Ren Thapa stood frozen for a few seconds.
Then suddenly—
"…Nope."
---
He stood up straight and started moving his legs in place, like he was jogging without going anywhere.
Panic.
Pure panic.
---
"…I'm late. I'm late. I'm definitely late!"
---
Without thinking properly, he quickly took out a small piece of paper and scribbled something.
"My address… okay… done…"
Then—he looked at Aanya.
"…Stay calm."
---
He reached out and plucked a strand of her hair.
"Aah—!"
Aanya flinched slightly.
"That hurt…"
---
"…It's fine. Important work," Ren replied seriously.
He handed her the paper and a small key.
"This is my house address. And this is the key."
"We'll talk at night. For now, just go there and wait."
---
And before she could even respond—
He ran.
---
"I'M LATE! I'M LATE! I'M LATE!!"
His voice echoed as he disappeared into the street.
---
Aanya stood there quietly.
Tilting her head a little.
Watching him run away like a confused adult.
---
"…He's weird."
---
But then…
A small smile appeared on her face.
Finally… I found my dad.
And he's even better than the photo…
---
She looked down at her pocket.
Pulled out what she had.
"…10 rupees…"
---
"…Hmm."
---
"Well… I can at least buy some bread."
"I'll wait near his house… maybe in a park…"
---
For a moment—
Her expression dropped.
What if… he also leaves me… like mom did?
---
Her lips trembled slightly.
But she quickly shook her head.
"No."
"I shouldn't think like that."
"I can manage… on my own."
---
And with that—
She started walking.
---
Meanwhile—
Ren was still running like his life depended on it.
"I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!!"
---
By the time he reached the office, he was completely out of breath.
---
The moment he entered—
His boss looked at him.
"…Late again?"
---
Ren froze.
---
"Do you want me to cut your salary?"
---
"…NO PLEASE—!"
Ren instantly made a desperate, funny face.
---
The entire office burst into laughter.
---
"Why are you always like this?" one colleague said.
"And we all get scolded because of you!"
---
Ren awkwardly scratched his head.
"…Hehe…"
---
After that, work started.
---
Two laptops.
One for office work.
One for trading.
---
Click. Type. Scroll. Repeat.
---
Hours passed.
Just like every other day.
---
During a short break, Ren picked up a cup of coffee and took a sip.
Beside him… a small packet of bread lay untouched.
---
"…What am I even doing this for…"
---
He leaned back in his chair.
"My parents… don't even call to ask how I am…"
"They're still upset… just because I didn't marry…"
---
He sighed.
"…Whatever."
---
Suddenly—
"HEY!"
---
A colleague came running toward him.
---
"I don't know whose hair you gave me—"
"But the test result just came."
---
Ren's heartbeat stopped for a second.
---
"…And?"
---
The colleague grinned.
"100% blood relation."
---
Silence.
---
"…What?"
---
"That kid is definitely related to you."
---
Ren stared blankly.
Then—
"…Haha…"
---
He laughed.
Slowly at first.
Then louder.
---
"So… I became a father…"
"Without marriage… without a girlfriend…"
"…Just like that?"
---
"…HAHAHAHA—"
---
That evening—
The two of them sat at a small store, drinking.
---
Ren took a sip and said,
"You know… today a little girl called me 'dad'."
"The hair I gave you… was hers."
---
His colleague raised his drink.
"Congratulations!"
"You're a father now—without even getting married!"
---
"…Shut up."
But Ren was still laughing.
---
Later that night—
Ren returned home.
---
He opened the door.
"…Hey?"
---
Silence.
---
"…Aanya?"
---
No response.
---
His expression changed.
---
"…Wait."
---
He stepped outside again.
Looked around.
Checked nearby streets.
---
Nothing.
---
Where did she go…?
I told her to come home…
---
Panic slowly crept in.
---
He started running again.
Looking everywhere.
---
Then—
He saw her.
---
In a small park nearby.
Sitting alone.
Quietly.
---
Relief hit him instantly.
---
"…Aanya!"
---
He walked quickly toward her.
---
She looked up.
For a second—
She just stared at him.
---
Then suddenly—
She ran toward him and hugged him tightly.
---
"Dad…!"
---
Her voice trembled.
"I thought… you left me too…"
"Just like mom…"
---
Ren froze.
---
"…Please…"
"Don't leave me…"
---
Her small hands held onto him tightly.
As if letting go would mean losing everything.
---
Ren slowly looked down at her.
His expression softened.
---
"…I didn't leave."
---
He gently placed his hand on her head.
"…I just got late."
---
The sky above them slowly turned darker.
Evening fading into night.
---
And for the first time—
Ren didn't feel alone.
---
To be continued…