THE HALF OF IT

Part - 22

Today is the day when finally Tejasswi and I will tell Ruhi that I am her father. I am nervous as hell. Though she have come to like me and loves spending time with me but I don't know how will she react to the news of me being her father. Will she be happy of confused. I have brought pizza and ice cream, all her favorite so that her mood stays good when we finally tell her.

We played at the swing while Tejasswi completed her work and then all three of us sat together to eat. My little princess as usual kept the conversation going by telling me all about her day and what she would like to do next. After we were done, Teajsswi took the left over pizza to freeze it and bring ice cream. She was taking more time than usual but I can understand why.

When I went to kitchen to help her bring ice cream bowls I saw her cleaning the already cleaned slab. I didn't said anything or question her. Just like me she too was nervous. I let her take her own time. Then she finally came back with ice cream and all three of us settled on the couch of the living room .She was so happy to get her favorite mango ice cream. Once done I made Ruhi sit on my lap and turned my face towards Tejasswi.

Tejasswi too turned so that we were looking at each other and I could see the turmoil going inside her through  her eyes. Finally taking a deep breath, she took both hands of Ruhi in hers, "Valentine, we want to tell you something."

Ruhi looked at Tejaswwi and then me and nodded her head. Tejasswi cleared her throat and continued, " Remember you once said that Tanya lives with both her mumma and papa and where is your papa?"

"Yes, and you Said papa is out for work and will come back one day." Ruhi Replied.

"So, that day have come, papa is back from work." Tejasswi told Ruhi softly and my heart started beating fastly. This was the moment that will change everything for us all. Ruhi looked at Teju confused.

"Karan is your father Valentine." And finally Teju Said it. I was looking at Ruhi without batting an eye and holding my breath as I didn't wanted to miss her reaction.

She looked at Teju still confused and then at me and back at her. Her silence was killing me from inside and I could have died from heart attack if Ruhi wouldn't have said the next words looking at me. "Is that true? You are my father? My papa?"

My chest swelled with emotions I couldn't name and my throat went dry. Words couldn't come out so I just nodded my head first  but when Ruhi still kept looking at me with big eyes I finally said swallowing the lump. "Yes princess, I am your father, your papa."

She kept looking at me and finally a smile spread on her face and she hugged me tight and whispered, "Papa"

That was it for me and I couldn't hold my emotions in and the turmoil that was inside me came flooding out through my eyes and I hugged my princess my daughter back. This hug felt more special than all the ones we have shared so far. It felt complete and magical like finally I am complete. Finally this little angel is mine.

Before she could break the hug and see me crying I wiped my tears with one hand. Then I kissed her forehead and a frown appear on my princess face. "Where were you? Why didn't you lived with me just as Tanya's papa lived with her? Why didn't you came to my school on Father's day? Why didn't you drop me to school? What were you doing for so long?...."  and she continued and at a point her questions stop making sense but she kept speaking and I kept adoring her. When her questions started to be like,"Will you bring me chocolate now? Will you play with me on Sunday as Tanya's papa do? And so on I finally stopped her and said, "Princess, we will do everything you want but right now I want to tell you something very important."

She finally went quite and looked at me as if I am going to explain her atoms and molecules. I smiled at her expression and said, "I am sorry Princess for being late but I promise to stay with you forever. We will do all the things you want us to do together. We will play, enjoy and do lots of fun. Princess but there is someone else too who wants to meet you."

She kept looking at me with curiosity in her innocent eyes and I told her, "Your grandma and grandpa would like to meet you."

She smiles but then she Said," Are they as nice as you?"

I laughed at her question. "No Princess, they are way nicer than me and will love you a lot."

"Really", she said with big eyes holding hope for my words to be true and I realized that Ruhi never had grandparents before. Teju's parents never tried to meet or make a relationship with her. When I looked at Tejasswi, her eyes were glistening with tears too as she was trying to hold her emotions inside her. I realized how she must feeling and I wanted to comfort her by taking her in my embrace but that moment I knew I couldn't as I didn't have that right yet but soon I will have it.

I kissed Ruhi good night and took her to bed and when she slept I finally went to Tejasswi to give her the hug and comfort and I so wanted to give her from last one hour.

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I know many of you wanted a longer chapter but exaggerating this would have lead to loosing of emotions. I didn't wanted it to get boring and loose connect.

Sakeena you alone are responsible for one word frequently used in this chapter.

All thanks to ShreeWrites__ for motivating and threating me to update.