BELLS IN NEW YORK

Chapter 2- Part 02

It was almost 8.30pm when I had finished my workload for the day and clocked out. although I was quite new to this work, I was given a tough schedule to work up to.

I plopped onto the driver seat and breathed out an exhausted sigh. I revved up the engine of my second-hand SUV and hit the road, praying that my drowsy eyes would stay open long enough for me to get home. I hope being a police officer is a satisfactory excuse for me to drive while drowsy.

On second thought, just pretend I never said that. I could lose my job if anybody heard this.

Thunder rumbled loudly above me. Dark grey clouds remained stagnant above the whole city. The rain that had started out as a steady drizzle was now a raging storm. My windshield wipers were on maximum speed, yet I could barely see beyond a few feet in front of me.

Drowsy eyes and a slippery highway are, unmistakeably, a lethal pair. I nearly skidded off the tarmac a couple times. However, excellent driving was a required skill at the police academy so I was able to get the car back under control.

Nevertheless, skidding twice was more than sufficient of a warning for me to force my eyes open, focus on the road, and drive at at a steady, slow pace.

With less than ten minutes of my drive home left, the wind started picking up speed, and within seconds, it was howling. Trees swayed fiercely in the hurricane-like weather. The rain too, showed no signs of ceasing.

I reached home fifteen minutes later, the entire drive taking almost half an hour, more than twice the time I usually take. I backed into my garage, relieved that I had made home without any serious accidents or injuries.

The storm was still raging on outside the garage doors. However that was the least of my worries. I made my way into the house, nearly tripping over the steps leading into the house, anxious to see my beloved bed again.

But, my expectations crumpled before my eyes as the four foot tall barricade to my simple wish fan towards me.

"Aunty Deethee!!!" my nephew, Ivaan, squealed in delight as he hugged my knees. How could I have forgotten that my cousins were coming over today? Ivaan had gotten his holidays from school, so his family was here to visit us.

"Hello, baby! You have quite the energy left after such a long flight, huh?" I picked him up as I walked into the living space.

Being an only child, Ivaan was the closest I had for a younger sibling. It would be an understatement to say I loved him.

As tired as I was, I didn't let it show. With Ivaan refusing to let go of me, I could only acknowledge my cousin sister and brother with a slight head bow.

"When did you guys get here? I thought you were coming early tomorrow," I said, looking over at my cousin sister.

"I am not even surprised you forgot the date Drithi. I honestly thought you would be more responsible once you were older. I guess that's a pretty far stretch for you."

I scoffed. Priya and I basically grew up together. Ever since she started having trouble at home, she started spending a lot of time at our place, until she was basically living with us.

After her parents got divorced, Pa pretty much unofficially adopted her. We've been like siblings ever since. So, a part of me was actually relieved to hear her snarky comment.

"I can't say any better for yourself. You've already got a kid. I thought you'd be a lot more mature after having giving birth. But I see nothing has changed. I feel bad for Gopal, honestly," I replied back with equal wit.

"Why do you feel bad for my husband?"

"Because he has to take care of two kids."

Pa, having overheard our conversation,  emerged from the kitchen corridor, laughing. He set the tray of tea cups he was carrying on the table in the living room and beckoned everyone to grab one for themselves.

"Even after so many years apart, your bickering still hasn't stopped huh?" Pa replied, picking up a cup for himself.

"Priya started it Pa. I was minding my own business," I said, feigning innocence. It was priya's turn to scoff.

"I've got nothing to say Pa. You've been spoiling her too much," she said, turning to my father.

Again,Pa laughed.

It's been a while since I had seen my father laughing like this. Over the past few years, I had been too busy to spend any quality time with him. I should probably try to spend some more time with him. Once all the madness at the police station is taken care of.

When I was younger, I had only ever seen Pa smiling. Papa and Pa were almost always together, laughing and teasing each other. But ever since Papa passed away from cancer four years ago, Pa changed alot.

Papa was the human incarnation of sunshine and daisy fields. The moment he walked into a room, it lit up. He was one of the happiest souls I had known in my entire life. He was funny, playful and very loving. My childhood was never boring, listening to the two of them doing the most random things together and laughing until they could barely breathe. Papa was our family's serotonin.

But four years ago, it all changed. Papa started to fall ill constantly. At first, the doctors brushed it off as a simple flu, but as it got worse, we found out that he actually had bowel cancer.

Gradually, our house became quieter and quieter with each passing day. No music blared around the house. No clinking of pots and pans as Papa and Pa fought to cook. No voices were heard screaming at each other for pulling pranks.

Three months after the diagnosis, Dada was confined to his bed. The once well-built man was now as frail as a twig. He could barely talk, but even then, his smile never wavered. Whenever he had the strength to compile a few sentences, he would make fun of Pa for looking so glum and old. When I came to check on him after class, his eyes would light up and he would smile bright, beckoning me to come closer.

Three more months passed, but his end was near. We felt it. HE felt it. The night before he passed, he spoke for the longest time he had in four months. I remember his words very clearly.

"Drithi, take care of Pa for me. He might seem strong, but it's only an act. I've seen him cry multiple times while I've been asleep. It's my time to go, but I will always be with you in your hearts. Keep Pa happy. You are all he's got. I love you, baby."

He passed away the next morning, while holding on to Pa's hand.

Pa didn't smile for many months after the funeral. Then I got busy with the police entrance exams, and barely had time to look out for Pa. It has been four years since I saw Pa smile genuinely.

As I watched him laugh as he played with Ivaan who was now running around the tea table, I made a mental note to try to spend more time with him. After all, he's all I've got.

♧♧♧

A little back story for our beloved Pa.

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~XXX

18/05/2022