Ren stood there for a moment.
Still holding Aanya in his arms.
---
Why is she sitting in the park…?
I gave her the house key… the address too…
She should've gone home…
---
He looked down at her small face.
Tears still wet on her cheeks.
---
Is this… my fault?
I don't even know who her mother is…
---
Ren sighed softly.
Then gently spoke—
"…Aanya."
---
She looked up, eyes still trembling.
---
"Stop crying, okay?"
"I'm not leaving you."
---
She froze.
---
Ren forced a small smile.
"…Come here."
Then he turned his back slightly and bent down.
"Get on."
---
She hesitated for a second.
"…Really?"
---
"Yeah," he said casually.
"Your dad will carry you home."
---
Those words felt strange even to him.
But Aanya didn't question it.
She slowly climbed onto his back.
---
As Ren stood up and started walking—
Aanya wrapped her arms around his neck.
---
Within minutes…
She fell asleep.
---
"…That fast?"
---
Ren smiled faintly.
But then—
In her sleep, she whispered—
"…Dad… please don't leave me…"
---
Ren stopped walking.
---
Something inside his chest felt… tight.
Strange.
Unfamiliar.
---
"…What is this feeling…"
---
He started walking again through the dim streets of Kathmandu
---
Is this… what having a family feels like?
Or am I just imagining things…?
---
"…I just met her this morning…"
"…So why does it feel like she belongs with me…?"
---
He shook his head.
"…Whatever."
---
As he walked, he looked around.
Dark alleys.
Almost no street lights.
---
"…Seriously?"
"Can't they at least install proper street lights?"
"These roads are completely dark…"
---
Muttering complaints to himself, he finally reached home.
---
He carefully placed Aanya on the bed.
She didn't wake up.
Just turned slightly and continued sleeping peacefully.
---
Ren stood there quietly for a moment.
Looking at her.
---
Then—
"…Food."
---
He walked into the kitchen.
Opened the fridge.
---
Inside—
A piece of meat.
A few eggs.
Some bread.
---
"…Wow."
---
"I really don't take care of myself at all."
---
He scratched his head.
"I'm always busy with work…"
"Sometimes street food… sometimes just bread…"
"…Did she even eat today?"
---
He paused.
"…I have to cook."
---
He took out his phone and called his night shift workplace.
---
"Hello… yeah…"
"I won't be able to come tonight."
---
From the other side—
"What? You? Not coming?"
"Did you get married or something?"
---
Ren blinked.
"…No—what are you even saying?"
---
"Then why today of all days?"
---
"…Just… something came up."
---
"…Fine. But come tomorrow, okay? You know no one wants to work night shifts."
"People think there are ghosts or something."
---
"…Yeah, yeah."
Ren hung up.
---
He looked at the ingredients again.
Then suddenly—
He straightened up dramatically.
---
"…I am a five-star chef."
---
Silence.
---
"…Starting today."
---
He picked up the piece of meat.
Stared at it seriously.
---
"…So…"
"From which side should I cut you…?"
"Top… or bottom…?"
---
He made a slightly creepy face.
"…Hmm… maybe from the top."
---
At that exact moment—
A small voice came from the kitchen door.
"…Dad…?"
---
Ren turned.
---
Aanya stood there.
Half-asleep.
Looking a little scared.
---
"…Are you… going to cook me too?"
---
"…WHAT?!"
---
Ren almost dropped the knife.
"Do I look like some kind of monster to you?!"
---
Aanya shook her head quickly.
"N-No… but you were talking to the meat…"
---
"…That's normal!"
---
"…Is it?"
---
"…Just sit down."
---
Aanya quietly walked to the dining table and sat.
Still watching him carefully.
---
After some trial, error, and questionable cooking skills—
Food was finally ready.
---
Ren placed the plate in front of her.
"…Eat."
---
She looked at it.
Then slowly started eating.
---
One bite.
Two bites.
---
And then—
Tears started falling from her eyes.
---
Ren panicked.
"Hey—what happened?! Is it that bad?!"
---
She shook her head.
"…It's good…"
"…Really good…"
---
Her voice trembled.
"…I won't stay hungry anymore… right?"
---
Ren froze.
---
"…You didn't get food before?"
---
She nodded slowly.
"I did… sometimes…"
"But other kids… took it…"
"…Sometimes I had to stay hungry…"
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Ren looked at her quietly.
Then said—
"…From now on…"
"If you're hungry…"
"Just tell your dad."
---
Aanya looked up.
---
"…He'll feed you."
---
Her eyes widened slightly.
---
After dinner—
Ren leaned back in his chair.
"…Now tell me something."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't even know who your mom is."
---
Aanya blinked.
"…I know."
---
"…You what?"
---
She quickly took out a bunch of letters from her pocket.
A lot of them.
---
"These… my mom sends them."
---
Ren took one.
Opened it.
---
> Did my daughter eat today?
---
Another one—
> Go find your dad.
---
Another—
> I'll come meet you soon.
---
Another—
> Are you 5 now? Or 4?
---
Ren's expression slowly darkened.
---
"…What kind of mother doesn't even know her child's age…"
---
"…Four years…"
"…And she never came to meet her?"
---
He clenched the letter slightly.
---
"…If you can't come…"
"…Then stop giving false hope…"
---
The room became quiet again.
---
Then suddenly—
Ren stood up.
"…Alright."
---
Aanya blinked.
"…What?"
---
"…Bath time."
---
"…Bath?"
---
Before she could react—
He picked her up.
---
"…Wait—!"
---
A few minutes later—
---
"Cold! Cold! It's cold!!"
---
"Stop moving!"
---
"I'm not a potato, don't wash me like that!!"
---
"Then stand still!"
---
Water splashing everywhere.
Aanya laughing.
Ren struggling.
---
"…This is harder than my job…"
---
Finally—
She sat wrapped in a towel.
Hair messy.
Smiling.
---
Ren looked at her.
Then sighed.
---
"…What is my life turning into…"
---
But for the first time—
He didn't hate it.
---
To be continued…