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Hey peeps,🤗
I am back! I know it's too fast! I finished my TS a couple of days ago, but couldn't resist writing this. 😆This is a sequel to my previous TS, Safe & Sound. 😳
This is dedicated to all the wonderful fathers in the whole wide world! ❤️
I loved her first
He was a warrior in the battle of life. He was a veteran. He was heavily experienced in battle. Despite all the hardships, he is already a winner in the battle of life. He served 30 years for his nation, & still ready to extend his helping hands under any circumstance. He retired from his service as an Air force lieutenant an year back, but he still had the physical strength like a young soldier. He was young at heart. He still has the potential within.
He went near the mirror & looked at himself. He hasn't changed much, except a little bit of grey hair & a few marks on his face. He removed his spectacles which helped him to clear his vision. He hates to use them. He didn't have any major visionary problems but with the process of aging he had to use them in particular times, specially when reading. His wife had to force him to buy a pair of spectacles a couple of years back. He remember how he argued with her how old he looks like with spectacles.He imagined himself on the mirror with his official air force uniform which made him proud every time. A radiant smile crept on with his face, blended with pride.
After a few minutes he felt somebody hugging him from back. He touched the soft hands which were around him. He knew who it was. He gently caressed the soft hands & placed a gentle kiss.
'Good morning hero!' It was none other than his little girl Sneha. She was all grown up now. She just turned 25 years two weeks back. He couldn't believe how the time flies. His baby girl whom he held first is going away from him tomorrow to start a new life. Yes, Sneha is about to start her marital life tomorrow.
Sneha has grown up to a young beautiful woman. Just like her mom from her outer appearance with a milky white face, hazel brown eyes & neatly shaped led lips. She has inherited two cute dimples from her dad. But inwardly, she was a complete replica of her dad. She almost had his qualities of being brave, courageous, loving & caring. She was the peacemaker at home. She was brought up under the protection of her elder brothers & immense love & care of her parents.
Her childhood was spent mostly without her dad as he was busy carrying out military operations. But her mom Geet, didn't let her feel his absence. Her dad used to send voice messages for her with bed time stories & lullabies which her mom played every night. She went to bed, listening to them, her father's voice. At certain times she felt his absence so much but with the time she realized that her dad was a great warrior & she was so proud of him. She knew that he loved her the most.
'Good morning sweetheart' Maan greeted his daughter.
'Daddy didn't you notice? I came here a while back.' Sneha chuckled.
'Umm.. no darling.' Maan smiled.
'Here you go! your tea.'
'Thank you!' He took a sip of his morning tea. He knew the taste of it. No one can ever than his wife can satisfy his taste buds. His wife has prepared tea for him, blended with love.
'Sneha, you are up early!' Maan chuckled. He was a bit surprised to see his daughter carrying the tray of his breakfast & tea where it was daily done by his loving wife Geet.
'I had to!' She made a face. Maan smiled at her. He knows how lazy her little girl is, to wake up early morning. His wife chides her little girl every day for that bad habit. It wasn't because Sneha was lethargic, she spends most of her nights engaging on her work. Sneha chose her academic path to do Architecture & become a world renowned architect. Obviously she had inherited those creative & innovative ideas of her mom who is a former interior designer.
Architecture wasn't easy, she remember how much she used to complaint about it because she was almost drowned in a ocean of work. But her dad was her pill of strength. He always encouraged her to be determined because no field was easy. You cannot gain without pain.
'Hmm! so are you ready?' Maan winked.
'Ready for what daddy?'
'Don't act like you don't know baby!' Maan patted her back. 'I am talking about tomorrow.'
It made her face dull. 'Why baby?' Maan was confused.
'Daddy! to be honest I've been waiting for this day. I've been dreaming about my marriage with Rohan for years. But when the days are coming nearer I felt pretty nervous. I don't know why, suddenly I have got this feeling like I am going away from my family forever.'
Sneha buried her head on her father's chest. Maan understood his little girl's situation. Even he himself was suffering inwardly with the fact that his little girl is going away from him to start a new life. He tried to be strong & conceal his sorrows. He wrapped his arms protectively around his daughter.
He heard that his daughter was weeping. He didn't want her to cry. He cupped her face. She was trying to hide her face. Her eyes were moisturized with tears. He signaled her that not to cry.
'Baby, tomorrow you are going to start a new life. But never think that the bond between you & me, your mom & your brothers will end. ' ' It is just another phase in your life. Life must go on!' 'I am sure Rohan will look after you & protect you.' He caressed his daughter's hair.
Rohan was Sneha's fiance. They've been in love with each other since they were in high school. First Geet & Maan were cautious about their daughter's affair, but eventually they realized that Rohan was the ideal life partner for their little girl. Rohan was doing the same. They were in the same batch of the Architecture faculty. He was a good friend her from the beginning. Since they are in the same field, both of them had a good understanding about each other. Their views & likes matched perfectly. There wasn't a reason to hesitate, Maan & Geet accepted Rohan. He guaranteed that he will keep Sneha happy throughout her life time. Rohan was the only son of a business tycoon in Mumbai. Rohan's parents Mr. & Mrs. Tejwani too treated Sneha as their own daughter as they didn't have any daughters in real life.
'I love you daddy!' Sneha hugged him tightly.
'I love you too!' Maan placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
They were unaware that someone was watching at them behind. It was none other than her, Sneha's mom & Maan's loving wife, Geet. Her eyes moisturized with tears looking at the daddy-daughter duo. She clearly knew how her husband was feeling. No matter how strong he is trying to be in front of his daughter, Geet knew that Maan was deeply sad inside.
Maan noticed his wife, staring at them. He signaled her to come forward. Geet came forward towards them. She started caressing her daughter's hair.
'Mommy?' Sneha looked at her with teary eyes. Geet wiped her tears.
Sneha loved her mom so much. She was there for all the time, playing the roles of both father and mom. Sneha learned from her mom that being a wife of a warrior is not easy. She had seen the times when her mom was in tears, they were for their dad. There were times that her father wasn't home for months, but her mom managed everything taking care of her & her brothers.
Her elder brothers Arjun & Arnav were protective brothers. No matter how much they pulled her legs, played pranks on her, fought with her above all they loved her so much, it was no less than the love of her parents. Arjun followed his father's foot steps & became a pilot. Arnav excelled in mathematics & became an engineer. Both of them got married 2 years back & settled down in their personal lives. Maan & Geet were proud of their children.
' Sneha. You know, both daddy & I hate when you cry.' Geet consoled her daughter.
'Mommy is right baby!' Maan added.
' Sneha, don't worry. Everything is going to be fine.' Geet assured.
'How would everything will be fine when I go away from you?' Sneha questioned.
Geet & Maan looked at each other. Both of them understood the pain but there were no any option than letting their baby girl go. Daughters are not meant to be with their parents everyday. At a certain point of life, she has to leave her family to start a new one. It is a universal truth. But that can never change the bond between her family and her. Specially, a daughter is always a princess for her father no matter how she is grown up.
'Umm.. Sneha. Get ready to the saloon. Remember? the appointment is at 9. Then you have to go to the dressmaker to fit on.' Geet tried to change the topic reminding of the work she has to get done.
'Hurry up & come okay!' ' I have to check out everything. There cannot be a single error at the last moment.' Geet was worried about the big day happening tomorrow. They had already done 2 weddings previously of their sons, but this was so special, because it was their only daughter's wedding. Maan wanted it to be a grand affair. It is going to be a remarkable wedding in the Khurana mansion.
In the next few hours, Sneha was out of the house busy with the preparations. She had to visit her beautician & dress maker. Geet was running around the house inspecting the preparations happening around. The house was beautifully decorated according to her ideas. Meanwhile Maan was up to something. He was planning to surprise her daughter with a gift that she would never forget in her entire life time.
In the lunch time, Sneha was hesitant to eat. She kept staring at her plate. Sadness was clearly visible in her face. Maan & Geet noticed it. Sneha was sad that it is going to be the last lunch she is talking at home. Maan signaled Geet to serve her. Geet nodded with agreement. Geet served food on her plate & slowly started feeding her. She knew that her little girl was expecting her mom to feed her. Maan was staring at them with a smile.
'Sneha, I still remember how your mom used to run behind you all over the house trying to feed you. And you, always comes to me to get rid of them because you know I am always there to save you.' Maan chuckled.
'No mom would have run around the house to feed her children like me!' Madhu spoke recalling the memories how she used to handle her mischievous little munchkins back then.
'Haha! I remember mommy. I know me and my brothers gave you a hard time back then.' Sneha smiled.
'Thank god you smiled!' Maan chuckled.
'Daddy, mommy! I can't describe in words how I am gonna miss you' Sneha became emotional.
'Same here baby! but we don't like to send our daughter off with tears.' 'Remember I have told you that we should find a reason to smile even in the deepest sorrow? If for not that, I wouldn't have survived my life as an Air force lieutenant.' Maan pacified her daughter. Then he too fed her. Sneha was pleased to be fed by both of her parents. It was quite an emotional moment.
Later at the evening Maan accompanied her daughter to the entertainment room in their house. He blindfolded her daughter with his hands.
'Daddy? what are you gonna do? where are we going?' Sneha was curious.
'Just give me a second baby. Okay there you are.' He took off his hands. Sneha blinked twice to adjust her vision to the light. She was blown away by the very next site. The whole room was decorated with her photographs, right from the moment she was born to the last birthday she celebrated two weeks back. Memories of 25 years. There were photographs of her every birthday & a lot of family moments too. She was completely numb. She couldn't utter a single word. The room was filled with her favourite things, toys she used to play & also her beautiful drawings. She didn't have an idea that her parents had kept them safely throughout the years.
'Daddy!' She hugged her father tightly. A silence crept between them. It was deep. Nothing can be compared to the emotional bond between fathers & daughters. Fathers are always different, they doesn't show their emotions all the time like mothers, but deep down they do care for their daughters, sometimes a bit more than mothers. That's why it is called that a dad is a daughter's first love.
Maan made his daughter sit on a couch near by. 'Let us relive some moments of your journey of 25 years.' He whispered to her. Sneha was excited. Maan switched on the projector & settled himself near his daughter.
The song 'Butterfly kisses' by Bob Carlisle started playing in the background.
There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes
and I thank god for all of the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all...
She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes
and I thank god for all of the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all...
It was a video movie. It had beautiful memories, where it had pics of when Sneha was inside her mom. There was a picture where her siblings were resting their heads on their mom's belly talking to their unborn sister. Then a video clip of Maan talking to his unborn baby, leaned towards his wife's belly. It made Sneha smile.
The first pic of Sneha as a baby, with her father. She was wrapped in his protective arms. Then a picture with the whole family. Then the photographs of her 1st birthday. Beautiful memories full of happiness. There were lots of photographs & video clips tethered together.
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
sticking little white flowers all up in her hair;
"Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every morning And butterfly kisses at night.
sticking little white flowers all up in her hair;
"Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every morning And butterfly kisses at night.
Those lines playing in the background took her to the past how she used to stay eagerly till her dad returns home after a long session of military operations. How he used to put her to sleep. How she used to listen to his lullabies & stories he sent to her as voice clips while he was away. The times they spent which each other when he was back home.
Among those video clips there was one which stole her heart. It was how Maan surprised her once on her 6th birthday. Maan was away from home for 6 months. He somehow wanted to reach his daughter on her birthday. He decided to surprise her baby girl. It was an amazing surprise, which he himself hid inside a big cardboard box & wrapped it. It was delivered to their door step with the help of his colleagues. Geet already knew about his plan & she silently captured the unforgettable moment.
At first, Sneha thought that it was a large play house inside the box which was sent by her dad because he is unable to come home for her birthday. She almost tore the wrapper with excitement & opened it. And voila! it was none other than her hero popped out! It was her daddy! The little Sneha clapped & danced with joy & jumped in her father's arms. The video clip ended both of them hugging each other.
Sneha had tears watching all those memories secured with her father for the past few years. And then it showed where the whole family went on a vacation to Switzerland. How the kids had fun with their father in the snow.
Sweet 16 today
She's looking like her mama a little more everyday
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world.
But I remember
She's looking like her mama a little more everyday
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world.
But I remember
Then the video played the photographs & video clips of her teenage. Both the father & the daughter were taken to lanes of memories with each & every photograph. There were special memories which they could cherish a life time.
Sneha was in tears. She looked at her father. He had tears too. She has never felt so much proud of him. She knew that she meant the world to him.
'I love you daddy!' 'I love you so much'
'I love you too, sweetheart.'
'Thanks for always being there for me!' She hugged him tightly. After a few minutes she heard two familiar voices.
'Surprise!!!' It was none other than her elder brothers, Arjun & Arnav. Both of them hugged their sister tightly. Geet too came along & joined them. The family spend a quality time together. All of them relived the past memories. They had dinner together as a family & at night they shared their awesome childhood memories. Sneha demanded their brothers to play with her one last time like they used to do when they were small.
Finally the much awaited day dawned. Sneha was dressed up to be a beautiful bride. Her father was mesmerized with her beauty. He saw Geet within her daughter. He couldn't believe that his little girl has grown up to be a pretty bride. Geet too got emotional after seeing her daughter. They blessed their daughter.
The marriage rituals took part & Sneha tied the knot with Rohan. The wedding was a grand affair. At the wedding reception, the couple danced for music. Maan & Geet were looking at the new couple recalling their wedding almost three decades back.
'Wanna dance sweet heart?' He winked.
'Shut up Maan!' Geet pushed him away blushing. No matter how they have grown old, he acted like he was still a young guy in twenties. After a few dance moves the most awaited item came along. The dance of the bride and the father.
Sneha accompanied her father to the dance floor. She placed one arm on his shoulder and another held his hand from the other. A beautiful song was played in the back ground. It was 'I loved her first' by Heartland which perfectly suited to this moment.
(Click on the video & follow the lyrics while reading😳)
[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fV6fmBerRg[/YOUTUBE]
Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each others face
So much in love your alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way
Lost in the moment and each others face
So much in love your alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way
But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first
How could that beautiful women with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time
But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But its still hard to give her away
I loved her first
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first...
Both Sneha & Maan got emotional while dancing. Sneha cried burring her face on her father's chest. Maan tried his best to conceal his sorrow. But he couldn't control his tears. He placed a soft kiss on her daughter's forehead. Sneha hugged him tightly. Their dance made the spectators emotional too. Geet too couldn't stop her eyes running out of tears. The twins pacified her. Rohan was looking at his wife & father in law, he knew that he can never replace her father but he knew that he could keep her happy for the rest of the life time with the blessings of his father in law.
The departure was painful. Sneha kept crying hugging her parents & siblings. Maan & Geet blessed newly married couple. Sneha & Rohan leaned down near the photograph of her deceased grandparents & sought their blessings. She knew that they would be the happiest of all if they were alive today. Rohan's parents assured Maan & Geet that they will look after their daughter well. The siblings got quite emotional when Sneha sought blessings from her elder brothers. Both of them patted her back & consoled her.
The couple stepped out to leave but Sneha ran back to her dad. She hugged him tightly. Maan caressed her hair.
'Everything is going to be fine baby!' He whispered her. He cupped her face & wiped her tears. 'Don't cry okay? I know you have brave enough to face the battle of life.'
'Yes daddy, as long as you are by my side, I fear nothing.' She smiled amidst tears.
When Sneha departed, leaving his hand Maan felt that a part of him was taken away. Sneha was his life. She was his little girl no matter how much she has grown up & she will always remain a daddy's girl. His wife Geet, was there to console him. He knew how hard it was for his wife too. The entire house had a pin drop silence after the occasion. They really missed their daughter's laughter which used to brighten up the whole house.
Later at night when he came to his room, he saw something on the table near by. There was a box & a bouquet of flowers. He unwrapped it. It was a large photo frame, a photo collage consisting 25 photographs of Sneha & him taken each year upto 25 years since her birth. There was a note inside it. He opened it.
'Dear daddy,
I know you haven't realized that it is father's day today. I know nobody would remember it because everyone was busy with my wedding. But you know your little girl will never miss such a special day. Words are not enough to express the gratitude I have for you for all the things you have done for me throughout the years. If there was a day to celebrate everything you have done to me, everyday should be a father's day daddy!
I found my prince but you will always be my king, daddy! I love you.
From your little girl,
Sneha.
Sneha was right. She has been treated as a princess since her birth. No matter how time changes & life goes on, she will always be her fathers's little princess & Maan will always remain her king & her first love.
The end!
Hope you liked the OS. Wrote it specially for the father's day. Because every daughter is close to her father. I, myself is a daddy's girl, & I know most of you are too. Drop a comment on my story & let me know how you felt while reading it.
Thanks a lot!
-Rochelle-
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
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