Comforting Kiss

5. Priya And Pihu

They stood apart in the elevator and were pressed against opposite walls. Priya closely noticed Ram, he seemed a little blank after their car ride. Had she said something that he did not like, she thought to herself. His expression worried her a little. At times, she may have denied about the feeling she had for Ram but deep down she knew she liked him, actually, she never stopped admiring him, his work, his passion for his business. The man whose pictures and articles she'd search through every business magazines and newspapers was standing in front of her. There was no doubt that he had gained a little weight over the years and had gotten cuter. But she still couldn't believe that Ram Kapoor was her friend, a friend who had confessed to liking her and who was slightly growing on her.

When the elevator haled, Priya noticed that Ram was still staring forward, expressionless. Priya called out his name and drew him out of his thoughts. He gave her a week smile and got out of the elevator. He pressed the code and unlocked the door; after which he held the door open for her, asking her to get in first.

The apartment wasn't what it looked like from outside; the inside was huge, an open room with a living room in the middle, a room that seem like a library with stack of books stood at the corner, an open kitchen with a dinner area.

"So" she heard Ram behind her.

"Your apartment is beautiful" she said "Isn't it huge for just the two of you?"

He smiled at her "Yes. But Meera, my ex-wife, was here when we bought this, it was quite warm and nice for the 3 of us; it still is but it feels like something is missing" he looked around the room.

Just then the door at the far end clicked open, Pihu peeped her head out and scanned the room; as soon as the little girl saw her father she ran towards Ram with her tiny feet.

"Hello my baby" he carried her and kissed her cheeks. Her tiny arms held him around his neck "Why are you still awake, Pihu?"

"Papa... who is that aunty?" she asked softly, her mouth over his neck.

"Come on, let me introduce you to my friend" Ram made her face Priya. Priya couldn't hold her smile, Pihu was a carbon copy of Ram.

"Hello. So you are Princess Pihu Kapoor." Priya said softly forwarding her hand towards Pihu. When she did not get any reply she spoke again "I always wanted to be friend with a princess, do you want to be my friend?"

Pihu nodded her head with a soft smile. "I want to be your friend". She held Priya's hand and pulled her closer, bringing Ram and Priya face to face with each other. They couldn't divert their eyes from each other, only when Pihu padded on Ram's face they broke their gaze.

"Uh. Priya, why don't you make yourself comfortable. I'll put her to sleep and be back"]

Priya sat over the coach waiting for Ram to appear from the room. Pihu was just like her father, chubby and cute and Priya could see that Ram had taken great care of the little girl despite being a single parent.

When Ram came back, he found Priya at his library, scanning his collections.

"Do you read?" Ram asked which startled Priya and she dropped the book that she was reading.

She gave him a stern stare and picked the book "You shouldn't startle someone like that, a weak hearted person might not be able to take it and yes, I love to read"

Ram laughed "Don't be dramatic. You sound just like Pihu at this moment." He went to stand next to her "Thanks for agreeing to come here with me. I am more relaxed thinking you are safe and close to where I can see you"