Moments; To Remember

Familiar Strangers-3

The car slowly reached a building, looks more like a school. They both got off the car. He guided them towards the office. There was a woman there, probably in her early fifties. Woman saw them enter and had a big smile on her face. 

"Hey, you guys are on time. I thought you would take some time", woman said shaking her hands with him.

Next the woman turned towards her and embraced her which was a great surprise.

"So.... she is your bride, whom you have been talking a lot about. You are very beautiful", woman said eyeing him. But the subject of the conversation was surprised hearing that he did speak about her with others. She blushed a little.

"Hi. Thank you for your kind words." She smiled at the woman.

"Let's go through the procedures." He finally spoke. 

"Yes...Here are the papers you both should sign." Woman said handing them the documents. 

"Is this it?" She asked. 

"Yes dear. He already took care of all others. You were the last missing piece", woman said.

The woman ringed someone. Another lady came and they both conversed in the local language which she couldn't understand. The lady left again smiling at the couple. 

Her hands started sweating with each passing moment. Seeing her nervousness, he held her hands squeezing it as if saying everything is going to be okay. This was the first time they held hands. But her mind was on the little human being who will soon call her mother. Was she ready for everything!!! This is her only chance of being a mother as her husband said since he was not interested in having more kids with her. Somehow the word husband sounded strange to her. In between the thoughts the time had rushed. 

The lady entered the room again. But this time she had a baby in her hands wrapped in a baby blanket. Baby was sleeping. The woman eyed her to take the baby from the lady's hand. She nervously took the baby in her hands without waking the baby. She had experience with babies, but this is different. This is her daughter. Holding her baby close to her chest, she could feel the heartbeat. She was mesmerized by the small face, small fingers, overall, the small human she was holding in her hands made her feel many things she had never felt before.

"Yes, she is mine. Though, I didn't give birth to her, the moment I signed those papers she became mine." She thought. She slightly raised the baby and kissed its forehead. It was then she realized she was crying. She looked at everyone not knowing what to do next.

"Let me hold her. It's time for papa to bond with his daughter." He took their child from her hand and snuggled the baby close to his heart. He was smiling. She could feel his happiness. Well, everybody could. It was her first time seeing him like that. Not even at the day of their marriage he had smiled like that. He started kissing their baby in her face rubbing his stubble all over her. She stirred in her sleep and slowly opened their eyes. 

She thought baby would cry anytime seeing the stranger. But to her surprise, baby was well accustomed to him. The only stranger in the room was her. After the play time with her father, she tried to take back the baby from him. As soon as she touched the small hands, baby started crying. She was taken aback. 

"She is like that around strangers. She will soon get used to you" woman said. 

But she felt little sad thinking that she is still a stranger to her daughter. Her eyes swelled up. Seeing the change in her face he said farewell to everyone. Soon they were in the car.

"It's not something you should be upset about. Soon she will get so used to you that I'll start to feel upset about she ignoring me." 

She smiled at that.