As the night wore on, Vivek quietly entered his room, where Gayathri and Vaiga lay sleeping peacefully in his bed. He stood there for a moment, watching them, his heart filled with a mix of emotions.
Vaiga was cuddled up close to Gayathri, her small hands wrapped around Gayathri's arm. Vivek's eyes lingered on the sight, his chest swelling with love and gratitude. He felt a deep sense of comfort knowing that, finally, he was able to be with his daughter.
Slowly, Vivek lay down beside Vaiga, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. As he breathed in the scent of his daughter's hair, he couldn't help but think about his past days with Gayathri. Memories flooded his mind, and he felt a pang of regret for the pain he had caused her.
Despite the turmoil of emotions, Vivek felt a sense of hope. He knew he still had a long way to go to make things right, but for now, he was just grateful to be with his daughter and the woman he had once loved.
But his peace was short-lived. Gayathri stirred, waking up from her sleep. She quietly got out of bed, grabbed a pillow, and made her way to the couch.
Vivek, still lying in bed, spoke up.
"Gayu, I'll sleep there. You take the bed."
But Gayathri was firm.
"No, I'll sleep here," she said, her voice laced with a hint of anger. "After all, it's your bed. I'm used to sleeping on couches. Even when I was heavily pregnant, I slept on couches. I don't need a bed, Vivek. And don't try to be so sweet to me."
Vivek got out of bed and walked over to Gayathri, his eyes locked on hers.
"Appa has arranged for our register marriage tomorrow," he said, his voice soft. "The official will be here tomorrow morning. After that, I need to head back to Cochin. You and Vaiga can come with me, or I can come back to pick you up in two days."
Gayathri's response was immediate.
"I'm coming to Cochin with you," she said, her voice firm. "I have some important appointments with patients at the hospital."
Vivek's eyes narrowed slightly, surprised by Gayathri's sudden decision. But he didn't push the issue, knowing that he still had a long way to go to regain her trust.