Yeh Lamhe, Yeh Pal

Late but Loved

The living room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a lamp, casting long shadows across the scattered toys strewn around the floor. Ishaan, usually bursting with energy, lay sprawled on his stomach amid his toys. His little hands moved sluggishly, his pastime, once exuberant, reduced to the plodding, repetitive push of a toy vehicle. As the clock reached passed 10:30 p.m., his eyes drooped and he let out a yawn.

Isha could feel her fury on the adjacent couch. Her eyebrows were getting closer to the clock as the minutes went by, and she was looking at it more and more. The room, which had before been lively, now had a weighty air of anger. Their night was being marred by the absence of Shantanu, who was late once more. Isha's sighs and her sporadic looks at Ishaan, who appeared to be getting angrier by the second, highlighted how frustrating the night's wait was.

"Aai, Baba kab aayenge?" Ishaan grumbled, a hint of weariness in his voice from a protracted wait. He spoke slowly. His tiny face turned to his mother, of sadness and hope, as he gave the toy vehicle one more push before letting it go.

Isha sighed deeply, her eyes fixed on the clock. "Pata nahi, beta. Tumhare baba ka time ka kuch bharosa nahi hai. Har baar late karte hai aane main," she replied, her voice of exasperation and resignation. Despite her own annoyance, she reached out and gently tousled Ishaan's hair in an attempt to provide a bit of comfort.

Ishaan pouted, his small face crinkling with frustration. "Par hamesha late kyun hote hain? Mujhe neend aa rahi hai aai," he sighed and rubbed his eyes with a palm that was weary. His shoulders lowered, and he raised an imploring gaze to Isha.

Isha gently squeezed his shoulder. "Haan, mujhe bhi samajh nahi aata. Ab soch rahi hoon ki is baar Baba ko punishment dena padega," she said with a smile, hoping to lighten Ishaan's mood

Ishaan's curious eyes grew wider. "Punishment?" For a brief while, he put aside his grumpiness and questioned, "Kaisi punishment, Aai?" Curious, he moved in closer to Isha, waiting to hear her answer.

Isha smiled slyly as her lips curved. She said, "Aaj dinner mein unko sirf salad doongi," with amused dwell in her glance. 

A cheeky smile lighted up Ishaan's face. "Salad! Baba ko toh salad bilkul bhi pasand nahi," he laughed, obviously taking pleasure in his father's response. 

Their chat was cut off by the creaky front door and the sound of jingling keys. Isha sprang up from the couch with a stiff stance and a disconnected, aloof look, clearly displaying her annoyance. She approached the door with slow, cautious steps, her posture subtly shifting to convey her disapproval. Shantanu was standing there as she answered the door, seeming both worn out and a little amused. With a worn-out expression, he looked at her as though he was preparing for the consequences of his delay.

"Hi Isha," Shantanu said, smiling easily but wearily as he leaned in to kiss her. Isha turned her cheek slightly in response to his motion, so that his intended peck landed gently on the side of her face. Shantanu's smile dimmed a little, but his countenance remained sweet despite his weariness.

"Kya hua? Aaj itni uninterested welcome kyu?" Taking in her icy manner, Shantanu inquired, his voice tinted with perplexity. His pleasant grin from earlier was replaced with a tinge of anxiety as his eyes sought hers for an explanation.

Isha crossed her arms, a mixture of lethargy and disdain on her face. "Jaise tumhe nahi pata hai Shantanu?" she said, sounding a little agitated.

Shantanu's confusion deepened. "Nahi, mujhe kaise pata hoga? Ab kya galti ho gayi mujhse?"

Ishaan walked ponderously towards his father and before Isha could reply, he scowled up at him. "Baba, hadd karte ho aap. Hamesha late kyun hote ho? Mujhe kitni neend aa rahi thi na!"