accident? Who did this?" My voice was laced with concern, but my anger and worry overshadowed it. 

Pihu looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes. "Oh, Papa, no one hurt me. I just fell while playing with Anaya and my new friends," she explained, her voice carrying a blend of sincerity and a hint of guilt. I sighed, my worry not completely alleviated. 

"Princess, how did you fall like this? Didn't Papa tell you to take care of yourself?" My voice softened, shifting from worry to a gentle reprimand.

She nodded, trying to reassure me. "Papa, you know, when Pihu fell, her teacher took very good care of her. She put this bandage on herself. She's really nice," Pihu explained, her voice filled with appreciation and admiration for her teacher.

Relief washed over me, knowing she was well cared for even when I couldn't be there. I gently touched her bandaged knee, smiling at her bravery. 

"Alright, sweetheart, but please be more careful next time. Papa worries about you," I said, my voice tender yet firm, grateful for her safety and the thoughtful teacher who had helped her. 

After reaching home, we were greeted by everyone, and Pihu was immediately the center of attention. She was quickly surrounded by the family, and a barrage of questions began. My father, Abhimaan Singh Rathore, usually stoic and reserved, softened as he lifted Pihu into his arms. "How was my princess's day?" he asked, his voice filled with warmth. 

"It was great, Dadu!" Pihu beamed. "I made so many friends today. Everyone was so nice."Maa, noticing a large bandage on Pihu's knee, approached with concern in her eyes. 

"Pihu, how did you get this bandage?" she asked gently, brushing her hand over Pihu's knee. Pihu smiled reassuringly. 

"I fell while playing with Anaya, but my teacher took really good care of me. She's very nice," she explained, her voice filled with admiration for her teacher. 

"Well, let's get you freshened up. I've made all your favorite dishes tonight," Maa said, her voice brimming with affection as she instructed the maid to help Pihu get cleaned up. 

A few hours later, as we gathered around the dining table, the atmosphere was cozy and filled with laughter. Pihu excitedly recounted every detail of her day, her eyes sparkling with joy as she spoke. 

Each story she told was met with smiles and encouraging nods, the family hanging on her every word. The warmth of the home and the love of the family enveloped us all, making the evening a perfect ending to Pihu's first day of school. 

Author's POV - 

Soon, everyone retired to their respective rooms. Pihu slept with her Dadu and Dadi. As her Dadi was getting her ready for bed, Pihu's innocent question struck a chord. 

"Dadi, today, all the moms came for the first day, but only my Papa was there. Dadi, when will my mom come? When will I meet her?" 

Hearing this, both Abhimaan and Aaradhana froze. Aaradhana glanced at Abhimaan, then turned back to Pihu and gently replied, "She will come, dear. If you are a good girl, you will see, your mom will come to meet you soon." 

Pihu, with the same admiration shining in her eyes, continued, "Dadi, you know, when I got hurt, my teacher took such good care of me, just like a mom. Pihu really liked that."

"Okay, okay, now let's get to sleep. You have to go back to school tomorrow," Abhimaan said, his voice gentle but firm. Pihu soon drifted off into a peaceful sleep. 

Abhimaan turned to Aaradhana, his expression thoughtful. "Are you thinking about the same thing I am?" he asked quietly. Aaradhana nodded in agreement. "Yes, we really need to talk to Aayansh about this," she replied, her voice laced with concern.

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The first chapter of Love After Loss is here!!

 I hope you all liked it.

Peace!!🍀✌️

-Abhii 🖤