THE HALF OF IT

Part-8

Present day

3 years and few months later...

"Mumma when will we go to meet Tanya and give her the popsicle we bought for her."

I was putting all the groceries and other things at their places and hearing to her I looked at my almost going be 3 year old daughter swinging her legs sitting on the kitchen counter.

Ruhi was getting impatient to meet Tanya as I told her that she can only have her popsicle once we give Tanya's her. " After few more minutes Valentine. Once I put everything at its place, we will go." I replied as I got back to my work.

She took her favorite toy she named Zoie and started talking to her offering  few licks of her popsicle and of course Zoie have to lick it making sounds and then as usual Valentine scolds her to not be selfish and leave some for her.

Even though my little miracle Ruhi was born prematurely at seven months but by God's grace she caught up with other kids and started completing all her milestones like other normal kids since age of 2. She is my angel my Valentine and I can't imagine my life without her anymore.

"Okay, I am done," I announced picking milk and bread that I picked up from store for my neighbor Shruti, who is Tanya's mother.

"Yay", Ruhi squealed as I took her down from the counter, with Zoie in one hand and two Popsicles in the other.

Ruhi raced to the front room of the house, her black braid bouncing off her back as she came to an abrupt halt in front of the screen door. She waited, shifting from sandal to sandal, her big blue eyes sparkling with anticipation for me to unlatch the lock. As soon as the door was open, Ruhi bolted out to the front yard, then stopped at the sidewalk, just like I had taught her to do so she didn’t run into the street.

We walked to the house next to ours and as soon as we reached my little Valentine stood on her toes to ring the bell which she calls "ding-dong". The door opened and Tanya was standing there with Shruti.

Tanya clapped her hands together happily. “Ruhi, You’re here? I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting.”

Shruti came up behind her daughter and rolled her eyes. “You’d think they haven’t seen each other for weeks, instead of just hours,” she said in amusement.

“I bwought you a popsicle?” Valentine said, thrusting it toward Tanya while glancing back at me, her struggles pronouncing the letter “r” coming through. “Can we eat them now?”

I exchanged a mom look with Shruti, and after being given the silent okay by her, I nodded. “Yes. Just remember that you have to lick it until it’s gone, and don’t bite into it.”

“We know,” the two little girls sing-songed at the same time, then ran off to play.

I stepped inside her house and gave her the milk and bread she asked me to bring. "Thank you for being a good friend and so you get the first piece of chocolate cake I just made."

Shruti has been there for me over years, we have shared a lot of cups of coffee and lots of secrets. When I left my apartment and shifted here, she was already living next to me and is a stay at home mother. She, her daughter and her husband Varun became my friends instantly.

When Ruhi was born prematurely, Shruti stood by my side helping me nurture her and also being there for me emotionally. Once my maternity leaves got over I returned to work, she became baby sitter for my Valentine but soon I realized I hate staying away from my daughter for long hours, so I left my job and stared to work as a freelance graphic designer.

With our coffee and cake we sat on the table and I ate the first bite and moaned. "It's delicious Shruti.  Your amazing food is the reason that I am not able to loose some extra weight I have put on during pregnancy."

“What are you talking about?” Shruti said, dismissing the weight issue with a wave of her hand. “You look great . . . and there’s a certain someone who have noticed what a hot momma you are with your fantastic curves.”

I frowned as she took a sip of her coffee, unable to imagine who Shruti was referring to. “Do I want to know who you’re talking about?”

“Oh, my God?” she exclaimed, her expression and tone filled with exasperation. “Are you serious or are you so gone that you haven’t noticed Garrett?”

“You mean the gardener guy?” I asked incredulously.

Shruti huffed out a disbelieving laugh. “He’s a great-looking landscaper who owns his own business, yet insists on
taking care of your lawn instead of sending one of his minions to do the menial work. Trust me, that man is interested in more than pruning the bushes around your front porch.”

I coughed, nearly choking on the piece of cake I’d been swallowing. “How the hell would you know this?”

A devious smile curved the corners of Shruti’s mouth as she set her cup back down on the table. “Because when I went out to check the mail the other day when he was mowing your lawn, he ‘casually’ asked me about you. I told him you are a single mom, that there is no father in the picture, and that you’re way overdue to get laid.”

“Shruti?” I stared at her in horror.

“Okay, I didn’t say the last part about you needing to get laid, even if it is the truth and you are way past due,” she said, putting me somewhat at ease that my gardener wasn’t privy to the lack of sex in my life. “But seriously, Teju, what would it hurt to go out on a date with him?”

I immediately shook my head. “I am just not interested right now.” I hadn't gone out with a guy since my ex, and I didn’t count my night with my fantasy man, Karan, as a “date.”

God, that seemed like forever ago, but I thought about him all the time . . . It was hard not to when my daughter’s beautiful blue eyes were like a mirror of her father’s.

“You have to start somewhere,” Shruti said, more softly now and with good intentions. “Don’t you want to get married someday? Have a husband and more kids?”

My stomach gave a pained twist. Now that was something I didn’t like to think about. I already knew from my parents’ experience that marriage wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, and I never want to put one child through a custody battle and divorce, let alone a few more.

I finished the last bite of my cake and set my fork on plate. “For right now, I’m good. I swear.” I gave Shruti a genuine smile. “I like it being just me and Val.”

Much to my relief, Shruti let go of the subject and I went to check on the kids. They were having a tea party with there dolls and stuff toys. I came back and took the San Francisco times magazine kept on the table with title "San Francisco Hottest Properties ". I Start turning pages, as sometimes magazines like these give me ideas for my graphic designs and help me keep updates with latest trends.

"So are all the preparations for Ruhi's birthday done?," Shruti asked me.
"I have invited kids from her school with their moms, ordered cupcakes, candies and other things, so it's pretty done."

I again started reading the magazine. It had articles about big businessmen who started and established their own business at a very young age. I find such things inspiring and started to read those. Once done with first page I went to the second one with title, "One of the hottest bachelor and most successful businessman"

Beneath the caption was the picture of the guy standing beside a newly renovated office, which obviously seemed to belong to him. The guy was wearing a black three piece suit with his hands in front pocket. I lifted my gaze to see the face and my heart stopped beating. My stomach churned as I looked at those blue eyes and all thoughts from that one night came flooding back to me in vivid details. His touch, looks, and how those made me feel and my breath hitched.

After all this time, finally I found him.

**********

Zindagi ka apna ek salika h,
Kis mod par kaun mil jaye,
Ye kisi ne na dekha h,
Jo hai abhi jee lo usko,
Kal kisne dekha h.

Hey readers,

I know there are still many things left unsaid but with each part a lot more things will unfold.