**Replies to you comments begin page 136.12. Daddy's Girl
I was very excited. It had been six months since I last saw my Chhoti and this wait of a few minutes seemed unbearable to me, making me crane my neck and stand on my tiptoes to get the first glimpse. G had to pull me close a number of times and whisper to me to be patient but it had little effect on me.
G's phone rang while we were waiting. I looked at her in question when she told me it was from her house, and then went off to a side to answer it. I got a text message on my phone which I hurriedly opened.
"Out in about ten minutes", Raya had written and it brought a huge smile on my face. Now that I knew they both would be with me in ten minutes, I let my eyes wander to lazily observe the crowd when one thing caught my eye.
Amidst all the rush of people, I saw a pretty girl dressed in a frilly frock, standing in front of a pillar and rubbing her eyes. She was crying, I concluded, and with the way her gaze skittered around the area, she seemed to be looking for someone. Feeling a tenderness for the grey-eyed girl, I walked to her and bent on my knees to come to her level. She didn't pay any attention to me.
"Are you lost?" I asked in a friendly voice.
I took in her quivering lips as she looked at me and slightly nodded her head.
"Are you looking for someone?" I tried again.
She nodded again as she rubbed her eye.
"Can I help you?" I offered my assistance to see her look at me wide-eyed.
"Alright, you tell me who you're looking for and we'll find them." I smiled encouragingly and felt her easing up to me.
"You will find my Daddy?" She sounded so hopeful that I couldn't help but reach out and wipe her tears.
"Of course I will!" I smiled and held her chubby face. "Now tell me what he looks like, or what he is wearing."
I got up and held her hand as she struggled to answer me. Listening to her broken description of her Daddy's attire, I started to walk her towards the announcements' desk but she suddenly pulled her hand free and ran to someone standing just a few steps ahead. I stood there and smiled looking at her, content that the girl found her father, who picked her up and hugged her to himself. I could not see his face because he had his back towards me, but the man was tall and of a bulky build.
As I stood there watching the reunion, the man must have asked something from the girl, for she pointed towards me, making him finally turn enough for me to see his face in profile. The smile on my face froze in place as I felt the ground slipping from beneath my feet. It was him. After seven long years, I had seen him. Without thinking much about it, I abruptly turned my back to him and started walking the other way. I could still feel my heart hammering loudly when I joined G and caught a glimpse of Raya.
Her one glimpse was sufficient for me to forget my own condition and I just gazed at her with all the love I had for her. She looked healthier than before, and happier too as she walked beside her husband, her hand on his elbow, their heads leaning towards each other as they seemed to be conversing something while Raunaq wheeled the trolley.
I looked at the couple who complimented each other in many ways; her beauty and his striking looks, her tall slim frame and his broad-shouldered one, they looked like they were made for each other and I prayed for them to be just the way they were. I could feel my motherly instincts for my little sister take over when my heart found joy in just seeing her smiling face.
She looked around and I waved crazily to catch her eye. When she saw me, she left Raunaq's arm and dashed towards me, squealing in excitement. I joined her squealing when she hugged me, uncaring of what people around us would think. I was too happy to worry about that.
"Di! I'm so happy! Finally!" She screamed when we parted. I couldn't stop smiling either when a throat clearing interrupted us and I rolled my eyes, turning to the intruder.
"Forever coming between us sisters, eh Raunaq?" I accused him. He stepped between me and Raya and put an arm on each of our shoulders, smiling cheekily.
"Guilty as charged! I was born to do that." I heard G chuckle at that.
"Haah! Accepted it! Now you're going to be punished for your offence."
"Whatever you say, my lovely saali Di!" He pinched my cheek.
"You both are staying at my place." I grinned when his face turned from smug to that of someone caught. He was going to protest, I could see that coming so I spoke without giving him a chance. "Until your house is completely ready."
Before he could react this time, Raya loudly cut off between us. "Okay then! Let's go! I'm sleepy!"
Raunaq rolled his eyes. "As if she hasn't slept through the whole flight already! Trust me, Di! Your Chhoti grabs the first chance to sleep!"
All three of us laughed at Raya's expense while her mouth opened wide at her husband's comment. It was what defined them for me. The love they had for each other shone through in many different ways, one of which was this banter. A very big one at that!
Edited by mayyo - 11 years ago
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