Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 73- Contemplation

CHAPTER 73

CONTEMPLATION

Monami stared at the caller ID on the phone. Papa? She was going to call him anyway, but... for him to call her was... unusual. Concerning too. She picked it up. "Hello?"

"Monami..."

She relaxed slightly, hearing his voice. She bit her lip, sitting down on her bed. "Hi Papa. Aa-Aap k-kaise ho?"

"Good. Tum?"

"Papa... I have st-started th-therapy again", she said softly. He would want to know that. He should know that.

There was a pause. "Really?" She smiled slightly, hearing the happiness. "That's great, baccha. Therapy will really help you. Par... yeh suddenly kyun?"

She fiddled with the hem of her t-shirt. "A-Academy ne m-mandate kara hai." There was another pause. A longer one. "Papa?"

"Toh tum yeh army ke liye kar rahi ho?" He sighed. "I told you the same thing but you didn't listen to me. And now, the academy says it and-"

"No", she said. "That's... That's n-not it. Papa... a-aisa nahi h-hai ki aa-aapki b-baat ki value k-kam hai ya s-something. Par... 8 saal p-pehle b-baat alag thi. M-Main nahi k-kar paa r-rahi thi th-therapy. I c-couldn't take it. I g-genuinely tr-tried, na? Maine ek s-saal tak k-kari. But ab m-main b-better hoon. I th-think I can h-handle it. It's n-not ki aa-aapne kaha ya a-academy ne k-kaha. It's just... time aur s-situation ka d-difference."

There was another pause and he took a deep breath. "Okay", he said. "Monami... maine tumhe ek reason ke liye call kara hai. Do you... Do you remember kya aa raha hai?"

"M-Main kaise bh-bhool sakti h-hoon?" She said softly. "Mumma ka b-birthday aa r-raha hai."

He hummed. "Will you come home?"

"Papa-"

"Please, Monami", he said. "You can go back to your academy but... uss din ke liye aa jao. I can't..." He took a deep breath. "I don't want to be alone. I want you here."

She closed her eyes, tears welling up. "I w-will c-come. I pr-promise", she said. "Papa... are you o-okay? Aap... Aap th-theek nahi s-sound k-kar rahe."

Silence. He was there. She could hear his breaths. But he didn't answer. She rested her head on the wall, waiting. "I really miss her, Monami. I miss her everyday but tumhaare jaane ke baad, beta... tumhaari Mumma ki kami bhi kuchh zyaada hi khalti hai."

Her mouth parted slightly in surprise. It was the first time her father had openly expressed his pain. Usually, it was through thinly veiled taunts and the bitterness that had long been rooted in him. She wasn't sure what would comfort him. "Main... S-Saturday ko aa j-jaungi, Papa."

"Aur Sunday ko chali jaogi?" He let out a humorless chuckle.

She bit her lip. "How l-long do you w-want me to st-stay? Main... Main tr-trainers se b-baat karke thodi chh-chhuti le l-lungi."

"Is... p-permanently not an o-option?"

She sighed. "Papa..."

"3 days then. Tuesday ko waapas chali jaana."

"D-Deal." He let out a humorless chuckle. "K-Kya hua?" He didn't answer, deflecting to another topic quickly. He seemed to want to talk, surprisingly but Monami was more than happy to oblige him.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Baby ko Monami bahut pasand aayi. Subah se Monami Monami kare jaa rahi hai", Barkha said, chuckling. Karan smiled slightly. The older woman looked at him, eyeing him for a quiet moment. "Waise... sahi keh rahi thi woh. Kaafi pretty toh hai Monami." He looked at her. "Kya hua? Tum... agree nahi karte ho? You don't find her pretty, Karan?"