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Dedicating this to our ever so chirpy chiraiyya, who is having her birthday today. đł
Happy Birthday Farro. đ¤
May you be blessed with dher sari khushiyaan aur pyaar. Stay blessed. Keep smiling. And keep spreading love. â¤ď¸
Making herself comfortable in a vacant cardboard box in her Papa's studio, Adya took paint brushes lying beside and started playing with them. The studio of Omkara has become her favourite sneaking spot. The place is untidy as her Maa says. But she likes the smell of paints and the colors spitting everywhere.
Adya was busy with her brush fight game when she heard some footsteps. She peeped out from the cardboard box cautiously, only to find her Papa entering the studio while talking with someone over the phone. "I want the oil pastel color boxes to be delivered by the evening." He asked the person on the other side of the line.
Adya grinned realising her Papa is ordering gifts for her. She wanted to spring out of the box and hug him tight. But she sunk into the box again, not wanting to spoil his surprise. She waited till Omkara's works in the studio were done. Making sure he is gone, she came out of the cardboard box with a big smile in her face. She clapped her hands all excited, thinking about the gifts.
"Nandu, stop jumping or else you would get yourself hurt." Omkara asked Nandini as he put Shambhavi on the bed.
"Papa, I want a french braid." Demanded Shambhavi as he started combing her hair. "Me too." Added Nandini sitting beside Shambhavi. He made them wear their shoes once he was done with their hair.
"Papa, look. We made this for Adi Didu." Nandini said, tugging his sleeves. Omkara shifted his eyes from Nandini to the pink color paper Shambhavi was holding. It was a simple card with "Happy Birthday" written on the top and some colorful flowers drawed all over it. Omkara smiled at his daughters effort. "Bohot sundar hain. Didu is going to love this." He said making his girls smile wide. "Now let's go to Adi Didu." He carried them in his arms as he started moving towards Adya's room.
Adya twirled around, wearing the puffy big bow netted frock gifted by her Maa. Gauri smiled, sated to see the happiness on her daughter's face. "You like your gift ?" Gauri asked caressing Adya's tendinous cheek.
"I love it, Maa." Adya giggled as Gauri kissed on her both cheeks.
"Happy Birthday, Didu !" Nandini and Shambhavi screamed in unison, showing the big card they've made for their Didu.
"Thank you so much." She hugged Nandini and Shambhavi while having an OBehnas moment. Coming out of the embrace she looked for her Papa. "Where's Papa ? I'm waiting for his gift." Adya became impatient to get her gift from Omkara.
"Papa is here." Omkara's voice concluded from the doorstep as she ran into his embrace.
"My princess looks so pretty." Omkara said pecking her temple.
"Thank you, Papa." Adya placed a kiss on his nose. "Where's my gift ?" She asked narrowing her brows.
Omkara smiled at his daughter's anxiety. "Here it is." He put a maroon pouch on her palms.
Adya opened it and grinned wide, seeing a pair of ghungroo. "This is so beautiful." Adya said amused, running her fingers over the metal bells. "But Papa.." She looked at her father. "Aren't you suppose to gift me some color boxes ?" She asked him confused.
"How do you know I was thinking of gifting you that ?" Omkara was astonished.
"Woh main.." She stammered. "Actually I heard you talking to someone." She bit her tongue embarrassed.
"Achha ?" He raised his eye brow.
"I didn't want to listen. Shankar ji ki kasam. Galti se sun liya."
"It's okay." Omkara pinched her nose. "You want to know why did I gift you ghungroos and not color box ?"
Adya nodded as Omkara asked.
Omkara knelt down to her level and asked "Tell me one thing. What makes you more happy ? Drawing or dance ?"
"Dance." She smiled bright. "I love to dance, Papa. I want to be a dancer when I grow up."
"That's why I gifted you ghungroos. I want you to do what makes you happy." Adya furrowed her eyebrows as he continued. "I want to give you everything I was deprived of. My children would be provided freedom. They would do what they want to. I would never impose my decisions on them." He told her or should say murmured to himself.
"Pata hain beta, zindegi mein kuch ittefaq nehi hota. Hum jo faisle lete hain ussi ka naam hain zindegi." Omkara said caressing Adya's hair.
Adya looked at him not understanding a word of him. "Papa, what are you saying ?" She asked him confused.
Gauri shook her head at her husband. "Omkaraji, stop confusing my girl with your philosophical words. She's too young to get the meaning of those."
"Main bhi naa !" Omkara chuckled at himself. "Yeh sab chodo aur neeche chalo. Guests are already here." He said changing the topic.
Adya leaped in excitement and dragged all of them downstairs.
Omkara retired back to his room after a veritable tiresome day. Putting his little princesses on bed is another colossal task he has completed today. And finally when he thought his works are done for the day, he was to be welcomed by the sight of his wife trying hard to put the slice of apple in Ved's mouth. She is having a frown on her face as their son is pushing the slice of apple whenever she's bringing it near to his mouth. Omkara's tiredness disappeared in a moment, watching his son showing tantrums and making face at the food placed before his mouth.
The frown entrusted on Gauri's face replaced with a sigh, seeing Omkara smiling at Ved's stubbornness. "He has become a cranky boy." Gauri complained to her husband. Omkara shook his head sideways as if taking the side of his son. Gauri huffed, realizing her husband would never empathize her, listening to her complains against their children. "But you don't feel so, right ?!" Gauri said with a tone mixed with annoyance mockery, making him chuckle.
Omkara took Ved in his arms and rubbed his nose with his. Ved giggled, maybe feeling ticklish. "He isn't fond of apples, Gauri." Omkara said, settling his son on his shoulder.
"Your kids are not fond of anything healthy." Gauri rolled her eyes at her husband.
"Look who's talking. The woman who loves roadside gol gappas more than anything else in this world is now talking about health and food." Omkara mocked.
"Humare gol gappe pe matt jaiye." She glared him.
Omkara burst into laughter seeing her nose turning red of anger which was fake of course. Ved squawked as he clapped his hands watching his Paa laughing. Gauri's lips broke into a serene smile finding her boys gleeful exposure. "Feed him if you can. He has become badmash. Humari koyi baat hi nehi sunta." Gauri pouted.
"Don't call him badmash. He's my champ. Haina ?" Ved flung his arms in the air as if supporting his Paa.
Gauri found Omkara placing their son on the crib. "So gaya ?" She asked wrapping her arms around his waist. Omkara murmured a hum before turning to face her. "I don't know what would've I done without you ! Thank you for being the best husband and the best father." She said resting her head on his heart.
Omkara's heart swelled up with pride listening to her words. Never in his dreams he thought of becoming a father. Neither he had any intention of marrying. But the woman in his arms changed everything. "Pata hain Gauri.." He tightened his hold around her petite frame and planting a kiss on the top of her head, said "I never thought of having a family. Seeing my parents tainted relationship I always detested the idea of marriage. And suddenly out of somewhere, you came into my life. Because of you I got Adi as my daughter. She taught me to believe in the relation of a father and his child." His voice almost chocked as the tears of happiness threatened to downpour.
Gauri rubbed his back and snuggled more into his body. "The moment I held the little Adi in my hand I knew I cannot afford to lose her. I learned to laugh with her. I learned to cry with her. I learned to become a Dad. Because of her I got you back in my life. She came to my life as a blessing. Seeing her growing up before my eyes, I realized I've the quality in me of becoming a father. Then we, you and I have brought Nandini, Shambhavi and Ved to this world." He smiled in tears thinking about his angels. "I changed myself for them. I tried to be a good father and I'm still trying. Believe me Gauri, I always tried to give them the littlest happiness of the world. And seeing them happy and content I feel I'm a good father." He concluded with hope twinkling in his eyes.
Gauri pulled herself from his clasp and guided him towards the bed. Settling him on a side, she knelt down before him. Taking his hands in hers she said "You're a good father, Om. You're the best father my children could ever have." She kissed his hands and pulled them closer to her chest.
Omkara looked at his woman. She's the same woman whom he has insulted time and again. She's the one who endured the worst version of him. Even after eleven years of marriage she's tolerating him, the ever so flawed and imperfect him. He drawed her beside him and put his head on her lap. "Thank you for coming into my life. I don't know what would've I done without you." His voice started to fade in her embrace.
"Oh ! I've another baby to lull." Gauri giggled as he grinned nodding his head.
I've irritated Pooru so much with this. She deserves half of the credit for listening to my constant bakbak and encouraging me to continue.
I don't know how it has come out to be. But I really hope the birthday girl liked her gift. *Finger crossed*
And thankooo Aaru, for the help. â¤ď¸ đł
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