This is so lovely, Baba," Sanvi said, cuddling beside her daddy.
Yes! It is princess." Virat said, smiling at the vast sea ahead. This was his & Sai's favourite weekend getaway.
Back in the day, when they left Nagpur to make their own little love nest here, in Mumbai, their favourite thing was spending time together on beaches. They used to love having picnics here every Sunday, after a long tiring week at work and college respectively. Away from home and work this was their safe haven.
It was still pretty much the same, except that she wasn't here with him right now.
"How vast is the sky , Dada?" Sanvi asked her older brother curiously.
"It is endless...Just like our expectations, neverending." said 10-year-old Veer staring dreamily at the sky above.
Virat shook his head, listening to his son. He was quite mature at the tender age of ten years than the rest of his age.
Quiet, reserved, yet charming, just like his dad.
Though he is the apple of his mother's eye, her lil gabbar, there is no denying that he is much more like his father.
They didn't need words to communicate, they understood each other, their relationship was far better than what he had with his own dad. Thanks to the teachings of his wife Virat thought while chuckling.
"Baba! Let's make some sandcastles.
Come on, Baba." Sanvi pushed him to get up.
Virat smiled and got up, how could he ever deny his princess? she was his tiny version of Sai, short tempered, dominant and hyper almost all the time.
The two girls always kept him wrapped around their lil fingers and he happily bent down to their every whim.
He smiled, thinking about how they planned to go ahead with Sanvi.
We already have a lil one, what's the need for a second child? "
"You have your own little gabbar to pamper, what about me,I also want a mini toofan mail."
"Don't be kidding. If we're planning another baby, I'll have to postpone opening my own clinic for another two years atleast."
"Yes, I know, but I've always wanted a baby girl, don't you want one ? And regarding clinic, I'm there to support you, I promise. "
"Okay"
"What is it?"
"I am ready for little princess too."
****
You've always prioritized family Sai, so what's going on now? Is your work more important than us? He whispered to himself, her absence hurting him alot.
"Oh, Baba! Come on! Come! " Sanvi whined, just like her mother dragging him along to the shore.
They had fun together, they built sandcastles, splashed water, and did a lot more fun.
And soon it was time for lunch.
Virat grinned looking at the picnic basket that Sai had prepared for them. Each item was packed in separate containers neatly.Fresh crispy Methi kachoris were in one for him and Sanvi, while noodles and pasta were in another for his Chinese cuisine lover son. Needless to say that Sai had done a lot of work packing them with such an elaborate lunch. They could have had lunch outside, but Sai always insisted on providing their children with homemade, tasty, yet healthy food.
But when was she able to do all of this? Virat wondered.
He didn't even realize when she managed to cook so many kinds of dishes because he was busy arguing with her about neglecting the three of them.
******
"Work? Even I work Sai,but that doesnt mean that I will neglect my family."
"I know virat sir, but please understand, I will have to cover up for Dr Shah's shift too, it was a last minute replacement. I'm sorry."
"This is exactly what you said last week and the week before. I had to attend veer's PTM and Sanvi's cultural program alone too. You never seem to have time for us. Fine then, if you don't wanna come, we will go alone, we don't need you either."
"I am sorry Vir-I love you, Baba! You're the best Baba in the world." Sanvi said in an exaggerating way, her arms wide open to show how big the world is as Virat brought candy floss for her.
"Thank you Princess." said Virat, pecking her cheeks.
"But Aai is also the best mother in the world. She just packed that delicious lunch for us." Veer said , his mouth was full of burgers.
Virat shook his head adoringly at his son and whispered, "mother's pet."
But Veer was right, in fact. Sai was not the best mom but the best person in the world. She manages home and work so perfectly that he was totally dependent on her.
In 15 years of marriage he had experienced nothing but pure bliss, and to add to the happiness they have these two cute little munchkins. Was veer right about expectations? Was he asking too much from Sai? Virat thought, reflecting on his behaviour.
"Sanu's turn to feed Baba." Sanvi said cutely stuffing a small piece of candy floss into Virat's mouth, catching him off guard.
"Veer's too." Veer leapt excitedly and stuffed another bite.
"Who is going to feed me then?" All of them turned to see a frowning Sai.
"Nobody cares for Aai, No Kachori or burgers for you anymore" Sai said in mock anger.
"No! Sanu loves Aai." Sanvi ran with wobbly legs, and embraced Sai's legs . "I also love you Aai. But how did you manage to come here?" asked Veer while hugging Sai.
"How can I leave my cutepies alone? I had to come." Sai replied, looking at her husband now.
Virat just stood there amazed.
"Sai" he said in a slight whisper, suddenly getting emotional seeing her here.
"Come on! you go and build more sandcastles, I will join you two soon." Sai told the kids and headed towards her husband.
"you had extra shift today, right?" he asked unsure about whether she was really present or not.
"Yes! But I also have two lil cute kiddos and an extremely hot headed hubby with whom I need to spend some valuable time. So I finished all my important appointments quickly to come here and left the rest to another Doctor."
"Mm...I am sorry I behaved like a jerk in the morning." He apologised sincerely.
"Oho! I came to apologise and in return you r apologising too not bad." She said jokingly.
"No, seriously Sai, I became dependent on you and you accepted it with a smile, all these years of marriage, you've prioritized me, our kids and family , so much so that your dreams took a backseat. I'm really sorry. I promise to never to scream on you like I did in the morning. Our responsibilities should never come between us. Again, I'm sorry,"
"No need to be sorry, Virat sir our responsiblities are like this sea, vast and endless...and our expectations & desires are like this sky....limitless...but our LOVE, its like the sun.. luminous and eternal....It can be hampered by nothing, can it? " Sai asked, resting her head on his shoulders
"No, it can't be" he answered , looking ahead at the endless sea and two wonders of their lives, Veer and Sanvi.
SaiRat Forever 🩷🩷🩷
