Part 14
Maan looked at Geet, who was uncharacteristically silent since the past half an hour that they have been driving. He knows that she's a bit nervous but her being silent like this was not acceptable to him.
She was waiting for him at the gate of her house and gave a big smile on seeing him. Haaye, his day was made.
"Get in."
"Where are we going?"
"Woo Geet; we are going to meet the Antara's adoption authorities. Actually, I need you to meet them.
She seemed confused so he elaborated. He had to obtain no objection certificate about continuation of adoption after his remarriage, since Antara was adopted by Maan and his first wife.
"It was part of the contract; we had to involve them in any major decisions that could affect her in long term."
He told her and she chewed her lips in nervousness.
"Also the procedure to change the name of Antara's mother in her adoption certificate will be initiated only after this."
So they were on their way. He kept his left hand on her hands that were busy rolling her dupatta between them and she looked up at him questioningly.
"You are very silent."
It was a statement, she couldn't refuse.
"I am scared, what if it doesn't go well...
"Geet."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"It's not an exam. Just a meeting."
He tried to assure her though he was unsure himself; it was a unique situation unheard of.
"I know but, it's important for you, for us and Antara. What if I make a mistake?"
"Anyone can make a mistake Geet, even me, humne koi PhD toh nahi kiya hai child rearing me. But what is important is that how you deal with it. How you correct it going forward. Nobody is perfect."
She nodded a bit and gave him a small smile, though he can read from her gestures that she was still not at ease. He'd already told her it was a routine procedure; still she was a nervous wreck.
Nothing calmed her; maybe she thought it to be some kind of a test to see if she can be a good mother to Antara. Frankly for him, their opinion didn't matter, it was either her or none, he'd seen both of them bond so well that his last doubts were also removed. And also Antara took the news well when he told her last night that Geet is going to be her mom.
"Antara, Antara..."
Maan called her as he moved towards her room with some new soft toys that he bought for her. he came early from office so that he can talk to her, already he'd kept postponing for half of the week as he was unsure how to broach the subject with the child.
Here Miss Antara was in dilemma.
"Papa is coming..."
She murmured to herself and looked around, she'd messed her dress with the chocolate that dadi gave her today. (Her dadi, not Maan's dadi)
She moved fast to hide somewhere to escape scolding from her dad.
"Antara where are you?"
Maan looked around only to find her coloring book and color pens scattered but his little princess was nowhere to be seen.
"Hmm so we are playing hide and seek..."
He spoke loudly so that she can listen and started to pretend to search her.
"Where is Antara? I think she is behind the curtain?"
"No, not here, then she will be in the bathroom."
He kept on with his pretense speaking loudly; she likes to play this game so much with him especially when he's not able to find her.
"Oh no, she's not there too, I think she's with dadi."
Antara giggled getting excited that papa is going and Maan heard her.
"Antara, you are here na, come out baby. Why are you hiding, did you do some mischief today?"
She bit her tongue and hit her head.
"Now papa knows I did naughty. What to do?"
"Antara"
"Papa"
"Come out baby"
"No"
"Why? What did you do?"
She knew she can't escape anymore so said slowly.
"Papa choci dress me gira."
Maan laughed thinking of his baby covered in chocolate. Now she's hiding because she knows he hates her eating too much chocolate.
"Achha come out, we will change, papa won't scold you promise."
She came out slowly from under the bed and Maan hit his head thinking why he not search her there. He picked her in his arms and took her to washroom and changed her dress. He made her brush too (as she ate too much chocolate cavities 😆).
"Papa I did brushing in morning.
"Yes, but do again.
"Why?
"Princess your teeth will go bad, you ate lot of chocolate na.
She nodded and Maan sighed thinking she got convinced soon, but he was mistaken.
"You also ate choci kya?
She asked him next.
"No baby. Why?
"Then why are you brushing?
He hit his head thinking how to explain her?
"Baby big people do brushing 2 times.
"Ohhh
Finally!!! He sat on bed and made her sit on his lap once they were done.
"Who gave you chocolate?
"Dadi"
He sighed, his mom had a very different way of showing love, and worst was he can't even say anything to her; she hardly has time to have a meaningful conversations. Not for long now though, he'll have Geet by his side, between them they will be able to pay more attention to her.
Anyways he has to concentrate on Antara now; he still didn't know how to start the conversation even after thinking for all these days.
Should he say he's getting married? But then how will he explain if she asks what is married? The concept of couple is alien in the house, only couple she's seen is annie and arjun but that too occasionally.
"What did you do all day?"
He asked her finally running out of options. And she immediately started to say about her day, how her teacher scolded a boy, then at lunch time she played with friends. Then she stopped.
"What happened baby?"
She got up and gave him her school book from her bag; he looked closely to find a note from teacher about parents meet at school. He signed the note. And thought he should pay more attention to her school work what if she forgets to show him, she's a child.
"I will come with you."
"Papa all kids come with their papa and mamma, and my friends laugh at me when I come only with papa. I want to go with my mamma."
He gulped hard trying to swallow the emotions that came up. He thought maybe this could be his opportunity to talk to her and tried to think furiously for some idea to explain her everything in a way that her young mind could easily accept.
"You know your mamma went to god."
She nodded yes. He's told her that when she asked about her mom for the first time after she started school; tara had already left them a year before that, he gave her a picture and explained her that time.
"When will mamma come back? I am good girl na, you said mamma will come back if I become good girl and drink milk. Maine toh roz milk piya aur... Aur badi dadi ko bhi tang nahi kiya..."
Maan was teary at her innocent questions. That was another tactless thing he'd told her once that she will have her mamma back if she's a good girl, not realizing the impact it would have in her delicate mind.
"Papa bolo na."
She shook him and he came out of his emotional trance. He smiled a bit at her and a thought hit him hard, yes it made sense.
"Yes, and you know papa does not lie to Antara.
She nodded yes.
"So one day papa went to god and you know what god told me?
She nodded no.
"God say's I am very happy with Antara, because she is a good girl, and I will give new mamma to Antara if you send her to temple."
"Sachhi papa??"
She was very excited now. Maan was convinced that it worked; it was easier because she's just 4 and believed whatever anyone said, and also easily forgets things.
"Bilkul."
"Toh kahan hai mamma, chalo na mamma ke pass jaate hai."
"Ruko ruko, aap mile ho mamma se."
"Hain?"
She was super confused now. He didn't want to pop up a name in front of her so he let her think, he was sure she remembers the day.
"Papa sent Antara to temple with dadi."
"Haan toh?"
"Toh who did you meet in temple."
"Waha pe toh dadi, Antara, ramesh uncle, aur, aur"
She stared to recollect. Maan waited for her.
"Haan aur tommy uncle aur jadu uncle (she named the bodyguards like that) bas."
"Bas? And who came to meet Antara in temple?"
"Geet"
She replied immediately reminded of their games and fun.
"Papa god made Geet as my new mamma?"
"Yes baby. Do you like new mamma?"
There was a big smile on her face now
"Bahoot"
She said spreading her hands wide.
"Chalo chalo mamma ko milne jaate hai."
"What?"
Maan looked at time and rubbed his head, though it was not too late in night, but it would be awkward. On the other hand he hated to kill Antara's excitement.
"Baby we can't go now."
"Kyun?"
She was almost teary now.
"Don't cry, come we will go out, eat ice cream and talk to Geet on video call."
Though not delighted, she smiled a bit.
"But I want biiig wala ice cream."
"promise"
It didn't bother him because he knew she won't eat much ice cream as she already ate a big chocolate.
By the time they returned from ice cream parlor she slept, he had a tough time convincing her to go to school promising her that mamma will come to pick her from school.
He stopped the car and turned to look at Geet, she looked deep in thoughts, he didn't want to say anything now lest it made her more nervous so decided to ask later.
"Geet. Chale? We have an appointment.
She nodded and they moved inside together.
"Just relax okay"
Precap: I'll give you a timeline.
1. 1. Meeting the authorities. (I don't know what will happen there, not started to type)
2. 2. Antara meeting her mamma.
3. 3. Little family outing and Maan has a surprise for Geet.
Imp. Note:
1. 1. Here on I'll be updating every weekend (except this as I already gave 3 parts in one week).
2. 2. So next part on 25/08/2018
3. 3. I am not sending any PMs so pls bookmark the thread and do not send me buddy request.
Edited by Sundari. - 7 years ago
Anupamaa
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