The falling seasons

Part 13

"So is having many dresses a good thing?"

"Hmm... I don't think so..."

"But it is!" Sunanda grinned "Otherwise you would have had to wear a single dress to very function and occasion you went to..."

Haruni thought up the situation and made a face that made Sunanda laugh heartily."Haru darling... Don't imagine yourself in such kind of situation! You have so many options to wear in real life!"

Haruni nodded rather quickly, making it look like she was grateful for having so many dresses, and Sunanda laughed.

"So while there is a merit for having such an enormous option, there is also a demerit when you have a thing to choose from so much!"

"Aunty you are cheating..." Haruni giggled and Sunanda replied with a faint smile.

"No I am not, my love! Rather everything that has sweetness comes with a bitter aftertaste! So even with the advantage of wearing something different every day, you have to bear with the stress of choosing, did you get it?"Haruni nodded in response, her eyes sparkled again.

"So and then you somehow make a choice and you come to know that it wasn't the right choice, then what would you do?" Sunanda asked as Haruni closed her eyes and frowned. This time too Sunanda wanted to laugh but she didn't want to disturb Haruni in her hyper concentration mode.

"Hehe... I don't know..."

Sunanda's smile disappeared as she said her next words.

"But the world we live in not so kind. When people make the right choices they take the credit out of it and when they come to know it wasn't the right one... They start to search for someone who can take the blame for their choice. And often people are more than ready to make someone's choice wrong"

Haruni sat straight, without blinking. She seemed like she was lost in something. "Haruni did you get what I told you?"

"Aunty..." Haruni's voice was stern "Then did papa think in those moments if he would choose us over his comrades then the world would blame him?"

The bell rang and Sunanda seemed delighted before she got off her seat.

"I had been wrong to think that, you were a small kid Haru! There's nothing more to explain! I will never know for what he chose them above you. But all I can say is, what you have thought might be the right answer!"

She surfed her head once more before she went out to answer the doorbell, and Haruni was left with the fire burning the air. She got up from her seat and went to the huge photograph that was kept at the mantlepiece. It was an old dusty photo behind the vessel. Haruni slowly lifted the vessel and placed it aside and then looked at the man framed in the photograph. He had sharp features and his face was clean shaved. There was a hint of a smile on his face that didn't cross the line of discipline. The man seemed like he stared right into the soul of Haruni and she gazed him with a smile on her face.

"Papa I think you choose to see me crying for losing you rather than other numerous children crying for their papas..." She gave a broken smile with her eyes twinkling due to the tears that were about to flow. "And don't worry! Haruni is a strong girl! So she can take this..." Her smile widened "And if possible I will make you happy that you made the right choice! Because I am a good girl and I won't make you or mama cry!"

The possibilities were thousands, yet Azuma didn't want anyone of them to come true, while she leaned on the wall and listened to what her daughter said.The notebook on Azuma's table sat idle as snowflakes softly settled themselves on it. And the open windows welcomed them with open arms.