The Mogul's Intense Adoration

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Allen

Two months later

We were going to Harris's house today for dinner. This will be the first time that I would be visiting his house after marriage with Ari. Harris had been insisting on dinner since quite a time but at the last hour some emergency in the hospital crops up and I have to regretfully cancel the invitation thrice. Though it was her maiden home Ari was not much pleased to attend dinner with her father. Nevertheless I was happy that she didn't complain to come or knit some cock and bull stories to escape the visit. Otherwise Harris would have felt depressed.

Twenty minutes later one of the maids from the house opens the door. Harris walks to the front hall, shining bright to hug me and Ari but she stops him giving a formal handshake like she was going to attend some business dinner. There was a blink of regret flashed in Harris's eyes but he covers it with a smile welcoming both of us inside the house with wide hands. "You shouldn't have done that." I whisper bending down to Ari's ears when Harris had gone to the bar to get us drinks. She raises her eyes to me in a flare and I knew it wasn't the time to mess with her.

Dolores comes rushing to Ari's feet licking her. "I miss you so much Dolores." Ari tells rubbing his ears. "The secret to make frienship with Dolores is to rub his ears. He likes it very much and will surely run behind you wagging his tail." She speaks in excitement lifting Dolores to her lap and he starts licking her face. "Oh stop it Dolores." Ari waxed lyrical between her giggles. "I know you miss me so much and so do I. That is why I have come here to get you." There goes the reason but do children really require a cause to visit their parents home?

Harris comes back with the drinks handing a glass of mocktail to Ari and Scotch to me. "Too much alcohol is not good for your health princess. So I got you a glass of Mojito." He tells her in care and affection. "I hope everything is going on fine with your health." Ari states formally while standing up from her seat and taking the drink. "Thanks for asking. I am good now that you are settled and happily married." Too courteous of an acknowledgement between a dad and a daughter.

"I will be with Dolores in the side lawn." Ari tells her father playing the hair of Dolores. Harris was uncertain for a moment but nods. What was he thinking? "Can I have a glass of wine instead of Scotch? You never know when the call from the hospital comes and you have to rush to the emergency." Harris pats my shoulder. "Of course young man. I am proud of you. I keep telling people, my son is the best orthopedic surgeon of Miami. Let's get to the bar so that you can choose your drink."

"You are spouting me unnecessarily. I am not eligible for that much of praise." Harris's eyes blink at me in radiance. "That is your humbleness and I like it. When are you going to call me dad?"

****

An hour later the dinner was served with mouth watering dishes. Lamb chops with cucumber peanut faraal and fish fingers as starters. "I am allergic to peanuts." Ari tells eyeing the peanut faraal. "Since when did you start developing allergy for peanuts princess?" Harris asks slightly surprised. "I do not know, may be since last fifteen days." She shrugs and forks the fish fingers to her plate. "You develop such sudden allergies generally when you are pregnant." I spoke as a matter of fact relishing the peanut feraal and then it dawns on me. Looking at Ari completely startled, her features mirrored the same gaping at me.

Harris who was the silent spectator all the while exchanges glances between us in a controlling smile. "Ari, when did you last have your period?" I ask holding her hand in concern. She looks to the calender hanged ahead and starts counting softly. I squeeze her hand to ease her and then she meets my eyes in shock, muttering "one month and twenty eight days." A slow smile erupts my lips as I bring her face closer holding it in my hands. Harris clears his throat to gain our attention. "I am here. Romance each other after going home but please don't forget to inform me in your euphoria about the good news after you get checked." All of us get to a fit of chortles.

"You know very well how to play the tricks and get your works done, Ari. I was planning our first child after two years." I tell her between my chuckles. Harris was in all joy. "God is very kind towards me. I am very lucky, I have not only married my daughter but also will be welcoming my first grandchild to this world before I die."

Though the father and daughter duo did not have a much exchange of words between each other, I didn't miss the warmth in Harris's orbs for his daughter and adoration for her father in the eyes of Ari. Love still exists between them and it was obvious but they wouldn't break their walls and talk unrepressed. I sigh, and help a spoon of rice to my lips.

"Once upon a time there was a shepherd who worked very hard and earned a lot of money. He bought everything that his daughter desired yet failed in expressing his fondness for her. The daughter too loved her father in the same way but there was always this hesitation in her mind on expressing her feelings to him. Now their boundaries grew far beyond the expectation. Who do you think is responsible for the mistake that happened?" I ask shifting my eyes between the father and daughter. I was resolute, very shortly I am going to unite the pair.

Harris suddenly coughs going palpitated. Ari grips the corner of the table so tight that her knuckles start turning white. "You can help your dad to ease the discomfort. There is nothing wrong you will be doing to stall." I tell her between my gritted teeth. Harris squeezes my hand attempting to stop me on my speech. Ari dithers a second but rushes to her father running a hand on his back to ease him. She brings a water glass to his lips to arrest the blockage in his throat.

My doctor instincts inflate and I rush to his bedroom to bring the injection of 10 ml Elaxim shooting it to his forearm. After a few seconds Harris controls and closes his eyes. I carry him to the bed covering him with a duvet. "What was that? Why was he spitting blood? Ari comes to stand beside me with moisture in her eyes. "Will dad be okay?" I shook my head I did not want to build hopes in her. "He just entered the stage four of his heart disease, not much time to live." Ari leaves out a shuddering breath looking at me unbelievable.

"Dad was good, improving on his health since last six months, how can you say...?" I stop her putting my finger on her lips. "We cannot change the destiny Ari. What is bound to happen will happen." I take out the lid from the glass which was placed on the bedside table and hand it over to her. "The medication we are giving him prevents him from experiencing pain but that doesn't stop the disease growing in him. He is happy and smiling because he doesn't record the pain."

"How much of time is he left with?" Her voice heard in a shaking whisper as she holds my hand to gain the strength." I envelope her shivering cold palm in mine and bring her to a comforting hug. "May be a couple of days more. That is all." She gets to soft sobs. "Drink some water, if you cry like this, you are soon going to get dehydrated, because there are more tears to go in coming days." I don't hang back on telling her the truth she is supposed to digest.

I look at the full blown moon through the bedroom window recalling the beautiful memories I had with Harris. His death would be a loss for both of us but I try to stabilize myself to render as much support to Ari as I could. "Think positive Ari. Harris is not going to die a painful death. Jesus is taking him away from this world seating him on a gold throne. Everyone of us are bound to die one day but your father will be leaving this world with a smile on his face. He fulfilled all his responsibilities and now he is more happy because he is soon going to be a grandfather too." I pat her shoulder in assurance blinking my eyes to control the tears that were welling up.