"Why don't u listen to me? I had told you not to sit outside.. Come inside and let me shut the windows.. You will catch cold", I said while wrapping the shawl around her.
"No please .. its not too cold.. Come and sit with me".
I looked at the beautiful wrinkled face of my wife.. She seemed to be weak but the broad smile on her face made her look gorgeous.. I took a seat next to her on the swing in our balcony. She rested her head on my shoulder and said, "I am feeling much better now.. U don't worry".
She had recently recovered from viral fever. I did not want her to fall ill again but she was not ready to listen to me. She had been sitting there in the balcony for the last 4 hours, busy knitting a red sweater..
I looked at the bundle of wool in her hands.. "Its too small.. Do u think it's the perfect size?"
"So what shall I do? Give him ur sized sweater to wear? This is perfect for a three years old child.. Do u think he will like it?", She showed me the half knitted beautiful soft sweater..
"Yes he will and his parents will love it too.. U are making it with so much love and care.. But what about...?"
She did not let me complete my sentence and spoke,"Yes yes I remember, I will gift her the pink teddy bear.. I have stitched it myself."
I brought her inside the bedroom and made her lie down..
"u take rest.. I will wake u up before dinner".
Lying on the bed, she opened her arms for me.. I bent down to her to hug her and kissed her on the cheek.
"I wanted a hug.. The kiss was not needed", she giggled, "How many times did u kiss me since the day we fell in love?"
I laughed out loud, "I will forget counting".
I switched off the lights of the room and came downstairs and entered the kitchen.. Kamini was busy preparing dinner with our maid.. She noticed me and smiled,"Did Atharva call u?"
"No.. I tried twice but network is not available.. I will let u know when he will call me.. BTW what r u preparing?"
"A very simple dinner.. Dhani wanted to come here and help but I had send her upstairs.. She is unwell but still wants to cook", she stopped for a few seconds, ".. for you.. She knows that u love eating food prepared by her but eat this for a few days till she recovers properly".
I went and stood beside her, put my hand on her shoulder, "Lets forget the past.. Our present is beautiful.. isn't it?"
She smiled at me, "Yes it is.. Ok now u go.. I have to prepare dinner"
I came out of the kitchen and sat in the drawing room with the newspaper.. My phone beeped.
1 new message from Atharva.
I opened the msg. It read:
Papa, I have been promoted to the post of the Project manager but I am not going to stay here.. My boss have asked me to rethink about my decision but its my final decision.
I will give priority to my happiness over money.. What is kept here in USA? Benaras is the most wonderful place in this whole universe. My parents are there.. So I am coming back. Pooja and ur little Vandana are very excited. We three will reach there within a week..
I took the right decision.. isn't it??
I typed my message, And what about ur job?
He replied, I will look after India's projects.. No more foreign trips till my parents are there in India..
We will wait for you beta.. I typed again and clicked the Send button.
I rushed inside the kitchen and informed kamini, "my son is returning"
"So he has finally decided to return from USA.. No one could convince him that USA is a much better place.. Stubborn kid I have"
"Yes he is like his father, he loves the lanes of benaras", I smiled.
Kamini looked at me with teary eyes..
"Now don't start again.. I am proud of my Atharva.. So what is ur problem? Are u jealous of father-son bonding? Why do u think he is only ur son?"
"yours too", kamini said and I again came back and sat on the sofa..
I had to call one more person.. but before I could dial her number, my phone ringed and I received the call..
"Hello my Demon King.. Muuuaahhh for u.. I am missing u.. Cant wait to reach u.. I have already packed our luggage. Are u missing me too?"
"Yes my fairy.. I am missing u the most in the whole world..I was just going to call u"
"And do u love me more than u love mamma..?"
"Yes yes I do love u more than I love ur mamma", I could not stop laughing at my daughter's question, " U come soon.. I will be waiting for my Shikayati Pudiya.. and what is ur prince doing?"
"He is playing papa.. and is very excited.. Abhi is sitting with his laptop checking the tickets..What about mamma and mom?"
"Mamma is sleeping and mom is in kitchen.. will u talk with her?"
I brought the mobile in the kitchen and she chatted with kamini for some time.. Kamini handed over the phone to me..
"Mamma is sleeping.. She will talk with u at night ok?"
"Ok papa.. we will meet soon.. byeee.. love you.."
"Love u too baby.. will wait for u".
I disconnected the call and comfortably sat on the sofa and looked at the ceiling..
PART 2 is just below