~For Twinjlover9~
I hope you like it
#18: Why didn't you text me back?
"Why hasn't she texted me back yet?" Kunj yelled, while checking his phone for the umpteenth time that evening. "Ussne pehle kabhi aisa nahi kiya...Bas! Main usse lene jaa raha hoon."
Twinkle watched her husband as he paced the entire length of their bedroom. His frustrations were a clear source of her entertainment right now, with his hair frazzled and the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead despite the pleasant weather. He was just so cute at the moment. She kept mum, disregarding his mumbling and smiled inwardly, planning on watching him suffer for just a little while more.
It's when Kunj made his way to grab his car keys that she decided to intervene. "Kunj." she tried gaining his attention. But now he had moved over to slip o his shoes. "Kunj." Tying his lace now. She giggled a bit and then walked over to hus hunched frame and firmly grabbed in his face in her arms. "Kunj Relax."
He opens his mouth to argue. Twinkle knows the exact words that will be uttered out of his mouth. "Kunj!" This time it's sterner, he was being ridiculous. "Kunj who party mein gayi hai. Usse enjoy karne do. Aise baar baar text karne ka kya faida?"
"Par..." He is cut off by his pinging phone. Lord knows Kunj had never been as excited about a text message as he was right then. "Ha! Shayad usse reply kiya!" He skips over their bed to the other side where his phone was lying. A swipe left, a swipe right, and one down, before the phone is unlocked.
The smile that had just mere seconds ago graces his face vanished. It was those stupid Tele Offers. "Advertisement hai."
"Koi baat nahi, Kunj. Waise bhi ab bas aur 4 ghante hi toh bache hai Chalo tab tak hum movie dekhte hai, haan?"
They settle down for You've got mail'. Normally any movie with Mr. Hanks would be a personal favourite of Kunj's but today his lack of interest was something so unusual that it slightly worried Twinkle. She sighed and paused the movie. She really wanted to see the movie to the end, but her whiny and needy husband was dragging their moods in a deep dump. She switched off the TV, and turned to face him. She sighed once again, because he hadn't noticed that she had switched off their movie. "Kunj, kya hua? Tum itne upset kyu ho?"
He sighed back because he knew she was concerned and he wasn't helping either of them with is silence. "Twinkle, ussne mere message ka reply nahi kiya! Woh kabhi aise nahi karti. Ab kya change hua?"
Twinkle placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, recognizing that this was more than an un-replied text message. This was fear. This was him not ready to let go. "Kunj woh ab badi ho rahi hai." She uttered the words that he so desperately didn't want to hear. He shut his eyes tightly. As if closing your eyes would magically undo a fact. "You know its true Kunj."
He wasn't willing to listen. "Par she always replies."
"You know this is about more than a message right?"
"NO!" Now he was just being plain stubborn.
"Kunj, woh humsha tumhari Baby Princess rahegi. She is just growing up na? Par tum kyu ghabra rahe ho? You will always be her Pops."
And those words, those were the words. His illusion shattered and he was forced to agree that Twinkle was right. This wasn't about her not texting back. This was about her forgetting him. Leaving him behind. This was about her growing up and growing apart. He tuned to face her now, and his eyes were full of unshed tears and insecurities. "I don't want her to grow up!" and with that he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Twinkle smiled.
He was being cute alright! Getting insecure just because their 15 year daughter was off to a party. And apparently enjoying herself all too much to text back her father.
"Twinkle." He mumbled lowly.
"Hmm?"
"I'll always be her Pops na?"
"Hamesha. Promise."
"Woh mujhe bhool toh nahi jayegi na?"
"Kabhi nahi. Promise."
"I'll always be here super hero na?"
The doorbell rang before Twinkle could answer him. She heard Ramu Kaka, opening the door and ten the voice of their little princess echoed throughout the house.
Kunj immediately straightened himself. He hastily wiped his tears "Khushi, aa gayi!" He jumped on his feet, fixed his hair and was a minute away from running out the door to meet his dear little princess.
"Hey Pops, Hey Moms." Khushi beat him to it. She poked her head in their room, announcing her arrival before jumping right in.
"Party kaisi thi beta? Aur tu itni jaldi kaise aa gayi?" Twinkle asked, outing away Kunj' shoes.
"Party-"
"Why didn't you text me back?" Kunj all but yelled. And even though the pitch of his voice was loud, the way he said it was nothing short of being comical. He was calm and composed one second, and then he is pouting a shout.
Khushi is taken aback at the sudden outburst. She shifts her gaze to look at her mom, who was hardly managing to stifle a laugh. She raises an eyebrow immaculately just like Pops thought her to and questions the man. "Kaunsa text?"
"The fifteen texts I had sent you over Whatsapp!"
"Pops, you dint send me anything." She replies calmly, scanning her phone to double-check. She opened Popsy's chat and showed him the screen. The last text he had apparently sent was from yesterday, a silly joke about an ant and an elephant.
"Nahi! Maine tujhe kitne messagaes bheje the!" He unlocks his mobile and shows her the same. There on the screen were a number of texts. Hey Princess.'
Hows the party going?'
When should I come to pick you up?'
Don't eat anything cold, you'll catch a cold.'
I love you.'
It melted Khushi's heart at all those messages. Her Pops really was the best, though he sometimes could go overboard with this protectives. But she wouldn't have him any other way.
But the real issue to be addressed here was why hadn't she received the messages? She scrutinizes his screen more closely. There!
"Pops, your Data is off. And see, messages mein tick bhi nahi aaye hai." She informs him.
"What?!" Kunj looks closely at the screen. Well this was embarrassing. Twinkle was never going to let him hear the end of it. Twinkle comes and stands beside. Oh lord, this is how it's always starts.
Khushi senses the mischief in the air. She knows it's time to retreat before it gets ugly and before she is forced to choose a side. "Okay then, mujhe ab jaana chahiye." She cheekily takes leave but not before Twinkle asks.
"Par tu itne jaldi aayi kaise?"
She guess she can answer once question. "Woh party thodi boring thi, aur Rahul ki mom bhi jaldi aa gayi thi toh, I asked Rahul and his mom to drop. It's okay na?"
Twinkle smiles and nod. "Good night beta."
"Good night Mom, Good night Pops."
The door closes and as soon as it does, Twinkle smirks and turns to address her silly husband, hell bent on teasing him. But instead of bowing down his head in embarrassment like he usually does, his eyes were clouded over. And there we go, another Siyappa.
"Who's Rahul?"
"Oh God! Kunj!"
THE END.
This marks the end of Day 13/50. How did you like this? Drop a comment and let me know!
