Tale of Two Lovebirds

Chapter 32

"I see Sami there?" Ria asked with her legs dangling off the kitchen counter, where she sat watching and occasionally helping her mom make brownies.

"Yes, she goes to the same school but you won't be in the same classroom." Deepika explained to her daughter for what it seemed like the tenth time. Ria was excited about starting kindergarten but thought she would be with Sami all the time and was sad to learn that wasn't going to happen. "She's a year older than you, sweetie. But you'll see her around..." Deepika explained and Ria pouted.

"But I want to be with her." She whined and Deepika stopped what she was doing to look at her, smiling at the sight of her chocolate-covered pout.

"You have chocolate all over your face." She said and Ria smiled. She had just eaten a brownie from an earlier batch and had chocolate on her hands and crumbs all over her lap.

"Is Nutella, mommy." The little girl corrected her mom; it wasn't chocolate.

"Nutella. You have Nutella all over." Deepika repeated. They had made Nutella fudge brownies, they were all rich, gooey and delicious. "Are they good?" She asked while wiping Ria's face and hands and the girl happily nodded.

"Very yummy!" She exclaimed, making her mommy smile and lifting her hand and half-eaten brownie so she could try it too.

"Mmm!" Deepika took a bite and nodded, they were good. "You think papa will like them?" She asked.

"I think papa is gonna eat them all!" Ria shouted.

"Nooo! We won't let him do that! But if he does, we can just make more." Deepika shrugged and Ria clapped excitedly.

"I love when you cook so delishus!" The little girl said eating the last bit of her brownie and making her mom feel all warm and fuzzy. Deepika loved her own mother's cooking and missed it terribly. Just to think of it made her nostalgic. Her mom would share her recipes with her and sometimes guide her while on the phone but the food never came out as good. It needed her mother's love. To think Ria could feel that way about her and her food almost made her want to cry.

Ri looked at her with her big, bright eyes and adorable smile and Deepika set aside the bowl and spatula she had in hand to give her baby a tight hug. Ria happily hugged her mommy back.

"You come to school with me?" The girl asked going back to that topic.

Deepika sighed. "I will be waiting outside... I can't come in. I'm too big for kindergarten."

"You are big but the baby is little." Ria responded placing a hand on her mom's tummy. If her baby brother went to kindergarten too then their mom would also have to go and that way she wouldn't have to go alone.

"I am too big and he is too little." Deepika chuckled, still holding her daughter close to her. Ria looked up at her and Deepika pinched one of her cheeks. "You're going to have a lot of fun there, baby. You're going to learn many things and will make new friends to play with. Kindergarten is a fun place. You won't miss me or papa while you're there."

Ria smiled but she still looked intimidated by the idea. Her first day of kindergarten was coming closer. She had known for a while that she would go to school like Sami did and was very excited about it but now she seemed to start getting nervous. Deepika was also nervous, she didn't like the idea of leaving her baby with strangers but she couldn't let her see that she also felt apprehensive about it. She wondered if Ria could sense it and if that was the reason why she was nervous; it made her feel guilty. Ria had always been very outgoing, she never expected her to react this way.

"Have you asked Sami if she likes going to school?" She asked the little girl knowing Sami loved kindergarten.

"Yes, Sami say is really fun." Ria said finally sounding a little enthusiastic. She liked what her mommy said about making friends and learning new things, she just didn't want to go away. She was happy at home playing with mom and going everywhere with her. She was even happier if papa was home too and they could all be together.