A bittersweet journey.

Chapter 7

Sid had just drifted off into a light sleep when he felt a hand on his shoulder, gently shaking him awake. He opened his eyes slowly, his body aching, and saw Rey standing beside him.

"Dad, can I take your new Porsche out for a drive?" Rey asked, almost sheepishly.

Sid sighed heavily, his annoyance evident. "Yaar, pura din sone nahi mila hai, itna pith dard kar raha hai aur tunei aakar phirse utha diya," he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. It felt like ages since Sid had complained about something so mundane, and Rey couldn't help but find it endearing.

Rey sat down beside Sid on the bed and placed his hands on Sid's upper back, starting to press it gently. "Main dabaa deta hu, so jao aap," Rey offered, his voice soft.

Sid let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Haan, please dabaa dei," he murmured, closing his eyes again as Rey's hands worked on his sore back.

As Rey continued massaging, Sid's voice broke the silence. "Gari le jaa sakta hai, par sath main security lei jana. Without security, don't step out."

"Ok, boss," Rey replied with a small smile, "par abhi soh jao aap, main pith dabaa raha hu."

As he pressed his father's back, Rey's thoughts wandered. It felt like it had been ages since Sid had acted so carefree, complained about his pains, or demanded anything. When Rey's mother, Diya, was alive, Sid had been a happy and carefree man. Rey vividly remembered how, whenever Sid got sick, he would need lots of pampering from Diya. But after Diya's death, everything changed. Sid became more withdrawn, more burdened, and somewhere along the line, Rey felt like he was partly to blame for that.

But now, as he sat there with his father, seeing a glimpse of the old Sid—the one who used to complain and demand attention—Rey felt a warmth in his heart. He was determined to give his dad all the love and pampering he needed, to help bring back that carefree, happy Sid who had gotten lost while weathering the storms of life.

"Thanks, beta," Sid murmured, his voice barely audible as he started to drift back into sleep, the tension in his back easing under Rey's touch.

Rey smiled to himself, gently continuing to press his father's back, determined to be there for Sid, just as Sid had always been there for him.

It was Sid's birthday, and the room was filled with warmth as everyone gathered around. Rey had placed a fruit cake on the bedside table, right in front of Sid, who was propped up comfortably with pillows.  It was a fruit cake because of Sid's dietary restrictions as Sid was still in his recovery phase. As Sid took in the sight of his family, a rare, genuine smile appeared on his face.

Miu, however, wasn’t impressed with the so-called cake. Scrunching up her nose, she asked, "Why did you get this? Yeh toh cake bhi nahi hai, watermelon carved karke cake ki tarah dikha diya."

Sid burst out laughing, and soon, the room was filled with laughter. Rey, always quick with a tease, added, "Arey Dad is getting old, Miu, and old people don't eat cakes."

Sid shot his son a playful glare. "Old, huh?" he retorted, amused by Rey’s cheeky comment.

Miu, not entirely convinced, cupped Sid's face in her small hands and asked, "Dad, aap budhe ho rahe ho?"

Sid chuckled softly and reassured her, "Nahi baccha, your bhaiya is just jealous of me."

Satisfied with this explanation, Miu turned to Rey, "Bad boy!" she declared, making everyone laugh even harder.

The room buzzed with happiness as Sid cut the fruit cake. He first fed Miu, who took the piece happily, and then offered a piece to Rey. As he did, Miu leaned in close to Sid and whispered in his ear, "Dad, bhaiya is being mean, but don't worry, I'll get you a chocolate cake later, thik hai?"

Sid smiled, touched by Miu’s sweet gesture. He knew she adored chocolate cake and was always ready to share her favorite things with him. He gently patted her head, "Thik hai, beta. I'll look forward to it."

Rey, noticing the secret exchange, raised an eyebrow at Miu, who just grinned back, her mischief evident. Despite the lighthearted teasing, the love in the room was palpable. Sid felt truly blessed to have his family around him, their laughter and warmth helping him heal in more ways than one.

Later in the evening, it was time for gifts. Miu eagerly handed over her birthday card to Sid, which she had been working on for an entire week. Sid's eyes lit up as he carefully took the card from her small hands, admiring the effort and love his little girl had put into it.

"Thank you, beta. This is beautiful," Sid said, his voice filled with warmth as he hugged her tightly. Miu beamed with pride, knowing she had made her dad happy.

Sid then turned to Rey, playfully raising an eyebrow. "Aur tumhara gift kaha hai?" he asked with a teasing smile.

Rey grinned, glad to see this playful side of his dad after so long. "Bas yahi intezaar tha, Dad," Rey replied. He walked over to the TV and played a video he had prepared.

As the video began, soft music played in the background. It was a collection of their happiest moments, starting with Sid and Diya's sweet memories. There were clips of Rey as a newborn, his first crawl, his first words, his first steps—every milestone captured with love. Miu's newborn clips were there too, showing her tiny hands and feet, her first smile, and the way she clung to Sid.

The video ended with a compilation of the family’s joyful moments together—laughing, playing, celebrating birthdays, and sharing quiet moments of affection. As the screen faded to black, Sid and Rey both had tears in their eyes.

Sid wiped his tears, his heart swelling with emotion. He pulled Rey into a tight embrace, his voice choked with gratitude. "Thank you, Rey. Yeh bahut special gift hai."

Rey hugged him back, feeling the depth of their connection at that moment.

As they pulled apart, Miu, who had been watching the video with wide eyes, looked up at Sid. "Dad, Mamma loved me?" she asked, her voice soft and full of curiosity.

Sid smiled through his tears, caressing her cheek gently. "Bohut zyada, Miu. Mamma tumse aur Rey se bohut pyaar karti thi. Tum dono uske liye sab kuch the."

Miu nodded, her little heart reassured. She hugged Sid tightly, feeling safe and loved. Sid kissed her head, holding his children close, grateful for the love that still surrounded him even in the absence of Diya. The room was filled with a quiet warmth, the kind that only comes from being with the people who mean the most.

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