Food For Thought

Time

Time.

"Stop yelling Payal.! I am reaching the mall in five minutes.!"

"You better Ishika, i am bored,i have been waiting for you since the 45 miuntes.!"

"Count 10 and I'll be there."

I disconected the call,and continued running fro my life.Payal,my best Friend and sister-in-law,she is always punctual for some odd reason,and specially when it comes to my mother-in-law's 'special' parties. She used to hate them first but ever since she got married she loves hanging around with these excessively self obssessed women who nothing except gossip,bitching,and insulting.! 

I still hate it,its been 5 years since i got married but this has always been beyond me,i waste more than an hour dressing up,for no good reason and what i get when i reach there.?-' oh god,dont work so much,your loosing weight,' the lady right next to this one says,'no i think you have put on some weight since the last time we met,' 'my daughter has the same dress as yours,but i got her real diamond jewellery with it,' ...What am i supposed to do with that.? 

With a swarm of thoughts in my mind i ran into the mall,trying to find out why would today's party be in a mall.? The mall is probably the most crowded place in the city! 

Amidst my haste and callousness,i bashed into someone. 

"Oh my god.! I am sorry.!", i yell,as I see a beautiful little girl in front of me,she hardly reaches my waist and is adorable, after i apologised,she looks to the floor,confused by her reaction i look down there too,Shit. her ice cream...it felt flat on the floor,the moment i sat down on my knees to apologize,a big tear fell down through her beautiful eyes,I felt the guilt i never had beefore,her looks,her anger made me feel like a criminal,a part of me wanted to giggle at her cuteness,but i realised consoling her is essential at the moment.

"sweetheart i am sorry.! You like strawberries ha.? Can i buy you another icecream.? I am sorry i dint see you.!", i looked at her as she sobbed,I tried every posible thing,but she would stop crying and she refused to everything i offered, chocolates,brownies,cakes,the same ice cream,a different ice cream,two scoops of the same ice cream,everything got a straight NO. After a long struggle,she sniffed and wiped one cheek with her tiny hands and said,"Papa says,dont talk to strangers."

Right.! How stupid am I.! How could i forget the golden rule of childhood.

"umm... Well papa is right. but in that case little thing where is Papa.?"

She looks around a bit and i look around a bit, no sign of Mr.papa,and then suddenly we both respond to one screaching voice, "Ishika.!"

We both look up,to the tall man standing on our right.!,"Ishika...hi.!"

"oh my god.! I dont believe,is this really you Rajeev.?"

"Yaa, long time right.!"

I simply nod at that because my tiny brain was busy calculated the last time i met him.

"What are you doing here? With my daughter.?",he kneels down too grabs the little girl  and says "why are you crying.?"

We both simply point towards the ice cream and make a similar grumpy face.Just then she starts crying all over.

"No no no,Rajeev please do something,she crying since long,i said i am sorry sweetheart.",i looked at her again. She stops weeping and stands still,safe and happy in her father's grip.

"Oh ya that remind me, Papa,could you tell your beautiful daughter I am not a stranger and she could demand for anything she likes.?"

They look at each other,he nods she smiles. Thinks for a while and mumbles,"chocolate chips icecream in a cone",and looks at me,and smiles.