Sipping cold coffee on a summer evening, I sat on the recliner in my garden,
watching my daughter, Aashi, play with her friends. Dressed in a baby blue frock, she looks nothing less than a princess. True, every daughter is a princess, a treasure to her parents.
Speaking of it, a fond memory plays in my mind...
A memory which transports me eighteen years back, to my childhood, when I was ten.
We, as in mom, dad, and me, were living at Cochin then, a closely-knit happy family. With mom and dad working harder everyday, to provide me a good life (simply luxurious life), I was left alone for most of the time. Though my parents never spent time with me, the never let me feel unwanted or lonely. They strived hard to provide me with everything that the never had, yet, they also made it a point to impart morals and values in me. Such loving people were my parents.
One particular day, I had returned home earlier than usual, with a spring in my step, a beaming smile on my face and a certificate and medal in my hand (a symbol of victory in the Inter-School Oratorical Competition). On my way back home, I saw a crowd near a garbage bin. Curious to see the subject of interest, I slowly squeezed my way into the crowd.
To say that I was greatly shocked would be an understatement, for, I saw a baby girl, neatly wrapped in shabby clothes, lying inside the garbage bin, wailing so loudly!!!
I had not come out of my initial shock, when I heard the people talking in hushed whispers about her. I remember one particular woman saying that the baby girl was 'cursed' since her 'identity'was unknown.
I couldn't take it anymore and I rushed back home as fast as my legs would carry me. The whole night, mom and dad tried to console me, saying that the ways of the world was ambiguous. Mom even offered to sleep beside me that night, yet sleep evaded me. I couldn't sleep peacefully since the cries of the baby girl haunted me.
A few weeks later, I heard that a kind-hearted childless couple had adopted the baby girl. This news put me out of my recklessness, yet I was disappointed that I couldn't help the baby in any way.
"Daddy..."
The high pitched squeal of Aashi brought me out of my reverie.
I smiled as I watched the scene unfolding before me, Aashi being twirled in the air by her father, my husband of 7 years, Arnav. Arnav and Aashi share a bond which is beyond the understanding of any human mind. Seeing them, another musing occupies my mind, the first time I saw Aashi and lifted her in my arms. She was so cute - a cute little bundle of joy, whose smile could ligt a whole palace and whose cry could bring the strongest of men on their knees.
I was a little over 18, volunteering at an NGO, "Happy Smiles", which was aiming at helping orphanages and providing free medical aid to those who couldn't afford them. We used to visit the orphanages to tutor the children or entertain them.
On one such visit, I heard a baby's feeble cry, which made me curious since there were no babies in that particular orphanage. On following it, I came face to face with the cutest creature ever, taking in her cute antics, I couldn't help but lift her into my arms. The moment I lifted her, she stopped crying and looked at me for a while, then flashed her toothlless smile, a smile that stole my heart.
Seeing her smile with Arnav, I cannot help as a one tear escapes my eye, as I rush to the kitchen to make coffee for him.
Arnav is no less than a kid when he is with Aashi. They love riling me up, and then cajoling me in the most adorable way possible. Their antics make my day.
Before meeting Arnav, had somebody said that I would love somebody more than my parents, I would have laughed at them. But, after meeting him, I realized that he was a gentleman, who loved me for who I am.
When the whole world was against my decision of adopting Aashi, I lost my faith in humankind. Even my parents started distancing themselves from me when I adopted Aashi 10 years back. As Aashi started growing up, she couldn't understand why her grandparents were always distant with her. That's when I decided that Aashi should be sent to a preschool, to keep her mind occupied.
That's where I met Arnav, who was then a teacher at Aashi's school. He always had a special place in his heart, for Aashi, and Aashi, never stopped talking about him. An unknown friendship bloomed between us, and I sort of felt safe and comfortable with him, which lead me to share my secret about Aashi with him.
One day, when we met at a less crowded park, he told me that he had to return to Delhi, since he had to take-over his late father's business. My heart was burdened all of a sudden, yet, I managed to compose myself and wished him luck. What he did was totally unexpected, he hugged me tight, kissing my hair, and said in a husky voice,
"You know that I can't leave without you both. Will you take me to be your husband and Aashi's father?"
I was overwhelmed that I couldn't answer him. So, I just ran away, straight to my home, trying to control my pounding heart.
The next day, I woke up late and I almost fainted seeing him chatting with my parents, stating that he wanted to 'join' our family. What happened next is history, since Aashi was the happiest of us in welcoming him into our family. And I couldn't have found a better person to share my life with.
Suddenly, a felt somebody hugging me from behind, a teasing kiss being placed on the side of my neck. Who else but Arnav!!
"So, my shona is missing me?"
"Why would she miss you when you are in her heart always"
If my heart was content in adopting Aashi, it was overflowing in love for this man, who had actually managed to secure a place in my heart from day one.
In being Aashi's safe haven, I found happiness.
In being Aashi's safe haven, I found love.
What more can I ask for???
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