Chapter 23
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Three years after the Ball:
"Na jaane kyun, hota hai yeh zindagi ke saath
Achaanak yeh mann, kisike jaane ke baad
Kare phir uski yaad chhoti chhoti si baat
Na jaane kyun…" she hummed the song to herself, having heard it from a TV show with the oldies golden songs.
"Jo anjaan pal, dhal gaye kal, aaj woh
Rang badal badal, mann ko machal machal
Rahen hai chal, na aane kyun woh anjaan pal…" a manly voice joined hers. "Saje bhi na mere, naino mein
Toote re hai re sapno ke mahal
Na jaane kyun…" he hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, a position they were both so familiar with. He could smell the faint aroma of jasmine just like the first time they had been like this. Rajveer removed locks of nearly dried hair from her shoulder and neck, planting soft kisses, but Naina stopped him.
"You shouldn't behave like this in the presence of children Raj!" she scolded him, turning around to face him, still in his embrace.
"Don't tell me you consider yourself a child after…" he looked at her suggestively, and she blushed.
"Raj! No of course not! But… children are… the result of that…" she hinted. He looked at her for a moment, trying to decide whether she was telling him what he thought she was telling him. She took his hand and dragged it from her back to her stomach, and rested it there. "Say hello to our new family member!" He looked back and forth her and her stomach in awe. Kneeling down, he removed her sari and placed a soft kiss. Their happiness had only begun.
~*~*~
Eight years after the Ball:
"Hi…" he whispered softly, holding her waist and nuzzling his face in her shoulder. She ran her hand through his hair, enjoying the warmth from his body being so close to hers. He kissed on her neck, sending shivers down her spine, and then her shoulder, removing a part of the blouse-
"Ho Teri Mastaani Anjaani Bataon Ko Mera Salaam
Rangon Mein Doobi Doobi Raaton Ko Mera Slaaam
Khwaabon Mein Kho Gayi Main Deewani Ho Gayi Main
Soney Soney Aisse Soney Har Adaa Ko Salaam
Salaam-e-ishq Ishq Ishq Salaam-e-ishq…" the loud sound coming from the TV broke them apart.
"Sapna!" They both called out. A young girl of around five or six years old came running from the living room. When she saw her father holding her mother, she giggled.
"Baba what are you doing! That'sh a bad thing to do! Only people in moviesh, like my hero Shalman Khan can do those thingsh!" she said, her speech defect clearer than when she was younger. When Naina was pregnant with her, she was on a mission that wasn't supposed to be dangerous but ended up being attacked by terrorists, and getting hurt caused their child to have a speech defect.
Both of them had made time for her to take her to the speech counselors, doctors etc. and to make sure she had a wonderful life she would never regret. Both parents being in the army got tough at times, but her grandparents, who loved her very much, were more than happy to take her in for one or two days a week.
Thankfully, her Pooja Mausi, Ali Chacha, Sohan Bhaiya and Fareeha stayed near her Nanu's place, so there were no reasons to complain. Being at home wasn't boring either; Aalekh Mamu and Neelu Mami stayed across the street from them with their children, Dhruv Bhaiya and Rani Di. The most fun she had was when everyone was together, including Yudi Uncle, Orni and their daughter Disha, and of course, Amar Uncle, who called himself 'Huda the Jatt', and his newlywed wife, Sai Aunty.
Sometimes Dr. Shalini, Chauhan Saab and Mrs. Virani Chauhan (Sapna had picked up the titles from her father, and wouldn't use anything else to call them) would sometimes come over with Shalini's adopted son, Gaurav, who was an adorable baby Sapna loved to play with. All in all, it was the large happiest family for her.
"Your hero is Shalman Khan?" Rajveer imitated her in a fake hurt and upset voice. Sapna's eyes widened; she ran over to her father and hugged his legs.
"No Baba! You and Ma are! Anyone can have mushcles, but no one can be a real hero in real life like you and Ma!" she said, grinning up at her parents. They both bent down, both pulling one cheek and placing pecks on them. Sapna giggled, hugging them both with her small arms.
"Now, what's the surprise you wanted to give us?" Naina asked, carrying her daughter to the bed. Sapna jumped up and smacked her forehead.
"My ShIM card ish getting too full… how could I forget it?!" she said to herself and ran to her play-room, leaving her parents exchanging horrified yet amused glances. She really liked her Pooja Mausi! After a while, when she still didn't come back, Naina started getting up, worried, but Rajveer pulled her back. He remembered how annoyed he'd get when Gehlot came to find him before he was done with the surprise in his childhood. Resting his head on his wife's lap, he prayed to God that his child wouldn't have to bear what her parents did. Naina sensed the tension from her husband and ran her hand through his hair, calming him down.
"Tada!" Sapna said, standing at the door. She was wearing a military outfit, complete with the cap tilted sideways. She had a huge smile on her face as she saluted her parents.
"Wrong hand honey." Rajveer corrected her, feeling extremely happy and proud of the little girl who was growing up in front of him. He was surprised when Sapna shook her head.
"No Baba! This is my shalute!" she explained with a serious face. Marching over to her parents, she stood in the 'attention' position. "Cadet Shapna Shingh Shekhawat reporting Shir!" she imitated what she heard her father's students say whenever she went over to his workplace; Kanchanjunga Military Academy. "And Ma'am!" she added, not wanting to leave her mother out.
"Well Cadet Singh," Rajveer started, winking at his daughter, "I must say you're looking very pretty in this outfit!" Naina blushed remembering her days as a cadet. Sapna had heard all the stories from Pooja Mausi, Yudi Uncle, Aalekh Mamu and some from Orni, and giggled, knowing her father was flirting with her Ma.
"Baba! You can't shay that to your cadet! You have to give me an order!" she explained. This time Rajveer blushed, remembering himself at a loss of words when he saw Naina in a red sari when she was still a cadet. He cleared his throat, ignoring his wife and daughter giggling at his reaction.
"OK Cadet Sapna Singh, I've been easy on you till now, but no more!" he said in a booming voice, almost like Brigadier Chandokh's. Sapna's eyes widened and she ran to hide behind her mother.
"If you want to be a soldier, you can't hide from the world; you have to face it bravely. And you should try to do what?" Naina asked, coaxing her daughter to come out. Rajveer saw Sapna peeking out, up at her mother.
"I should alwaysh try to bring the besht out of people as well as myshelf." She proudly said, coming out to face her father. "Baba, I know you won't be harsh to me, because if you are, Ma and I'll tickle you till you beg for mercy!" she yelled, running away as her Baba chased her around Naina. "Maa!" she shrieked. Naina caught both of them by the arm, sitting Sapna down on her lap.
"Say your full name honey." Naina asked. Sapna looked confused, but realization hit Rajveer. He looked at his daughter.
"Sh – Sapna S - Singh Shekhawat!" she said, suddenly realizing what had happened. "I did it! Ma Baba I'm normal now! I can say sh - s, I can talk properly now!" she joyfully danced around the room, saying as many words with 's' as she could remember. Naina looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes. "Why are you crying Ma? I'm normal now!"
"Oh honey, you were always special to us, and you still are, understood? We loved you before and we love you now, so don't ever think you weren't 'normal' or anything like that, OK?" she explained to her daughter, hugging her tightly. Rajveer placed a kiss on the back of Sapna's head.
"OK, since our Sapna is extremely happy today, we should celebrate." He told her.
"Yay! Let's call-" she named off every single person she knew, trying to keep count with her fingers. Rajveer and Naina looked at each other, knowing the future they had imagined eight years back was much more bright and joyous. They sat down beside their daughter, helping her decide who else to invite to share their joy with.
The End? Of my writing, yes, but their lives continue with their daughter, Sapna, making their happiest dreams come true.
Loads of Love,
RJ
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