Two Yearning Hearts

27

As Parvati and Suyash stepped out of the society building, the morning sun bathed them in a warm glow. Though it was almost eleven, the weather was not too hot thanks to the cloudy sky. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of city life. The kids, full of energy, raced ahead towards the park, their laughter echoing like a melody in the serene morning. Parvati and Suyash walked side by side, enjoying the relaxed pace and the simple joy of each other's company.

“Maa said recently society maintenance had installed new play equipment in the park,” Parvati said, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “Shikhar and Nikhil are going to love it.”

Suyash smiled, knowing she was right. He glanced ahead to see Shikhar and Nikhil already on the swings, their faces lit up with pure joy as they laughed and played with the other children.

As they reached the edge of the park, Suyash noticed small patches of flowers lining the path. He crouched down to examine them, his fingers gently brushing the delicate petals. Parvati stood beside him, her gaze softening as she watched him with a tender smile.

“Look, your favorite red roses are here,” Suyash said gently, his voice filled with affection.

Parvati nodded with a smile. Suyash reached for a small, vibrant red rose, carefully plucking it from the bush. He stood up and held it out to her. “Here, this one’s for you.”

Parvati accepted the flower with a warm smile but couldn’t resist teasing him gently. “Oh! You’re not supposed to pick flowers,” she said, nodding towards the sign that prohibited plucking the blooms.

Suyash glanced at the sign and felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see it…”

Parvati chuckled softly. “Relax, Mr. Mehra! You’re not going to be jailed for this.”

She then fixed the rose on the side of her braid with a hairpin, the vibrant red contrasting beautifully with her dark hair. Suyash smiled, admiring how lovely she looked, the rose adding a touch of elegance to her already graceful appearance.

But his smile soon faded as he remembered that he needed to decline Narayani's invitation for lunch with Parvati. “Parvati ji, I was thinking about Narayani auntie’s idea of us having lunch out. I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to join you.”

Parvati’s heart sank. She had been looking forward to a day filled with laughter and togetherness with Suyash and the children. Suyash explained, “I had planned to take the kids to have lunch with Rishika today. She lives alone in this city and always seems occupied with work. I thought it would be nice to spend time with her and make sure she doesn’t feel lonely.”

Despite feeling a twinge of sadness, Parvati admired Suyash’s thoughtfulness. She understood his loneliness and knew that it was one of the main reasons behind his decision to become her sperm donor. She could see that he wanted to help a friend who was leading a similar lonely life. “It’s okay, Mr. Mehra. We can have lunch together another day.”

“Thanks for being so understanding, Parvati ji,” Suyash said, showing a mix of relief and gratitude. "So, what are your plans for the day?" He asked as they continued walking.

Originally, Parvati had planned to spend the day with him and the kids. However, as circumstances changed, she decided to go shopping. “I’ll go shopping for wool to knit sweaters for our baby,” she said.

“You can knit?” Suyash’s eyes widened with admiration. “Parvati ji, is there anything you can't do? You seem to be good at everything. You're so talented!"

Parvati laughed softly. "Mr. Mehra, I definitely have my own flaws and limitations, but I appreciate your kind words.”

Suyash’s eyes were filled with longing as he said, “I hope you don’t mind going shopping together for wool tomorrow. I want to be involved in every aspect of our child's life, no matter how small.”