The quiet ice-cream outing gives Akshata the right moment to speak to Nagaraju privately and reveal what she remembers, without making Chaitra feel exposed.
The three of them walked to a small ice-cream shop nearby.
Nagaraju ordered Chaitra's favourite flavour without asking too many questions.
When the cups arrived, Akshata took hers and then gently held Chaitra's hand.
Chaitra looked at her.
Akshata smiled.
Neither of them said anything.
They simply walked together, holding hands and slowly eating their ice cream.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
For Chaitra, it was strangely comforting.
Nobody was questioning her.
Nobody was asking what she had done wrong.
Nobody was telling her what she should have done.
She was simply walking beside someone who cared.
After finishing their ice cream, the two girls walked back to the house together.
Nagaraju followed a few steps behind.
By the time they returned, Chaitra looked considerably calmer.
Later that night, exhaustion finally overcame her.
She went to the guest room and fell asleep.
Akshata waited until she was certain Chaitra was sleeping.
Then she quietly went downstairs.
Nagaraju was sitting alone in the living room, going through some documents.
He looked up when he saw her.
"You wanted to talk to me?"
Akshata nodded.
She sat beside him.
For a few moments, she didn't know how to begin.
Then she finally spoke.
"Appa..."
"Do you know what happened to Chaitra in our previous life?"
Nagaraju's expression changed immediately.
He slowly put the papers aside.
"I remember some things."
Akshata looked at him.
"She eventually had a life that became better."
"She found someone who genuinely cared for her."
"Her life became stable."
"But..."
Akshata's voice became quieter.
"People never completely forgot that she had once run away."
"Some relatives looked down on her because of that."
Nagaraju remained silent.
Akshata continued.
"And when her husband and she eventually became financially successful..."
"Some of those same relatives who had rejected her suddenly wanted to become close again."
"They weren't interested in what she had suffered."
"They were interested in what she had."
Nagaraju's face hardened.
Akshata lowered her eyes.
"Sometimes I wonder..."
"Does money decide everything in life?"
"For some people, someone can be treated badly when they have nothing..."
"And the moment they become successful, the same people suddenly remember that they're family."
Nagaraju sighed.
"Money doesn't decide everything."
"But it certainly reveals people."
Akshata looked at him.
He continued quietly.
"When someone has money, people sometimes change how they treat them."
"But that doesn't mean Chaitra's worth depends on money."
"She deserves respect even if she never becomes wealthy."
Akshata nodded.
"I know."
"That's why I don't want her future to become what I remember."
Nagaraju looked at his daughter carefully.
"What exactly do you want to do?"
Akshata thought for a moment.
"Not force her."
"Not frighten her."
"And definitely not tell her that I know her future."
"That would only confuse her."
She took a breath.
"We need to give her choices."
"Education."
"Work."
"Independence."
"And most importantly, a place where she knows she can come back if something goes wrong."
Nagaraju nodded slowly.
"That is something we can do."
Akshata looked relieved.
"There is one more thing."
"What?"
"We shouldn't shame her for what happened."
Nagaraju's expression softened.
"You're right."
"She already believes she has ruined her life."
"We shouldn't make her believe that even more."
Akshata smiled faintly.
"Then we'll help her rebuild it."
Nagaraju placed his hand gently over hers.
"We will."
Neither father nor daughter spoke for a while.
Upstairs, Chaitra continued sleeping peacefully.
For the first time since arriving in Mumbai, she was sleeping under a roof where nobody expected anything from her.
The following morning, Nagaraju's wife decided that Chaitra should see a doctor.
She didn't make it sound frightening.
"Come with me," she said gently.
"We'll just get you checked properly."
Chaitra hesitated.
"I don't think anything is seriously wrong."
"Maybe not," her aunt replied.
"But there's no harm in making sure."
Chaitra eventually agreed.
At the hospital, they completed the registration formalities and waited for their turn.
After the initial consultation, the doctor asked Chaitra a few routine questions.
Her medical history.
Her recent menstrual cycle.
Her general health.
Whether she had been under unusual stress.
The doctor also asked whether there had been any possibility of pregnancy.
Chaitra became uncomfortable.
Her aunt immediately intervened gently.
"Doctor, she's young and has been through a difficult situation recently."
"We just want to understand what's happening and make sure she's healthy."
The doctor nodded.
"That's completely understandable."
After the examination and appropriate tests were discussed, Nagaraju's wife explained the situation privately.
"My niece recently came to Mumbai after leaving home with a man."
"She says the relationship ended badly."
"Her menstrual cycle isn't occurring when she normally expects it."
"Could stress be responsible?"
The doctor considered the situation carefully.
"Stress, changes in routine, poor nutrition, emotional distress, weight changes, and several other factors can affect menstrual cycles."
"But because she has been sexually active, pregnancy should also be ruled out rather than assumed away."
Nagaraju, who had accompanied them for part of the consultation, spoke quietly.
"Doctor, she's very young."
"We don't want her to become pregnant."
"We're not looking to make any decisions about ending a pregnancy. We simply want to know what is happening and make sure she receives proper care."
The doctor nodded.
"Then the first thing is to establish what is actually happening."
"There is no need to panic."
"And please don't blame her."
"She's already under considerable emotional stress."
The doctor then explained something else.
"People often recommend foods such as papaya, pineapple, or various herbs when someone has a delayed period."
"They can be part of a normal diet, but there is no reliable food that can safely make menstruation start on demand."
"What I do recommend is regular, nutritious food, adequate fluids, enough sleep, and reducing stress as much as possible."
The doctor suggested a balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables, protein sources such as eggs or chicken if she ate them, whole grains, dairy or suitable alternatives, and iron- and folate-rich foods.
"These foods support her overall health," the doctor explained.
"They won't guarantee that her period starts immediately, but good nutrition is important, particularly if she hasn't been eating properly."
Nagaraju's wife nodded.
"That makes sense."
The doctor also gave them clear instructions about follow-up.
"If her period remains absent, or if the pregnancy test is positive, come back."
"And if she develops severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, fever, or feels suddenly very unwell, don't wait."
"We should evaluate her immediately."
They thanked the doctor and left the consultation room.
---
On the way home, Nagaraju's wife bought some fresh vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs, and other groceries.
Chaitra looked at the bags.
"Aunty, you didn't have to buy all this."
Her aunt smiled.
"I know."
"But you're staying with us."
"So you'll eat properly."
Chaitra lowered her eyes.
Nobody was lecturing her.
Nobody was calling her foolish.
They were simply taking care of her.
That evening, her aunt prepared a proper meal.
Chaitra ate quietly.
A few days passed.
Her body gradually settled after the stress and disruption of the previous weeks.
Then one morning, she quietly approached her aunt.
"Aunty..."
Her aunt turned around.
"What happened?"
Chaitra smiled shyly.
"I got my period."
Her aunt immediately understood.
She smiled with relief.
"Good."
"Now continue taking care of yourself."
Chaitra nodded.
There was no celebration.
No dramatic announcement.
Just quiet relief.
For Nagaraju's family, it meant one immediate worry had passed.
But Akshata understood something more important.
This wasn't the end of Chaitra's problems.
It was only the beginning of helping her rebuild her life.
And this time, they would make sure she didn't have to face everything alone.