The first thought that came to Myra as she woke up was: he was gone. Soon, this bedroom, the house in which it sat in the eastern corner, and the tiny garden outside with its gnarled old red hibiscus and the half-grown mango tree they had planted together would all be gone as well. It was the strangest feeling she had ever experienced.
Two tragedies in such a short period had shattered Myra completely. Her childhood home held happy memories and was the only asset she had left. The man in those memories, her father, was gone forever. He had suffered a massive stroke and died on the spot. He was kind, gentle, and trustworthy, but tragically taken advantage of by those he believed in.
Myra vividly remembered that night when she received a call from her father's neighbour (Mr Sharma) informing her about her father's demise. Myra, come soon, beta. Your father suffered a stroke and died on the spot. Little Samaira is all alone with her nanny, and the whereabouts of your brother-in-law are unknown. He's been absconding for the past three days. Please come as soon as possible. Myra was in a state of shock and worried for her niece. John made all the arrangements for Myra's departure, but he had been unable to accompany her due to visa issues.
Myra had a ten o'clock appointment with the attorney to discuss her father's will and financial matters. When she met Mr. Kabra, her father's attorney, he expressed his condolences for her father's sudden death. Myra was shocked to learn that her father had filed for bankruptcy and that even her childhood home was mortgaged to the bank. Mr Kabra explained that her brother-in-law, Saurabh, had unethically made her father sign papers that transferred all the company’s cash to his account before fleeing. All his debts had been transferred to Myra's father's name, and creditors were about to seize everything.
Myra recalled the fateful day Lara introduced Saurabh to the family and wished to marry him. Saurabh was tall and good-looking, and his tone was sugar-coated. He knows how to use his tone to charm others. He belonged to a lower-middle-class family, but his dreams were big. When he saw the house and its grandeur, his eyes lit up with an unusual light. Myra recognised the fakeness in Saurabh and did not find him suitable for Lara. But both Lara and her father were charmed by Saurabh. Either they did not see his superficial attitude or chose to ignore it. For Lara's happiness, Myra chose to ignore her doubts about Saurabh. Lara got married, and both dots on Saurabh, but Myra kept her distance from him.
After three Years
Myra expressed her wish to marry John, a fellow doctor in the States. Myra's father was against the match, stating John was of foreign origin and not suitable for her. Both Lara and Saurabh were also against this match. Myra knew it was Saurabh's doing because John was highly educated, independent, rich and smart. So Saurabh was insecure and jealous of John.
Myra insisted that her father meet John and his family once. After meeting them, Myra's father agreed to the proposal but never warmed up to John, unlike Saurabh. John tried hard to win her father's love and affection, but their relationship remained formal, and Myra's father refused to see John's goodness.
When Lara announced her pregnancy, everybody was so happy. But the happiness does not last long. Within a year of Samaira's birth, Lara was diagnosed with cancer. We were shattered to hear this news, but worried about the future of baby Samaira. The father made the best arrangements for Lara's treatment. Though he was dying from inside, seeing his beloved daughter, he maintained a calm facade for all our sakes.
Myra has been studying and working in the States as a physiotherapist for the past seven years. On a cold yet sunny day, she was going to the hospital when her phone rang. It was her father calling to inform her of her sister's passing. Lara had been suffering from cancer. Upon returning home, Myra discovered that Saurabh had moved in with her father.
Although Myra had maintained a cordial relationship with Saurabh for her sister's sake, she had never warmed up to him. She found him superficial, nosy, and overly polite—a phoney, in her eyes. Nevertheless, she accepted their relationship due to her sister's happiness and maintained her distance. Myra justified her father's decision to let Saurabh move in with him because of her sister's illness and the needs of her two-year-old niece, but she remained unconvinced and chose to drop the matter, knowing her father was suffering.
Myra had warned her father not to get Saurabh involved in any financial dealings and not to transfer any property or shares that belonged to Lara into his name. However, her father, a simple and trusting person who always saw the good in others, ignored her advice and transferred all financial matters to Saurabh after Lara's death.
Mr Kabra informed Myra that the only thing remaining was the trust fund established for her and Samaira by her father. As Samaira's guardian, Myra was appointed a trustee to the trust fund until the child reached adulthood. This fund was safe from banks and creditors. However, Mr Kabra also informed her that she needed to vacate the house in two days and surrender it to the bank. She had to decide whether to pursue a case against Saurabh.
Myra filed an FIR against Saurabh and told her lawyer to file strong cases of mental and physical harassment, cruelty, fraud and embezzlement against him. And separately file the custody case of Samaira. The lawyer told Myra, "To collect criminal proofs and evidence, whatever is available against him. He, too, was trying to gather evidence through his sources." "I want to see him behind bars, suffering similarly as he made my family suffer; I wish to save my home and purchase it back from the bank if it is possible ", said Myra.
While going through her father's belongings in his study, Myra came across a letter addressed to her.
In it, her father acknowledged that he had never welcomed or loved John the way he loved Saurabh. He urged Myra to care for Samaira as if she were her daughter. The letter mentioned that he had deposited some of Lara's jewellery in Myra's locker, which only she can access. I am sorry for the responsibility of Samaira I am putting on you and John. I wish I had made more effort to know John better and trusted your instincts rather than my own," he wrote. After reading the letter, Myra couldn't help but wish her father had heeded her warnings; perhaps the outcome would have been different, and he would still be alive.
Myra's phone beeped; it was a voice message from John. He asked Myra to tie up all the loose ends and return home with the child. "I miss you, wife. I love you," he said. Tears welled in her eyes; she missed her husband, John, so much and wished he were here during this crisis. He had tried to support her, but Visa issues had kept him from being by her side. He had been her pillar of strength, and without him, Myra felt she couldn't cope with her overwhelming losses. She grieved for her father and sister, for the loss of her childhood home, and for her little niece, whose absence was particularly devastating. Within a short period, life had taken a drastic turn, closing the most cherished chapters of her existence and leaving her with only memories.
Myra returned to the States with a new addition to her family. She had always wanted children, but never expected it to happen so soon. Life, however, has its own plans. This sweet child, Samaira, would become her sole responsibility. Myra was scared yet confident; it would be a difficult task, but one she welcomed. When she landed, John was waiting at the airport to meet them. Myra hurried into his arms. John enveloped them in a warm embrace and whispered reassuringly in her ear that everything's fine. Myra felt a sense of relief as his words lifted a tremendous burden from her shoulders.
**Five Years Later**
Samira's seventh birthday is fast approaching, and John and Matthew (Myra's son) are incredibly excited about it. They have planned the decor, theme, gifts to buy, and Samira's favourite cake in a hush-hush manner. Matthew is eager to act as a supervisor, while John is delighted to see how well his children get along. Over the past five years, John has been a perfect father to Samira, no one would suspect that Samira is not his biological daughter; in fact, she is more attached to John than to Myra.
Samira's birthday party is in full swing, and all the children are having fun. She was jumping with excitement as she opened her birthday gift—a dollhouse that John had crafted for her. He put so much effort into it, and the joy on her face made all the hard work worthwhile. Myra fully understands the saying, "Some bonds are made by God and strengthened by human beings." This father-daughter relationship is a perfect example.
**A Week Later**
Myra was checking her emails when she noticed an urgent message from her father's attorney's office, asking her to contact Mr. Kabra at the provided number as soon as possible. Later that evening, while having coffee, Myra shares the email with John. She tells him, "When I called Mr. Kabra, he informed me that I need to come to India to resolve some legal matters, and he also has news about Saurabh."
Feeling upset, Myra starts to cry. "I don't want to go, John. Why does he disturb me so much after all these years? My child is too small to understand anything," she sobs. John wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead softly. In a gentle tone, he reassures her, "Calm down; nothing has happened to her. I will always be here for our family."
Myra is now seated in the attorney's office; she flew to India three days ago and made an appointment to meet him. Mr Kabra warmly greets her and inquires about her well-being. He explained that due to the urgency of the legal matters, Myra has to report to court. As Samira's guardian, she needs to appear in her custody case. He has good news: Saurabh has legally signed the adoption papers and given his consent for her to adopt Samira as her daughter.
Myra, after committing fraud with your father and abandoning Samaira, Saurabh fled to another city with his girlfriend. He was having numerous affairs behind Lara's back. He committed many cons by selling fraudulent properties. He cheated on many women in the name of matrimony. When the law finally caught up with him, he was plotting to ruin another family. The family got suspicious of his activities and filed a police complaint against him. All his criminal activities came to light, and he was sentenced to lifetime imprisonment with a heavy penalty. After spending around two years in jail, his health deteriorated. Just before his demise, he repented for all his misdeeds and requested jail authorities to allow him to meet me.
Saurabh had signed custody of Samaira to Myra. After hearing this news, tears of joy began to flow from Myra's eyes. Finally, Samira will be her daughter in every legal sense. Mr. Kabra explains how Saurabh passed away and, in his dying declaration, admitted to the fraud he committed against her father. Saurabh expressed remorse and granted full rights regarding Samira's well-being to Myra. He hands her a letter from Saurabh along with property documents of her father's house, now in her name.
Later, Myra sits in her hotel room, deep in thought. She never expected such goodness and fulfilment to come her way on this trip. Myra was very apprehensive before returning to India. As she opens an envelope, a single sheet of paper falls out, addressed to her.
**Myra,**
After what I did to your family, I will be the last person you want to hear from. But if you are reading this letter, it is to ease some of the guilt weighing on my shoulders. I won't beg for your forgiveness; I committed a horrendous crime, and an apology can never undo the loss you experienced because of my greed. I am signing the adoption papers in your favour. I have no right to be called Samara's father. I have one last wish: please accept the money deposited in Samira's name in the bank and use it for her education. I could never make up for the lost opportunities you suffered, but please try to forgive me for my wrongdoings.
---
Myra shows John the letter from Saurabh and reflects on how life leads to its conclusions. Loss and gain are part of a complex cycle; she lost a father but gained a daughter. In her heart, she believes that God has a unique way of repaying.
John tore the letter into many small pieces and asked Myra to flush out the harsh memories of the past from her life. And never mention the past in front of Samaira. The past is over, and no shadows of it should loom in her life. She is our daughter, and that is the only truth. We do not need criminals' money for the upkeep of our daughter; Myra donates the money to charity. I can forgive him, but never forget the wrong he did to my family. I may not be perfect and full of imperfections, but my family is my lifeline. I can take care of them, and I do not forgive traitors.
Fifteen Years Later
Myra and John are attending Samaira's convocation ceremony, where she looked beautiful as she received a gold medal for her outstanding performance. Tears flowed from Myra's eyes, as she resembled Lara so much. Samaira made both her parents proud by following in her father's footsteps. Although she is not related to John by blood, Samaira is still considered John's daughter in every sense. Myra wishes her father were alive to see her success. The responsibility he entrusted to John and me has been fulfilled. It is remarkable how John, his imperfect son-in-law, has raised Samaira as his daughter. I can keep my promise only because of John's support. Truly, love is thicker than blood.
It was a joyous moment when her photographs were taken with the entire faculty. Samaira called them up to the stage and embraced both her parents. John silently wiped away a lone tear from his eye. He thought, “Deep within us, no matter who we are, there exists a desire to be lovable, to be the kind of person that others enjoy being around. The greatest thing we can do is to let people know they are loved and capable of loving.”
***