The moon had the same shade of brightness.....the shadows of trees still had the same shapes on the yard.....the same breeze.....same stars.....the same darkness of night.....everything seemed to be the same, then why not her life, which just took another one-eighty degree turn a while ago.....when she had to give someone the right of her husband.....just one sign, and the life was sealed forever.....she did not even have the chance to complaint but rather tied herself into a for-sake relationship.....and a fresh warm tear made it way down her cheeks as she looked out the window......
The feather-like feel against her soft skin had those two little eyes open as little Tamanna opened her eyes and she knew the right trick to get her mommy on time for her as she made a little move in the crib.....and there! Mommy in attention....."I'm right here beta......Momma will never leave you....never" the last line just escaped from her lips and she gulped in the pain that was rising up inside her.....
Tamanna just looked blankly at her dearest mommy......she immediately blinked when a shiny something dropped from her mommy's beautiful eyes and hit her skin......Tamanna wanted to touch her mommy's face, wanted to feel what it was that rolled down her cheeks.....She was smiling at her in the morning, even before she dozed off but all of a sudden, why mommy looked different.....she was not smiling at her....when the sudden desire of having milk struck her mind and little angel forgot about everything as she looked for her food.....
Brushing off the last drop of pain, she smiled at her little 7 months old daughter, who was being impatient to have her meal.....then positioning herself for the feed, Ragini finally fulfilled her daughter's wish as she covered her with a part of her saree and kept checking on her......
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The life has indeed played another cruel game on him......and sent him to this new world......had no one to talk to, had no one to share what he felt at that very moment, had no choice to make his own move.....but it was all worth it, why? because he got a second life due to Ranveer, his newly married wife's deceased husband......and he himself was the reason of his death as Anmol believed......Ranveer gifted his life to Anmol and embraced the death on his behalf.....so, he promised to himself to give every possible happiness he could to this family......he owes his life to this family....to Ranveer's family.....'family', the mention of the word drew his thought back to his wife, Ragini and 'his' daughter Tamanna......
He did not realise when a sad smile escaped his lips at the thought of him being a father to a little angel......he always wanted to have a family but not in this way.......just three hours back, he was a lonely person and now he has a wife, a daughter and a family.....but the worst feeling was that his name had not been approved by the head of the family.....he knew he had to make a long journey to fit in here......"It's the door to your right, Sir" Anmol looked at the old guy who was in his mid 60s, with a half smile he thanked the servant, who left the place with a nod......
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The door was half open and no one was to be seen inside from his view, so he reluctantly stepped into the room, making sure he didn't disturb anyone when something caught his eyes, 'She looks innocent when asleep' he did not know why he thought that but a sudden unknown desire forced his heart to feel something that came as a surprise for himself.......and he kept staring at her with a half smile forgetting about the rest of the world......
The little pack was full and needed no more of milk for atleast 4-5 hours and decided to let her mommy know that she was done.....the sudden movement of her daughter jerked her back from the nap when her eyes caught his and she froze for a moment....how she hated herself for dozing off at the wrong moment.....
'shit'
Anmol mummbled to himself and immediately turned his back, then mentally kicked himself for not noticing the scenario before, 'She was feeding her'....damn it.....and he did not want to leave the room without notifying the reason of his presence as he thought it to be another inappropriate move.....Quickly fixing herself in a proper position, Ragini placed little Tamanna on the bed and pretended to be busy with her in order to avoid his intense gaze......
"I..I'm...I'm sorry.....I didn't know that.....umm "
he mumbled for the dictions.....not hearing any response, he turned his head a bit to make sure it was appropriate for him to take a full turn.....noticing her doing something with the baby from the corner of his eyes, Anmol turned around to have a full view of the mother-daughter.......'there she is.....Tamanna!'....a genuin smile had taken place as he observed the little one.....taking note of her every single action....how she was making attempts of holding her right foot with both her tiny little hands.....but was unsuccesful and threw both arms and legs in the air instead.....how she was acting all energetic......and how she was trying to hold her mommy's fingers, which were busy applying lotion on her chubby soft skin.....and she could sense his gaze......"you needed something?" finally she decided to break the silence....."I...wanted to meet....Tamanna" Anmol admitted and regretted the next moment as he caught a sense of fear in her eyes....."Don't worry, I'll...I'll leave.....however, Mrs. Rajvansh instructed me to leave these marriage papers with you" and it hurt him to the core, he was not been considered as trustworthy......but she sensed it.....she sensed his current state of mind.....yet kept quiet.....and let the circumstances take place as it was since she could do nothing to change it or rather gave up on the thought that she could change everything and get those people back in her life whom she lost forever......without a word, she took the papers and move towards the large french style glazed armoire......
He took the chance and moved towards the little one, who was blankly staring at the new arrival while sucking her chubby thumb.....
with a smile, he sat at the corner of the bed and bent down to meet her level.....she was a symbol of purity......those round shaped eyes, those tiny pink lips and a cute little nose.....he felt as if a heavy weight was lifted from his heart abruptly when he saw her smiling back at him......Finally!....finally, someone had welcomed him into the 'family' ..... atleast someone was kind enough to smile at him.....making him feel home......He felt the soft skin as his finger lightly traced down her cheek when Tamanna grasped it letting him slightly placed his thumb over her wrapped fingers around his index....and the girl felt it... a touch of care and protection.....he couldn't help but grin at the girl, who was attempting to put his finger into her mouth and was again proved to be unsuccessful against the tough guy, who was kept on moving his finger back and forth from reaching her mouth.....this time Tamanna shared an open giggle with the handsome face as she was thoroughly enjoying the play......then he bent down to drop a quick peck on her cute nose......
Neither she was smiling at them nor she was mad at him....was it supposed to be a happy or sad moment for her, she did not know herself as Ragini watched the interaction between the new 'father-n-daughter'.....
The happiness was to last for a very short span of time as the smile seemed to diminished from his face when he noticed her standing at the other side of the bed.....means, it's time to say 'Good-bye', for today......then he gently brought those fingers to his lips and left another soft peck "Nice meeting you too, angel".....he did not know why but it pained him to release his finger from her grip .....he wanted to hold onto them, for life time....but he knew he had to maintain the height of boundary.....after releasing himself from the soft touch, he got off the bed, giving the place back to its' owner.....'wait a second....I am not done with playing.....and where do you think you are going?'
thought little Tamanna, as she was not very happy with the sudden turn of the game when she saw him backing out.....without knowing the consequence she rolled over and in attempt of pushing herself up a bit to get a hold of her new buddy, Tamanna almost fell on the bed when Anmol caught her on time before hitting herself with the plastic baby toy lying beside her.....scaring the heck out of the two people in the room....."There you are!"
he held her in his arms and this time dropped a kiss on her forehead.....then walking around the bed, he handed her over to Ragini, who kept her gaze at everything and everywhere but him......and before she could thank him, he did the honour on behalf of her..."Thank you"
came out in a soft voice...it was all he could say in return of everything, she had done for him....starting with giving a chance to be a part of this new world till the meeting of his daughter......and how he wished to see her eyes looking at him but it's ok, he had gotten more than he deserved for today, as he thought.....and definitely will wait for her to get his moment.....with the hope hiding in his heart, he quietly left the room, leaving behind the two most precious people of his life....She had to bear the fact that 'he' was actually taking the place of Ranveer in Tamanna's life.....but her daughter deserved the share of love from her father too, if not biological, then let it be 'him'......all she cared about the happiness of her 'daughter', only.......
luv rehanaπ€