The week after the picnic, Shaurya found himself looking forward to his conversations with Palki. Every morning at drop-off and every afternoon at pick-up, he would exchange pleasantries with her, and it slowly started to feel like a routine he cherished. Roohi, for her part, was always thrilled to see Palki, and her happiness was infectious.
One Friday afternoon, as Shaurya arrived at the school, he noticed that Roohi was lingering around Palki's office instead of heading straight to the gate. Curious, he walked over to see what was going on."Hi, Papa!" Roohi called out, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Palki Ma'am said she can come over to help me with a school project! Can she, Papa? Please?"Shaurya looked at Palki, who smiled warmly. "It's no trouble, really. I’m happy to help."
Shaurya hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Of course. That would be great. Thank you, Palki."
Roohi cheered and hugged Palki's legs. "Yay! Thank you, Palki Ma'am!"Palki laughed and patted Roohi's head. "You're welcome, Roohi. I'll see you both at your place around five?""Perfect,"
Shaurya agreed, feeling a strange mix of nervousness and anticipation.At home, Shaurya and Roohi tidied up, making sure everything was in order. When Palki arrived, carrying a small bag with supplies, Roohi ran to greet her at the door."Hi, Palki Ma'am! Come in, come in!" Roohi said excitedly.
Palki stepped inside, taking in the cozy, if somewhat sparse, decor. "Your home is lovely, Shaurya," she said genuinely."Thank you," Shaurya replied, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee?""Tea would be great, thanks," Palki said, setting her bag down on the dining table.
As Shaurya prepared the tea, Roohi eagerly showed Palki her project materials. They spread out the papers and crafts on the table, and Palki patiently guided Roohi through the steps, her calm and encouraging manner putting Roohi at ease.
When Shaurya returned with the tea, he found Roohi and Palki deep in conversation, their heads close together as they worked on the project..
He watched them for a moment, a soft smile playing on his lips. It was a rare sight to see Roohi so engaged and happy.
Palki looked up and caught Shaurya's eye, smiling at him. "This project is going to be fantastic, thanks to Roohi's creative ideas.""She's always been imaginative," Shaurya said, setting the tea down.
"Thank you for helping her.""It's my pleasure," Palki replied, taking a sip of her tea. "
Roohi is a joy to be around."As the afternoon turned into evening, the three of them worked together, with Shaurya occasionally joining in to help cut out shapes or glue pieces together.
They shared stories, laughed at Roohi's silly jokes, and for a while, the weight of the past seemed to lift.When the project was finally complete, Roohi beamed with pride. "Look, Papa! Isn't it beautiful?"
Shaurya admired the colorful creation. "It's wonderful, Roohi. You did an amazing job.""And Palki Ma'am helped so much!"
Roohi added, hugging Palki tightly.Palki hugged her back, her eyes softening. "You did most of the work, Roohi. I'm just happy I could be here."
As Palki gathered her things to leave, Shaurya walked her to the door. "Thank you again, Palki. This meant a lot to Roohi...and to me.""
Anytime, Shaurya," Palki said, her smile lingering. "I'm glad I could help. Have a good night."
"You too," Shaurya replied, watching her leave with a sense of gratitude and something more—a feeling he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.As he closed the door and turned back to Roohi, he felt a newfound warmth in his heart.
Roohi looked up at him, her eyes shining with happiness."Do you think Palki Ma'am can come over again, Papa?" Roohi asked hopefully.
Shaurya smiled and ruffled her hair. "I think she would love that, Roohi. And so would I."As they settled down for the night, Shaurya couldn't help but think about how much had changed in such a short time. Palki's presence had brought a light into their lives, and for the first time in years, he felt the stirrings of hope and the possibility of a new beginning
That's it for today's update
Signing off
Diksha
Vote , comments and share feedback are always welcome
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The Second Chance
FanfictionThis touching story follows Shaurya, a single father who struggles to fully love his daughter, Roohi, because she reminds him of his late wife. Roohi becomes attached to Palki, a kind woman who brings warmth and love into their lives.As Shaurya face...
