A Beautiful Mess

Chapter 37

  She had his eyes, but you could see my resemblance in her face. Everyone was overjoyed on her birth, but were still hostile towards Josh. Dad gave him the permission to visit us observing the way he stood by me during juju's birth. It did not even take a second for us to name our daughter Serra after Gam. In no time we were home. The house was overflowing with baby stuff.

I felt a sense of contentment after I held Serra.

Josh came to visit us the next day at Dad's house.

“Hey,” I said as I received him.

“Hi,” he replied and gave me a bunch of lilies.

“Where's my princess?” He asked enthusiastically.

“Follow me,” I said and we marched in my bedroom where her crib was set up. He held a package which he opened up. It had this glittering cute star mobile which is hung over the crib.

“It's beautiful,” I said.

He smiled, “it has our pictures,” he said and pushed the mobile as it twirled and made a sweet chiming sound.

“Do you mind if I click pictures?” He asked.

“No, not at all, I'll leave you two alone,” I said.

“You can stay,” he said.

“No,” I said and moved out of my room while he clicked her pictures.

After an hour or so I heard Serra crying and that was my cue to feed her.

Josh was trying to soothe her down but she cried.

“Hey, she's umm hungry,” I said and took her in my arms.

“Oh,” he said and just looked at us.

“Hi baby, you're hungry aren't you, my sweet pea,” I chimed in a baby voice.

Josh clicked a picture and I glared at him.

“She's hungry,” I said.

“Oh yeah, I heard that,” he said.

“Yeah so I need to feed her,” I said awkwardly.

He looked at me blankly and then realization dawned on him,

“Oh, Oh, m sorry, I'll be in the living room,” he said and went outside.

I fed Serra and put her to sleep.

When I came out, he was in the kitchen cooking something.

“What are you doing?’ I asked.

“Making you dinner,” he simply said.

“Josh, please, stop,” I said.

“What?” He asked.

“Stop it already!” I yelled.

He looked at me blankly.

“Stop it Okay, stop with the flowers and the gifts and cooking, please. Don't pretend like everything is fine, that we are fine. I don't want this, you asked for my forgiveness, I forgive you, but that's all I can give you, now please, leave me alone,” I finished.

“I love you, Kalsi,” he said.

“Thank you, but love is not what I need, when I needed it you weren't there, now I don’t want it,” I said.

“Fair enough, I can live with your forgiveness, but I am also sure you can grow to love me again, and no matter what you say I’m not leaving just yet,” he said and continued with his dinner prep.

“I am not a bloody toy you can play with at your convenience, do you get that!” I said spitefully.

“Yes, I know; you're the woman I’m in love with, the mother of our beautiful daughter; I get It.” he said.

“Screw you, D’costa!” I said and sat in the living room.

“We got ourselves a new servant?” Dad asked as he sat for dinner.

“No, Josh was here,” he cooked, I said.

“What does he want?” He asked.

“He wants to take us home,” I said.

“And what do you want?” He asked again.

“I don’t know Dad, he hurt me; a lot,” I said picking on my food.

“Okay," he said and ate in silence.

************************

That devil was working his charm; he came home every single day with flowers, clicked pictures and helped me with chores. Even Dad was habituated with his arrival these days, he acted hostile but in a way he was okay with him being around.

“Hello, wifey, how are you doing today,” he greeted enthusiastically.

I ignored his attempts at being friendly or lovey dovey.

“And how is my princess Serra,” he asked and Serra giggled.

Dad was in the living room reading some book.

“Good evening sir,” he said.

Dad just snorted.

No matter how rude we were to him, he kept coming back.

On one such evening Dad was playing with Serra while I sat next to him.

“Would you like some coffee, Appa?” I asked.

“Oh don't bother, Josh would be here any moment,” He said.

“What?” I looked him not believing my ears.

“Oh I meant that Rascal would be here and he will force me on having a cup you know,” he said trying to hide the fact that he was more than fine with Josh being here.

“Dad?” I yelled.

He looked at me, “I think I like Josh.”

“Oh my god, I don't believe you out of all people are saying this!” I said.

“Kalsi, calm yourself down and just give it a thought, can't you forgive him? It's been a month since he's been coming and trying to convince you,” He said while still playing with Serra.

“I don't know, Dad, I need more time,” I said.

On that note, Josh marched in enthusiastically yet again