Time Travel

Epilogue

June 20th 2022:

'Beta how do I upload this as my status?' I hear papa talking to Nush in the living room.

'Papa, you should click on the three dots- yeah that one and then that arrow- now click What'sApp. Look it's done.' she instructs him and instantly I check my phone to see what his status is.

A video of me walking onto the ground to bat followed by a compilation of a few sixes that I've hit in the previous match followed by my  century celebration has been put together.

"Proud of you my cheeku❤️"

He added a caption to it.

That automatically brings a smile on my face.

'Oh you are awake! I and papa are going for a walk. Take care of vami.' Nush informs me and plants a kiss on my forehead before continuing, 'It's Papa's birthday in a week. We couldn't celebrate it with him last year. So this year we need to celebrate it grandly, also that he's turning 70 this time.'

'Yeah, I'll hire someone to look into the party arrangements. You guys carry on.' I say, getting out of the bed and lazily stretching my arms.

'Open your mouth, aaa.' as I walk into the living room after getting freshened up, I see papa feeding Vami her breakfast. She makes a face like she wants to gag.

'Do you not like it Vamu?' he asks and he shakes her head into a no.

'But you should eat this Vami. Should I take you outside and feed you?' he asks and picks her up in his arms and walks into the balcony.

'Good morning papa.' I hug him, with one arm around him and the other around Vami before kissing my little princess.

'Good morning cheeku. Shall I make some breakfast for you?' he asks.

'No papa, we have house help for a reason. Did mumma call?' I ask.

'Not yet, maybe she didn't wake up yet. I'll call her in a while. All of them will be here tomorrow. Tell me, are you guys planning something for my birthday? I swear I'll act as if I'm surprised, tell me cheeku.' he asks, hoping that I'll spill some beans. 

'Your puppy eyes won't work near me papa.'

'Dada.' Vami extends her arms towards me but before I could take her, Papa moves away from me and says, 'No, I won't let you go.' he pinches her cheeks gently and she giggles.

'Looks like you've found someone whom you love more than me!' I whine, perfectly knowing that it's not true, but why miss a chance to hear him admit how that's not true.

He closes her ears and shifts closer to me and whispers, 'No, I don't love anyone more than my cheeku.'

'I know papa, I was just playing with you.' I say and he playfully hits me on my shoulder and says, 'My naughty cheeku, stop playing with me.'

'Papa, are you ready?' I turn back to see Nush fixing her Hair in a pony.

'Yes bacha, let's go.'

'Did you have your  breakfast?' she asks him.

'I'll have it once we come back. I don't feel like eating anything.' he says.

'No, we aren't leaving until you eat something. Do you want to fall unconscious in the park?' she says sternly as she walks into the kitchen to bring him breakfast.

'Sit down, cheeku, let's have breakfast together.' he says pulling out a chair for me.

'No I have to hit the gym' I want to say but how can I ever reject him.

'So how are your teammates cheeku?' he asks me.

'Oh they are all fine, just a bit crazy but otherwise all ok.' I tell him as I eat a spoonful of oats.

'That guy who kept telling ghost stories, what is his name? Harry?' he asks.

'No papa, he is jaddu, he's been my friend for so long and you've met him also so many times. How can you forget his name?'

'Old age is acting on me cheeku. I keep forgetting stuff.'

'And worry not, each time you forget something, I'll be right behind you to remind you about everything.' I assure him.

'But don't you think it's a bit cheesy, like something you need to tell to your wife?' he asks.

'Stop embarassing me papa.' even after being married to her and having a child with her, talking about love in front of him always embarrasses me.

'Come on cheeku, why are you so embarrassed? I always wanted you to grow up so that I can tease you. Anyways what were you saying about your teammates?'

'Jaddu is the one who keeps rambling about stupid ghost stories while Harry is that crazy guy who doesn't know what to talk when.' I say.

'And how's your Mahi Bhai and Ro? It's been so long since they came back. Ask them to come home one day. ' he says.

'Ah that reminds me, do you know what happened the other day. We were all -' I get reminded of something interesting to tell him and went on about it.

By the time I feel finished narrating, I saw him watching me intently with a fond smile playing on his face.

'What? You are supposed to laugh.' I told him, disappointedly.

'You reminded me of my tiny cheeku who would come home very excited from school and would shut his mouth until he gives us every detail of what has happened in the school that day."

'You will always be my tiny cheeku no matter what the world sees you like.' he continues.

'And I would definitely not want it in any other way.'

'Neither do I.' he says.

We continue having our breakfast with some random conversation while I thanked God for giving him to me, and praying to give me more years to spend with him.