I Found You

30.

    • Vikram •

"Have you eaten?" She inquired over the phone from Veer as we awaited our food's arrival.

We had chosen to dine at the hotel, under the evening sky, with the shimmering lake stretching out before us.

Our table was positioned at the end of the row, offered an unconstructed view of the serene waters and the distant city lights reflecting on its surface.

Earlier in the evening, when she had woken up from her nap, the idea of getting dressed up and going somewhere out for the dinner seemed to daunting to her. So we decided on to explore the hotel only.

Despite her efforts to conceal it, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had unsettled her after the washroom incident at the airport.

She was sweating profusely when she had emerged, betraying the calm facade she tried to maintain. Throughout the flight, she was silent, her fingers tightly wound into fists.

Each time I asked her about her being well, she offered the same rehearsed response:
that she was fine but a little nervous as it was her first time flying ever.

Yet, I couldn't help but wonder, was it merely first-time jitters that plagued her
or did it hint at something deeper she had chosen to keep hidden?

Or maybe I was overthinking it all and her distress was just her social anxiety acting up. Maybe.

"Don't forget to have your breakfast before going to school." She reminded him, gentle concern evident in her tone as she was well aware of his habit of skipping breakfast.

Veer and she are still trying to get along with each other, but there is progress, I must say. And after seeing her efforts, I know one day Veer is going to look up to her more than me.

Each and every time I see her caring for my little one, I thank my lucky stars for sending her into my life, for blessing me with this beautiful soul sitting in front of me.

"Thankyou." I said as the waiter left after serving our food.

While she was still engaged with Choti maa on the phone, I tore off a small piece of the piping-hot tandoori paneer tikka and blew softly on the morsel.

Dipping it into the mint chutney, I extended my hand towards her, while she opened her mouth accepting the bite.

"Yeh lo, aap hi baat karo." She whispered
to her while passing the phone to me.

"Put the phone on speaker." Chote papa's distant voice reached my ears as soon as I brought the phone to my ear to greet choti maa.

"Okay." I replied, turning on the speaker.

"Adhira beta, agar ye zyaada pareshan
kare toh you just call me, okay?"

I glanced up to meet her gaze while there was a teasing smile playing on her face as she responded with a "ji," and nodded her head as if he could see her.

Cutie.

"Abhi toh pareshan karna start bhi nahi kiya, chote papa." I added and winked at her, causing her cheeks to flush even more.

"And you guys call me shameless for no reason, huh." Kabir's voice of complaint filled the air.

"Acha chalo, you guys have your food now and enjoy to the fullestttt." Mukti had this weird habit of extending her words when excited or happy.

"Yeah, bye, goodnight." Both Adhira and I chimed in simultaneously.

"Han ji, pareshan kar raha hun main aap ko?" I asked, raising my brows in question before placing the phone aside on the table.