"MOM!!!"
The moment Hiranya stepped into the house, she screamed out, startling Hasith, who was in the kitchen. He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head slowly.
"When will this child ever grow up?"
Hasith thought to himself as he stepped out of the kitchen.
But before he could do anything else, two small arms wrapped tightly around him. Hiranya flung herself onto his chest. Hasith chuckled and gently ruffled her hair.
"My little troublemaker... What's all this about?"
He asked playfully. Hiranya, still buried against his chest, lifted her head just enough to look at him as he softly kissed her forehead.
"I missed you..."
She said, pouting dramatically. Hasith laughed and tousled her messy hair again.
"Aiyya!! Is Hiru baby here?!"
The voice that shouted from the yard belonged to Thirun. Hasith looked toward the entrance, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he heard the sound of brakes and a car door slamming.
Thirun, standing outside, called out with urgency. Hasith, still holding Hiranya close, looked at her with deep affection, but her eyes widened nervously as she tried to hide behind him.
"Yes, Malli. She's right here."
Hasith said, gently pulling Hiranya into the living room. The moment Thirun stepped inside and saw her, he collapsed onto the nearest couch, burying his face in his hands.
"Malli, what is this? Hiru, tell me the truth. What happened?"
Thirun was always the calm, composed one. But his daughter, Hiranya, was a force of nature—mischievous and wild since childhood. No matter how many complaints came in daily, Thirun never panicked. He always handled her antics with grace.
But today, something was different. Something in Thirun's behavior made Hasith uneasy. Hiranya sat silently across from her father, watching his shoulders tremble.
Worried, Hasith stepped closer and gently lifted Thirun's head.
The man who always smiled now had eyes blurred with tears, his expression lifeless.
"Akash... What happened, my little one?"
"I'm sorry, aiya..."
The words cracked out of Thirun as he began to cry. Hasith pulled him into an embrace as Thirun wept into his shoulder. He was a man who had lived through half his life, a man used to holding everything together. But even someone like that has limits. Everyone does. When pain surpasses those limits, the floodgates break. Age—be it 46, 47, or even 21—doesn't matter anymore.
Realizing it must be something serious, Hasith turned to Hiranya . But even she had gone silent, trembling, her eyes fixed on her father's tears. She had never seen him cry before.
Understanding the weight of the moment, Hasith gently called her over. She rushed into his arms like a scared child, clinging to him tightly. Hasith gave her a small smile as he wrapped her in his warmth.
No one knew how long time passed.
Suddenly, Hiruṇyā walked in through the door. Behind him came Aki & Hashi, looking confused. Hasith gestured silently, signaling them to step aside and wait without interrupting.
Hiranya had fallen asleep in Hasith's arms when Thirun, sensing someone had arrived, quietly asked Hasith. Gently brushing Hiranya's face, Thirun let out a heavy sigh and looked at Hasith.
His eyes were still red. His shoulders still trembled faintly.
"I... I'm sorry, aiya."
He whispered. Hasith gently stroked his head.
Then, Hasith, who had noticed Aki's arrival, spoke softly to them both.
"Aki… Please take the your sister to the room and eat something with aiya. Ruhi, can you go outside with Akash Malli and talk for a bit?"
"Mmm… Let's go."
Without saying another word, Hirunya placed his hand on Thirun's shoulder and led him outside. He knew exactly how to comfort his best friend when he was falling apart. That's why Hasith didn't interfere—he entrusted hom with it. Aki, too, silently watched them walk away, holding the sister in his arms. Hasith noticed his odd behavior but chose not to dwell on it.
He went into the kitchen, prepared some drinks for Thirun and Hiruṇyā, and brought them out to the garden. He found the two sitting at the far end, on the swing chair. He gave Thirun one glass and handed the other to Ruhī, then sat down quietly.
"Drink up. We'll talk slowly after."
Hasith said, to which Hiruṇyā gave him a soft smile. He snuggled closer to him, sipped half the drink, and handed the glass back.
"Mm… I have something to tell you both. I've been hiding this for too long, and that was wrong."
"We're here for you, aren't we? Just tell us. We'll listen."
As Hiruṇyā spoke, Hasith nodded and rested his head against his shoulder, giving his full attention, as did Ruhī. Both Hasith and Hiruṇyā were excellent listeners. And Hiruṇyā—he was also a good friend. He never forgot the one who stood by his through his hardest times.
Thirun took another deep breath.
"It's been about three years since this all started. Back then, when I used to go pick Hiru up, Aki would always come with me. Since no one was usually home, I'd let the two of them stay at the house until you guys came back. But later, when Hiru started getting busy with her night shifts, I didn't need to pick her up anymore. I stayed home and continued my work. But because Hiru came home late, I'd always stay awake until she arrived, and make her something to eat."
Hasith frowned slightly, glancing at Hiruṇyā. He looked back at him, and from the look in his eyes, he understood he had just as many questions as he did.
Thirun wasn't someone who babbled or dramatized things. But today, the unease in his tone brought both concern and fear. Because now… he was talking about their children.
Thirun had raised Hiranya from a young age, but he never distanced her from family. He gave her everything she wanted, showered her with love. Maybe that's why she turned out to be such a spirited, wild soul.
Hashī and Aki had started following in their father's footsteps, diving into business. But Hiru had always been drawn to medicine, like her mother. Neither Hasith nor Hiruṇyā ever pressured them.
Even now, neither Hasith nor Hiruṇyā knew that Hashī was already engaged to a beautiful girl with blue eyes. And though Hiru and Aki still behaved like kids, the dynamic between them was shifting. Rumor had it that soon there'd be another love story in the making—one involving Malith's sweet pink rose, Milan—and a love that was said to "come seeking and leave with a promise."
So, when Hasith finally said—
"Akāsh Malli…"
"I'm so sorry, aiya. It's my fault. I should've stopped it from the beginning."
"What happened, Malli…?"
Hasith asked again, his voice low and serious. Thirun broke into a soft sob.
And Hiruṇyā… he chose not to interrupt this time.
When Hasith asked again, Thirun let out a shuddering breath. Hirunya hadn't stepped in earlier because he knew she couldn't control her anger—and more than that, because his little Daisy, a doctor like him, had every right to handle this.
"Brother, do you remember back then when Aki came to our house saying she wanted to do college work? At first, he worked with Hiru, but even after Hiru chose the medicine side, he kept coming. I didn't say anything at the beginning."
As Thirun spoke, both Hirunya and Hasith lowered their heads in agreement.
"They're twins. I had no right to separate them. But Aki came even on nights when Hiru had night shifts. He'd just sit and stare at me while I worked. When I asked if he came to study, she'd just nod... so I didn't ask again. Because I treated Aki just like I treated my Hiru. But not once did I see his actually study."
"What... Are you saying this was during the time she told us she was going to friends' houses to study?"
Hasith asked, clearly shaken, while Thirun nodded. Hirunya, realizing his Daisy was distressed, placed a gentle hand around Hasith's waist, holding him firmly until he calmed down.
"What did he tell you? That he told us he was coming here?"
Hirunya's voice was firm, sharp enough that even Hasith was startled. Both of them remembered Aki acting strangely during those days.
"Yeah. That's what he said. So I believed him—until the day you told me he was going to a friend's place to study. That's when I realized he been lying to you and coming here instead. Because not once did he actually study when he came."
"I... I couldn't take it anymore, so I asked her about it yesterday."
---
Flashback
"Aki… why did you lie to your parents and say you were going to study at a friend's place?"
"What are you saying now?"
Aki snapped, clearly irritated, while Thirun looked frustrated. Like always, Aki was at Thirun's house again today. He had eaten the food Thirun had cooked and was now sitting at the edge of the couch, watching Thirun.
Thirun couldn't ignore him anymore. He turned off his laptop, turned to Aki, and faced him with the intention to talk things out.
"No, b–baby, I just wanted to ask—"
"Baby? Are you my father, Thirun? Or a member of my family?"
It stung. It stung like hell. Thirun, who had always treated Aki and Hiru no differently, found those words particularly cruel. Maybe that's why, without warning, a trail of tears filled his eyes.
Aki probably realized he had gone too far. When he saw the tears welling up in Thirun's eyes, he paused—maybe even panicked.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
Even though he whispered it, two teardrops had already slipped from the corners of Thirun's eyes.
"No, Aki. You're not wrong. I am the one who stepped into your family's world. I'm the one who brought your sister here. I... I..."
Thirun's breath hitched. His heart said something else, but the words wouldn't come out. His eyes reddened, tears rolling freely.
"I'm sorry, Aki."
He stood up. He didn't want to cry in front of Aki. From the very first day he met him, the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar feelings had stirred deep inside him—and now they were hitting like waves.
As he hurried to his room, he paused briefly to close the door—but a twisted ankle forced him to stop.
"Open this door, Thirun."
Aki's voice was firm as Thirun rested his forehead against the door.
"Please, Aki. I want to be alone right now. Just go. Please."
"I'll only ask once more, Thirun. Are you going to open this door or not?"
"Please, Aki. Just leave me alone."
Thirun sobbed from the other side, but Aki didn't wait another second. He pushed the door open, grabbed the boy leaning against it, and pulled him close.
"How long are you going to keep doing this?"
"What do you mean, Aki?"
"Why won't you try to understand me?"
"Then say something I can understand, Aki. But before that, leave me."
Thirun tried to pull away from his arms. But Aki pulled him to the bed and sat beside him, his gaze unwavering.
"First, stop crying, Thirun. That face doesn't suit tears."
He gently wiped his tears, but it only made him cry harder.
"Why are you doing this to me, Aki? Do you think I separated Hiru from you? I never wanted that. I never wanted to separate your family. When I was at my lowest point in life, the only people who stood by me were Hirunya and Hasith ayya. They are the reason I'm still alive today. That day when I first held you two—"
"Stop. I don't want to hear anything beyond that."
Aki's angry voice cut him off, and Thirun began to sob again. Aki didn't say a word—just held him close as he cried without resistance.
About half an hour passed. As Thirun's sobs began to fade, Aki assumed he had fallen asleep. He slowly moved to release him, only to see him curled up like a tiny kitten asleep in his arms, tear stains still fresh on his face.
Letting out a deep breath, Aki gently laid him down properly on the bed, covered him with a blanket, and placed a pillow under his head.
"I don't know if you still don't understand anything… or if you understand everything but just don't want to accept it."
---
By the time Thirun woke up, it was already late at night. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. But as the memories came flooding back, tears welled up again.
After wiping his face, he got out of bed intending to cook something to eat. But the moment he stepped outside the room, he froze.
There, resting he head on the dining table, fast asleep—was Aki.
Seeing him made Thirun's heart ache. The dishes were covered, but the smell revealed everything—Aki had cooked for him.
Trying not to wake him, Thirun quietly opened one of the containers and found freshly steamed dumplings—his absolute favorite, even more than anything in Thailand. But due to Hasith's medical advice, he only got to eat them once in a while.
Thirun looked at Aki, still peacefully sleeping.
'He's nothing like my Hiru. Sleeping like that, he looks like an innocent little kitten.'
That's what crossed his mind. Aki may have been Hiru's complete outer opposite, but inside, he was a boy with the same rebellious streak as Hirunya. Hiru, like him father, was a proud, headstrong fighter—but inside, she also carried the gentle spirit of someone like Hasith. Hashi was truly his father's mirror image...
"Akie, sweetheart. Get up, eat something and go back to sleep."
Although Thirun tried to get Aki's attention gently, all he received in return was a sleepy little smile and a mumble from her lips.
"Mommy, I already brushed and went to bed. Pinky promise."
Seeing Akie suddenly snap awake and catch him smiling made Thirun laugh even more. Akie, now fully awake and embarrassed, covered his face with his hands and glared at him. Though he looked away quickly, it was already too late—his ears were bright red.
"Just eat a little, Aki. Then you can sleep."
"I'm not hungry."
"You can't skip it. Eat at least a little, sweetie. You'll get sick."
"I told you once. I'm not hungry. You eat."
"Then I won't eat either. I'll just le—"
"Fine! I'll eat. But only if you feed me."
As he said that, Thirun smiled inwardly. His plan had worked perfectly. Without wasting a second, he scooped a few dumplings onto a plate and began feeding him. He ate too, hoping he'd fall asleep soon after.
"Did you order all this, Aki?"
"Why, does it taste bad?"
His worried voice made Thirun shake his head like he was denying something important.
"No, they're delicious. I haven't had dumplings this good in ages."
"Hmm... I'll make them for you myself when I have free time."
Aki whispered it to himself, not realizing Thirun was looking at his wide-eyed, hanging on his every word.
When all was said and done, Thirun collapsed onto the bed to sleep—it was already past midnight. But before his eyes could even close, he felt a sudden weight on the mattress, someone shifting close to him. And just like that, Akie was cuddled up beside him, leaving Thirun stunned.
"Aki, what's going on?"
Thirun asked softly, running his fingers through her hair.
"I want to ask you something."
"Hmm... go ahead."
"Is it wrong to love someone?"
"Our little boy… I thought you were still so young, but here you are asking grown-up questions."
"Just answer me, Akash."
His voice was firm, and Thirun sighed deeply before answering.
"To love someone is never wrong, Aki. But we must know who's right to love. Like your mom. Like your dad. Your mom loved your dad even though he knew from the start that he may never be hims. Because he knew he was loving the right man. And years later, he found happiness with him. They shared everything—pain, joy, all of it. No matter how much your mom's family opposed it, he never let go of him. So you, a child born from that kind of love, should never think loving someone is a mistake."
"Have you ever loved someone?"
Thirun's eyes froze. That was not a question he expected. Aki watched him closely, his eyes glued to his changing expression.
"If it's too hard, you don't have to—"
"No, it's okay, Aki. It's not something that can hurt me anymore. My first love... was a girl who had proposed to your dad back in university. Sadisna Gajasinghe. From that time on, she hated me. I don't know why, but not for a second could I stop looking into her eyes. But she only wanted your dad. She caused so much trouble for even your mother. In the end, they both died in an accident just a month before your parents' wedding."
"After that, I left for Thailand. My mental state was in shambles. It was your mom and Hirunya who took care of me. And then, my heart softened again—for your uncle Malith. His cute behavior, his words, his nature… Even though I knew he already belonged to someone else, I couldn't stop myself."
"That's why I said, when you love, make sure it's someone who truly matches your heart."
"Hmm..."
"I eventually accepted that I wouldn't get what I wanted. I let go. On that day, your mom gave me you two and said, 'If you can take care of one of them for life, then it's yours.' When your sister tiny hand held mine, I felt like I was alive again."
"Watching your sister stumble, fall, learn to talk, and grow little by little... it filled me with a pride I'd never known before. That I, of all people, became the father of such a beautiful girl. Someday you'll build your own nest and fly away. But I'll have the memories. And I'll know—I did something good with my life."
As Thirun finished, Aki sat up in bed. Thirun sat up with him.
"Is there really no room in your life anymore for anyone else, Akash?"
"A-Aki?"
"Answer me, Akash. Is there really no space in your heart left for anyone?!"
"I-I've already lived most of my life, it's too late for me—"
"I love you."
"A-Aki?"
"I love you, Akash. This Akish loves you like he's gone mad."
"A-Aki, I'm your dad's friend. I'm twenty-five years older than you."
"Your age doesn't matter to me, Akash. I love you, not your age."
"But don't ruin your life for someone like me. I don't feel the same—"
"Then why does your heartbeat say otherwise, Akash?"
He placed his hand on his chest. Thirun looked completely rattled.
"Aki, listen to me. What you feel for me isn't love—it's just an attraction. One day you'll understand that."
"And what about you, Akash? Is what you feel for me also just attraction? Hmm? You know more about me than know about my own siblings."
"I-I don't—"
"You don't? Well, that's okay. I still love you. This face, this body, this voice, this smile, your soul... I fell in love with it all, without a single reason."
For Thirun, it felt like the walls he'd carefully built around his heart were crumbling. How did he end up falling in love with his best friend's child? With someone as close as his own daughter?
Smack!
The silence in the room shattered with a sharp slap. Aki looked at him, startled. Then he saw it. Thirun's trembling hand, raised again. He caught it before he could strike again.
"Let go, Aki. How could I stoop so low? I—"
But Thirun couldn't finish his sentence, because Aki began to kiss him tightly.
As he struggled to breathe, she finally let him go.
"Cough... Cough..."
While Thirun coughed, Aki tried to touch his back comfortingly
Smack!
This time, the sound of a slap rang through the room again. But it was Aki who felt the sting.
"How dare you…"
Even though Thirun said it while shaking with rage, Aki remained quiet, letting him vent.
"Get out of my house. Now."
He shouted, while Aki simply stared at him in disbelief. He had never seen this side of Thirun before.
"I said GET OUT!!"
When Thirun shouted in anger, Aki stood up to leave—not wanting to further agitate him. He turned to go but suddenly spun back and gripped Thirun's collar tightly, pressing against him as he spoke.
"But if you keep hurting yourself again… No. I'll show you right then and there what happens when you mess with what's mine."
With that, Aki released his collar and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Flashback End
That morning, when Hiru arrived, I was still lying on the floor where I'd collapsed—Hiranya. Even the little one who asked me what happened, I yelled at her too. I shouted at my own child. That's why Hiru came here. It was only later that I realized what I had done. When I looked for Hiru, she wasn't at home, so I came here searching for her."
This was an absolute mess. That's how Hasith felt. Even though he looked at Hirunya, hoping for an answer, the deep pain on her face left him stunned and speechless.
After a moment's thought, Hirunya turned to Thirun.
"So do you love him?"
"Ruhi?"
"Let me handle this question today—my Daisy flower. You trust me, don't you?"
"Yes, Ruhi."
"Thirun, do you love my son?"
"God… I'm so sorry."
"Just answer what I asked."
"Y-Yes. But I don't want Aki to ruin his life because of me, Hirunya."
"All I wanted to know was whether it's a yes or a no."
Hirunya spoke firmly and looked toward their house, signaling Aki—who had been watching them ever since they arrived—to come over. Thirun, seeing who he was looking at, was shocked to realize Aki had been standing there all along.
Aki took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was about to come, especially after watching his father crying.
'SLAP!'
The second slap from Hirunya reddened Aki's cheek. Hasith grabbed Hirunya's hand—unable to tolerate her hitting their child.
Thirun stepped in front of Aki, shielding him from Hirunya.
"Hirunya, please. I'm the one at fault here. Don't hit Aki. He made a mistake out of confusion."
"Step aside, Thirun."
"No. If you want to hit someone, hit me. But please, don't lay a hand on Aki. It's my fault."
"Listen to my father and move, Akash."
Aki spoke while gently pushing Thirun aside.
"Appachchi, hit me as much as you want. But I won't stop loving Akash."
"Aki…!!"
Thirun shouted—unable to bear it anymore.
"Even if we separate you two, you still won't stop, will you?"
"Ruhi!!"
"Wait, darling. Akash, are you absolutely sure… that you will never regret this? Even if it means losing your family over it?"
Hasith squeezed Hirunya's hand tightly. Why was he acting this way?
"Please, Hirunya. I'll leave. Just don't treat Aki like that."
"Shut up, Akash. Love isn't something that vanishes overnight. No one can stop it. Even if Appachchi disowns me, I will never stop loving Akash. But please don't take his family away from him. You're all he has."
"And what about you? Do you have another family to go to then?"
When Hirunya asked that like a slap to the soul, Aki looked down.
"No. But I can handle it. Even if I'm cast out… I never truly left. But I can't give Akash any more pain."
As Aki spoke, Hirunya let out a heavy breath. Hasith and Thirun stood frozen, terrified of what Hirunya would decide next.
"Hmm… But son, since you're asking for him, you better take care of him . If I find out you ever hurt him… I'll take care of you myself."
When Hirunya said that, Aki quickly raised his head—wondering if he had really heard what he thought she did.
"Really, Appachchi?"
"Did you really think I'd keep lying to my mother while secretly spying on my love like you? All this drama was for this moment. Now keep him close."
As Hirunya said that, Aki rushed into his embrace. Hasith smiled and gently stroked Hirunya's hair. Thirun still stood there—frozen like stone.
"Thank you, Appachchi."
"If you're happy, that's all that matters—to me and Amma, son."
As Hirunya said this, Aki kissed both Hasith's and Hirunya's cheeks. A smile spread across everyone's face.
Then Hirunya looked at Thirun.
"Even your life deserves a second chance at a happy ending, my friend."
____________________________
And with that… it's over. There won't be another update to this book from today onwards.
This was my turning point. My Daisy flower. Thank you to all of you who stayed with me all these years. I have so much to say, but I don't want to put my joy into words. I want to hold it close and protect it. So thank you—each and every one of you—for being here with me all this time. It's because of you that I came this far.
So once again, I'm truly grateful to all of you…
Love you, my Daisies… 🌼
@AysuNoaki
The End