"For the first time in my life I got scared and it was by seeing Elsa like that. She was always so cheerful and her smile was like a beautiful spring day sunshine. But that day, when I looked at her, I couldn't even recognize her for a moment. It felt like she's no longer our lively Elsa. She was sitting on the bed like a broken doll and when she saw me she gave me a smile which didn't reach her eyes. I could never forget that day in my life", Doctor elf said by remembering that day.
"After checking on her, I suggested that she take food and medicines on time which she did being worried about her unborn baby. After some days I secretly informed Oak and suggested that he talk to her once" doctor elf said by looking at Oak.
Oak sighed and said, "I went to Surya and requested him to let me visit her once and talk with her. He accepted my request but on one condition".
"What is that condition?" Ashmita asked curiously.
"That.. that is to lead his army and be a slave to him" Oak said while looking down.
"What? How could he do this to you? You are his father-in-law after all !" Prathap snapped.
"Well.. I was also shocked by his request but left with no choice and my desire to talk with my daughter, I agreed to his request", Oak said dejectedly.
"It is almost a month and my daughter is in the ninth month of her pregnancy and anytime she will give birth to a child. So I didn't want to miss this opportunity to be with her at that crucial time as she has only me. She doesn't have a mother to share her burdens so I don't mind being a slave or even sacrificing my life for my daughter. So I agreed to his request and told him that I've only become a slave to him but not my entire clan and for that he didn't object" Oak said.
"I entered the room after so many days and I was excited, scared and so many things were going on in my mind. When I entered the room darkness welcomed me and I was scared by the silence crept in the room. I was desperately searching for my daughter in that room, lit a small candle near the table and went on searching for her. But suddenly something caught my eyes and there was my daughter. She was ..was …." Oak didn't continue his words he stopped there like he was hypnotized.
"Oak.. Oak… OAK !" Ashmita shakes him to get him back to the world.
Oak snapped after listening to Ashmita crying out his name loud and looked around to grasp the situation and after some time he drank some water to clear his mind.
"She was lying on the cold floor without any movement. I stood there like a statue and before I knew it, I was beside her trying to wake her up but she was not responding to me and she was like.. like.. like a dead body... I felt chills in my spine. For a moment my soul left my body. I sprinkled some water on her face and checked her heartbeat to make sure if she was even alive" Oak said, shivering.
"After sometime she moved and my heart took a gasp suddenly. Then I helped her stand up and managed to place her on the bed. She looked at me so feebly in the candle's flame and that look still haunts me. Her eyes lost their glow and there is nothing left in those eyes. Her gaze at me was like she's looking into an endless pit with nothing but darkness", Oak said while tears started to flow. He continued saying everything that happened that day.
"Fath.. Father!!" Elsa said with a hoarse voice.
"El.. El.. Elsa.. Daughter!! Why are you lying there on the cold floor? From when were you lying there my little thing??" Oak asked gently, trying to hold back his tears.
"Fath.. Father", Elsa repeatedly says the same thing for which Oak's heart pounded like an elephant's footsteps.
"Yes dear.. I am here with you now, tell me. What happened? Do you want anything?" Oak asked calmly.
"Father.. I was.. that I am broke.. my heart.. is.. AHHHHH" Elsa screamed and started crying by hugging round her father's waist. There was no enough strength in her arms to embrace.
Oak startled by her sudden scream and crying. He didn't know what to do. He was just trying hard not to break down by seeing his beloved daughter in this condition. He never imagined this kind of situation would happen not even in his wild dreams. He pampered her and doted on her like nobody he ever saw but today his beloved daughter is crying her heart out and he thought 'how can this poor father be able to live through this situation. Please give me lots of strength my God..!'
"Shh.. Shhh.. Don't cry dear. See.. Your father is finally here. He will take care of you. So dear, don't cry.. don't c..", Oak's eyes started dripping hard with tears. He is trying his best to fight back his tears but he can't... when his daughter is crying like this.
"Father.. (sob) father.. (sob) (sob)", Elsa was trying her best to speak but her tears were not stopping. She told herself a thousand times never to break down in front of her father but now, she couldn't help it. When she heard his father's voice she didn't know how to act brave and before she knew it, her heart took control of her mind and she let herself cry a river.
Both of them stayed like that for a long time and Elsa seemed like she lost her consciousness when Oak patted her. She didn't respond and Oak hurriedly placed her on the bed and called the doctor elf to check on her. Doctor elf after checking on Elsa informed Oak that she is just out of energy and that she will regain her consciousness after some time. Doctor elf left the room.
Oak silently sits next to Elsa and gently strokes her head, lullabying her when she sleeps already. After several hours Elsa opens her eyes slowly and the room is not dark as before and she wants to get up but her body is not supporting her. She wants to call someone but her throat is dry. She tried to remember what happened then she looked around before realization hit her.
She looked around and found her father sleeping on the couch. Before she uttered any word, he opened her eyes and woke up suddenly.
��Daughter.. Are you awake? How are you feeling now?" Oak asked, coming to her in a hurry and offering a glass of water, "Wait first, drink some water."
Elsa gulped down the entire glass of water not taking a breath between. Her throat felt better and before she asked, Oak placed a food tray in front of her and asked her to eat. Elsa didn't object and ate after ordering the maid to bring one more plate for her father. Both of them ate and sat on the couch in the balcony and started looking into the far sky which already turned dark.
"ELSA.. Daughter..", Oak called Elsa gently by looking at her and before Elsa replied he added "Do you know when you were little, you used to cry a lot over very small things"
Elsa remembered her childhood and smiled.
"But when you need to face a big problem you never show any fear in those eyes of yours. You stood bravely every time and faced the situation with all your courage and might", Oak said, turning from her face and looking again into the sky.
"Then I used to wonder, is this my same Elsa who cries for small things? But later I understood that my daughter is brave enough to fight with any situation and from that moment I didn't stop you from doing anything you wanted even though I got scared of the situation. Because dear, I trust in you so much that whatever you choose to do and anything you fight for, you already know the consequences and you are well prepared and strong enough to face the situations" Oak said looking at Elsa, took her hand into his and stroked it gently.
"And believe me dear, don't ever regret the decisions you make for yourself. Live your life without any regrets. I know this is very hard on you but dear when you took this step you knew this is like a double edged sword. We don't know about human nature and we blindly follow our heart sometimes and this, I finally understood. Now don't blame yourself for anything and just face the situation with all the courage you always had in your heart" Oak said by looking directly into Elsa's eyes.
"Now tell me what is bothering you? Share your grief with me dear", Oak gently said.
Elsa placed her head on her father's lap, closed her eyes and tried to digest his words. She knows how her father pampered her and how he supports her in every hard situation. Having her father beside her in this situation gave her strong support.
"Father.. Surya he.. he just broke my heart like a toy.." Elsa said while a drop made its way down her face.