Love in Time (English Version)

Ch.1 The First Meet

*Kolkata*

A man in his thirties is walking towards an apartment building. In his hand is a white cardboard box, which probably has a cake. He enters the building and takes a flight of stairs. After rushing up 3 floors, he comes in front of an apartment and rings the bell. The door is opened by a woman in her late sixties.

"Thank God you came home. Look at your dear daughter, she is throwing a good tantrum at us.

"Ohho, why is my little sweetheart upset? Did anyone scold my princess?"

He went towards his little daughter, hiding the cake box behind his back.

"Baba! Finally, you came home. Now please remind these two ladies, what occasion it is today."

"What occasion?" He pretended to be unaware.

"Baba, what day is it today?"

"It is 20th February today."

"Is that it?"

"Is there something else too. Wait let me think. Ummmmmmm, oh yeah! I remember." She smiled immediately. Finally, he remembered. Obviously, he loves her soo much. How could he forget? There was no way.

"Today I have a meeting at 8. Just 2 hours are left." He turned his face towards his wife. "Chaitali, please iron my formal suit and white shirt. I will need to leave by 7.45 p.m."

That was the last strand for her. She burst out into big, fat tears.

"Nobody loves me here. Everybody is busy with their own tasks. No one remembers my birthday.", she yelled while crying.

Her parents' eyes melted at the scene. They had not thought it would go this far. They did not want their daughter to cry, especially on her birthday. Her father came near her but she pushed him in anger. It was not a very forceful push, just a light shove, but his leg hit the edge of the table and he stumbled, dropping the cake in the process. She started crying even more and hugged her father.

"Sorry baba. I did not mean to hurt you. I am sorry." She cried out hiccuping as she saw her father got her because of her. Her family calmed her down. Her grandma hugged her and her mother patted her back.

"Arrey beta, see your baba is fine. Aren't you mumma's good girl. Please stop crying. Otherwise, mumma will also start crying.", her mother consoled her.

"And baba will also start crying.", her father joined in.

"Mumma and baba are bad, aren't they? They made their princess cry on her birthday.", her mother sweet-talked with her.

Her father kneeled down in front of her and held his ears. "Sorry baby, Baba is very ,very sorry."

"No mumma. My parents are the best. Baba, I forgive you.", she said, still hiccuping a bit.

"Hey Dugga ma, my dear granddaughter has forgotten about me. What do I do?" Her Grandma cried out dramatically.

She hugged her grandma and said,"No Dadi, I cannot forget you. You are the best, too. My whole family is the best."

"Happy Birthday Shona." They said in unison.

"You all remembered it?", she asked.

"Of course. How can I forget my dear Bondita's birthday?" Her mother said.

"Then where is my cake?" In all the commotion everybody had forgotten about the cake which was completely ruined. She saw that her father was looking towards the box on the floor. She ran towards it and opened it. She opened it and saw a cake or atleast what looks like it.