"Want to Know a Secret?

Someone out there can't stop thinking about you.

You are beautiful.

Don't ever believe differently."

– Drake

_________________________

Dad's surprise

Misha's POV

Secrets can indeed hold a certain allure, and sometimes their revelation can alter the course of our dreams and happiness. In my case, while both families had agreed to the marriage, there were still secrets lurking beneath the surface.

When Karan dropped me off at home, I was greeted by an unexpected scene. Sahil was lounging in the living room, engrossed in Netflix, and Dad was busy in the kitchen, cooking. Dad's radiant happiness and the way he resembled the father I remembered from years ago, before Mom's disappearance, was a pleasant surprise.

As I ascended to my room, I noticed that everything looked different. Shopping bags were scattered in my walk-in closet, and some of my furniture appeared to be new. Before I could react, Sahil bounded up the stairs.

"Hey, sorry I forgot to tell you, Dad and I made some changes in your room. I also found out your little secret today, thanks to your friend Tanya, so consider this your reward," he said, catching his breath.

"Really? And did you find out that my crush and the person Dad proposed for marriage are the same person?" I replied sarcastically. I was baffled by my dad's unusual behavior and wanted to ask Sahil why Dad was acting so differently today. However, I couldn't muster the courage to do so. With so many secrets unraveling today, I decided to give Dad some time with his own emotions.

I began to inspect the new clothes and items in my closet when Sahil surprised me from behind. "So, did you like it?" he asked, pointing to a dress I was holding.

"Like what?"

"All of this," he said, gesturing to my room. "I came home earlier and saw some people working for your in-laws. They delivered these things for you. And like you, I was surprised when Dad told me that he had moved some of your old clothes and furniture to the guest room. Mish, Dad looks so happy today, but I don't know why. He wants to surprise us with a special dinner, as you already saw him preparing."

My mouth hung open in shock. Did he just mention that Dad had a surprise planned for us? Why did I have a feeling that it was good news? I hoped my intuition was right.

After Sahil left to get ready, I took a quick bath and changed into one of my sleeveless blue tops with a designer jacket and jeans, an outfit I had bought with Tanya shortly after moving to New York. With a bit of makeup and my hair styled, I descended the stairs, only to hear the doorbell ring, prompting me to rush to the entrance.

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra. It's a pleasure to see you again after so long," Dad greeted the guests.

Before me stood a beautiful couple in their forties, with Karan looking dapper in a suit. The woman's eyes seemed familiar, and she was the first to notice me in the room. She offered a warm smile before whispering something to the tall man beside her, directing his attention toward me. I reciprocated with a smile before moving closer to Sahil.

"So, this is Misha," Karan's mom said, taking a step closer to me.

"Yes," my Dad confirmed.

Suddenly, she embraced me, pulling me into a warm hug that took me by surprise. I closed my eyes, feeling safe and comforted in someone else's arms for the first time since Mom's absence. When she released me from the embrace, I realized a small smile was lingering on my lips.

Her hug felt like Mom was there with me, shielding me from the bullies among Prisha's classmates and comforting me when Prisha would take my favorite toys without asking and eventually break them.

A hand on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see who had rescued me from the potentially embarrassing situation in front of Karan and his family, only to find myself captivated by Karan's mesmerizing eyes, leaving me momentarily speechless.

As the dinner unfolded, I found myself surrounded by a mix of emotions. Sahil and Karan were on either side of me, engaging in light banter and teasing. Across the table, the elders—Dad and Karan's parents—engaged in a conversation that seemed to touch on their shared past.

"You've grown into a beautiful girl, Misha. I really wish your mother and sister were with us today. Your mother was so excited about yours and Karan's marriage when..." Mrs. Malhotra began, but her words were abruptly cut off by Mr. Malhotra.

"Kayra, calm down. She doesn't remember all that," he interjected, causing me to frown. What were they talking about? Why did everyone insist that we knew each other since childhood? Why didn't I remember any of these things?

Mrs. Malhotra cast me a sympathetic look, adding to my confusion. Were they hiding something from me?

The atmosphere shifted when Dad brought out my favorite dessert, a creation of his own. It tasted just like Mom used to make, and I found myself staring at it, lost in thoughts.

"I used to make this whenever Kavya told me that Misha had come first in her class once again," Dad shared with Karan, then turned to face me, adding with tears in his eyes, "We were always proud of you, Mish."

His words pierced through me. Why was he lying? He never showed this kind of love and pride before. All these special gestures were Mom's doing. She was the one who celebrated my achievements and showered me with affection. Dad had never displayed this level of concern for my success.

Unable to bear the weight of these emotions, I abruptly pushed my chair back, excusing myself, and hurriedly left the dining room. Sahil followed me, knocking on the door a couple of times. I was too overwhelmed to respond, and he eventually left me alone, sensing that I needed some space.

Inside my room, I slid down against the closed door, letting the tears flow freely. The contradictions and revelations were tearing at the fabric of my understanding, leaving me in a vulnerable state. Sahil's attempt to reach out was appreciated, but at that moment, I needed to grapple with the emotions on my own.

Third person's POV

As Misha rushed to her room and Sahil followed, her departure left an air of unease hanging in the dining room. Dad exchanged a subtle nod with Sahil, recognizing that the time had come for Misha to learn the whole truth.

This truth was buried beneath years of secrets and hidden emotions, behind Dad's cold behaviors, and within the enigmatic reason for keeping Misha from meeting her own mother, who was known to be alive. It was a truth that had the potential to unsettle her, but Misha had grown strong enough to face it. This was precisely what her mother had desired before falling into a coma.

After Karan and his parents left, expressing their desire to see Misha and Karan engaged soon, the house fell into a heavy silence. Dad sat alone on the living room sofa, contemplating the impending revelation.

The following morning, Misha left for college earlier than usual, avoiding the need to face her dad and Sahil. The college was deserted, with few students present, allowing her to find solace in her spot at the cafe. There, she retrieved the diary that Karan had given her in Manali.

The previous night, during her emotional turmoil, her bag had fallen, accidentally revealing the diary among her belongings. She remembered Karan's words as she picked it up: "This diary will give you all your answers." With a sense of anticipation mixed with apprehension, she opened the diary and found some unexpected words written on the first page.

'To Misha when she meets Karan again'

As Misha turned the page, she was greeted by the next entry:

Hey pumpkin,

(First of all, Happy birthday for all your birthdays that I missed. If you are reading this, it means that I am not with you, and you have questions that are troubling you. I started writing this diary when you turned 10 on 15th April 2013 when you told me that you met your first crush. ❤️)

I know you would be a little confused after reading the first page. How did I know Karan before you met him?

Well, for starters, me and Karan's dad are childhood friends. He was always like my elder brother, and we both even got married on the same day. Your dad and he started working together. Speaking of work, I will say that they both were 'Mafia leaders.'

When I got to know that I was pregnant with you and Prisha, your dad got injured while saving a baby Karan from some people who soon became our biggest enemy. When you both were born, you were very weak, and the doctor advised us not to give you too much physical work.

When you turned 5, both our families decided that Karan would get married to you once you all grew up because Karan used to tell us how he had a small crush on you. 😅 You were both just kids, but you were inseparable.

At that time, we were unaware of our enemies' plan to kidnap you.

One day, when your dad was out with Prisha, a few people attacked our house and took you away while I was hiding with Baby Sahil in his room. I was under the impression that Rahul took you with him, so when we realized you were kidnapped, I felt very guilty for my irresponsibility.

After almost a month, we found you, but you were physically tortured, which made you lose your memory. That was when we made a few decisions, one of which was that they all would keep the Mafia business away from the family.

Everything got divided, and we shifted to India where no one could find us, while the Malhotras stayed here to handle everything and distract our enemies. The marriage alliance was planned, and you were supposed to learn about it when you all turned 18.

I know that you always believed that your dad loved Prisha only and ignored you. But that was the plan after we shifted. We wanted you to be mentally and physically strong when you learned about our work and Karan.

We saw how easily you used to get scared of any stranger and hide in the house, complaining about every small thing. You were so dependent on your family, especially your dad, so we thought it was the best way to teach you to be independent if one of you started hating us.

Whenever you came first in your class, your dad secretly made those desserts you ate without your knowledge.

Now, before you read further, I want you to first have a good talk with your dad. He really misses you. 💕

_______***_______

Thanks for reading

Love you all

Xxx