Jugnu's eyes filled with compassion as she gently wiped away my tears. "You loved her so much, don't you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I gazed at her, my heart overflowing with emotion. "Loved?" I replied, my voice cracking. "I still love her so much!"

Jugnu's expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around me in a warm hug. "I'm sorry, Papa. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

I held her close, feeling a mix of sadness and gratitude. Gratitude for this little human who brought light into my life, and sadness for the what-ifs.

"You're my shining star, Jugnu," I whispered, my voice muffled against her shoulder. "You're the reason I keep going."

As we hugged, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Sharing my story with Jugnu had freed me in ways I never thought possible.

"Tell me more about her, Papa," Jugnu asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I smiled, a sense of peace washing over me. "Where do I even begin?"

Your mother was a force of nature. She had this infectious laugh, this spark in her eyes that drew everyone in."

Jugnu leaned in, her face aglow with excitement. "What was her favorite thing to do?"

I chuckled. "She loved reading, writing poetry, and exploring new places. We'd take long walks, hand in hand, talking about our dreams and aspirations."

Jugnu's eyes widened. "That sounds so romantic!"

I nodded, my heart swelling with memories. "It was. We were each other's home, Jugnu. We found our safe haven in each other."

As I spoke, I noticed Jugnu's gaze drifting to a photo on the mantle. It was an old picture of Pranati and me, taken during our college days.

"Papa, may I ask something?" Jugnu said, her voice hesitant.

"Anything, little one," I replied.

"Why didn't you and Mom stay together?"

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the difficult conversation ahead.

"Because of my own mistakes," I paused, struggling to hold back tears. "Because of the words I said to her... I asked her to abort you."

Jugnu's eyes widened in shock.

"I thought we were too young to have you," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was scared, foolish, and selfish. I asked her to choose between us, and she chose you over me."

Tears streamed down my face as I gazed at Jugnu.

"And I'm grateful to her for that," I said, my voice cracking. "You are my everything, Jugnu. My reason for living."

Jugnu's expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around me.

"Papa, I'm sorry," she whispered.

I held her close, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

"Don't apologize, little one," I said. "You are the light of my life. Your mother loved you so much, and I'm grateful she made that choice."

"Then why am I with you, not her?" Jugnu asked, her voice trembling. "You refused to accept me then, didn't you?"

I nodded, shame and regret etched on my face. "I was young, foolish, and scared. I didn't understand the value of life, of family."

Jugnu's eyes narrowed. "But what about Mom? Why did she leave me with you?"

I took a deep breath, preparing for the painful truth. "Pranati's mother... she was against our relationship, against us having a child. She..."

I paused, collecting my thoughts.

"She sent you to an orphanage, Jugnu, and made Pranati believe that you were born dead."

Jugnu's face contorted in shock. "What? How could she?"

I shook my head. "I don't know, but Pranati believed her. She thought she had lost you, and I thought I had lost her."

Tears streamed down Jugnu's face as she processed the truth.

"Why didn't Mom come back for me?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"Because she didn't knew that you're alive."

Jugnu's eyes searched mine. "Did she love me?"

I smiled through tears. "More than anything, Jugnu. She loved you more than life itself and Me."

"After eight years, 10 months, 252 mins I'm gonna meet your mother again tomorrow! Past is gonna clash again!"

Jugnu's eyes widened in shock. "Tomorrow? You're going to meet her tomorrow?"

I nodded, determination etched on my face. "Yes, Jugnu. It's time to face the truth, to confront the past. Your mother deserves to know you're alive."

Jugnu's voice trembled. "What if she doesn't want me? What if she's moved on?"

I pulled her close, holding her tight. "That's not possible, Jugnu. A mother never stops loving her child. She'll be overjoyed to see you."

Jugnu's eyes searched mine. "And what about you, Papa? Are you ready to face her?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the encounter. "I've spent years regretting my mistakes, Jugnu. Tomorrow, I'll make amends."

The room fell silent, the weight of tomorrow's confrontation hanging in the air.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the city, I knew that tomorrow would bring closure, healing, and a new beginning.