Assorted Emotions...

Daddeee.... (Opening)

This is a two part story of a broken father...

Part I

'Daddeee' she crooned at him.

He smiled at her in amusement.

As soon as she got Zaman's attention she started giggling. What started as an innocent gesture soon turned into an interesting game for the little child. An adorable three year old who decided to accompany her father for a business meeting.

Initially Zaman did not mind the child's presence because it was supposed to be a casual business discussion over a Sunday morning breakfast. But now the meeting was completely ignored while all his attention focused on the cute little girl who kept calling him 'Daddeee' for no particular reason at all. Or perhaps it was for the sake of some childish amusement. Whatever it was Zaman did not mind, for his ears had yearned so long to hear that word, just one word for which he was willing to give away anything and almost everything.

*****

Unlike sadness which is prolong, happiness stays for a very brief period of time. Sometimes, very brief indeed. Soon, when the little girl left with her father, she took away all the happiness along with the little peace that Zaman had managed to collect in splinters during the past nine years.

In a moment those nine years of pain and guilt came back to him. Breaking a strong man into painful and uncontrollable tears. Tears of guilt and shame.

*****

It had been a tough previous week, having no clue as to why his boss had set a bull's eye on his back. Did the boss had a personal vendetta on him? But in the past five years of employment Zaman had never been snubbed or mistreated by him. Wait! Maybe it was because of the promotion request that Zaman had made in their last meeting????
But according to him he deserved the promotion which was long overdue. He deserved to be appreciated for his dedication and hardwork. Instead life was getting more frustrating with each passing day. There was no creativity in his professional life, just endless monotonous targets to meet without any incentives.

He was lost in deep thoughts when the cellphone beeped again, it was his wife. He glanced at his watch, it was late than usual but he was not in the mood for

'Have you seen the time? May i remind you that you have a wife waiting for you at home? Also, you have a life apart from your job!' speech.

He silenced the phone and resumed his work. There was no denying that his professional life was taking a toll on his personal one. He tried to remember the last time they had a romantic conversation or when he had watched her get ready for an evening out or just adored her while she was fretting in the kitchen.

She was a very understanding girl. He could not have asked for a better companion. In their three years of marriage she hadn't asked much of him but lately even she had grown very disapproving of his job and seldom complained.

It was about time, he gave her the long over due attention and care. After all, they were planning for their first child. Just before he was about to pack and leave for the day, his boss handed him another file for an urgent review. Clenching his fists, he slammed the file on his desk. Hardly a couple of minutes may have passed as her name popped up again on his mobile screen. She often called him at office but today the frequency was annoying.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you know I am working?" He barked over the phone. There was no answer from the other end.

"If you don't want to talk, don't waste my time." The continuous silence from the other end enraged him further.

"Yes! Just like now, I wish you were a MUTE that would have made my life much simpler!" Without waiting for a response he disconnected the phone.

There were no more calls... Just a complaining silence which was going to be a painful part for the rest of his life.

****