Mere Jeevan Saathi ✓

Chapter 18

Purvi opened the box and became shocked after seeing the things in it; there was a diary, an album, a big photograph of Paritosh and a jewellery box in it. Purvi picked up the photograph and looked at Paritosh's face. Some old moments started flashing in front of her eyes, she kept the photograph back in the box and held her head while closing her eyes. She saw some flashes of Paritosh and hers...

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"Bas papa...Ab main aur nahin kha paaungi"...Purvi said while turning her head to the other side.

"Bas bas beta ye last hai...Chalo chalo jaldi se finish karo"...Paritosh said while turning her head towards him and putting the spoon of food in her mouth.

Purvi chewed the food and gulped it down. Then, she looked at Paritosh.

"Papa...Aap bhi khaiye na"...She said while forwarding a spoon of food towards him.

Paritosh smiled and ate the food.

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Purvi opened her eyes with a jerk. She again picked up Paritosh's photograph and looked at it, she trailed her fingers on Paritosh's face.

"Pa...Papa..."...She uttered in barely more than a whisper, her voice choked in her throat and her eyes welled up with tears.

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"Papa...Kahan hain aap?"...Purvi shrieked in happiness from the hall.

Paritosh came out of the kitchen and looked at his daughter who was looking for him from one room to another. Suddenly her eyes found him, she threw her school bag and ran towards him and hugged him in sheer happiness.

"Kya baat hai...Aaj meri beti bahut khush hai?"...Paritosh asked with a smile while hugging her back.

"Papa har saal ki tarah main is saal bhi apni class mein first aayi"...Purvi said happily while coming out of the hug.

"Congratulations beta...Aise hi mehnat karte raho aur apne papa ka naam karte raho"...Paritosh said with a smile and kissed her forehead.

"Kya aap khush hain papa?"...Purvi asked while looking at him.

"Main khush nahin bahut khush hoon beta...Kyunki mujhe pata tha is baar bhi meri beti hi first aayegi, aur isliye maine apni beti ki favourite sweet dish banayi hai"...Paritosh replied while pulling her cheeks lovingly.

Then, he walked inside the kitchen. Purvi smiled and she too went inside the kitchen. She sat on the kitchen counter and started eating the sweet dish made by him.

"Papa aap gajar ka halwa kitna achchha banate hain...You are the best"...She said and kissed his right cheek.

Paritosh smiled at her.

"Aakhir papa kiska hoon"...He said with a proud smile while lifting his collars.

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"Purvi ke..."...Purvi uttered in a teary voice, a drop of tear fell from her left eye on Paritosh's photograph.

She wiped it and then kept the photograph back in the box. Then, she took out the photo album from the box and opened it. She turned the pages and saw each and every photo while recalling the incidents behind them. Suddenly her gaze fell on a photo in which she was dressed up as a cook...