V

♪♫ Kiya re jo bhi tune,

Vo kaise kiya re,

Jiya ko mere bandh

Aise liya re,

Samajh ke bhi na,

Samajh main saku,

Saweron ka mere,

Tu sooraj laage,

Tu mera koi na,

Hoke bhi kuch laage...♪♫

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rivaah stood near the wall while looking at Sia and Armaan. Both of them looked pretty serious while trying to solve the math problem. It was a little comical to see the identical frown on their faces.

It's been a week since she almost lost it when she couldn't find Sia anywhere. She was in the midst of the search when she got Armaan's call saying that Sia is safe and with him.

Later she was shocked when he asked if he could drop them off. She didn't want to agree but thought if she would say no, then, she would look ungrateful, which she wasn't. He made her daughter laugh when she was sick and took care of her when she thought that she lost Sia too.

She observed both of them during the drive and when Armaan came up to their penthouse to spend some time with Sia. He was gentle with her and listened to her every word. He, unfortunately, had to leave for an important meeting but not before he promised Sia that he'd come back soon.

She had always tried to give Sia the best life she could but she knew that her daughter missed her father; craved a father.

Today is the third time in the week that he came to spend time with Sia but changed his plans when he saw that Sia had to complete her homework. He even volunteered to help Sia so Rivaah could do other chores.

"Yay!" Sia cheered and threw her arms around Armaan's neck.

Armaan scooped her in his arms and twirled her twice before setting her on the sofa again.

"You're smart, Kiddo." They both grinned at each other.

Suddenly, Sia turned to look at Rivaah. "Did you hear it, Mumma? I'm smart."

"I heard. What do you say when someone compliments you?"

Sia turned to Armaan, "Thank you!"

Armaan ruffled her hair a little.

"Sia, go put all the books in your room."

Sia collected all the books and went to her room after saying okay.

"She's way smarter than a five-year-old."

"Trust me, it comes with more trouble than help."

He chuckled. "I'm sure it's not that bad."

"Oh, you have no idea."

"I, uh, I should get going."

"No!" the answer came out fast which surprised both of them.

"No?"

"No, I mean, stay for the dinner, please." She said softly.

"Are you sure? I mean—"

"I am sure. Stay for the dinner." This time her voice was firm and she was almost proud of herself.

He just smiled and nodded in agreement.

⪡⨳⪢

Dinner was uneventful. Sia and Armaan were conversing most of the time, which she was grateful for. She spent the whole time admiring Armaan—not just his looks but also the way he was so careful around Sia.

Both of them have made a beautiful bond in the few time they have met and Rivaah left no chance to admire them. She could see how happy her daughter was whenever Armaan was around. She hadn't stopped talking about him for a week.

After some dessert, Armaan took his leave.

Rivaah had just turned around after seeing him off when she heard Sia.

"Mumma?"

"Yes, Sia?"

"Can I ask Armaan Uncle to be my Papa?"

Rivaah froze and felt a lump forming in her throat as she processed Sia's question. Sia's question took her off guard.

"You can't ask someone to be your Papa, Sia." She said in gently.

"But why? He came when I was sick. He watched Frozen with me and took care of me when I got lost. He plays and helps me with my homework too. My friend's Papa does all of that with her so if Armaan Uncle is also doing all of that, then why can't he be my Papa?"

"Why do you want a father, Sia? Is Mumma, not enough?" Rivaah felt dejected and defeated but didn't let it come to her face or voice.

"You are my Mumma and I love you but I want Papa too!"

"We will talk about this later, okay? But till then no word about this to Armaan Uncle! Go to your room, it's your bedtime. Mumma will come in a few minutes."

"Okay."

Rivaah's heart clenched looking at Sia's sad face but her hands were tied. She can't give Sia what she wants. Not this time.

She turned when she heard someone clear their throat. Her eyes widened when she saw Armaan. "Armaan, uh, you—"

"I forgot my phone here. And yes, I heard everything."

"Oh god!" Rivaah groaned. "Look, I'm sorry for what she said. She is just a kid she didn't know what she was asking for. I'm so sorry about that. She never says things like that and I don't know what exactly happened. Actually, no that's a lie. I know what happened. But I'm still very—"

"Rivaah."

"Yes?"

"You're rambling." His lips were stretched into a small smile.

"I—oh!"

He moved closer to her and put both his hands on her shoulder. "Would it be so bad?"

"What?"

"My presence in your lives."

"I, uh, you're asking just to entertain that idea."

"No, I'm asking genuinely. Would it be so bad to have my presence in your lives?" the sincerity in his eyes was not what she had expected.

"You already are in our lives." She tried to play it cool.

"You know what I mean."

She nodded. "I know."

"So?" he asked expectantly.

"Why would you ever want this?"

Rivaah liked Armaan and she had accepted that fact a long time ago, but, she couldn't decipher his motive behind all this. Why would a man like him want to be together with her? Especially when Sia was in the picture.

"Because I like you and your daughter. I've liked you since the day I saw you. And Sia? She's the best kid anyone would ever want. She's smart and polite and a total sunshine. People have to be insane if they didn't like her."

Tears formed at the brink of her eyes.

"You don't mean that."

"I do. I don't say things that I don't mean and you of all people know that." When she only gazed at his face without a word, he added. "We can try this or not. Whatever you want. It's up to you."

"Yes."

"What?"

"Yes!" she said as a tear slipped from her eye.

He brushed the tear away. "So, you, uh, like me?"

She chuckled at his hesitation. "Yes."

"Yes?" he asked as if he couldn't believe his ears.

He held her by her waist and twirled her when she gave a nod of affirmation.

When he put her down, she saw a big grin on his face identical to hers.