Taxi
Neil- Tumhe pata hai hum kahan ja rahe hain?
Kiya nods.
Neil- Kahan?
Kiya- Patiala.
Neil- Are you excited? (She doesn't answer) Kyunki main toh bahut excited hoon. Tumhe wahan le jaane ke liye.
Kiya nods. She's the calmest child he has ever seen. She enjoys watching street lights pass from the taxi and talks very less, just answers what is asked. Perhaps it'll take time to gel up.
He notices her skin has cold shivers.
Neil- Driver, AC kum kar do.
She turns her head at him, eyes widen as if he has committed a crime.
The driver decreases the temperature.
Neil- A re, mera matlab hai, thand kum kar do. AC badhao.
She raises her brows. Then blinks, as if telling him to come closer.
Kiya- (whispers) "Tempratur" bolte hai.
He pouts his lips in 'O', suppressing the internal smile he gets on seeing her expressions.
Neil- Ahm ahm. I mean, temperature badhao.
He looks at Kiya again, trying to get her assurance. But she simply turns around, not caring to see him. Cute. After an hour or two her eyes start dozing. He touches her shoulder to call her.
Neil- Baby? Aapko sona hai kya? Yahan... yahan pair faila do. (He suggests removing his bag aside from his leg.)
She shakes her head in no.
After a few minutes, her eyes close in slumber. He pats on her shoulder to check if she's awake. And brings her to his lap, when finds her sleeping peacefully. Her hands are little. A smile corrupts his lips unknowingly when he looks at her.
Her facial features resemble his old best friend, the one who betrayed him. But this little face is too innocent for not to be loved. It's too beautiful, too difficult to halt, when he wants to hug her. How he wishes this lovely child was actually his. But how does it matter? He has fought for her, and has won her as his daughter. He is her legal parent, 'actual' legal parent. And if God wills, he wants to be her emotional parent too. He carasses the hair on her forehead.
.
.
.
Next Morning
Arya sneezes.
Mini- Bas karo yaar Biji. Cheenk cheenk ke halat kharab ho gayi hai. (She wipes the water coming from her eyes)
Biji- Shh. Pehli baar meri poutiyaan kahin bahar ja rhi h. Nazar bhi n utarun kya?
Dadu- Aur kitni nazar utarengi?
Biji- Han han, ho gaya.
Dadu- Apna dhyaan rakhna Mini. Aur Arya ko akele chod ke kahin bhi mtt jaana.
Mini- Han dadu, main dhyaan rakhungi. Chalen Arya?
Arya tilts her head with a smirk in excitement. Mini lifts their bags, a tote on an arm, and backpack on shoulder. They touch elders' feet and sit on the rickshaw waiting for them.
Mini- Chalo Bhaiya, Railway station. (She takes out her phone and rings a call.)
Arya- Kise phone kar rahi ho?
Mini- Neil ko- Hello?
Neil- Han Mini. Have you left?
Mini- Han ja rahe hain station.
YOU ARE READING
We Are In It Together
Fanfiction"You said aloud everything I was seeking to say for years. Thank you Mini." Her brows quiver. "Thanks, for being my voice." he hisses. "You don't have to thank me and all..." she says it softly, "I will always speak for you." Her eyes look direct in...
