Forever: The phone call | Part 2 | Complete

Part 6

(5 years later)

Ahana's POV

"Mumma, why did that man stop his daughter from going to school?"
Pihu asked me. I was in the movie theatre with her, watching a movie regarding children's social issues. Though the movie was light hearted, they threw some light on gender discrimination.

Now, the only task was to explain to my 5 year old daughter as to why the guy in the movie stopped his daughter from going to school and instead sent just his son. She's too young to understand this issue but it isn't right to brush it off either.

"Honey, the man in the movie is a little crazy. He thinks he should send his son to school because he's a boy. He's not sending her to school because she's a girl. But don't worry, when the police find out, they will punish him and the girl will be able to go to school."

Pihu looked convinced. She didn't ask anymore questions and we walked to our car to go home. Back home, Abhaas and our son Praan were busy working on his airplane model. As parents, we often divide our responsibilities between the twins Pihu and Praan.

We reached home and Pihu ran inside. I suppose she wanted to talk to Abhaas about the movie. Honestly, I'm jealous of how much she loves Abhaas over me. Not that she doesn't love me, but it is always Abhaas and then me. I parked the car and went inside.

"You hate me don't you?"
I heard from down the passage. Was that Pihu?
I reached the living room as soon as possible.

"You like Praan more than me. I know."
She said while standing before Abhaas.

"Mumma told me. You will try to stop me from going to school, just like that man in the movie. But then police will come and punish you. I am a girl and I will go to school!!!"

She stomped her way out of the room. Praan ran behind her. I looked at Abhaas who was all shocked and confused.

"Exactly what did you tell her?"

I didn't know if I should laugh at her innocent antics or to explain this situation to Abhaas. It is going to take a lot more than just verbal persuasion to solve this mess.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

(3 years later)

I was cooking some breakfast while Abhaas and Pihu were watching tv and Praan was sitting on the dinner table, solving some riddles from magazines.

"Mom, will you help me with this one?"
He asked me.
"Yes sure. Ask me."
"What four-letter word begins with "f" and ends with "k," and if you can't get it you can always just use your hands?"

The world paused for me and my brain stopped working. What kind of a magazine is that?
Abhaas muted the TV and turned back staring at me. We had an exchange of a thousand mbs of info before the twin Pihu opened her mouth.

"It's a fork Praan!!!"

Tell me how do we explain to our kids as to why their parents were laughing in hysterics?

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"What's my son doing sitting on the windowpane?"
I asked Praan after I came home from work. Pihu was in the front porch, talking to her classmate about some project work while Abhaas was still working.

"I'm spying."
"Excuse me?"
"Dad said he will get me a RC car if I keep an eye on Pihu's friend."
" He did what?"
" Yeah, and I am allowed to scare her guy friends away if they don't behave themselves. Mom, dad is cool, you should learn something from him."

Guess someone was in for serious trouble.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

(10 years later.)

"Mom!!! Mom!!!" Pihu came running knocking on my bedroom door.
" What?"
"Mom tell dad to stop. He scared away my friend Kushal telling him that if he ever touches me, dad will throw him in jail."
This was the third guy Abhaas scared away. I just don't get his obsession with keeping guys away from Pihu. She's a teenager now. She deserves some amount of freedom.

"My dance performance is in one week and if he doesn't stop, I'll be the only girl in my gang who is not performing."
" Yes honey, I get that." I need to knick some sense into Abhaas.

" Stop him!!! I'm going out with Bhushan today and he is my last chance. If he leaves, I'm not dancing!!!"
" I'll talk to him."

Pihu left the house and after about an hour, Abhaas came home.
"I got us food!"
He said lying down on the bed.

"Abhaas, we need to talk."
"Are you breaking up with me? But we're married!!"
"It isn't funny Mr Kale. Kushal is the third guy you scared away. When will you stop fussing over Pihu's guy friends and just trust her to take care of herself?"
"Let's talk later, I'm starving."
"Abhaas!!"
"Okay fine, I'll stop."

" Hey dad!!!"
Pran peeked in the room.

" I'm going behind Pihu and that new guy Bhushan, do you want me to scare this one as well?"
" Abhaas!!!!!!" I screamed.

I threw the eye liner bottle that I was holding but it hit the wall and broke into pieces as 'Abhaas boy' ran away.

(Couple of weeks later)

"You know what? He still needs his teddy bear near while sleeping. Such a baby, isn't he?"
I heard Pihu talking to a girl about Praan in our living room.

" Pihu, can you come and help me?"
I asked her to come to the kitchen.
" Yes mom, what happened?"

" Why are you embarrassing Pran? If I'm not wrong, he has a crush on her, doesn't he?"
" Yeah. He does. Dad asked me to do that. He let me embarrass Pran in front of her in return of a pair of Jimmy Choos. Plus I get a revenge on him for scaring off my potential three guy friends."

Well, maybe it is time to break another eye liner bottle.

*****

So, I guess this is the end of our journey with Abhaas and Ahana. The book is officially over. There will not be any further chapters. I will continue to write more and come up with many such stories for you all. Thanks a lot for supporting me with the story. Do drop comments about how you feel about this book. I'd love to hear from you. Thank you.