FF-Darkness [Andhera] Page 86 IMP NOTE - Page 47

Khushi ran through the roads trying to dodge the rickshaws and auto's blocking her way. She clutched her suit and fixed her dupatta through her neck again. The hair sticking on her face and her plait messily switching from left to right as she ran.

"Sorry Bhaiya" she yelled as she accidently knocked the vegetable stand as she ran into the school and sat on a chair immediately. She was greeted by her Babuji who just shook his head and laughed.

"Late again Khushi Bitiya?"

"Babuji, I didn't mean to. There was a problem with the Matai" Khushi pouted and took a box of fresh Jalebi's out of her pouch. She grinned as she looked up on stage.

"Babuji, Pari?"

"Hello and welcome to the 8^th annual Junior Talent show of Lucknow 6^th highest standard school" The old lady with glasses smiled as she introduced the children who smiled and waved at their parents.

"MAA" Pari Khushi Kumari Gupta smiled and screamed out making Khushi giggle as she watched her angel. She waved and blew a kiss at her child who grinned and blew a kiss back.

"Jeena Agarwal."

Jeena came forward and smiled. She put her hand on the bowl and took a sachet out. "Flowers"

Jeena stepped forward and smiled.

"Your time starts NOW" Principle Geeta squealed with joy.

"Flowers come in lots of different colours, there's red and yellow and blue and green and white and much more. Flowers are everywhere in the world and their lovely.. Umm. Umm. And yes, when you smell roses, they're really pretty!" Jeena exclaimed and bowed her head down as the crowd began to clap.

"That was lovely Jeena, Next is Pari Khushi Kumari Gupta"

Khushi smiled brightly as she watched her child. She looked proudly at her Babuji who patted her head.

Pari smiled and opened her sachet, as she read the word on the sachet; she gulped and blinked her eyes as she tried to blink away the tears.

Once again, Principle Geeta squealed with joy. "Your time starts NOW"

The tears now fell from Pari's cheeks as she looked at the audience and stared at Khushi sadly.

"Papa" she whispered.

Khushi stared at Pari, her mouth wide as she began to weep. Khushi bit her lip slightly and stayed sitting for a few minutes. The crowd began to whisper and Khushi got up from her seat. Shashi staring at her as she slowly walked on the stage.

"Papa is that person who makes sure everyone is happy, He makes sure little girls like Pari always get what they want" Khushi said as she cutely pinched Pari's small nose who giggled lightly.

"Papa is that person who is the most closest with the daughter and always cradles her in his arms"

"Papa is that person who supports you forever, who watches you as you grow, who's not with us right now" Khushi whispered inaudibly.

Khushi engulfed her daughter in a bear hug and cried lightly. The crowd behind them began to clap and cheer.

"No mama, no more tears" Pari smiled as she wiped the tears of Khushi's face. "I don't have a Papa but I have the world greatest Mama" Khushi smiled and kissed Pari and than lightly banged each other's forehead together laughing.

***

"Babuji, you know I don't want to speak about this."

"Khushi Bitiya, We have this conversation every day now, not everyone can go through life alone."

"Babuji I can't. I won't" she whispered as she stood near the window, the wind blowing on her hair.

"Khushi Bitiya, Think about Pari, She needs a father."

"Babuji she has you! And me, were both enough."

"Khushi bitiya. Get married"

There was a lengthy pause, an uncomfortable silence.

Khushi closed her eyes. "I can't"

"Then go back to him Khushi because we both know you still love him"

Shashi left the room and Khushi slumped down onto the floor. She didn't know what to do; she didn't know how to tell her Babuji that she had enough. She didn't know what to do about her marriage, if you could call it that. It had been 8 years since she separated from him. Did he even remember her? Did he still love her?

***

He sat in the office and hit the key boards in frustration. He sighed and leaned on the office chair, the big black chair.

"Sir, your wife's here with some food, shall I send her in?"

"Go on" he retorted.

"Akash, Here, Have food. I know you haven't eaten since morning."

Akash looked up at Payal and lightly smiled, Payal sighed and walked towards Akash, she rubbed his forehead and kissed it lightly.

"Akash, any luck in finding him?"

"No Payal, Still no sign of him."

"What about Khushi?"

"Neither sign of any of them, we don't know if their together, If their okay, If their alive" Akash put his hand on his head in frustration.

"Don't worry Akash, we'll find them"

"I hope Payal, It's been 8 years."

END OF CHAPTER 9.

p.s YES! Kuch Kuch hota Hai has inspired me! 😉

CHAPTER 10

"Pari Bitiya, Can I ask you something?"

"Nanoo, of course you can ask me anything"

"Bitiya, do you want a papa?"

Pari looked up and furrowed her eye brows in thought; she bit on the jalebi as she remained seated and looked up at Babuji.

"No Nanoo. I have Maa with me; she's my Maa and Papa" Shashi smiled proudly at his grand-daughter. "And I have you too" Pari laughed as Shashi kissed her in the forehead and engulfed her into a hug.

"Arreh maa, you've come!"

Shashi's smile faltered as he watched an enraged Khushi slowly come forward.

Khushi looked lovingly at Pari and kissed her on the forehead before hugging her. "Pari, Go inside and play with your dolls"

Pari looked down and pouted before exiting the room. Khushi made sure Pari was out of sight before she looked at Shashi questioningly.

"Babuji. How could you?"

Shashi got out of his seat and gulped.

"Khushi bitiya, it's time to get out of the past and move forward in life."

"Babuji enough. We've spoken about this, Pari doesn't need a father!"

"Yes she does Bitiya, Yes she does! Didn't you see the pain that flashed in her eyes when I asked her if she wanted a father? Didn't you see how she didn't want to hurt you? Khushi bitiya, I know what Arnav, what everyone did to you was wrong but it's been 8 years."

"It's been 8 years yet no one called me, … no one tried to find out where I was Babuji." Khushi closed her eyes as the tears fell off her cheeks. She clutched her kurta and weeped.

"Yes they did Bitiya",: There was a pause. "Yes they did."

***

Khushi sat slouched on the floor in her room and cried as she tried to process all the information she received. So they did try and find her. So they did try to contact her but it was Babuji who never told her anything because he didn't want her to get hurt. So they did miss her? They did call?..

***

"Chanda chamke cham cham cheeknay chokna chor.

Cheeti Chatay cheeni chatori cheeni khor,

Chanda chamke cham cham cheeknay chokna chor.

Cheeti Chatay cheeni chatori cheeni khor"

Khushi ran up to Pari and danced, Flinging her arms up here and there, smiling and winking at Pari, doing her Jumka's!

Pari pouted at Khushi and folded her arms. Khushi grinned and kneeled down next to her, she nudged her shoulders.

"Kitna mushkil yeh gana

zara gaake dikhana"

Pari smiled and started running around Khushi as she danced merrily,

"Chanda chamke cham cham cheeknay chokna chor.

Cheeti Chatay cheeni chatori cheeni khor,

Chanda chamke cham cham cheeknay chokna chor.

Cheeti Chatay cheeni chatori cheeni khor"

"Maa, I love you!" Pari grinned as she hugged Khushi, Khushi smiled some more and kissed her.

"Pari, I've got a surprise for you!"

"But it's not my birthday maa, or Diwali? So a surprise? JALEBI!?" Pari grinned, licking her lips.

"Pari, I'm going to introduce you to that person who you've never seen, but that person is a very important person in your life."

"Huh?" Pari furrowed her eyebrows in thought.

Khushi looked at her daughter and smiled lightly before once again engulfing her in a massive hug.

"I love you so much Pari"

"I love you too maa"

And they stayed like that outside in the garden for minutes before playing again, throwing snow on each other and being the reason for each other's happiness. A reason to live and smile for one, A reason to live and love life for another <3

They lived and laughed in the moment for they were unaware of what was to come.

Thanks for all the support and patience everyone, I have another FF and it's completed. Do have a read for my new readers :)

Tragedy Ahead