@ Maaneet099 - Hehe! Thanks sweetie. :) 🤗
Many thanks for your comments and/or "like"s. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read this; your feedback is veeery encouraging. <3
Previous Chapters -- Part One: prologue + ch 1 / ch 2 + 3 / ch 4 + 5 / ch 6 + 7 / ch 8 + 9 /
ch 10 + 11 /
ch 12 + 13 /
ch 14 + 15 / Part Two: ch 16 /
ch 17 /
ch 18 /
ch 19 /
ch 20
Chapter Twenty-One
Seated at the kitchen table, Maan circled his hands around a glass of water as the grandfather clock struck three in the morning. It was late, but could he be blamed for his racing thoughts preventing slumber? Not only was Geet now living under his roof, but he was apparently expected to lodge with her in a "luxurious cabin" for Riya's field trip.
After re-reading the Family Week Field Trip flyer, Maan had realized that the camping trip would take place in exactly one week. Vowing to speak to Riya's teacher as soon as possible, he had all but stumbled to the master bedroom. But sleep had, of course, evaded him.
A shuffling sound alerted Maan, and he looked up to see Geet, clad in a crimson night suit, entering the kitchen. At the sight of Maan, she froze momentarily, then began to turn back.
"Wait," Maan called hoarsely. "Wait. What do you need?" Her nervousness around him was starting to become agitating, and so was the fact that her jitters affected him at all.
Geet spun back around. "I just came for some water," she said softly. "I can't sleep."
"Why not? Are you cold in your room? Do you need another pillow?" Surprised at the string of concerned questions that had popped into his mind, Maan bit down hard on his tongue.
"No, just can't sleep," said Geet, gingerly taking a seat across from him.
*Tell me about it,* thought Maan, gesturing to a water pitcher. "By the way, Miss Handa, I'm going to speak to Riya's teacher tomorrow about the cabin arrangement for the field trip. Clearly, that is unacceptable."
Geet nodded in relief as she poured herself a glass of water.
"You moved out of your apartment rather abruptly," said Maan, taking a swig from his glass. "You should tell your family that you don't live there anymore." He thought back to the night of the make-shift tent constructed during the thunderstorm, when Geet had revealed that she lived alone. Still, surely she had family members visit her.
Her gaze suddenly distant, Geet brought the glass to her lips and took a soundless sip.
"Hello?" Maan waved his hands in front of her face. As Geet snapped to attention, her glass tipped and water streamed onto the table.
"What is wrong with you?" cried Maan, snatching a washcloth from the counter.
"I'm so sorry," said Geet, covering her mouth in embarrassment. "I'm sorry."
"As I was saying before you watered the table, you should call your family," said Maan, dabbing at the soaked tablecloth with an irritated flick of the wrist. "I'd rather not have anyone thinking I kidnapped you."
"You don't have to worry about that, Professor," said Geet, folding her hands in her lap.
Sighing, Maan dropped the washcloth and stood up from the table. It was far too late -- or perhaps too early -- for such cryptic conversation. "Good night, Miss Handa."
---
"Mama, can you French braid my hair and then tie it with this?" asked Riya, dangling a pink ribbon in front of Geet the next morning at breakfast. The three were back in the dining room, with Maan sipping his coffee while scanning his lecture notes.
"Daddy doesn't know how to French braid," Riya whispered. "One time he tried, but he got mad and said it was too hard. And he even said a bad word! Teddy and I both heard him. Can you please do it?"
"Of course, honey," said Geet, suppressing a chuckle as she sliced strawberries into Riya's cereal. "I'll do it right now while you eat breakfast."
"You should eat, too, Mama," said Riya, spooning cereal into her mouth. Maan raised his eyes over his notes to peek at Geet.
"I'm fine, sweetie," said Geet, working her fingers through Riya's dark tresses.
"Eat something, Miss Handa," said Maan, gesturing to the large breakfast spread. "Let's . . . let's not have all this go to waste."
Geet halted her movements, then stared at Maan. Was he concerned about her eating or about squandering food?
"And do it fast," ordered Maan, glancing at his watch.
Quickly, Geet finished off Riya's braid and reached for a piece of toast.
"I'm all done!" Riya announced, her spoon clattering against her empty cereal bowl.
"Good girl," said Maan, nodding approvingly at his daughter. "Go and get your backpack, sweetheart. We'll be leaving soon."
A half an hour later, with Geet and Riya tucked in the backseat, Maan pulled up to the school gates and parked. As Riya bounded out of the car, she reached for her parents' hands.
"We'll be coming with you to class, sweetheart," said Maan, patting his shirt pocket as the three walked through the school entrance. "I have to speak to your teacher."
Riya's classroom was at the end of a long corridor showcasing student artwork and school honors and medals. Mrs. Smith, Riya's teacher, was a tall, no-nonsense educator with salt-and-pepper hair. She stood in the hallway, ushering students into her classroom. Blowing her parents a kiss, Riya greeted her teacher and darted inside.
"Good morning, Mrs. Smith," said Maan. Geet stood just behind him and smiled.
Mrs. Smith peered at Maan over her glasses. "Good morning, Professor Khurana," she said briskly. "What can I do for you?"
Maan, wasting not a moment, pulled the field trip flyer from his front pocket. "Well, I wanted to voice my concern about lodging for the camping trip. The school should have consulted with me before assuming that I would be comfortable with this cabin arrangement."
Geet averted her eyes as awkwardness swelled among the adults.
Mrs. Smith raised one eyebrow at Maan. "I don't understand, Professor. You mean you do not want to stay in the same room as your wife?" Mrs. Smith gestured to Geet. "Who I am guessing this woman is?"
"Why would you assume that I am married?" asked Maan, crossing his arms.
"Well," began Mrs. Smith, "Riya told me that you are."
"What?" asked Maan and Geet simultaneously.
Mrs. Smith frowned. "Yes. As I was handing out the flyers to the students, I made sure to inform them that the school could book single rooms if necessary, but married couples would be lodged together by default. Riya told me that her parents are married so I didn't have to worry about reserving single rooms."
Geet closed her eyes and sighed, which Maan barely heard over the grinding of his teeth. "Thank you, Mrs. Smith," he said tightly. "Good day."
---
That evening, following another palpably tense supper, Maan lifted his daughter onto his hip and carried her into the living room. The fire in the fireplace crackled as Riya took a seat on a sofa with Teddy in her lap. Her parents sank down on either side of her.
"Sweetheart, we need to talk," said Maan.
"Yes, Daddy?" said Riya. Why did her parents look so serious?
"I talked to Mrs. Smith today," Maan began, placing his hand on Riya's arm. "Did you tell her that your mother and I are married?"
"Yes," Riya answered easily.
Geet smoothed Riya's hair back from her face. "Why did you say that, Miss Ladybug?"
"Because you *are,*" replied Riya, a note of defensiveness rising in her voice. "You are my Mama and Daddy, and the other mamas and daddies that I know are married. Plus, Thomas told me that married people drop their children off at school together, and you both take me to school."
Maan shook his head. It was astounding how quickly little Mr. Thomas D'Souza had become the bane of his existence.
"Well, sweetheart," Maan began carefully. He glanced at Geet, who looked as uneasy as he felt and was nervously chewing her bottom lip. "Your mother and I -- we are not married."
"You're not?" Riya asked, knitting her brows together.
"No, baby," said Geet. She cupped Riya's chin between her thumb and forefinger. "We're not."
"Why not?"
The question floated in the air while Maan rubbed the back of his neck and Geet fidgeted with the edge of her sweater.
"That is not important, honey, but you should know that your mother and I are committed to co-parenting as effectively as possible," said Maan, pleased with his diplomatic answer.
"Huh?" Riya stared at her father, tilting her head in confusion.
"Riya," said Geet tenderly. "What your daddy means is that even though we are not married, we both love you very much and that is all that matters."
"But how come you're not married?" asked Riya.
"Because we just . . . we just aren't," said Maan. *Great answer,* he chided himself inwardly.
"But *why*?" Riya pressed.
Maan racked his brain for a response, and when no answer revealed itself, reluctantly opted for the truth. "Because even though we love you, we don't love each other," he said simply. Geet nodded and dropped a kiss on her daughter's nose.
"But I love you and I love Mama, so why don't you love each other?" asked Riya, hugging Teddy tightly. "I want you to get married. Please?"
"Sweetheart, that is not going to happen," said Maan, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "End of discussion. Now, you may go upstairs and play for a little while before bedtime. Go on."
Riya trudged up the stairs with a pout. Near the top of the banister, a recent portrait of Maan embracing Riya hung on the wall. "Mama would look so pretty in that picture with us, Teddy," Riya whispered to her beloved stuffed companion. She tilted his mouth up to her ear. "You want them to get married, too? Well, don't worry. I will think of something."
---
Thank you for reading this. :)
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
201