Tale of Two Lovebirds

Chapter 42

As always, my apologies for the tremendous delay. I'm very grateful for the people who are patient enough to keep reading this story. Thank you very much. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this cute, little chapter and I would love to hear your suggestions if you have any! I need some inspiration!

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Chapter 42

"Mommy, what is 'sexy'?" The ever-curious little girl casually asked. She was sitting at the dining table, eagerly waiting for her mother to join her with some food. She was hungry and not in the best mood because she had just gotten home back from school to find her baby brother was taking a nap; meaning, she couldn't play with him.

Sexy? Where did she hear that? Deepika wondered as she reached the table with a bowl in hand. Sexy... The word resonated in her head as she searched in her tired brain for a definition suitable for a three-year old.

Ria looked up at her mom upon hearing no response.

"Sexy is... a word." Deepika said hoping her terrible explanation would satisfy her daughter's curious mind, but she knew it wouldn't. The best way to avoid explaining anything to Ria would be to distract her by changing the topic. She was about to do so when the small girl quickly interrupted her, obviously not ready to let go of the subject.

"I hear my teacher and the other teacher say Papa is sexy."

Papa is sexy. Sexy... it could mean funny? The young kindergarten teachers were giggling when they said it. They were smiling too. Funny? Silly?... She wasn't sure, she never heard that word before.

Deepika's brow furrowed. She was really tired. Her mom had to go back home in Bangalore less than a week ago and Ranveer was now busy promoting his film [with Valentina (!)]. He was all over the TV and the media because of the promotions, it didn't surprise her that the teachers were talking about him. What didn't amuse her is that they said such things around the kids, and around her daughter, who happened to be the daughter of that man they called "sexy."

"I don't know, baby..." Deepika chickened out. "It must be a word they made up."

Ria shrugged, now too busy eating. She made a mental note to ask Papa though, if Mommy didn't know, maybe he did... Speaking about Papa, "when Papa come back?" First Nani left and now Papa, she wasn't happy at all. Mommy was less than amused too and even though she tried to hide it, the little girl could tell.

"He'll come back tomorrow." Deepika said with a warm smile. "You miss him?" She asked and the little girl nodded. Ria loved her and she loved her a lot but Papa was just... Papa. He was her play buddy even though Mommy played with her too and even Dhruv, but Papa was just too much fun. He was up for anything, from chasing her around the house and throwing her in the air, to playing with dolls and tea sets. He colored too and helped her with puzzles. He was also her accomplice; he cleaned after her when she was too young to know not to draw on the walls of her bedroom and he helped her pop her new Barbie doll's head back into place before Mommy found out.

He would teach her not to do such things and that he didn't want Mommy to find out only reinforced her idea of him also being a "baby" to her mom.

In short, Ria was so attached to her Papa that she could barely go a day without him.

Deepika caressed her daughter's back. "He misses and loves you a lot too, sweetie. He told me when I talked to him earlier.

Ria confidently nodded, "I know. I know Papa love me. I'm gonna kiss his cheeks when he come back." She said with a big smile, making Deepika smile big and bright too.

"He'll love that! We'll call him when you finish eating and you can tell him that."

"FaceTime?" The little girl asked, her face lighting up.