Hey-lo!😊
So this is a continuation of the last one (which you can read here: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/uttaran/3538426/rathore-family-ff-help ). You'll probably understand this without reading that, but I've referred to it.
Thank you for being patient people…the real world irritatingly gets in the way of the virtual one…😛
And like always, comments are welcome (I love reading them😉)
And to my silent reader; if you read this (which I highly doubt that you will)…this time, would you tell me what you think, Mr. Vampire?😃
Aysha :)
It has become a habit, my nightly visit to Mukta's room, and watching her sleep. And it's a habit for him as well, I guess, to appear at my shoulder while I watch our daughter, and to watch her with me.
And tonight's the same, as we stand at her doorway, and listen to the gentle breathing in the dark.
"You've exhausted her today" he said, laying his hands on my shoulders.
It always makes me smile, how loud his deep voice can be, even when he's whispering. It's like he never learned how to tell a secret.
Looking at Mukta, so soundly asleep and peaceful calms me down. It used to sadden me to think of all the times we've spent apart; but with each passing day, each moment spent with her, it feels like the pain eases a little, and the guilt gets pushed back.
"I suppose I have" I said, leaning back into him as we watch our daughter. "But then, she's the one who suggested the girls day" I said, knowing I sound a little defensive.
His silent laughter shook me, and I poked him in the ribs, making him laugh harder. "About that—" he says, when he finally managed to control his laughter "You do realize that she has inherited my intelligence, don't you?"
Confused about how he had come to that conclusion, I asked "And how did you figure that out?"
He shifts us so that he's comfortably leaning against the wall, and me against him.
"It's the way she handled us today…she obviously realized that I had reached the end of my rope, and that I needed an out. So she very cleverly turned the tables around, making it so that the two of you could enjoy the day together, without hurting either your feeling , or mine" he says, pride for our daughter ringing in every word. "My princess knows her papa well"
Smiling, my heart growing warm at how happy he seems that our daughter understood him, I couldn't help but tease him. "Hmm…I suppose it's only fair that she gets your intelligence. After all, she got my looks, didn't she?"
I felt him smiling against my hair, and heard it in his voice when he said "Nah…look more carefully. She's got my jaw…the square shape of it…and most of her features are sturdy like mine; not delicate like yours. Obviously, that means she looks more like me!"
Rolling my eyes, I ignore him, knowing that he'll use whatever I say to tease me. And we lapse into a comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts.
"I wish we were there…" I said finally, breaking the lengthening silence.
"Hmm…?"
"You know…in all her special moments. Her first birthday…the day she spoke her first word…school concerts…prize givings…" I said, my voice trailing out as disappointment washed over me.
I felt his arms tighten comfortingly around me, and I laced my fingers with his; drawing strength from him.
"I wonder if she liked to finger paint…" he says suddenly.
"Finger paint?" I look up into his face, my head resting on his shoulder. His face had softened, and his eyes had a faraway look.
"mmm…imagine how she would have looked, with her hands and face streaked with paint, and her hair in pigtails…"
Just imagining it made me smile.
"Actually papa, badi ma always said that I was a very neat child…and that I used to hate dirtying myself" I heard Mukta say suddenly, her voice muffled and sleepy.
"Mukta! Were you awake the whole time?" I asked, trying to move closer to her so that I can see her more clearly.
"No,no,no! Don't move ma!" she says, startling me into stopping.
I watched in confusion as she fumbled in the dark for a moment. Switching on the light and blinking to clear the sleep from her eyes, she pulls out her phone from under her pillow.
"Nope…I only woke up when the two of you couldn't decide whom I resembled more" she says finally, her fingers moving deftly over her phone.
"Haven't I told you that it's dangerous to keep the mobile under your pillow…?" Raghuvendra asks, mild concern creeping into his voice.
"And what are you doing?" I ask, once again trying to move closer to her, only to be stopped once again by a "wait, wait, not yet!"
Nodding to let her know that I won't, we watched with growing confusion, until she finally lifts her phone, and points it at us.
"Now smile the way you were smiling at each other a moment ago" she says, holding the phone ready. When she saw that neither of us was going to cooperate, she turns her pleading eyes towards Raghuvendra "please papa…?"
I sighed in defeat. He was right. Our daughter did inherit his intelligence…and she knows exactly what to say (and how to say it) to make her papa melt.
"Alright, one pic…"I said, smiling at her.
"Yes! Thank you ma! Could you look up at—"
"Wait!" Raghuvendra says, cutting into Mukta's instructions, "You get your picture, only if we get one of yours" he says, pulling out his own phone and holding it in his palm.
"Ok, but not now" she finally conceded.
"Uh aah…it's either now or no deal princess" he says, sounding every inch the businessman he was.
"But I'm in my night clothes!"
"Well then, so are we…"
After a moment she reluctantly agrees; sticking her tongue out at him, and making the two of us burst out in laughter...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
There were more than just two pictures taken that night. In fact, there were close to 20 pictures taken.
But among those 20, only two of them were treasured.
One, of Tapasya and Raghuvendra Rathore; with him leaning against the wall and smiling down at her, his arms holding her close…and her leaning back against him, smile in place, head resting on his shoulder, eyes shining with love.
The other, you ask?
It's of the family of course.
One in which he has his arms around their shoulders, holding his loved ones tight, and looking down at them…and with Mukta and Tapasya looking up at him, their hearts shining through their eyes, their clasped hands held against his heart.
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