"Her eyes, as deep as the ocean,

Her skin shines like stars

In the darkest nights.

I wish,

Wish

To be with her

Forever."

※⁜※⁜

Ryhan sat in his study, surrounded by thousands of books that had once been meticulously arranged by his wife. In this room, her presence felt tangible, as if her essence lingered among the pages and shelves. Her memories were all that remained, aside from their daughter, Aadiya.

He still remembered the day they had set up their house. Antra had chosen everything, from the carpets to the decor of the entire home. Ryhan's study had been her favorite project. She had sourced each book from around the world, driven by her vision of imparting global knowledge to their future children.

Taking a deep breath, Ryhan tried to focus on the manuscript he needed to submit for publication the next morning. But an unsettling feeling crept along his spine, repeatedly dragging his thoughts back to the night when his entire understanding of the world had been upended.

Questions swirled in his mind. Who was that mysterious woman? What exactly had transpired on the train? Was it all a dream? And what about that strange nightmare?

The nightmare was so vivid that even the thought of losing Aadiya felt unbearable. The experience had burned itself into his memory, leaving him haunted by its intensity.

"Dadda!" Aadiya's soft voice called out, bringing Ryhan back to reality. She was standing at the entrance of the study room.

He got up from his chair and walked to her, kneeling down to her height. Tapping his index finger on her nose, he asked, "Yes, love?"

"There is a monster under my bed," she replied, her voice trembling. Like many other three-year-old children, Aadiya was also afraid of the imaginary monster lurking beneath her bed.

Ryhan picked her up and gently patted her back to comfort her. "Let's see who is disturbing Aadiya," he said, carrying her to their room. Unlike most families who have separate rooms for their children, Aadiya's bed was in the same room as his.

If you ask why, the answer is simple: it is hard for a man to lose his single hope in life. He will do everything in his power to hold on to that single ray of hope.

Entering the room, Ryhan switched on the lights and set Aadiya down gently. While she lay on her bed, he checked underneath it, assuring her that there was no one there.

"No, Dadda, look again. There was someone," Aadiya insisted, her eyes wide with fear, as if she had truly seen something as monstrous as the darkest nights that held the world's secrets.

"Aadiya, look, sweetie, there is no one," he said, encouraging her to look herself. To her surprise, the space under the bed was empty.

She hugged her father tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Remember that sword Jack Sparrow carries around?" Ryhan asked, trying to divert her attention.

"Dadda, Jack Sparrow doesn't have his own sword. You know nothing," she replied with a small pout.

"Oh-Ok, but Aadiya carries one," he said, a smile creeping onto her face, lightening her mood. In an instant, her fear seemed to vanish.

Aadiya ran to her closet and pulled out a small knife-like wooden sword. It was a gift Antra and Ryhan had planned to give her when she turned five to encourage physical strength. But after Antra's disappearance, Ryhan gave it to Aadiya when she had her first nightmare and was afraid of the dark.

"Here, Dadda. See?" she said, holding up the wooden sword.

"And what does it do?" he asked, feigning curiosity.

"It helps me fight every monster under my bed," she explained confidently.

"Great. Now, why don't you show your sword to that monster and chase him away from our house?" Ryhan suggested, a small smile of pride hidden in that moment.

"Grrrrr... You monster! Go away! Shoo! Shoo!" Aadiya shouted, demonstrating her fighting skills to her Dadda, swinging the wooden sword in the air, mimicking the sounds she had heard in action movies.

Watching his daughter, Ryhan felt a profound sense of peace in his mind and heart. The wrestling questions that had been tormenting him seemed to dissipate, at least for now.

※⁜※⁜

BEEP!! BEEP!! BEEP!! The alarm blared at 6 a.m.

"Ahww," Ryhan groaned, still half-asleep. Forcing himself to wake up, he muttered, "Antra! Coffee." Then reality struck him. There was no Antra to make coffee.

This had become his morning routine. Even after three years, each morning began the same way—calling for his wife and then painfully remembering she wasn't there.

Sighing, he finally got out of bed and started his usual morning rituals, which included waking his daughter, Aadiya, to take her to play school.

"Aadiya! Aadiya! Time to wake up," he said, gently nudging her before heading to the shower.

Returning, he found her still curled up in bed. "Aadiya, wake up, or I'll have to throw cold water on you!" he warned, though he knew she was probably just pretending to sleep.

Aadiya loved to play with her father. She had woken up with the alarm but enjoyed teasing him. As he was about to sprinkle cold water on her, she giggled and playfully attacked him with her tiny hands, laughing.

Finally, when both were ready and had finished their breakfast, they prepared to leave the house. But Aadiya, like many children her age, decided to test her father's patience.

"Daddy, I don't want to go," she protested, crossing her arms defiantly.

Ryhan knew it would be futile to try to convince her or drag her to her play school. Then an idea struck him.

"Who said we're going to your play school?" he asked, his tone playful.

Aadiya looked puzzled, her big eyes shining with innocence. "Then where?"

"We're going on a long drive," he said. The words 'long drive' filled her with joy and excitement. Her eyes sparkled, and she wiggled her head. Ryhan smiled, thinking, "Just like her mother always got excited about long drives."

"Daddy, I'm ready!" Aadiya said, her enthusiasm overflowing. "And one more thing, you have to change into this," she added, laying out a dress on the bed, acting as if she were all grown up.

"Okay, okay, my lady. But first, let's decide—do you want a ponytail, a bun, or space buns?" he asked, trying to calm his excited daughter. Although she was already ready, he wanted to make it more enjoyable for her.

He checked his watch; there was still plenty of time. He could afford a long drive.

"SPACE BUNS!" Aadiya squealed, bouncing on her toes with excitement.

"Dadda, let's go to the adult chocolate drink place, and I'll draw!" she exclaimed, her lisp making the word "chocolate" sound like "chocolap." Ryhan chuckled at her enthusiastic mispronunciation of "coffee house."

"Alright, let Dadda change into these clothes, and we'll leave in 10 minutes." Aadiya had thoughtfully laid out a blue polo shirt and denim jeans for him.

Ryhan quickly swapped his office attire for the casual outfit his daughter had chosen, appreciating her efforts. He grabbed Aadiya's sketchbook from the shelf, ready to head out.

As he entered the lounge area, his heart nearly stopped. There, amid her toys, Aadiya was playing with matchsticks. The sight struck fear into him. He rushed over, snatching the matchsticks from her small hands and scooping her into a protective embrace.

"Aadiya, are you okay? Where did you get these?" he asked, his voice tight with barely contained fear, though he tried to mask his panic.

"I'm sorry, Dadda. I—I found them on the dinner table," she answered, her voice small and trembling.

Ryhan's heart pounded with the realization of how close they had come to disaster. He took a deep breath, pocketed the matchbox, and ushered them both out of the house, grateful for her safety.

They arrived at the café shortly after, where he ordered a muffin for Aadiya. Settling into a corner booth, the tension of the morning began to fade. Aadiya's eyes sparkled as she nibbled on her treat, her sketchbook open and ready. Watching her contentment, Ryhan felt a wave of relief wash over him. For now, they were safe, and he could cherish this peaceful moment with his daughter.

"Daddy, what are we going to draw today?" Aadiya asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Whatever we want—maybe a tree, a pond, some hills, or even an old lady," Ryhan replied, his voice warm and encouraging.

"Daddy, can we draw Mumma? When will she come back from her work?" she asked innocently, unaware of her mother's disappearance.

Ryhan felt a pang in his heart but managed a reassuring smile. "Beta, I talked to her last night. She said she misses you a lot. I sent her pictures of all your drawings, and she loved them. She wants to come back, but she can't right now. You know she's a superwoman, taking care of lots of other children," he explained, fighting back tears. He knew he was lying to protect her, but the truth was too harsh for her young heart.

"I know, Daddy, but Monica said there is no superwoman, that Mumma has left us. She also said Mumma is selfish. So I kicked her in the stomach and slapped her. She's a mean girl," Aadiya said, her little face scrunched up in defiance.

Ryhan's eyes widened in shock. "Aadiya, we don't hit people, no matter what they say. It shows immaturity. You know your mother is a superwoman, and you should be proud of her. You're sharing her with others who need her help. And yes, today we will draw her," he said.

He wanted to teach his daughter kindness and resilience. From his own experience, he knew that fighting and anger would only bring pain. Uncontrolled rage could be destructive, but if channeled positively, it could lead to a healthier and more fulfilling life.

While Aadiya was meticulously sketching her mother, Antra, in her sketchbook, Ryhan found himself lost in cherished memories. His mind drifted to their first "accidental meeting," a serendipitous encounter that had changed his life forever.

For Ryhan, it felt like a "Once Upon a Time" tale. While he was majoring in Journalism at City University, Antra was pursuing her degree in Human History and Cultural Advancement—a subject Ryhan found boring, albeit ironically connected to his own field. One day, on his way to the gym, he accidentally dropped his locker keys just outside the library. How that happened is a story for another time.

It seemed like destiny playing its cards. Antra found the keys. Sharing the same campus, it wasn't hard for her to identify that the keys belongs to a person living in one of the campus dorms, but she forgot to submit them to the lost and found department.

Days passed, and Ryhan had already requested new locker keys. Meanwhile, the original keys sat on Antra's study table. Each time she walked past, she thought of returning them but would forget almost immediately. This went on for a year.

On the last day of their exams, Antra's roommate threw a party. Rene invited her friends, their friends, and their friends. One of those friends was Ryhan.

The party was lively, with everyone enjoying themselves, but Antra felt out of place. She was present physically but not in spirit. Boys approached her, but she consistently turned them down.

Ryhan, chatting with his friends, noticed a girl with mesmerizing forest green eyes. They were as rare and captivating as the first rays of sunrise. After mustering the courage, he decided to approach her. But before he could, he saw her fiddling with his locker keys, lost in thought.

Initially surprised, he then smiled and mouthed Thank you God.

He realized this was his chance to make an impression, hoping it might lead to exchanging numbers and, perhaps in a couple of years, starting a relationship.

Ryhan quickly briefed his classmate on his plan. They positioned themselves just far enough from Antra to let her overhear their conversation.

"Hey man, it's been a year now. I still haven't found my locker keys. You know how I've managed the entire year without my private locker," Ryhan said, speaking loudly enough for Antra to hear.

"Bro, why didn't you complain to the lost and found department?" his friend asked, pretending to be curious.

"I tried. You know how these people are. Plus, I'm not exactly on good terms with the staff," Ryhan replied, trying hard to make their conversation seem discreet.

Anay, Ryhan's friend, patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy. Only a month left. We'll figure it out."

"No! I won't. I'm going to make them pay."

"Whoa! Calm down, buddy."

A soft voice interrupted their conversation. "Hello."

Ryhan turned to find the source of the melodious voice. There she was, the girl with the forest green eyes, the one he had hoped would eavesdrop on their conversation.

Trying to remain composed, Ryhan felt like a nervous child—stuttering, fidgeting, sweating as if standing in the fires of hell. He tried to control his nerves by scratching his head or sweeping back his hair.

"Ye-s?"

"Please accept my apology. I overheard your conversation. I think these are your keys. I'm sorry for not returning them to the department earlier," she said, stretching her arm towards Ryhan, offering the keys for him to take from her hand.

In that moment, Ryhan's heart melted.

"Dadda!" Aadiya shouted, snapping him back to reality.

"Ahem."

"Where are you lost? See, Mumma," she said, showing her drawing.

Ryhan gently took Antra's sketch from Aadiya's hand. Even in the simple drawing by his three-year-old daughter, the most prominent feature was Antra's forest green eyes, rendered with striking accuracy.

He felt the familiar pang of sorrow that always accompanied thoughts of Antra. The pain was suffocating, a relentless ache he couldn't show in front of his daughter. Every day, every passing second, he silently asked God, "Why?" There was no closure, only an endless dark tunnel through which he walked, clutching his daughter's hand for solace.

Suddenly, the soothing and calm environment of the café was shattered by a loud, screeching scream from the kitchen. The acrid smell of burning wires reached his nostrils, causing him to glance around in alarm. In an instant, the café descended into chaos.

A deafening explosion reverberated through the room, followed by a cacophony of screams and cries. Fire erupted, spreading rapidly and trapping everyone inside. The once peaceful café had turned into a scene of mayhem, with flames closing in, leaving no escape.

<a/n>

Word Count - 2356 ✔