~ The Sunshine of My life ~ AsYa FF||Part 14 Page 129 NOTE PG 140 - Page 2

Asad barged into the Khan mansion, his eyes darting around the house, just as he was about to run up the stairs to his mothers room, he saw his Ammi walk into the living room. Dilshad wasn't surprised to see him here within minutes of an abruptly ended phone call. It was only Aahana who could make him break every wall he had created around himself. And she was thankful for that sunshine in their life, or else she couldn't even fathom the damage the loneliness and loss would to her son. Without even waiting to ask Dilshad anything or greet her, Asad pushed past her to his room. Dilshad sighed and smiled at his concern. But she didn't follow him, she knew he needed his time with Aahana. In the meanwhile she thought she could make him his coffee.

Asad's feisty angry demeanour had just suddenly taken a back seat, and the Asad no one else but his family knew off surfaced. He tip toed into his room, making sure he made no noise. He removed his coat and kept his bag aside. His eyes darted to his bed, where his bundle of joy, the Sunshine of his life, his one year old daughter Aahana' lay tucked in her soft Barbie pink blanket.

He walked to the bed and slowly got into it besides her. A small smile graced his lips, when he heard her soft snores, he bend forward to push her soft tufts of hair away from her forehead and caressed her head. As his hands came in contact with her body, he felt the warmth and instantly knew why his mother had been busy with her and left his calls unattended leaving him worried. His smile suddenly faded, as worry etched his face. He bend and kissed her head softly, his lips lingering on her soft skin. He moved back and sat staring at her. Her rose pink cheeks were redder than they usually were, showing that she had been restlessly crying before. Her nose was watering a little, probably a cold he thought. He picked her soft hanky from the bed side and gently wiped her nose. His movements disturbed her from her sleep and she stirred. Asad halted his actions and immediately scooped her in his arms. Placing his soft cotton ball on his chest, he caressed her back with one hand and patted her head with the other, putting her back to sleep. He kissed her head and mumbled a soft sssh' calming her down when he heard her soft whimpers.

He saw his Ammi standing by the door with his coffee and he signalled her to keep it outside. After half an hour of rocking and cradling his angel, when he was assured she was sound asleep, he put her in her cot and tucked her in warmly. He drew the curtains shut making the room darker so she could sleep without any disturbance and left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar, lest she woke up crying.

He walked into the living room finding it empty. He sunk into the sofa and rested his head on the back of it tired. He had just closed his eyes when he felt soft hands press his head and caress them slowly. He opened his eyes to see his Ammi lovingly looking at him. He tugged at her hands, signalling her to come and sit beside him. Dilshad placed his reheated coffee on the table and sat down next to him.

Dilshad - Asad , teesri baar garam kar rahi hun, ab jaldi se coffee peelo, I'll get you a pill for the headache.

Asad stared at her, how did she know? And she read the same in his eyes.

Dilshad - Ammi hun tumhari, tumhari shakal dekh kar haal jaan jati hun.

Asad smiled slightly, nodding in understanding. What would he do without his family, his ammi, his source of strength.

Dilshad - Don't worry Asad, Aahana ko halka sa zukaam hai, isliye bukhaar ho gaya. Tum itni tension kyun le rahe ho?

Dilshad had read his worry and gauged his distressful state the moment she had seen him walk in the house. But she knew it was pointless explaining him anything when it came to Aahana.

Asad - I know Ammi, but I can't see her in any sort of pain, hearing her cry reminds me of those painful days and terrify me like the worst nightmare of my life.

Dilshad kept her hand on his head caressing it softly, herself remembering the days the family wanted to forget.

Asad - Najma kaha hai, kahi dikhayi nahi de rahi

Dilshad - College gayi hai, assignment dene, thodi der mai aati hi hogi. Tum kuch khaoge?

Asad - Aahana ne kuch khaya? He said ignoring his mother's question

Dilshad - Zyaada kuch nahi, dawai khila sakun utna hi khila pai, she was not ready to eat. Shayad bukhaar ki wajah se muh ka swad bigad gaya hoga.

Asad - Aap uske liye doodh garam kar dijiye, I'll try feeding her.

Dilshad - Tum kuch nahi khaoge?

Asad - Later Ammi, abhi bhook nahi hai.

Dilshad sighed, shaking her head at her careless son and got up to bid his orders. A while later taking a warm bottle of milk, Asad walked into his room to attend to his little princess. He saw her shuffling in the cot. Her eyes were half open, but when she saw her Abu, she rubbed them vigorously trying to open them wider. Her blocked nose causing her to sniff harder and she rubbed her button nose and began whimpering.

"Bu !" she called out to Asad. She couldn't say Abbu yet, or didn't understand that she had to call him that, so called him Bu' which was what she had picked up from what Dilshad addressed Asad as when she spoke to her. Asad smiled at that and picked her up in his arms. He cuddled her to himself and embraced her tightly to his chest.

Asad - How's my Aanu doing' he said his face dug into her hair, mumbling to her.

Aahana just cuddled closer hiding her face in his chest, wiping her cheeks on his soft shirt. Asad laughed softly and patted her. He went and sat on the rocking chair besides her cot and leaned back, softly placing her on his one arm, he opened the bottle of milk and pressed the nipple to her mouth. Aahana struggled to ward it off, whimpering again. Asad blew a soft whiff of air on her eyes, which is what he always did to distract her when she refused to eat or drink her milk. Aahana stared into her father's brown eyes and sucked on to the bottle having her milk, while Asad softly blew on her eyes.

Having had her milk Asad put her over his shoulder patting her back, trying to make her burp. He peeked at her to see if she had slept but saw that she was staring at the huge frame on the wall next to his bedside. He walked over to it with Aahana in his arms. She tried to lean over from his arms to touch the frame. Asad moved closer to it so she could reach it. Aahana placed her sticky palms on the frame and patted on it. She then looked back at her Abbu and mumbled, "Mi?"

"Yes sunshine, Ammi." Asad said smiling at her, encouraging her to speak. And she clapped happily on having earned a smile from her dad, which was a rare sight, though not so much for her.

Asad smiled at her gleeful face and then looked back at the frame, smiling but sadly. He clasped Aahana's tiny palms in his and caressed the face in the frame.

Asad - We miss you Ayesha.

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PRECAP - Dilshad gets a guest at home, any guesses?

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