The Birlas' - IKSHANA

Chapter - 12: ROOH

The rest of the day went on like it usually would. Roohi was back from her music classes. She looked excited for the concert and her demeanor gave an impression that she was prepared. Abhir was busy with his project and Neil, who just returned from his office rushed to help him. Harsh was the one who got Roohi home from her classes. Roohi ran to Manjari and hugged her.

She launched into full blown description about her classes and the kind of music she was going to sing. She was going on and on and didn't even realize that Abhimanyu was sitting right there waiting for his turn. He was busy admiring his daughter's enthusiasm when he was unsettled a bit by Roohi's monstrous hug. She was happy and she made sure everyone was on board with that.

"Dida yaar! Bhook lagi hai mujhe. Mujhe jaldi khilado phir I need to do my assignment quickly and have my beauty sleep. I want to look amazing tomorrow." She demanded.

"Aaja khana laga deti hoon main" Manjari got up.

"Nahin! Mujhe nahi aana. Yahin khilado aap. Main Poppy ke saath baithungi snuggle karke" she declared cutely.

Abhimanyu raised his brow and looked at his daughter pointedly.

"Please Dida" Roohi added after she got the look.

Manjari went to do the bidding. Abhimanyu caressed her hair as she snuggled. He had a sense of uneasy feeling creep in. He didn't understand why. He looked at Roohi and found her fidgeting, something she did when she was either lying or hiding something. He observed that but let it slide for now. Manjari got the food and Abhimanyu took it from her.

"Maa aap Dad ke saath khalo. Aap ko bhi late ho raha hai. Main khiladunga ise" He suggested.

"Yeh tune dekhliya na. Iska message nahi bhejungi main. Kya kya karwata hai Abhi tu" she kind of sulked. Abhimanyu smiled.

"Aap hi majboor karte ho par ab mujhe mazaa ane laga hai" he teased her.

"Badmaash ladka. Nahi banaungi tumhare liye woh healthy wali date pudding jo naya naya seekha maine tereliye. Jaa aur maze le mere" she said and was about to leave when he tugged her pallu.

"Maa!" he whined and she smiled back.

"Kal banadungi. Pehle meri bachi ko khila" she ordered and joined Harsh for dinner. They often dined to together whenever they could.

Abhimanyu turned his attention to Roohi and brought a morsel to her lips. It was spinach paranthah with spiced curd. He added a bit of pickle and raw onion to the bite size portion he was about to feed her. Roohi smiled and gobbled it. "Chew it Ru" Abhimanyu chided her and she started chewing immediately. She loved how her Poppy knew exactly how she likes to eat. She often noticed the efforts he makes to express his love through tiny things like these. He not only knows her preferences in and out but also pays attention to minute details that evolve with time.

She recently started enjoying having bits of raw onion in every bite she took. She never told that to anyone. Manjari noticed it and started serving it along with her food and Abhimanyu took the pain of noticing the tiniest details of her habits and tried mimicing them. Just a small unsaid gesture and she was busy thanking her Poppy's Mahadev for giving her such a lovely father. She knew he deserved her honesty and transparency. The love said that loud and clear.

"Ru! Aap ko kuch baat karni hai mujhse?" Abhimanyu asked as if on cue.

"Haan" she accepted.

"Bolo bacha! Kya baat hai?"he started the conversation. She looked uncomfortable.