Ram, Priya, Pihu and Brinda entered the airport. They went to a different area where their IDs were checked and luggage were scanned as they were to board a Private Jet. The procedures went smoothly.
As they arrived a little early, Ram suggested to roam around a little to give Pihu a little glimpse of the airport.
Priya whispered in Ram's ear.
Priya: Do whatever you want just keep her away from the food court area. What if she throws up during flying! She can get sick.
Ram nodded at her.
As they were passing a bakery inside the Airport, Pihu whined lightly.
Pihu: I want cupcakes.
Ram: No baby. Abhi nahi kha sakte. You can eat cupcakes when you reach Goa.
Pihu: But I want now.
Ram: Look cupcake flight mein na tummy full karke nahi jate what if you feel like doing ulti! You'll fall sick na! So you'll not be able to enjoy your adventure.
So abhi mat khao, you can have cupcakes in Goa.
Pihu: Ulti! Sick! No no no. Ek second! Mujhe stress ho raha hai. Ms. Sood meri medicine kaha hai?
Ram controlled his laugh.
Priya pulled out the white bottle and gave it to her.
Brinda: Ha? What medicine?
Pihu took 4 peppermint tablets in her hand. She popped one and passed others. Everyone took one each from her hand.
Brinda looked very confused.
Brinda: Yeh toh...
Priya(glaring a little): Medicine hai Brinda.
Pihu: Jaan I have to take this medicine. Nahi toh fever, cough, acidity, stress sab ek saath ho jata hai.
Brinda couldn't control herself. She started laughing.
Pihu looked at her annoyed.
Pihu: Jaan why are you laughing?
Ram was glaring at Brinda who quickly composed herself.
Brinda: Woh na sweetheart mujhe ek joke yaad aaya. That's why I laughed.
Pihu: Ohh! Mujhe bhi joke sunna hai.
Brinda: Okay! Toh bolo 'What kind of tree can fit in one hand'?
Pihu started thinking while looking at her hand streching it. Ram and Priya both were puzzled not knowing the answer.
Brinda: Tum dono ko pata hai?
Ram and Priya both answered 'no'.
Sometimes later, Pihu started laughing,
Pihu: A palm tree. Haina?
Brinda: Wow! Pihu baby you're more intelligent than your mumma and p....RK.
Priya and Ram both looked tensed.
Ram handed Pihu to Priya and took Brinda away from them to talk privately.
Ram: Brinda! What are you doing yaar!
Brinda: Sorry sorry! Abhi garbad ho jati.
Ram: I can't take any risk now. She'll not talk to me forever. I'm not prepared also. I'll have to sit and think ke Pihu ko batau kaise! Please don't fuck it up!
Brinda: I'm so sorry. I'll be careful I promise. Kuch nahi hoga jaan. She'll accept you wholeheartedly Sandy ne kaha na kal.
Ram nodded and they again went back to Pihu and Priya.
Ram: Okay it's time. Come.
They went outside, a car picked them up and drove them towards their flight.
Pihu(excitedly): Wow! The airplanes are so pretty. So big!
All looked at her wonder in awe.
Finally they reached in front of a midsized jet and got out of the car.
Ram: So cupcake! How's it?
Pihu(with twinkling eyes): Very beautiful.
Ram: It is indeed. Okay let's go inside.
They all went inside the aircraft using the steps. A air hostess greeted them with a smile.
They all sat in their respective seats. Pihu sat in between Ram and Priya. Brinda sat on the other side.
Sometimes later, the air hostess started giving the mandatory instructions. After that the pilot came and greeted them and gave his speech.
Pihu listened to everything patiently.
Then Ram fastened Pihu's seatbelt securely.
Ram: This is how you do it.
Pihu: Ohh! But it's tough.
Ram: That's why I'm here to help you. Always.
Pihu: Thank you.
Ram kissed her forehead lovingly.
Pihu smiled widely at him.
Ram, Priya and Brinda also fasten their seatbelt.
The announcement was heard that the flight was going to take off in sometime.
Pihu clapped her hands in excitement.
Pihu: Ms. Sood it's so much fun na? We will fly in the sky.
Priya: Yes Baby. And we'll also watch the sunrise. You'll notice in sometime how the sky changes colors when the sun rises from the east.
Pihu: Ohhh! Like that one when we went to see the mountains with Krish?
Priya: Yes. But you can have a better view from up in the sky.
Pihu giggled.
Ram was smiling throughout listening to the mumma-baby conversation.
Soon the flight started moving for the right position. Pihu clutched Ram and Priya's hands tightly.
Ram: It's okay cupcake. Don't worry. Maybe it's a little bit uncomfortable for sometime then you'll see clouds and the blue sky from the window.
Pihu nodded with a little bit concerned face.
She took both Ram and Priya's hands and held them tightly keeping them on her lap. As their hands touch, both looked at each other, their eyes locked. There eyes spoke volumes of unspoken words.
Their trance broke as Pihu squealed in joy.
Pihu: RK, Ms. Sood look! The airplane is running.
The jet started running on the runway and soon it took off. It started gaining momentum, changing altitudes. Pihu felt a little wobbly feeling in her tummy.
After sometime, the air hostess announced that they'd reached the cruising altitude and the passengers now can unfasten their seatbelts.
Ram Papa Kapoor on duty, unfastened Pihu's seatbelt.
Ram: Are you okay Pihu? Do you feel weird or sick? Are you scared?
Pihu: No. I'm okay. I felt something weird in my tummy. But I'm okay now. Thank you.
Ram: It's good that you're not scared.
Pihu(giggling): It's fun RK.
Everyone chuckled at her words.
Ram: Okay. Now you can sit here on my sit cupcake! You'll get a better view.
Pihu(excitedly): Okayy.
Ram looked at Priya and asked,
Ram: Can I sit here?
Priya: Of course. Mr. Kapoor now you're being formal with me.
Ram gave her a small smile.
Pihu sat on the window seat and started looking outside with pure wonder in her eyes.
Priya(whispered): Have you ever sat on a middle or aisle seat ever?
Ram(chuckled): Nope. But I guess my window seats are gone forever. Not that I'm complaining or anything.
Priya chuckled.
Sometimes later,
Pihu: RK, Ms. Sood, Jaan look! The sky is changing colors. And the clouds look sooo pretty.
Brinda stood up from her seat and went to sit in the row behind them for a better view.
Ram: Yes. Look at the orange shade in between blue sky and white clouds.
Pihu: So pretty.
Priya: You'll see the sun rise a little later.
Pihu: Yayyy!
Brinda sat up on her seat to pick into them behind.
Brinda: Sweetheart you know your RK, Adi chachu, Vikrant chachu, Kunal chachu and I used to watch sunset everyday from Marine Drive.
Pihu(confused): What is Marine Drive?
Brinda: It's a place in Mumbai where you walk, watch sunsets and see the sea waves hitting the rocks. It's a beautiful place.
Pihu: Ohhh! I want to go there! RK will you take me there?
Ram: Of course I will. How can I say no to my cupcake!
Pihu giggled, then again looked out of the window.
Ram(clapped his hands once): Another first. Yes!
Priya(whispered): There are a lot. Relax!
Ram gave her a wide smile.
Pihu: Look the sun is rising!
Everyone looked out of the window. The sun was finally rising scattering it's sunshine everywhere, announcing a new day, a new beginning.
Pihu: Look Ms. Sood there the sky is yellow, red, blue, purple.
Priya: Yes. How beautiful it is looking!
Brinda: And look sweetheart the clouds are looking like cotton candies.
Ram and Pihu(together): Yummmm! Cotton candy!
They both looked at each other with surprise.
Pihu: You also like cotton candy?
Ram: Of course! I love it. So fluffy and sweet.
Pihu(giggling): And colorful, and tasty.
Aap toh bilkul bachhe ho mere jaise!
Ram(narrowing his eyes): Ha ha tum bhi bachha bulao ab. Yeh hi toh sunta aa raha hoon. Ab toh aadat si hai mujhko aise jeene mein!
He side eyed Priya once.
Pihu: How old are you?
Ram: 44.
Pihu thought for a moment.
Pihu: 44? And I'm just 4?
Ram(chuckling): Yes.
Pihu: Phir bhi you fought for a cupcake with me?
Ram: Ha toh! 44 ka hoon toh cupcake pasand nahi ho sakta yeh kisne kaha!
Brinda: Pihu baby! Your RK also becomes a 4 year old bachha when it comes to cupcakes.
Pihu started laughing merrily. Priya also laughed with her.
Ram was looking at them and smiling cheekily. He felt like his world again became colorful.
Sometimes later,
The air hostess came with a bowl full of candies and first held it in front of Pihu with a smile.
Pihu smiled at her then looked at Priya who gestured her to take candies.
Pihu took 2 candies.
Ram: You can take more candies Pihu it's okay.
Pihu smiled at him widely and took a handful of candies.
Pihu: Thank you so much.
Ram also took a handful of candies.
Pihu was looking at him in shock.
Priya and Brinda took 2 candies each.
All thanked the air hostess.
Pihu: RK! Aap itni saare candies le li? Look Ms. Sood.
Priya: Mujhe tum dono 4 year olds ke beech mein kuch kehna hi nahi hai.
Ram narrowed his eyes at Priya.
Ram: Tumne phir se mujhe bachha kaha.
Priya: Woh hi kaha jo sach hai. Pihu has less candies than you.
Ram: I have big palms what do I do!
Priya(trying hard not to laugh): Thats your justification for taking that much candy! Very good Mr. Kapoor! It's not good for your health but you can do whatever you want, it's your life.
Ram could sense something else in her last sentence.
Ram(pouting): Okay cupcake I'll take 2 candies you can take the rest.
Pihu: Are you sure? You look sad.
Ram: Of course I'm sad. I also love candies.
Pihu gave him another 2 candies keeping the rest on her lap.
Pihu: It's okay RK you can have another 2. Waise you are also scared of my mumma?
Ram(laughing weirdly): Haha!
Ram(whispering in Pihu's ear): Ha gussewali toh hai tumhari Ms. Sood!
Pihu(whispering in Ram's ear): I knowww. She's a little strict but she's the best mumma RK. Trust me.
Ram smiled at her with a huge smile.
Priya: Tum dono meri buraai kar rahe ho?
Ram and Pihu(together): Areeyyy! No no. We were just discussing that you're the best.
Priya chuckled lightly.
Brinda took a photo of them like that. She was watching them throughout.
"Dekh ke lagta hi nahi that they're meeting after 5 years. It's so normal for them. Looks like nothing happened, these three were always like this smiling, laughing! Their cute little family. Bohot badi galti ho gayi tujhse Brinda! Agar uss din tu Ram ko jaane deti toh shayad aj tere sabse kareeb tin insaano ko itna suffer nahi karna padta.", Brinda thought.
She sat on her sit, silently crying.
Priya: Pihu! Baby give me the candies. Mere paas rahenge don't eat them together or you'll get cavities! You can have thoda thoda kar ke.
Pihu gave her the candies without making any fuss then again was lost in the beauty outside.
Ram was amazed to see how much Pihu listens to Priya.
Ram: Pihu listens to you so obediently.
Priya: Yeah. I always try to make her listen otherwise she'll become very Indisciplined.
Ram: You proved to be a good mother Priya. Not that I expected otherwise.
Priya's eyes filled with tears.
Priya(whispering): Thank you. I tried my best. I know I lacked in a lot of things. I know that I hurt both of you a lot. You both deserve better.
Ram: Priya I already told you what I want. And let's not talk about this here. Later okay?
Priya nodded looking down at her hands.
Ram passed her the water bottle.
Priya drank some water and calmed down herself, then gave a small smile at him.
Pihu was in her wonderland detached from the whole world. She was having the best time. She has always loved sunrises, sunsets, clouds, moons and stars. And to be able to see all this she felt very very lucky.
Pihu turned to her mumma and RK.
Pihu: RK can we watch stars also at night from the airplane?
Ram: Ummm...Cupcake it's a very interesting question. So hota yeh hai ki if the sky is clear and there's no cloud then yes you can see stars very brightly from the airplanes. I've seen stars for a few times.
Pihu: Wow! How do they look?
Ram: They are really beautiful even brighter than the view we have from the ground.
Pihu(nodding): Do you like stars and moon? Ms. Sood and I watch stars together.
Ram(smiling sadly): Yes I love them.
Pihu sensed his sadness.
Ram remembered how Priya made him fall in love with stars and the moon and how they shared some beautiful moments together 5 years back that he had cherished all these years.
Pihu: What happened RK? Are you sad? I'm sorry did I make you sad?
Ram: No baby you didn't make me sad. I'm okay.
Pihu forwarded her arms to him and Ram smiled taking her in a tight embrace.
Pihu: I know you're sad. It's okay to be sad sometimes. You told me na. It's okay.
Ram felt calmness and care in her arms. He was surprised how clearly she listens and remembers things that are said to her and she understands the meaning of them quite clearly. He felt good after that.
Ram: Thank you Cupcake.
He kissed her hair.
She gave him his signature goofy smile back.
Priya knew that their memories made Ram sad. Her heart also ached. How everything shattered in front of their eyes!
"Ahhh! Such cuties they are! How much I wanted to see them together all these years. Never thought that my wishes would fulfill like this.", Priya thought with tears in her eyes. She prayed for their happiness.
The air hostess came to ask for their orders.
They all went with sandwiches as it was early morning.
As the sandwich came, Brinda again sat up on her seat and peaked behind to watch the scene.
Ram and Pihu were eating with the same happy, childish smile on their face, like nothing matters in the world other than their sandwich.
Priya chuckled at Brinda's shocked yet enchanted expression.
Priya: Told you.
Brinda laughed.
Pihu and Ram both looked satisfied after they had their meal.
Pihu: Tummy full.
Ram: I can eat more.
Pihu: Yes you can. But I have a chotu sa petu na!
Ram laughed at her cute explanation.
The captain announced that they're going to land in sometime. This made Ram sad as he realized that he had to go back leaving Pihu and Priya for 2 long days.
After 5 mins, the airplane started descending and landed successfully on the runway.
The pilot came to know if they enjoyed the journey.
Pihu gave him a huge smile.
Pihu: Thank you Pilot Uncle. I really enjoyed the ride.
The pilot was really happy listening to her.
She waved the pilot and the air hostess goodbyes and they came down the steps to the ground.
The car came to pick Pihu, Priya and Brinda on the runway.
Ram was feeling very very heavy now. His sadness was overwhelming him. He just didn't wanted to go back but he knew he had to. He had to go back to safeguard his wife and his little cupcake.
He made Brinda and Pihu sit inside the car.
Ram: Priya? Can I talk to you for sometime? I needed to tell you something.
Priya nodded.
They went a little far away from the car so that Pihu and Brinda can't hear them........