And it began with that one night. One night that changed everything. One night that changed all equations. One night that broke all relations. One night that shattered all hopes. One night that opened all eyes.
Because sometimes second chances aren'...
What is life if not a loop of one's ending and another's beginning?
The soft pale early morning sunlight, peeking through the sheer lilac curtains, fell on a dainty figure of a young girl, quietly snoring off in her dreamland, unaware that her bedroom door was opened to give way to her family, that tiptoed towards her bed, lead by a buff man holding an adorable unicorn themed cake with an 18 candle topper.
The oldest woman out of the bunch sat beside the sleeping figure, running her frail wrinkly hand fondly over the girl's hair.
"Aira! Rise and shine bachcha. It's almost nine now."
The younger girl only whines and hid her face in the older woman's stomach.
"No! It's still too early bebe. Lemme sleep some more."
Before her bebe could've cajoled her granddaughter, her husband beat her to it, albeit with a playful banter to his offer.
"Oh really? Fine then we'll cut this cake without the birthday girl."
And just like that, the girl sat up on the bed in a jiffy making her family laugh at her in amusement.
"Baba aap bhi?!"
She pouted in betrayal at a laughing man in his late sixties, who immediately mock zipped his mouth.
"Bas karo sab Meri bachchi ko pareshaan karna." [All of you stop teasing my child.]
As usual, her granny defended her honour making her hug the old woman tightly and poking a tongue out at the others.
"Now Aira let's blow the candles before they melt. Come on."
Aira smiled at her Badi Mom before closing her eyes and making a birthday wish. 'Babaji please keep my family happy, healthy and together forever.' As soon as she opened her eyes, they met the fierce yet soft eyes resembling her own brown ones, belonging to her father, who smiled warmly at her and nodded her to blow the candles.
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Aira Kapoor
She immediately followed amidst the loud chimes of the birthday song by her family. She giggled as her bui placed a quick playful slap on her husband's back as he messed a note. She cut a slice and by default offered the first bite to her father, who now had misty eyes.
As her dad fed the cake to her she noticed the swirl of emotions in his warm eyes.
"Happy birthday my lifeline. When did my little girl get so big hm?"
She sniffled and at once lauched herself at her father, trusting him to catch her and without fail, he did. His strong hands always protected her yet soothed her gently to sleep. Her father was her hero in every sense; single handedly bringing her up, teaching her so much about life and yet fitting into the shoes of whatever role she needed him to play.
