It was 7:30 in the morning when Ram and Brinda came back from a walk by the beach. They saw Priya and Krish chatting in the lawn. Ram and Priya both smiled at each other. Ram and Brinda also sat there.
Brinda: Pihu uthi nahi abhi tak?
Priya: No she wakes up at 8-8:30.
Ram: Sandy hai na uske saath?
Priya: Haan woh bhi nahi uthi hai.
Krish: Ram don't be disheartened if Pihu ignores you after waking up.
Ram: What?
Krish(laughing): The only person she cares about after waking up is Priya. Baki sab bhar mein jaye she doesn't care.
Ram looked at Priya.
Priya: Yeah she's very clingy and moody in the morning. It takes like 30-40 mins for her to get back to her usual self. It's funny.
Brinda: Oh! That's why she was not talking to me after waking up.
Ram pouted.
Krish: She hates it if I try to hold her after waking up.
Ram chuckled.
Suddenly,
Ram: Oh no! Pihu doesn't know that I placed her in your room. Uth ke dekhegi toh gussa ho jayegi ke waha kyun hai. I should go.
Ram literally ran inside.
Priya was smiling widely at his concern.
Ram went upstairs and saw that the door was open. He went inside and saw Sandy and Pihu sleeping peacefully.
He smiled gleefully then carried Pihu in his arms and went to his room.
He placed a sleeping Pihu softly on the bed and sat beside her. He was adoring her sleeping form.
"I can look at her all day. So pretty she is!", he thought.
There was a light knock on the door.
Priya entered.
Ram gestured her to sit beside him. Priya sat there. Both were looking at their lovely daughter with a bright smile.
Priya(voice down): Did she kick you last night?
Ram(voice down): No no. Even I slept like a log.
Priya nodded.
Ram: I expected her to wake up and cry. But she didn't.
Priya: Told you. Sandy Sara di tried to make her sleep with them before but she denied everytime. It's only you.
Ram's famous goofy smile adorned his face.
Ram: Waise I wanted to talk to you today if you want. Maybe we can go somewhere. And with Pihu of course it's not possible.
Priya thought for a moment.
Priya: Krish and others can take her out for today. She'll be okay.
Ram: Sure?
Priya: Absolutely. I'll tell him then.
Ram nodded with a smile.
Priya watched the clock.
Priya: Okay time to wake her up.
Ram: Priya she's sleeping so peacefully. How do you wake her up?
Priya: I know it's hard. I think with time and practice I stopped feeling guilty as when she oversleeps usse raat ko neend nahi aati. And her sleep cycle gets disrupted.
Ram sighed.
Priya then started caressing Pihu's hair softly.
Priya: Pihu baby! Good morning! It's time to wake up.
Pihu didn't buzz a bit. She was still sleeping peacefully.
Priya(shook her a little): Pihu baby wake up.
Ram: This is not good. Let her sleep Priya.
Priya: What if she had school right now? Mr. Kapoor aise nahi hota. I know you're having problem with this but with time you'd have to be okay with this.
Ram nodded reluctantly.
Pihu stirred a little then rolled over and started sleeping again.
Ram chuckled.
Priya(again shook her a little): Pihu! Baby wake up.
Pihu: Mmmmm...
Priya: Wake up it's already past 8 sweetheart.
Pihu rolled over and held Ram's hand.
Ram(whispered smirking): Looks like it's not only you she wants in the morning.
Priya(smirking): Haha! Let's see.
Priya shook her again.
Pihu: Ehhh...nooo....
Priya: Pihuu!
Pihu: Mummaaa! Nooo!
A gentle smile came on Priya's face. She composed herself but Ram was quick to notice that. His heart ached.
Priya: Pihu baby please. Don't be like this. Wake up. Dekho how beautiful the weather is outside. Birds are chirping kab se and you are still sleeping.
Pihu started rubbing her eyes while whining.
Priya: It's a new day, new adventures! Wake up wake up.
Finally Pihu opened her eyes and saw her mumma and RK looking at her.
She stretched her arms yawning heavily. Then forwarded her arms to Priya who happily took her into her arms and kissed her cheek deeply.
Pihu: Good morning.
Priya: Morning baby. Look RK is here.
Pihu looked at Ram.
Pihu: Good morning!
Ram: Morning cupcake.
Pihu turned and hugged Priya tightly placing her head on her shoulder.
Priya: Did you sleep well?
Pihu: Yup.
Then it hit Pihu and she looked at Priya's face.
Pihu: Did you miss me?
Priya held her hand and placed a kiss. She couldn't hold her tears.
Priya: Of course I missed you. How can I not sweetheart? But it's okay. You should make your own choices. I'm fine. Your happiness is all that matters.
Pihu(teary-eyed): I'm sorry Mumma! Please don't cry.
Ram passed a tissue to Priya teary-eyed. She wiped her tears quickly and smiled at her looking into her eyes.
Priya: I'm not sad. Sach mein. I'm happy that you slept here with Mr. Kapoor. Yes I missed you but it's okay. You wanted to be with him and it's okay. You don't need to be sad. Okay?
Pihu nodded with a smile.
Priya: Now give me a kissie.
Pihu kissed both her cheeks deeply.
Priya: Thank you.
Pihu again hugged her wrapping her arms around Priya's neck.
Priya gave a "It's Okay. Don't feel guilty" smile to Ram.
Ram was just looking at both feeling all sorts of emotions inside him.
After some moments,
Ram: Cupcake baby I also want a hug.
Pihu looked at him once. Then went to give him a hug.
Ram hugged her tightly, smiling cheekily. Priya was dumbfounded and Ram was smirking. Priya felt a tinge of jealousy as she thought it was just for her. She started sulking. Ram showed her a victory smile to which she first tried to look irritated then started laughing.
Pihu broke the hug and again went to her mother's arms.
Priya: Okay. Let's go and brush your teeth.
Pihu: Okay.
Pihu waved at Ram who waved back smiling. They both went out of the room leaving a smiling Ram.
After sometime Ram went to get ready for the day.
When he came out of the washroom, he saw Pihu sitting on the bed with a book in hand looking exactly like a mini Priya reading a book. She looked up at him, smiled then again focused on the book. This made Ram smile widely. Then he absentmindedly threw the towel on the bed. And, the moment Pihu saw that, she stood up on the bed hands on her waist looking angry.
Pihu(pointing her index finger at Ram): RK what is this?
Ram knew he was in danger as she exactly looked like angry Priya. He quickly grabbed the towel and held it in his hands.
Ram: I....I'm sorry.
Pihu: You should be. Aise koi wet towel bed pe rakhta hai! Look at the bedsheet. It's wet now.
Ram: Arreyyy Sorry kaha na Cupcake yaar.
Priya entered the room as she could hear what's happening in Ram's room and came to see the show.
She was smirking.
Pihu: Sorry? Yeh toh main bhi nahi karti. Aise kaun karta hai? Sirf aap. Bad boy!
Ram: I'm sorry Cupcake. I'll never do that again. I promise.
Pihu: Soch na bhi mat. Main hoon isiliye zyada scold nahi kiya. Ms. Sood dantte na toh dekhte aap.
Ram(murmured): Jhela hai maine.
Pihu: What?
Ram(literally begging): Nothing meri maa. Baksh do ab mujhe. Galti ho gayi. I'm sorry.
Pihu: Ha ha thik hai. Maaf kiya.
Taking her book in her, she went out of the room.
Ram looked at Priya for sympathy.
Ram: Zyada scold nahi kiya??? She's exactly like you.
Priya started laughing.
Ram: Kya yaar Priya! Tum has rahi ho.
Priya: Toh kiya karoon? I've never seen her behaving like that.
Ram(frustrated): Ab beti se bhi daant khana hai! Yeh hi likha hai mathe pe mere!
Priya stopped herself from laughing.
Ram: Tumhara kya hai! Enjoy kar rahi ho I know that very well.
Priya started laughing again.
Priya: It's too funny.
Sulking, Ram also went out of the room.
They all were in the dining room.
Priya: Sandy look at yourself! Itna soyi hai ke eyes ful gayi hai.
Sandy: Di Please. Aap mat suru ho jao. Let me live a little. Phir se wapas jaana bhi hai.
Ram and Adi narrowed their eyes at her.
Priya went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of milk. The moment Pihu saw that, she came down off the chair and started running. Ram was clueless of that really happened. Priya kept the glass on the table and followed Pihu.
Priya: Pihu! Baby stop running.
Pihu: No...I don't want it.
Priya: Pihu don't do this baby please. Gir jaoge.
Pihu: Mujhe milk nahi peena. I don't like it.
Priya: But it is important sweetheart.
Ram: What is happening?
Brinda: Kal bhi yeh hi hua. Pihu doesn't want to drink milk aur Priya ko pilana hi hai. Dono vage 10 minutes tak aise hi.
"Shivi she used to do this when she was little.", Ram thought teary-eyed.
Ram: Oh God! Priya Pihu stop running around. Gir jaogi yaar. Stop.
They didn't stop.
Krish woke up from his seat and started helping Priya. Pihu started getting irritated and went to Ram running. The moment Ram picked her up in his arms, Pihu started wailing in high-pitched tone.
Ram got angry.
Ram(sternly): Stop it you both right now.(mellowing down his voice) Cupcake baby it's okay. It's okay. No one is gonna force you. It's okay.
He pulled out a tissue from his pocket and started wiping her tears, rocking her. Pihu's crying lessened but didn't stop.
Ram(caressing her back): It's okay. It's okay. Don't cry.
Ram and Tarun spoke something only through eyes. Tarun nodded, took the glass of milk and went to the kitchen.
Priya knew she did a mistake by forcing her and Ram was really angry.
Priya: Pihu baby I'm sorry. I won't force you again I promise.(looking at Ram) I'm sorry.
He just nodded.
Pihu was still sniffling.
Pihu: No.
Ram: Priya not now. Please.
Priya nodded and went to a side.
Ram went outside in the garden with Pihu. He started distracting her showing her flowers and butterflies. Finally after another 5 mins she stopped crying.
Ram: Are you feeling okay now?
Pihu nodded.
Ram: Okay give me a smile now. My cupcake doesn't look cool crying like that.
Pihu gave him a toothy smile.
Tarun called them inside.
Ram made Pihu sit on his lap. Tarun came with a glass of Flavored milk made with nuts, saffron and cardamom.
Ram held the glass close to Pihu's nose.
Ram: Smell it.
Pihu did.
Ram: You like it?
Pihu: Hmm...smells nice.
Ram: Okay. Take a sip. If you don't like it, you don't have to drink. Okay?
Pihu nodded and took a sip while Ram held the glass near her mouth.
Pihu: It's good. I like it.
Ram smiled.
Ram: Okay then Tarun take her to the garden and help her drink this.
Pihu went to Tarun's arms, Ram handed the glass to Tarun and they went outside.
Ram: Priya come with me please.
Priya went with him upstairs. Ram closed the door of the room and made her sit on the bed while he sat on a stool in front of her. He held her hand in between her hands.
Priya(tears trickling down her eyes): I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forced her.
Ram: It's okay. All parents make mistakes. Maybe we will too. We already did actually. But we need to keep in mind that they shouldn't affect her in a bad way again. Priya please don't force her to eat or drink anything. There are several options we can try with her. Milk smells and tastes bad to her.
Priya nodded.
Ram(sadly): Shivi used to run like that whenever we tried to make her drink milk. She didn't like it either. She was underweight so we went to a child specialist, she actually suggested to try this flavored milk. She liked that so I thought maybe Pihu would like that also. And she did. That's it. It's no rocket science. We'll learn everyday. Samjhi?
Priya(nodding with tears in her eyes): I miss her Mr. Kapoor! Shubham aur Ishaan ne...kyunnnn?
Ram hugged her tightly and started crying. Priya hugged him back. They cried their heart out in each other's arms.
After sometime both composed themselves and went down to have breakfast. They saw a smiling Pihu pulling Tarun's nose and both giggling. Both chuckled at that scene.
Priya: I knew she would love Tarun. And look at them.
Ram: They look so cute.
They both smiled at each other.
Tarun saw them coming and went to them. Pihu forwarded her hands to Ram who took her in his arms.
Tarun: She finished the whole glass.
Ram: Aarrreeyyy waah! Cupcake! You are a very very good girl.
He kissed her nose which made Pihu giggle. Pihu also gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Ram: Okay now let's go have breakfast.
Others were already having their breakfast. Ram was intently watching Pihu cut a banana pancake with huge focus with a knife. He was really impressed.
Pihu: Ms. Sood maple syrup.
Priya passed her the maple syrup. Pihu neatly spread it on the pancake then started eating with a fork.
Priya was watching Ram's expression of wonder and smiling.
They finished their breakfast and all went to sit in the living room.
Pihu was sitting beside Priya holding her pink bunny.
Krish: Darling! We'll go visit churches, zoo and beaches today.
Pihu: Yayyy! Sab ek saath chalenge. So much fun!
Ram and Priya were looking at each other.
Priya: Woh baby! RK and I have some work. Toh you go have fun with others.
Pihu: Work? No.....whyyy?
Priya: It's important na baby. Jana padega.
Pihu came down from the sofa and started pulling Priya's arm.
Pihu: No you're coming with us! RK, Ms. Sood mere saath chalegi. You go work alone.
Ram also started pulling Priya's other arm.
Ram(narrowing his eyes): No Priya is coming with me.
Pihu(narrowing her eyes): No Ms. Sood is coming with me to see the zoo.
Ram: Areeyyy Yaar Cupcake! For 1 day please! Let her go with me.
Pihu: No she's mine.
Ram: No. She's mine.
Pihu: Aap haath chodo meri mumma hai!
Ram: Ha toh maine kab kaha meri mumma hai!
And that's it Priya started laughing her heart out.
Priya(giggling): You two! Stop fighting please.
Pihu(shaking Priya's hand): Ms. Sood please tell RK that you're coming with me.
Ram(shaking Priya's hand): Priya please tell Pihu that you're coming with me today.
Pihu: No!
Ram: No!
Priya: Please someone help me. Yeh kahan fass gayi main. You both leave me. Bohot hua. I'm serious now.
Both left her hand and crossed their arms near their chest, sulking.
Priya: Pihu! Only for some hours please baby understand. It's really important nahi toh main aap ko na bolti kiya zoo jaane ke lia. You go have fun tab tak Mr. Kapoor and I will complete our work then we'll have fun together. Please sweetheart!
"Ms. Sood ko important work ke lia jana hai. But I want her. She needs to go nahi toh woh mere saath jaati. RK toh jaa rahe hain Ms. Sood ke saath toh phir thik hai.", Pihu thought.
Pihu: Only for today?
Priya: Yes only for today.
Pihu: Thik hai phir you can go with RK.
Ram: Aareeeyyy Thank you Cupcake.
Pihu(frowning): Your welcome. Take care of Ms. Sood.
Ram's heart melted at her words. He kneeled down on one knee in front of her.
Ram(looking straight into her eyes): Always.
Pihu did not understand it but nodded.
Ram: I'm sorry for fighting with you.
Pihu: I'm sorry too.
Ram forwarded his arms to her and Pihu hugged him tightly.
Ram: Only for today. Then we'll have fun together.
Pihu: Okay.
Everyone got ready quickly for the day. Then Pihu, Krish, Adi, Brinda, Sandy, and Tarun sat in a car.
Priya: Pihu baby have a lot of fun.
Ram: There's a tiger in the zoo. Hi bol dena usse meri taraf se.
Pihu: Ohhoo RK! Tiger ko English thodi na aati hai! Aap bhi na...kuch bhi bolte ho.
She started laughing and others also joined her. Then Priya and Ram both kissed Pihu's forehead.
Ram and Priya: Bye Pihu. Bye everyone!
All waved at them and said 'Bye'.
And they started their journey towards the churches leaving Ram and Priya who needed to have a conversation.
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