Part 3
Days passed, and Ram had not heard from Riya or Priya. He considered getting their address looked up at the office but then felt it wasn't right. If they truly had a connection, then destiny would bring them together again. He tried to continue with work, growing more and more restless each day.
Priya on the other hand needed some time to digest. She had badly wanted to call Ram and tell him everything, how much she missed him, how much she cried to be with him, and most of all how much she loved him. But he didn't remember her, their relationship, their love, nothing. She had to take it slow, or else it would strain his mind too much and cause many problems. She had hoped Riya would want to call him to take her to the pastry shop but it seems she had forgotten. She wanted her to get to know Ram too. She wanted them to bond, to have a father-daughter relationship. She had noticed a change in her behavior after she had asked her about her Papa. She couldn't just pick up the phone and call him. What would he think of her now? They were strangers to each other again. There had to be another way. Destiny had brought them face to face again and she was sure it would bring them together forever this time. If it was meant to be, it definitely would. She just needed the first step to be taken for her to proceed.
Priya continued with her life, hoping each day that she would have some sort of an encounter with Ram, but each day, she came home disappointed. Her nightmares had completely stopped and she found herself falling asleep with Ram's white kurta in her hands.
One morning, about a week later, Priya was fast asleep in her bed. She was clutching Ram's white kurta to her chest. She hadn't been able to fall asleep until really late the night before and seemed to have over-slept. These days she woke up before Riya, making sure that she put the kurta away before her daughter came and asked her a million questions to which she wouldn't have any answers.
Riya tippy toed into her mother's room, clutching her stuffed polar bear. Priya had seen it in a store and was reminded of the times she had called Ram a polar bear. Riya saw it and insisted she wanted it, and Priya reluctantly agreed to buy it for her. It had become Riya's favourite stuffed animal. She slept with it every night. She slowly climbed into Priya's bed and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek, like she did every time she woke up first. She laid down next to Priya and waited for her mother to wake up. Priya stirred and slowly opened her eyes when Riya noticed the kurta her mother was clutching. She tugged on it to see what it was.
Riya: Mamma, yeh kya hai?
Priya: Yeh? Yeh aapke Papa ka hai.
Riya: Mamma, Papa kahan hai? Woh hamare saath kyun nahi rehte? Sab ke paas Papa hai, lekin mere paas nahi hai.
Priya, sat up and tied her hair into a messy ponytail. Then she got up and went to put the kurta back in the wardrobe. She completely ignored Riya's questions because she didn't have any answers for her. What was she supposed to tell her? That her father didn't know about her existence, and he didn't remember his relationship with her mother? She didn't want to tell her that he was away for some important work because she never wanted her daughter to feel like she came second in any of their lives, like her father didn't love her enough to be with her. That wasn't true. Riya was too young to understand right now. That's why she had avoided the topic all together and waited for her to grow up a bit more before she told Riya the truth. But apparently destiny had other plans for them.
Priya: Beta, chalo jaldi se tayyar ho jao, school bhi jaana hai.
Riya: Mamma, Papa?
Priya turned and looked at Riya. Her eyes showed her sadness. They showed that there was a piece in her life that was missing, a father's love. And no matter how much Priya tried to fill that gap with her own love, it wasn't enough. Priya came and knelt on the ground next to the edge of the bed where Riya was sitting. She took her hand and kissed it.
Priya: Beta, aapke Papa yahaan hai (she touched Riya's heart). Iss waqt hamare paas Papa nahi hai, lekin Mamma hai, hai na? Jo aap se bahut pyaar karti hai. Aur beta, Papa bhi aap se bahut zyada pyaar karte the. Aap unki choti si gudiya thi. Aap ko jab bhi Papa ki yaad aaye, toh aap iss polar bear ko gale lagna ok? (she gives Riya her stuffed polar bear) Pata hai, aap ke Papa bilkul polar bear ki tarah the. Aur unka dil polar bear se bhi zyada bada tha. (Riya hugs the polar bear tight, and Priya smiles a teary smile at her). Ab Mamma ko jaldi se ek hug do aur hum chalein school ke liye tayyar hone?
Priya spreads her arms out and Riya hugs her tight, wrapping her arms around Priya's neck and resting her head on Priya's shoulder. Priya caressed her hair gently and held her tight.
Priya whispered as a couple of tears rolled down her cheek: I'm sorry beta.
She quickly wipes her tears, not wanting Riya to see them.
Riya lifts her head: Mamma?
Priya: Hmmm?
Riya: I love you Mamma
Priya: I love you too beta.
Priya smiled at her. She caressed her cheek. Riya gave her a kiss on the cheek and hugged her again. Priya carried her and took her to her room to get dressed for school.
As the day went on, Ram left the office early, unable to concentrate. He decided to go for a walk. He came across a school with a park. The kids were playing in the park. He stood there watching them with a smile on his face. He was never really interested in kids. He found them to be troublesome and annoying but in the last few years, he found himself at peace when he was with Vikram's kids. And they loved him too. They kept mentioning this one day that they had spent with him and had so much fun, but he couldn't remember it. He couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't found someone who he could love, and start his own family with. Did he not deserve to be happy? He had spent so many years of his life in complete loneliness, providng for and taking care of his step-family. He was somewhat jealous of what Vikram had with Neha and their kids. He had dreamed of that too.
He stood there watching, when his eye caught a little girl sitting on a bench. She was watching another girl riding on her dad's shoulders intently and looked like she was on the verge of tears. Ram was walking up to her when he realized it was Riya. She was the one he'd been looking for. He walked upto her and kneeled on the ground in front of her.
Ram: Riya?
Riya looked up.
Ram: Kya hua beta? Aap aise itne udaas kyun ho?
Riya: Aap, aap woh, uss din, cake wale uncle hai, hai na?
Ram smiles at her.
Ram: Haan, lekin aap batao, kya hua? Aap itne udaas kyun ho?
Riya looks over his head to the girl and her dad again. Ram turns to look where she's looking and sees the girl riding on her dad's shoulders. Then he turns to look at Riya again.
Riya: Sab ke paas Papa hai, sirf mere paas nahi hai.
She puts her little hands on her face and starts crying. Ram takes her hands off her face and wipes her tears.
Ram: Beta aise nahi rote. Aap ke Papa kahan hai?
Riya, still sobbing: Pata nahi. Mamma kehti hai woh yahaan hai (she points to her heart).
Ram understands what she was saying.
Ram: Lekin aap ke paas Mamma hai hai na? Aur aap ki Mamma aap se bahut zyada pyaar karti hai. Sab ke paas Papa nahi hote Riya. Lekin aap bahut lucky ho jo aap ke paas Mamma hai. Aur aap bahut lucky ho kyun ki aap ke Papa yahan hai (he points to her heart) aur woh aap se bahut zyada pyaar karte hai. Aur woh hamesha aap ke paas rehte hai. Woh ladki ko dekh rahi ho? (he looks at the girl she was looking at). Uss ke Papa uss ke saath hai lekin woh usse itna pyaar nahi karte jitna aap ke Papa aap se karte hai. Aur uss ke paas ek dost bhi nahi hai jo usse cake khilane leke jayega. Ab chalo, ek acchi si smile de do. Pata hai aap ki smile bahut pyaari hai.
She wiped her tears and smiled at him. Then she leaned over and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek and hugged him. Ram was surprise by this action but he felt a sense of comfort. He patted her back and held her tight.
Ram: Ab ek treat toh banti hai hai na? Cake lene chale?
Riya moved back and nodded.
Riya: Lekin Mamma?
Ram: Mamma ko phone kar ke puchlo. Aur usse kehdena ke main aap ko ghar chod dunga.
Riya smiled. He dialed her number, as Riya called it out and handed her the phone. She shook her head and gestured him to talk, afraid that her mother might say no. Priya answered.
Ram: Uh Priya, main Ram, Ram Kapoor. Yaad hai uss din pastry shop mein?
Priya was shocked to hear his voice. Her eyes started filling up. She gulped and then took a deep breath. She wiped her tears and tried to stay calm.
Priya, with a shaky voice: Jee. Yaad aaya. Kahiye, kaise phone kiya?
Ram: Uhm mujhe tumhari beti mil gayi. Woh playground mein. Agar tumhe koi aitraaz na ho, toh kya main usse treat dene le ja sakta hu? Uss ke baad main usse ghar chod dunga.
Priya: Kya main Riya se baat kar sakti hu please?
Ram hands Riya the phone.
Riya: Hello Mamma. Please kya main Ram uncle ke saath jaaon?
Priya: Hi beta. Theek hai lekin Ram uncle ko zyada pareshaan mat karna ok
Riya: Nahin karungi Mamma. I promise.
Priya: Good girl, ab Ram uncle ko phone dena please.
Riya hands the phone back to Ram.
Ram: Haan Priya, tum mujhe ghar ka address iss number pe SMS kar do, hum thodi der mein paunchte hai.
Priya: Jee.
Ram: Uh Priya?
Priya: Jee?
Ram: Tum theek toh ho? Tum thoda upset sound kar rahi thi pehle.
Priya's eyes filled up with tears again. Even without knowing who she was, he could still feel her tears over the phone.
Priya: Haan main theek hu. Thanks.
Ram: Ok toh phir thodi dehr mein milte hai.
She hung up the phone, wiped her tears and smiled. Riya was getting close to her dad without even knowing it. And Ram, well he was bonding with his gudiya. And this way, Priya would get to meet Ram without any awkwardness. Though she knew who he was, he didn't know who she was and to him, she was a stranger with a child. It was difficult enough for her to face him without completely breaking down, but now she had to bring his memory back too. She packed up her stuff and headed home, to prepare for Ram's arrival with their daughter.
After Ram hung up the phone with Priya, he picked up Riya and put her on his shoulders, just like the other girl was on her dad's. The sadness in Riya's eyes broke his heart. He decided that after today, he would make her feel like she had a dad. He would never let her cry again. No matter how awkward or weird it seemed, he felt a connection with her and he was sure destiny had brought them together for a reason. Figuring out that reason had become a new motive in his life.
They walked to the pastry shop, since it was fairly close to Riya's school. He put her down and held the door behind her as she walked in and straight to the display case of cakes. She pointed to the black forest and told the lady behind the counter. The lady looked at Ram, who indicated to her to pack 3 of them. They would take one for Priya too.
The lady handed Riya the bag and Ram and Riya walked over to the table with two chairs. Ram opened the cake for her and then opened his own. They sat across from each other, indulging in their own slices of Black Forest cake. All of a sudden Ram started sneezing uncontrollably. He glanced over and sure enough, on their table by the wall, there was a small thin vase with a single tulip in it.
Riya: Ram Uncle, kya hua?
Ram was about to answer when he sneezed again, and again and again. Riya panicked and remembered what her mother had done to her once. She stood up and went and stood behind Ram. All of a sudden, she yanked his ears on either side and held it for a few seconds.
Ram: Owww. Yeh kya kar rahi ho?
Then he realized he wasn't sneezing anymore.
Riya: Sorry. Mamma ne ek baar kiya tha. Woh kehti hai Badi Nani ka Nuska hai. Cheek apne aap ruk jaati hai.
Hearing this, Ram gets another blurry image flash in front of his eyes. He was sneezing uncontrollably when a woman pulled his ears. This time, he heard her voice.
Woman: Nani ka nuska hai. Nani kehti hai jab achanak se cheekein ya hitchkiyan shuru ho jaaye, toh kaan kheenchne chahiye. Aur dhyaan kisi aur direction mein divert kardena chahiye. Apne aap ruk jaati hai.
Who was this woman? And why did he keep getting image flashes of her. And why was her face blurred? And where was she now? Ram was still lost in his own thoughts, while Riya sat back down in her chair and started eating her cake again.
Riya: Ram Uncle, aap ke paas koi beti hai?
Ram snapped out of his thoughts and his face fell. He would have loved to answer yes to this question but unfortunately Life and destiny had other plans for him. He had never been lucky enough to find the woman of his dreams and have his own family.
Ram, quietly: Nahi
Riya: Mere paas Papa nahi hai aur aap ke paas beti nahi hai toh kya aap mere Papa ban sakte hai aur main aap ki beti?
Ram smiled at her innocence. He would have loved that but how would Priya feel about that. After all Riya's father was deceased and he didn't think she would feel too good about her daughter calling a stranger Papa.
Ram: Beta I would love that lekin aap ki Mamma ko shayad accha na lage.
Riya: Toh Mamma ko hum na nahi batayenge. Yeh sirf hum dono ki beech ki baat hogi. Ok?
Ram: Ok. Aaj se aap meri beti. Ab khush?
Riya: Nahin, aise nahin.
Ram: Toh phir?
Riya extends her hand, for him to shake it: Aise.
She smiles at him. He shakes her hand and another blurry image flashes in front of his eyes. He could see himself sitting in bed and a women was sitting on the edge of the bed in front of him. Her face was blurred. But he could hear the voices. It was the same voice he had heard earlier.
Ram: Hum kisi ko kuch nahi batayenge, main vaada karta hu.
Woman: Aise nahi
Ram: Toh phir?
Woman, extending her hand: Aise
And they shook on it, making a deal, not to share this with anyone except for themselves.
Ram let go of Riya's hand and shut his eyes tight. He felt like someone was drilling a hole in his head. He held it, and in a second the image and the pain disappeared.
Riya: Papa, aap theek toh hai?
He smiled hearing her call him Papa. For some reason, it didn't feel odd or anything.
Ram: Hmm, ghar chalein?
Riya nodded and stood up. Ram picked up the garbage and threw it out and then put Priya's slice back in the bag. He followed Riya to the door and pushed the door as she walked out. She slipped her small hand into his large one and they walked back to his car, which was in the parking lot of the office.
Priya was at home, preparing dinner when the doorbell rang. She patted her hands on her thighs and walked to the door. She opened it to see Riya, in Ram's arms and they were both smiling at her. She blinked to fight back the tears. She had been wanting to see this day forever, and never in a million years thought her wish would come true.
Riya: Hi Mamma. (stretching her arms towards Priya)
Priya: Hi beta, (taking Riya into her arms and kissing her on the cheek)
Riya: Mamma, pata hai Ram uncle mujhe woh pastry shop leke gaye. Aur mere liye mera favourite Black Forest cake leke diye.
Priya, smiling at her: Achha? Aur aap ne usse Thank you kaha? Aur zyada tang nahi kiya na?
Riya covers her mouth with her hand. Then she turns to Ram.
Riya: Thank you Ram uncle. (she turns to Priya) Nahi Mamma, maine Ram uncle ko bilkul tang nahi kiya. Main toh aap ki good girl hoon hai na? (she looks at Ram and tries to wink at him, remembering their little deal, but she can't wink yet so both her eyes close)
Priya laughed and nodded. She put Riya down and then she looked at Ram and smiled nervously. She stepped aside, making way for him to come in.
Priya: Hi, Andar aayie.
Ram smiled back at her: Thanks.
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