Her hand covered mine, gentle yet firm. “Don’t let her get hurt. She’s fragile, even if she pretends not to be.”
My chest tightened, and I wanted to scream the truth, but my words caught in my throat. I couldn’t hurt her—not tonight. Not on her birthday.
Her eyes, still glistening with unshed tears, met mine. There was a softness in them, a kind of calm acceptance that made my chest tighten. “Manav, I’ve lived a full life,” she began., “I’ve loved, lost, laughed, cried… but my only wish now is to see Kiara truly happy.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Sheishappy, Dadi.”
Her lips curved into a faint smile, but her eyes held mine with a quiet intensity. “Not yet. Not fully. But she will be with you.”
“I…” The words caught in my throat. How could I tell her this wasn’t real?
“She’s my heart, Manav,” Dadi continued, her voice trembling slightly. “My whole heart. I’ve watched her grow up, fight battles she didn’t deserve, and carry weights she should never have had to bear. She’s stronger than she knows, but she’s also fragile in ways she’ll never admit. Promise me…” Her grip on my hand tightened. “Promise me you’ll take care of her.”
My heart pounded in my chest, my head spinning.
“Promise me,” she repeated, her voice breaking ever so slightly.
I nodded, unable to lie to her. “I promise.”
Her face softened, and she leaned back against the couch, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling. “Your grandpa always said Kiara would find her prince one day. And he was right. She found you.”
I sat there in silence, Was I that person for Kiara? Could I be? The thought terrified me as much as it thrilled me.
Dadi reached for the drawer beside her and pulled out a small velvet pouch. She placed it in my hands, her fingers trembling. “This was her grandpa’s watch,” she said softly. “He used to tell me, ‘Whenever you miss me, check the time. I’ll be there before it strikes five. Since then, it’s stuck on a quarter to five. I’ve kept it all these years, and now it’s yours. So, Mr. Farmer, now you have two important pieces of my heart.”
My voice broke. “I can’t take this…”
“I don’t know how much time I have left,” Dadi said quietly. “But knowing you’re here for her, I can rest easy.”
My hands trembled. “Dadi… It's…”
Dadi tilted her head, her knowing eyes narrowing slightly. “Don’t you love her, Mr. Farmer?” she asked, her smirk soft but pointed.
I froze for a moment, her question hitting me like a freight train. My hands dropped to my sides, and I nodded. “I do…” I admitted quietly, the words barely escaping my lips. “But I’m not sure if she knows.”
Her expression softened instantly, her smirk fading into something more maternal and tender. “I am sure she…”
Taking a deep breath, I interrupted her.
And I knew I had done something I shouldn’t have. But I had to. I had to tell her the truth.
____________
Dadi leaned back into her chair, her eyes closed, her expression unreadable. I sat frozen on the stool next to her,feeling every ounce of my guilt pressing down on my chest. My hands clenched tightly in my lap as the seconds ticked by, each one more suffocating than the last.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, Kiara walked in, her cheerful voice breaking the oppressive silence. “Dadi… you’re awake?”
Her tone was light and bright, but as soon as her gaze landed on me—head bowed, shoulders slumped—the cheer in it faltered. She glanced between me and Dadi, her smile fading into concern. “What’s wrong?”
Dadi’s eyes opened slowly, a soft, almost bittersweet smile gracing her lips. She patted the stool beside her, silently asking Kiara to sit.
Kiara hesitated, her worried eyes darting between us before settling down. “Is everything okay?”
Dadi took her hand, her frail fingers trembling slightly as they intertwined with Kiara’s. “Do you remember, as a little girl, how you used to ask about your mother?” Her voice was low, almost a whisper. “You’d ask me what she was like… how she smiled…”
Kiara’s face softened, her eyes glistening as she swallowed hard. “Yes…” she replied quietly.
Dadi’s expression was filled with a lifetime of love, pain, and unspoken words. I couldn’t look at either of them. I couldn’t move. I was rooted to my seat, bracing myself for what Dadi would say next, knowing it could shatter everything.
