M E E R A (On Hold)

CHAPTER 3

contd..

Amber

I have been staring at the girl sleeping soundly beside me. Her mouth was slightly open. Meera had her head on the small tray meant for keeping food or belongings (attached to the seat in front). The way we cried in each other's arms made me feel for the umpteenth time that she was born to be mine, a Collins.

A hand on my shoulder broke my trance. It was Robert, my husband, the love of my life.

-"Babe, wake her up. We're to reach soon."

He was busy packing his laptop with absolutely no expression on his face. Robert Collins, my husband, is a very shrewd lawyer. Probably the most famous in the US. Robert is a strict yet loving father to our kids. Our sons are pretty afraid of their dad, but also can lay their lives down for him. Robert Collins knows best when to be strict and when not. But what he did not know was, how to become a girl's dad.

I looked at my wristwatch. The hands pointed at 4.30 PM. It was high time Meera woke up because the train was to stop at our destination in the next 20- 25 minutes. Meera, though, had already started to stir slightly.

-"Meera... Meera.. wake up." I shook her.

She slowly opened her eyes trying to adjust to the light. After rubbing them with the back of her palms for a good minute, she opened her eyes properly and heaved a sigh. She looked out of the glass window and then at me. After a moment of hesitation, she asked,

-"We reached?"

I loved the way she spoke, very slowly and cautiously. We were already informed that she was being taught English for more than two years now. But I understand how difficult was it for Meera to learn.

-"We will soon." I replied to which she nodded.

Meera again turned back at the window.

Two hours later.

After being stuck in traffic for more than thirty minutes, we reached the hotel. It was one of the biggest in the city. Robert was completing all the formalities at the reception while Meera was closely watching the aquarium and its inhabitants. She had a small smile playing on her lips as the small goldfish tried following her moving forefinger on the glass.

-"Amber, let's go." Robert said slightly startling.

I called Meera and signaled her to come which she did. Hand in hand with my daughter, we followed the woman guiding us. She took us to an elevator and pressed the button.

-"There was another lift here nah?" Meera asked, surprising all of us.

Masking up the astonishment evident in her face, the woman replied,

-"There was. This part has been recently renovated." She smiled.

-"Have you been here before?" I asked not being able to hold my curiosity anymore.

Meera nodded giggling.

Could she be any cuter? I thought.

-"When? Why?"

-"I had a recording in Kolkata. I stayed here for a night."

-"Wow!" I exclaimed. My kid is famous.

Soon enough we reached our floor and eventually to our room. The woman opened the door and let us in.

******

The moment the car entered through the big gates Meera knew where she was.

I have been here before. Maybe a year back. She thought.