"What do you mean I was gifted to you?"
"It is not good to eavesdrop but you heard it right. You are a gift that was forcefully imposed on me."
"Y-You... are.... lying..."
"Am I? You know what? Gift is a very fancy term for you. 'Trash' suits you be...
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I smiled as I saw Reyaan clicking photographs on his camera and showing it to his uncle. Arman nodded his head in appreciation and showed his nephew how to click portraits from different angles. For their experiment, Neeya and Upasana had volunteered, and while the four of them goofed around, the rest of us waited for the ceremony to start.
"The function will start in ten minutes. Anyone wants to eat something?" Shaurya asked us.
"I want fruit cake," Reyaan said loudly.
Shaurya ruffled Reyaan's hair and left to grab some snacks for us. He returned in a jiffy and gave us the food he had brought. I checked my wristwatch and tapped my foot as I waited for my husband and mother-in-law to arrive. To distract myself, I observed my surroundings. I had taken a spot among the various chairs lined up in the garden for the family and friends of the students being felicitated today.
A small stage was setup in front of us with lots of prizes and certificates decorating the tables.
Just as I was observing the teenagers roaming around and chatting with each other, meeting their families, I noticed a head bobbing towards me. I opened up my arms, and my daughter, Vaani, launched herself in my embrace.
"My baby." I squeezed her. "Are you excited?"
Vaani looked at me with her raven eyes, the same as her father's, and curved up her lips. "Yes, Maa. I am going to graduate highschool and then I will enter the college soon."
I kissed her forehead. "Why are you in such a hurry, kiddo? You can do college with Reyaan. You are still a kid."
Vaani giggled and stood proudly. "I want to open my company, Mumma. And for that, I need to learn everything as soon as possible. I am 12 years old. I still have so much to study."
I called Reyaan and told him to click a nice picture of me and Vaani. He adjusted his camera, and we posed.
"Oye, Vaani Nani, stand properly," Reyaan teased.
"Dumbo," Vaani fired back and wrapped her arms around my waist.
"Say cheese."
"You guys forgot about me!" Yuvaan photobombed our picture and picked up Vaani in his arms.
"Daddoo!" Vaani squealed.
"The picture came perfect," Reyaan announced and showed us his camera.
I narrowed my eyes at Yuvaan. "My face isn't visible because of you."
Yuvaan gave me a side hug and apologized for coming late. His flight got delayed, and he had a surprise for us. Reyaan complained of Vaani getting all the attention, and Yuvaan picked him up too. My mother-in-law took Reyaan's camera and clicked a candid photo.
While I was busy photographing with Shruti Aunty, Reyaan pointed behind me and ran in that direction, followed by Vaani.
