Behind the rigidity

Zip zap zoom

Vedant has been out of control since the time he had stepped in the mela premises.
He had already enjoyed several joyrides including the horse merry go round,Mickey mouse, elephant and was just coming out after the second round of the dragon roller which was a brand new edition to the fair.
" Done with your dragon ride ?" Bhavani asked smiling looking at her baby
"Yesss"
"Now where ?"
"Mumma Papa look there's a crowd let's go there" he said pointing at a particular shop

"Gilas girao,khilona aapka,khilona aapka
Muft muft muft
Bolo 5 paisa 5 paisa"
It was a game which apparently promised toys of the customer's choice if they can make all the steel glasses fall at one go.

"I want that bunny please please please, let's play pleaseeee" a biscuit coloured stuffed toy attracted Ved
"Okay okay baba" Samarth obliged immediately

"Bhaiya,one ball please"
"Ji sahab,kheliye aur jeeteye"
Samarth aimed all the 10 glasses but missed it by two.
"Aahnnn, I want the toy,I want the bunny"
Looking at the sad face of his son he tried his luck for the second time
"Yayyyyyyyyy"
As soon as the glasses hit the floor Ved started jumping while Bhavani clapped her hands in pride.
"Take this Sahab,what a marvelous tip it was !" Even the shopkeeper praised him while handing Ved his much awaited rabbit.

"Waah Arth I'm so proud of you"
Samarth teasingly raised his collars at his wife.
"Happy bachcha ?"
"Yess Papa thank you so muchhh I love you " Ved placed a tight kiss on his father's cheek.

"Chalo enough of games,now I want to have my golgappas" Bhavani paused for a moment,"umm yes,that thela smells delicious, let's go" her eyes sparkled
"Papa, upar "
"Climb up" Samarth bent a little to carry his son upon his shoulders
And they went to treat their stomachs with the mouth watering panipuris .

It was then time to go for another round of the decked up stores filled with vessels, utensils, accessories for one and all.
"Papa I want that bat ball set please"
"Okay, lelo"
"Mumma,that puzzle as well"
"Alright" both of them agreed with smiles

"Vani,why don't you take something for yourself?"
"I ate chaat and golgappa na,bas"
"No bas,your new saree required green churis na,you were telling me,see check this out"
"Samarth ,I d-"
"You won't agree like this.Wait. Bhaiya show us some green churis please"
"Hn sahab,ek minute "
The shopkeeper kept 4-5 varieties in front of them then and there
"check these ,if you like them, take anything you find good"
Bhavani started checking the bangles one by one,

"Papaaa,come with me ,wo dekho"
"What is it beta?"
"Come , I'll show you" Ved started tugging at his hand repeatedly.
"Aare aare ruko achcha, I'm coming,Bhavani you choose , I'll be right back"
Saying so he let himself get dragged by Ved

"Wo,look there, a jeep,I want it please"
He spared a glance at the pointed toy vehicle and looked back at his son
"Ved,you remember your promise? "
"Papa please I want it" he said meekly with puppy dog eyes
"Did you forget what happened that day ?"

*Flashback*

It was at night when Vedant was playing with his car and was demanding something from his mother
"Mumma,I don't want to eat that yucky gourd,I want to have only the sweet dish,make it right now"
"Okay bachcha I will make it,but for that you have to eat the veggies first"
Bhavani tried explaining several times,but after a  certain time,when Ved couldn't win verbally he threw the car in his hand which resulted in it to break into pieces.
"Vedant !"
Samarth who was looking through a file got up at once upon the commotion
"What kind of a behaviour is this?"
Ved looked down,scared
"Hold your ears and say sorry to your mother right now"

He held his ears immediately and went to hug his mother
"Sorry mumma,I will have gourd in my dinner"
"Yes better,thank you " Bhavani ruffled his hair," now go and accumulate those pieces " she said pointing towards the now broken car and resumed her work

"Ved,collect these and hand me over all your toys for the next one week.You can only get them back once you learn their worth in your life" Samarth said sternly
"No no Papa I'm sorry please,I won't repeat my actions please,let them be with me"

Samarth had already taken hold of the nearby toys when
after a lot of pleading and promises,Ved was given a punishment of not buying any car till the next two weeks.Only then he could get all the seized toys back .
"If this promise breaks,I will confiscate all of them for a month,Am I clear ?" Samarth threatened
"I won't buy any cars,I promise "
Ved pinched his throat.

*Flashback ends*

"It's only one and a half week,so beta,but you cannot have that"
"Please" Ved held his hand in request
"No beta,but yes,I can allow you to have it,once your punishment ends.Come with mumma and have it later on.For today,you can have something else"
"But tabtak the mela won't last Papa, it's only there for the next two days"
"I'm sorry, you should've thought before taking your things for granted " Ved's face fell as he realised he isn't getting his jeep.
"Come on,we can get that balloon for now" Samarth said to cheer him up
"Tell me which one do you want"

"That apple shaped one" Ved said still pouting
As soon as the seller handed him over the balloon he ran away to his mother

"Beta careful" Samarth shouted from behind shaking his head and turned around to pay the price of the balloon

"Did you like any of the things?" Samarth asked as he returned back to one of the shops where his wife and son were shopping
"Yes I chose these two clutchers and these bangles,and now am confused between the ear rings" she showed her husband the two rings hanging.

"Umm,how about the white one"
"Actually I liked that more too,thank you" She asked for the one selected turned sideways and looked at her son.
"What was Ved asking for? he was about to say something to me as well but you came and he kept quiet.What's the matter?"

Samarth told Bhavani about the matter silently,so as to not upset his son anymore, who was now eagerly looking at the things around.
"Hmm,in a way you're correct as well" Her mood became off too.

Samarth bought a cotton candy for his son and wife on their way back home and Ved seemed much better than before as his mind got diverted from the desired toy.

The family retired back to their rooms after having the peaceful dinner, pouring all the tiredness and emotions through their talks upon the table.

"Chalo Bhavani let's sleep, I'm exhausted,you must be tired as well"
"Han,but before that I've a surprise for you"
She brought her closed palms in front of her husband
"Aare what's inside"
"Open it and see yourself" she said sweetly
Samarth slowly opened her hand only to find a glittering Kurta button in it
"This looks so pretty Vani,you bought this for me?" He asked with a pleasant look of surprise
"Nahi,for me" Bhavani stuck out her tongue
"Thank you sooo much My Vani" Samarth hugged her, overwhelmed.
"You do so much for us,so this is just a small gift from my little savings"
"A gift given from such a big heart is never small.Even a hearty smile from you and Ved regularly,makes my most tiring days the best.I love you" he kissed her head lovingly, still hugging her as a content smile adorned her lips.

"Waise,Ved really became upset at that time na,he was so happy.I hope he learns from this" Bhavani said against his chest after a while.

Samarth slowly parted from her and what he showed next made Bhavani smile the brightest
"You're the best" she pulled his cheeks.

Three days later when Ved's punishment got over,he woke up to the same jeep he saw at the fair that day and he couldn't be happier ! That toy vehicle suddenly became his most favourite of all he had as he zip zap zoomed all around the house.

         ~ ✿⁠ ⁠♡ ✿⁠ ⁠♡ ✿⁠ ⁠♡ ~

Here's the remaining part of ch 7
Hope it was worth reading

Also,our story 'Behind The Rigidity' has now touched 1 thousand reads.
When I started writing this I didn't expect even a single person would spare it a read.So this is a big thing for me and I'm grateful for this to everyone.Loads of love🤗

Let me know anything you would like to see further in the story,or rectify me if I went wrong somewhere, anytime.
I'll be back with another chapter soon
Till then have an amazing time ♥