Book 1 of the Love and Duty Series
Anirudh Roy, the steadfast and disciplined army officer, had always lived by a set of principles, none of which involved love. His life revolved around duty, honor, and the pursuit of his ambitions. Marriage, child...
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Dhairya
I groan shifting at my bed when I hear my father gently saying, "Wake up laado, it's morning already. Wakey wakey!"
Snuggling my head into the pillow, I grumble, "Let me sleep. I can't wake up". I hear him chuckling and then feel his steps wading away. Smiling secretly, I pull the blanket over my head to go to sleep again.
But the blanket is pulled away from me and my father exclaims, "It's eight already! You have slept for ten hours! Wake up!"
I groan and look up at my father with my blurry vision. Rubbing my eyes, I blink at my father whining, "Baba please".
He gives me his murderous glare and snatches the blanket away from my hold. With his hands on his waist, he says, "When I was your age, my drill master would push us to lap around the ground and if he saw anyone yawning, he would double the punishment. Look at you! You have become such a sloth bear laado".
I let out a cry and whine, "I am not you baba, I am a pretty girl and I work in a cubicle."
He sighs, shaking his head. He gently smacks my head and says, "Your mother is fuming. We are waiting for you to have breakfast. And we are going for a trek today, you included".
I sigh and sarcastically ask, "Why do we go and see the same waterfall every year?"
He clicks his tongue saying, "Because that's what we do. Come on, don't be lazy. Go and brush your teeth. For God's sake laado, I feel like you are a toddler!"
"Baba I loved being a toddler, please send me back in time. I want to become a child again", I cry, lazily wearing my slippers. Tying my hair into a rough bun, I continue, "I loved being pampered. And I didn't have to do anything hehe".
He rolls his eyes, muttering, "That's why you have become lazy. Chalo go! Don't think that I'll leave you on your own. I know you'll go to sleep again".
I giggle sheepishly,that's what I was planning to do. As soon as he steps out of the room, I will run to my bed and sleep again. But I am busted, nothing new. He and mumma know what I plan and do, even if I meticulously plan everything.
"Baba this is not fair haan", I grumble walking towards the bathroom lazily. He glares at me and says, "Go laado, don't make that face. It won't work on me anymore".
I pout but anyway go inside the bathroom. Quickly brushing my teeth, I dash downstairs. Both of my parents were already sitting on the dining table. Mumma on seeing me, exclaims, "So princess is finally awake! I wonder how she even gets to the office on time".
I groan giving pleading looks to my father. Instead of helping me he chuckles and says, "And after office, I bet she just gets into the bed and sleep".
"Mumma baba!" I cry, pulling a chair out for me. It's been three days since I came home and all they do is tease me! And mumma just prepares all sorts of dishes because apparently I have lost the glow on my face, malnutritioned in her language.
