FAMILY TIME!
‘October 27th, Friday night 9PM’
“baby, please have some food, ma! Don’t be starved”, Priya was pleading Aaryana to feed her.
Aaryana was totally out and she terribly missed her. She wanted to know, where her father was. Of course, she is a kid but she could make it up without Harish. She was continuously crying and she missed him terribly. She refused to have food. Priyanka tried her level best and she was tensed at a point of time. She left her on the bed and she sat on a chair nearby.
By the time Akhil reached there. He came home with lots of chocolates, dolls and stuff but anything did not change Aaryana. She did not concern it. As soon as he entered, Priyanka tried to apologize but he did not stop. He went staright into the room. He saw Aaryana cried loud “daddy!...”
“did she have her dinner?”, he asked Priyanka.
“no…”
“why can’t you feed her? Should I teach you everything?”
“she is adamant and I can’t handle her!”, she sobbed.
Akhil could understand her that all these days she had been longing to have kids. Once her husband had gone, she had lost all her desires and now Aaryana had hurt her more. Akhil thought of consoling her but he did not.
“give me the food!”, he got it and went near Aaryana!
“baby, please have some food! If you starve, then you’ll have stomach ache…”
“daddy…”, she continued.
“oh, daddy! Where did he go?”
“daddy…”
“ok, if you stop crying, I’ll call him.”
She stopped at that instant. Akhil took priyanka’s mobile phone and called his own number. He gave the phone to Aaryana and he went out. As he had saved his number as Harish, it showed up the same…
“speak up if daddy attends…”, Priya said with hope.
“hello…baby!”, Akhil spoke attending from outside.
“daddy…daddy!...”, she exclaimed.
“…”
“why isn’t he speaking up?”, Priya thought.
“hello…”, he replied.
“daddy, where are you? Am here with this aunty in her home. Come and take me with you, daddy!”
“Aarya…I have come here for a work, da! I’ll return in few days. Until then, both of them will take care of you. Don’t irritate them, baby! Try to do whatever they say. Daddy will come soon!”
“daddy…am missing you!”
“am missing you badly, Aarya! See I have given some chocolates and dolls for you to that uncle. Get it and play with it. I will come soon buying some more candies…ok?”
“okay, daddy!”
“ok, ma! Shall I hang up?”
“daddy…”
“…”
“I love you daddy…”
“…love you too, ma!”
Akhil entered wiping his tears into the room. Priya smiled at him looking all his efforts to make her happy. She felt bad about whatever she did before.
“so…what did your daddy say? Han?”, Akhil started.
“will you take me to him?”, she asked.
“sure!”, he smiled.
“am hungry…”, she laughed.
“yeah, coming coming!”, he lifted her gently and placed over the table.
“are you my father’s friend?”
“han…”
She hugged him tight and said, “sorry...”. he kissed her on her forehead and took all those dolls and gave her.
“ha…nice one! This is you…”, she laughed pointing at a Teddybear.
“you should never leave, me”, he smiled.
“promise!”, she kissed the doll.
Akhil started feeding her and Priyanka was looking all of it silently. She wanted to make things right and she waited. She started admiring him again and she was constantly looking at him.
“uncle, she is looking at you for a long time. I think she likes you!”, Aaryana said.
“I know, ma! I love her but she never gets me! She hates me!”, he replied to both!
“hckk…hckk…”, Aaryana started.
“water…”, she asked....