"Happy Birthday to youuuuu, happy birthday dear Amitttt, happy birthday to youuuuu" we sang as Amit cut his football shaped cake, courtesy his father. I had been opting for a nice neutral colored cake, but as they say, 'Like father, like son.'
I smiled at Amit as he fed the cake to me and his father and we fed it back to him. Soon enough, the kids went back to playing, the adults went back to chatting, and I walked into the kitchen to get paper plates and silverware for the cake when I heard someone behind me. I turned around immediately, only to find my husband's eyes poring into mine. He came closer and wrapped his arms around my waist, and forcefully tugged my hands up to hug him back. I couldn't help but frown behind his back, where he couldn't see the face that was being made at him. I sighed silently, this was a routine with us. Fight then make up. I was sick and tired. Perhaps my decision of listening to Papa and getting married to him was not so right after all?
He sensed I wasn't happy with this, and he released me and stepped back. "Pleaseeeee maaf kardo ab!" He begged as he got down on his knees and held his ears.
I smiled. "Fine. But what will you do for me?"
He leaned forward, still on his knees, and kissed my huge stomach. "Anything." He replied.
"So you can get me Ben and Jerry's Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee Crunch with marshmallows and M&M's and hot fudge on the top? And a good movie?"
He laughed. "Of course sweetheart! But right now I think everyone's waiting for us. Chalein?"
I smiled and he held my hand and led me into the living room where all the adults were seated.
Suddenly he leant towards me. "There's a surprise for you." He whispered in my ear.
I turned to look at him, puzzled. A surprise? For me? He nodded and led me towards the door. Right as we reached the door, he got a phone call. He answered and smiled when he heard the other person, then hung up.
"Close your eyes for a minute, Nikki."
"What? Lekin yahan to kuch bhi nahin hai!"
"Just close your eyes" he insisted, the made me close my eyes and covered them with his hand. The next thing I knew, I heared the door open. I tugged at Abhi's hand.
"Okay, ready?" "Haan"
"Okay' 1'2'3!" He opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was'
*********************************************************************
I let her open her eyes, and after a moment, she screamed. "PAPA! MAMA!" as she rushed forward and hugged them, already starting to leak tears.
"Nikki beta,kaisi ho?"
"Main theek hoon Mama' aap kaisi hain?"
"Main bilkul theek hoon, beta!"
"Aur Papa, aap?"
"Main bhi ekdum theek hoon! Dekho!"
Nikki giggled and hugged her dad again. "I missed you Papa." He wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you too beta."
And then Nikki's mom noticed me. "Arre, Abhi! Kaise ho?"
"Main bikul theek hoon aunty."
Nikki's mom smiled tightly at me. "And where is the birthday boy?"
"Maa, who kahin khel raha hoga' Subah se bhag daud kar raha hain. Aaj usne pump bhi nahin kiya! Kitni mushkil se cake kaatne bulayaa, aur phirse bhaag gaaya woh!"
Her dad chuckled. "Nikki beta, uski umar hain khelna koodna! Khel ne do usse!"
Nikki smiled. "Chalo mama, papa' Upar chalte hain!"
"Haan beta' chalo."
*************************************************************************************
Abhi didn't think so, but I had noticed the tight smile my mom gave him. I couldn't understand why mama hadn't forgiven Abhi like papa and I had. I know he left me, especially when I was pregnant, but he had his reasons. But I still don't know why he never came back during those four years. And still, I don't get why papa had forced me to marry Abhi, even though mama was against it. '
"Nanuuuuu! Naniii!" I heard Amit shout as he happily jumped into his Nanu's waiting arms.
"Arrey, Amit Happy Birthday beta!"
"Thank you Nanu, thank you Nani. Mere gifts kahan hai?"
Mama reached behind her and pulled out a huge bag filled with presents and handed it to Amit, who stared at the huge bag of gifts and then lugged it to the other room to open it in front of his friends.
Papa laughed as he watched Amit struggle to pull the bag. "Bilkul Nikhil ki tarah hai woh."
My eyes shot back to Papa. For the first time in seven years, he had mentioned Nikhil.
Nikhil, my little brother Nikhil.
__________________________________
ilu <3
comment:
p_commentcount