Part 11
With the decision made, Kabir made arrangements to move in with Ananya and Pia. The day Kabir moved in was tha happiest day of Pia's life. Kabir was equally excited. He fed her dinner, bathed her and put her to sleep. Ananya felt a surge of guilt when she saw how perfect they were together.
In the middle of the night Ananya got up and noticed that Pia wasn't sleeping next to her. She got worried. She immediately began looking around. She went to Kabir's room just in time to see Pia climbing on to his bed. She gently put her hands on his face as if to confirm that he was still there.
Kabir immediately got up.
Kabir: Baby bear, what are you doing here?
Pia: Pia came to make shule that Papa is shtill hele.
Kabir: Of course he is.
Ananya: Kabir I am sorry. Your sleep got disturbed.
Pia: Sholly Papa, Sholly Mumma.
Kabir: No baby. And don't worry Papa isn't going anywhere.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her to Ananya's room. He stayed with her till she fell asleep.
Ananya: She really wants both of us in her life.
Kabir: All children do.
He got up and went to his room.
Kabir and Ananya made the mistake of trying to split responsibilities and time with Pia. They soon realized that Pia wanted them together and not in pieces.
It wasn't easy for them. There were so many burried emotions, unsaid words between them. There was anger. There was resentment. There was disappointment. But most importantly there was love - an emotion that they didn't want to acknowledge.
It came out in the smallest incidents. Kabir cut his hands while chopping vegetables and Ananya immediately rushed to him, stopping the bleeding with her stole. Ananya tripped in the rain and Kabir carried her to their apartment.
But the love was overshadowed by the emotional baggage from their past. Because they weren't talking about it, it would come out unexpectedly and violently.
Ananya was out shopping and pia was looking for her crayons. Kabir decided to help her. While looking around the cupboard, he found a letter offering Annaya a job in the US. He also saw an application for Pia's passport. Paranoia took over his mind and by the time Ananya got home he was boiling with rage,
Kabir:Pia, go play in the room baby. Mumma and Papa have to talk about something.
Pia ran inside and Ananya looked questioningly at Kabir:
Kabir: This is what you have been up to?
Ananya: What?
He threw the offer letter and the passport application on the table.
Ananya: You were going over my personal thinfs.
Kabir: I have no interest in doing that. I was helping Pia find something. But what have you been up to? Planning to run away from this country with my daugter? I should never have agreed to giving our relationship a chance. You are completely untrustworthy. you are...
Ananya: Stop Kabir. Stop jumping to conclusions. I had no such intention.
Kabir: Then why didn't you mention the job offer?
Ananya: Because I am not taking it. Your home is Delhi. Which means that Pia will always live here. And I will always live here.
As for the passport, Pia has been wanting to go on a vacation. I was hoping that we'd manage to coordinate schedules and take Pia on her first trip outside the country.
I also thought that the trip would do us good, give us an opportunity to spend time in a fresh place, talk discuss and hopefully make some progress.
But of course I am wrong. We aren't there yet. I wonder if we'll ever get there.
Ananya began walking away. But Kabir held her hand.
Kabir: I don;t have words to apologize. I messed up! It was just my paranoia talking.
Ananya: Aah paranoia. It was the same emotion that made me keep Pia away from you all these years. But I don't intend to repeat that mistake ever again.
I know what she means to you and what you mean to her.
Kabir: Ananya, I have lived through several tragedies.But I won't be able to live through being separated from Pia.
Ananya: And I'll make sure you never have to live through it. But please at least give "US" a fair chance as well. You haven't attended a single counseling session.
Kabir: I will. I haven't been the easiest person to live with. But I will make a real effort.
Let's go and check on Pia.
They found pia sitting in a corner and crying.
Pia: Pia heard Papa shouting. Pia doesn't like Papa angly.
Kabir: I am sorry baby.
Pia: No...
Ananya: Kabir you'll have to make up for your mistake. Take us for ice cream. Princess, does that make you happy?
Pia gave a small smile and ran to where her shoes.
Kabir: Is the ice-cream for Pia or for you?
Ananya: For both of us.
Ananya winked and Kabir chuckled seeing Annaya's mischievous side after so many years.
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