Started writing this for someone's birthday but A) Didn't finish in time and B) Wasn't so happy with how it shaped up. Rather than deleting it, here you go :) Chota sa lollipop ❤️
OS: Ten Year Plan
He walked into his bedroom with a big bouquet of red roses, and while the room was neat and clean as usual, it was unusually quiet. A little too quiet. Where was everyone? He checked the closet, the bathroom and then finally noticed the balcony french doors open. He peeked outside to see his wife in giggles playing Ludo with their 5yr old son, already wearing his dinosaur one-sie that he wears to bed. Abhi couldn't help but fall in love with the sight-there used to be a time when he rarely saw that carefree smile, when he rarely saw her enjoying life. When she was rarely in his life or considered as part of his life. But finally, somewhere down the line, they had fixed up the never-ending problems in their life and promised to struggle it out together forever. And no, he wouldn't call it a struggle. It was pure bliss. He leaned on the french doors, cautious not to make a sound as he tried to tune into their conversation.
"Mama, this is how to play. You're playing the game wrong." He tried skipping his token a few steps ahead of what the dice had rolled.
Pragya frowned. "Bubba, remember I had just taught you how to play this game two days ago? You are only supposed to move the amount thats shown on the dice"
"Haan, Mama, it shows 1...2...3!"
"Yes!! Exactly baby. So you move three steps na?"
"But Papa taught me that you take extra steps. So if I got 3, I move 4...5...6 steps! I won!"
Abhi chuckled upon recalling what he had told his son a few nights ago.
"Papa taught you this?"
"Haan na, because Papa knows best!" Pragya sighed as she started picking up the board and started cleaning up the game. Suddenly two small arms wrapped around her neck from behind and hugged her tight. "But Papa said Mama knows better," as he gave the sloppiest kiss on her cheek. Pragya couldn't help but smile at his antics of trying to manao her- bilkul baap pe gaya hai. She gave him an even tighter hug and then asked him to go to bed, as she'll be there in a few minutes to tuck him in.
As she was picking up the last few pieces, she felt two hands from behind come and cover her eyes. The same warmth and tenderness that was there just a few minutes ago. Except she knew it wasn't Adi's hands. She sighed; this was the tenth night in a row that he was coming home extremely late from work and she knew he was worried she'd be upset with him.
She understood that his work was demanding and that these days, with his album releasing around the corner, he was only going to get busier. But she couldn't help...missing him. It had taken a good three years after their marriage for them to finally get things right. For them to be in the same place, to be in love at the same time, to be free of misunderstandings.
"I'm really sorry I-"
"Its okay, you've been busy. I know." She brushed off her kurta and stood up, still not facing him. "Did you want dinner? I'll go ge-" She turned to find him hiding his face behind the bouquet of flowers. Pragya couldn't help but smile. Her boys knew how to manao her pretty well. She took the bouquet in her hands and then gasped as he picked her up in his arms and walked to the sitting area nearby. "Arre, Adi will see us! Put me down!""And we'll explain to him that Mama and Papa are just spending some time together."
Pragya slapped him on his chest as he sat down on the couch, with her still in his lap. "Please, he's still too small. He's going to find it weird. Let me go."
He pulled her even closer. " I will never let you go. And don't worry about Adi, I will explain it so that he understands everything."
Pragya rolled her eyes. "Yes just like you explained how to play Ludo to him."
Abhi couldn't help but chuckle once again. "Bubba needs to learn to be a little naughty. He's going to be a goody-two-shoes with the way you are raising him."
Pragya distanced away from his hug, still sitting in his lap. "You have a problem with how I'm raising Bubba?"
Abhi pulled her back towards himself. "Aren't you acting pricey today? I said I'm sorry na! And yes, I want Bubba to be a little more naughtier. The next one can be prim and proper as you please!"
"NEXT ONE?"
"Haan...toh do you not want more kids?"
"Yes, I mean...not right now!...well, yes...but...," Pragya didn't know what to say, she was too busy blushing while playing with his collar.
"Confused, please elaborate," grinned Abhi, happy to have changed her mood."Well, yes, of course I would like more. But..."
"But?..."
"Well now that you're asking...I've had this ten year plan," she shyly continued.
"Ten year plan?"
"Yes. So I wanted Bubba to be around...well, around this age to have another. And then when that baby turns five and Bubba is ten, we could have a third. This way we could enjoy each of the kids at their respective ages, without any two overlapping in each other's space"
"Well, you're kinda behind in your plan," he responded, beyond amused by this ten year plan. "Adi just turned five a month ago!"
Pragya slid her glasses back up as she looked at him hesitantly. "Well, you've been busy too."
He stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue. They had finally come far enough in their relationship for her to be comfortable in expressing her concerns, worries, and feelings. And he didn't want her to ever feel like she couldn't express those feelings. "I understand that you're busy with the album coming up and the recent controversies with some songs getting leaked. But...I've missed you. Do you know the last time we had dinner together? Two months ago." He hugged her tighter, holding her hand and caressing her fingers with his.
"I don't want you to ever feel like you have to give up your dreams for us. We're really proud of you. You are the best, like Adi said." He sighed, tilting her chin so she was directly looking into his eyes. "True. I am the best," he winked at her making her roll her eyes. "But like Adi said, you know better. I don't want to lose what we finally have. Not for any album or any song or any tour or any level of recognition."
She looked at him with guilt. "But thats your dream na? I don't want you to give up on your dream just to have dinner with us...thats not wha-"
"Well...dreams can change. And that dream changed once I fell in love with you. I'm not going to give up on you"
She couldn't smile any wider as she realized what he said. She gave him a soft, lingering peck on his cheek. "So...what are you going to do? You still need to promote the Album, I don't want you to give up your previous dream either"
"I am off for the next week. I took a holiday after lots of negotiations, so I'm all yours baby for the next seven days! Now, when shall we fulfill part one of that ten year plan?," he said in excitement.
Though a small part of her was annoyed at how he didn't tell her this news the moment he entered, she was too happy to complain. She leaned closer to give him a well-deserving kiss, when they heard a shriek nearby.
"MAMA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN PAPA'S LAP AND WHY IS YOUR LIPS SO CLOSE TO PAPA'S LIPS??"
Thanks for Reading!
Love,
Naina
