Seven Colors of Our Love

.4-

It was a cool and breezy evening. A strong gust of wind blew against Manisha's face as she stepped into the garden, with a tray of tea and fresh pakoras in her hand. She set the tray down on the table and handed the steaming cup of tea to her Papa, Dada ji and dadi.

"Ahhh, you have magic in your hands meri guriya", dada ji said taking a sip from the tea. "and these pakoras, I was craving for them", he added.

"Dad your guriya will surely pour her magic in the tea and pakoras as she cannot cook anything else", papa said with an amused smile playing on his face. He was just pulling her leg because he knew he was the one who never let her do these things.

"That's not true papa, remember I had baked a pizza once", Mani pouted.

"hahaha yeah that burnt pizza, what a memory", papa said with a heavenly laugh in which Is dada ji and dadi joined him as well.

"Dadiii, dada jiiii", Mani whined making three of them burst into laughter, again.

"I'm sorry lovely, you know I was just kidding, no one can beat the taste of your Chai", papa said in a concerned tone to which Manisha stuck out her tongue, making everyone laugh.

All of them were so indulged in their banter when Laila mousi came towards dadi.

"Ma ji a lady has called for you", Laila said while handing out the cordless telephone.

Dadi took the cordless from her.

Manisha started chit chat with her papa while dada ji was at dadi intently.

"Jee... Mein theek hun...sorry I didn't recognize you, do I know you?...Jee..Jee.. Most welcome dear..", were the replies of dadi to the caller.

"Who was she?" Dada ji asked.

"She wanted to pay a visit, Manisha ka rishtha mangnay", dadi said.

Manisha paused and snapped her head toward dadi with a blank expression.

"Maa, you should have denied their proposal right now. Lovely abhi bachi hai", papa said with his eyes fixed on the face of his daughter.

Manisha silently stood up from her place and hurriedly went inside her room. She bolted the door with trembling fingers and tears-filled eyes. She didn't know how to deal with such kind of situation. The mere thought of leaving her home for a stranger, her small little world which was filled with love and entirely love was terrifying.

"Dekhne mein koi harj nahi hai manoj wese b aj ho ya kal shaddi to krni hai", dadi replied to papa.

Papa remained silent after listening to his mother, he understood the situation but was hesitant to accept it at the same time. A fear of giving away his precious child to someone else crept into his heart.

LATER AT NIGHT:

"Manisha beti darwaja nahi khol Rahi hai", Laila said to the trio sitting in front of her on the dining table to which dada ji sighed audibly.

They all knew how much she was afraid of living without them. The proof was her exchange semester during which she used to cry every time they would talk to her on the phone. This situation appeared so suddenly that he was not able to mentally prepare her for that.

Little a did they know what is she was going through then and now. the separating anxiety and the thought of getting cheated again.

Her papa stood up from his seat, made a platter for two people in a try, and said "chinta na kare, Mai dekh ta hu". to which both nodded in affirmation because they knew he is the only person she needs at the moment.

"Lovely, beta darwaza kholo", he said, knocking at the door.

She opened the door in a few seconds looking like a crying mess. The sight in front of him was distressing but he composed himself because at that moment he was supposed to act like a sane person for the sake of his precious kid.

He set the tray on the table, went back towards his daughter, and hugged her. She couldn't stop tears and cried her heart out.

"Papa (hicup)... I can't do(hicup)oo... this", she sobbed.

"Tumhe Kuch nahi karna Hoga apni marji ky khilaf Meri bacchi", he consoled her.

"Nobody is forcing you, you need to trust us", he added.

"Lovely, beta bass Kal mil lo unse dadi ky Liye. Bho abb na nahi Keh sakti invite Karne ky Baad. Baccha".

She looked at her papa with tears still rolling down her face and nodded hesitantly.

"Hayy god look, ye pyari si bacchi ny apne papa ko bukha rakh dia ", he said looking towards the ceiling with a pout making her smile.

She pulled his cheek playfully and said, "papa aap to dramatic na bano. Or mujhe khila doge to hi Mai khayun gi".

"Of course, anything for my princess", he said and bowed down in front of her.

Both father and daughter fed each other lovingly, in between reminiscing their memories and teasing each other.

That night she slept with her head in papa's lap, he knew she needed it today just like every time she would be afraid to do something since childhood.

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Who do you think that mystery rishtha wali aunty is? hehehe