The Desert Lily

Chapter 24

'Why would she do it?'wondered Ayush. He had seen Samaira picking up his watch from the floor and putting it in her pocket. But he had failed to notice the scratch on it.

Why did she lie? Did she not want him to keep it? Does she want him to forget Praniti that soon? Was she...... jealous? What was she going to do with it? Throw it away?

Yes, he was trying to give a chance to this relationship, but this act that happened from her side made him a bit surprised. She have never given a hint on what she really think about the bond they share. She had only told him that she's doing this for Praniti and their children and was not sure if they will ever be able to live life as a couple. Because both of them still had fresh wounds and deep inside was not ready to leave the thoughts of their past.

Ayush has seen her evolve from a woman who emitted vibes of positivity into a loner when she was not with her children. She talked only if it was too important or necessary which was very unlikely of her.

He has seen her spending nights standing by the balcony, staring at the vehicles which moved without a halt and tall buildings which had lights on till late night.

He crashed on the bed. It has been weeks since the happening and he was still behind it. He had one more thing poking inside him. Tomorrow was Samaira's birthday as well as Praniti's. He wondered whether he should be sad or hopeful. It was confusing him big time. He knew that he was in a condition in which both these emotions were mixed.

He tried to stick to the side of the second one more because only having faith can help him lead a better life. He wanted to make Samaira smile on her birthday rather than making her take part in his sorrow. He was thinking hard what he could do for her.

She was a person who tried all ways to stay away from big functions. Hated decking up. He wanted to give her something simple but special. He never realized when he drifted off to the solace - filled arms of sleep.

Times passed and the day Ayush was waiting for came. Her birthday. Or should he say their birthday?

He was now waiting for her arrival. He breathed slowly as he sat thinking on the couch. Kevin and Reyan was seated on his either sides and Prarthana on his lap. She was playing with his incredibly long fingers. Coiling it in and out and wrapping her tiny hands around his big thumb. Ayush involuntarily kissed her forehead and took her into his arms, engulfing her in an embrace. She had been a good girl today, throwing less tantrums.
Kevin and Reyan made poker faces seeing their dad hug their sister and not them. Ayush noticed this released Prarthana. He then spread his arms and wrapped it around both of them, pulling them closer to him. Feeling her dad leaving her, Prarthana cried out on top of her voice. Ayush frowned.What was he going to do? He had only two arms.
He wondered how women with ten and eleven children during the olden times raised them. Its so difficult. He was already juggling on one feet with these three.
He now had a better idea. He made three of them sit on their toy mat and he sat on the couch. It was better than balancing three at once. But now something more unexpected happened.
The three kids started screaming and wailing their hearts out all at once. Ayush caught his head.
"You guys have a great timing though. All the three started crying together. "he said and sat down on the floor. He too was thinking of crying to give the three of them company.