Part 8
Next morning Kabir was waiting eagerly for Pia to finish playing with her friends so that she could come to him. Pia was his daughter - his flesh and blood. The thought still overwhelmed. Even without this knowledge, he had begun loving Pia so much. But now that he knew that she was his baby, that love reached a different level.
The moment her friends left, she came running towards Kabir. He bent down and hugged her. As a reflex, he had tears in his eyes.
Pia: Ish uncle not happy to shee Pia? Why doesh he have teals? Yeshtelday alsho teals?
Kabir: No my darling these are tears of joy! When you are very very happy you start crying.
Pia: Inteleshting! Come let'sh play on the shwing today.
Kabir willingly followed her. He placed her gently on the swing and started pushing her. Her face would light up every time the swing reached its peak. As for kabir his face was constantly glowing with happiness.
Anita: Pia! Only 10 minutes more!
Kabir: Pia, will you play in the sandbox for w while? I want to talk to your Nani.
Pia: Shule! I'll build a cashtle fol you!
Kabir turned to Anita and asked her to sit down on the bench.
Kabir: Why Ma? Why did you do this to me? Even before we got married I always took you to be my mother. But I don't think you accepted me as your son?
Anita: I don't want to offer you any excuses. I did get biased. After Kunal death Ananya had become a living corpse. Discovering that she was pregnant gave her a new life. I did ask her to tell you the truth. But she was in too much pain and anger.
She did come to meet you with Pia once. But...
Kabir: And went away deciding that an alcoholic wasn't good enough to be her daughter's father? I did slip up. By not being there for Kunal and Ananya, by letting my old demons back into my life, by insulting Kunal's memory. I did. And I deserved to be punished.
But I didn't deserve this. That baby, pia, is like a piece of my heart outside my body. I wasn't there when she was born, wasn't there when she said her first word, wasn't there when she walked her first step. Even today she knows me as Kabir Uncle. Not as her father.
Anita: Lots of blunders have been made on both sides - some bigger that others. But you and Ananya have a beautiful reason to make a fresh start.
Kabir: No, Ma. That relationship is dead and can never be revived. My only focus is Pia.
Anita looked concermed. Before she could say anything, Pia called out to them.
PIA: Look Nani,this is our cashtle. Yours, Mumma's and Pia's. And Uncle that one is your cashtle.
Kabir looked very hurt. Pia who was a very perectpive child, quickly added.
Pia: Pia will come vishit you evelyday.
Kabir smiled. She said bye to him and walked away. Kabir's eyes kept following her till she was out of sight.
At the office Ananya kept trying to talk to him all day. But he avoided her. At night,even after everyone had left, she kept waiting for him. As he walked out of his office he noticed her.
Kabir: How the tables turn? It wasn't long ago that I used to keep trying to talk to you and you used to give me a cold shoulder. And now. See..
Ananya: Kabir please.. Hear me out.
Kabir: No you need to listen to me. We are going to your house now. And you will tell my daughter that I am her father.
Ananya: Kabir I need time. I want to break this news to her in the best possible manner.
Kabir; Your house is a 20 minutes drive. Use that time to figure out the best approach. I have been kept away from her for 4 years. I wont wait a day longer.
Kabir and Ananya reached Ananya's house. Pia was surprised to see him there. But her first instinct was to run to ANnaya, hug her and give her kisses all over her face. Kabir could see that Ananya was the most important person in his daughter's life. He wasn't as important as Ananya. He knew he was being childhish. But this fact hurt him.
Pia then turned to Kabir.
Pia: Uncle today isn't my bilthday!
Kabir and Ananya smiled inspite of themselves.
Kabir: No baby... Your mumma has something important to tell you..
Pia who was sitting on Annaya's lap looked at her face keenly.
Ananya: Pia.. baby... remember what I told you about Papa..
Pia: Yesh.. of coulse.. Uncle you know my papa is the beshtesht papa in the whold wolld. But he ish away right now because he hash to fight fol the tluth and destloy all the bad people.. but he'll come to Pia shoon.
Kabir choked. He didn't think that Ananya would have painted such a positive image of a father in Pia's mind.
Ananya gathered courage and spoke.
Ananya: Well Papa couldn't stay away any longer from his princess. He has come back for Pia.
Pia's eyes gleamed with joy and she looked around expectantly.
Pia: Whele...
Ananya pointed to Kabir.
Ananya: Kabir isn't your uncle. He is your father.
Pia's eyes almost popped out with surprise.
Pia: But if he ish my papa, why didn't he lecognishe me?
Kabir: Baby, you were very small when PAPA had to go away. And now you have become such a big girl
Ananya: pia.. what happened baby? aren't you happy.
Pia looked sombre for a moment and then jumped from Ananya's lap to Kabir's.
Pia: Pia ish shuper happy.. Pia already loves Uncle..i mean Papa.. And Papa alleady loves Pia.. You know Pia wash alwaysh shcared that Papa may not like Pia when he comesh back.
Kabir: No my princess... I love you the moshtesht in the world?
Pia started gurgling hearing Kabir use her favourtie word.
Pia: I love you too Uncle... I mean Papa...Come I'll show you the houshe..
Pia showed him the dining toom, the balcony, Anita's room and then finally her and ANANYA'S ROOM.
Pia: ANd this is Pia's and Mumma's room.
As an afterthought she added.
Pia: And Papa's room?
Kabir and Ananya became awkward. Anita called them to dinner.
Kabir discovered that Pia always wanted Ananya to feed her. But she wanted to sit on his lap. After dinner got over, KABIR got up to leave. Pia was heartbroken.
Pia: No...Papa's shtay in the shame houshe.
Kabir: Pia is special right? SO why can't our living arrangements be speical? You'll have two houses to play in.
Pia: But.. But..
Ananya: How about Papa puts you to sleep.
Pia got excited and started clapping. Kabir picked her up and took her to her room. Ananya changed her into her favorite PJs and she came out lookinglike a tiny bear. Kabir picked her and tucked her in bed.
Ananya began walking away. But Pia held on to her hand.
Pia: mumma you know Pia can't shleep without Mumma. Both of you tell me a story together.
Pia was so excited that she wasn't getting any sleep. Finally after half hour she closed her eyes and drifted away into dreamland,
Kabir and Ananya turned off the lights and walked out. Ananya went to drop Kabir to his car.
Ananya: You can come whenever you like. And soon we can discuss how she can begin spending some time at your house.
Kabir: I will meet my daughter whenever I like. As for living arrangements, you'll receive a notice from my lawyer soon.
Ananya: Why are you dragging lawyers into this?
Kabir: Because I want Pia in my life. Completely. Not in bits and pieces.
Ananya was shocked.
Edited by paradigm - 10 years ago
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
