C15 Birthday
Two years later
Jai pov
I jolted when my alarm blared.
" Today is my princess' birthday. How does time pass? My girl would be five years old today. I should be proceeding or else she would be sad as she wants me to be the first person to wish her." After finishing my morning routine I went to my princess room.
" Wake up my dear princess. Come out of your dreamland." I caressed her head and planted a kiss on her forehead. I started tickling.
" Daddy, stop. Do you remember what day it is today?." She kept a finger on her chin and gave me a questioning look
" What day is today? Is there anything special today? Why can't I remember anything? " I kept one of my fingers under my chin and with my other fingers, I started tapping my forehead as if trying to remember.
" Daddy you are so bad. You don't remember what day it is today. " She folded her hands on her chest, bent her head down, and made a pout. It was getting hard for me to keep a straight face. I tiptoed near her and picked her in my arms. Taking her one hand in mine, I started twirling and singing.
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear princess
Happy Birthday to you. She hugged me and kissed me on my cheeks.
"I love you daddy. "
"Love you more princess." Our moment halted when I heard voices coming from behind me. My family stood there. Kavya wiggled in my arms, hence I dropped her down. She ran straight into my mother's arms. Ma tied a gold chain with a Barbie pendant in it.
" Ma she is too small. " I whined at ma's choice of gift.
" I know. She will wear it today and then you can give it to her once she is capable."
" Come on princess, let us get you ready for school. You are getting late." Rashi picked her up in her arms and walked to the bathroom.
Kavya came down wearing a blue tulle frock with beads on the neckline and a multi-coloured layered tulle. Her hair was braided. She was looking cute.
In the car, I asked her, "Princess, what do you want as your birthday gift?"
"Daddy, you will give me whatever I ask for. Promise." She intertwined her small finger with mine.
" I promise."
" Dad, you have dadi as your mother. Even my friends have a mother but I don't have one. I want a mother. Please bring her for me ." Tears started falling from her beautiful eyes. My heart pained seeing my princess's tears stricken her face. I halted the car at the side of the road, picked her up, and made her sit on my lap.
" Princess, don't cry. My heart breaks on seeing your tears. I love you so much. Is my love not enough? We can't bring people back from heaven. They live there with God. " My voice choked with emotion. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes. With the pad of my thumb, I wiped her tears. I started peppering her face with kisses.
" Ask for something else princess." I turned my face to hide my tears and drove off to the school.
" Sir, it is 4:30 and you are supposed to reach home by five, otherwise our Barbie won't go to her party." Manish, my secretary reminded me. Everyone at the office is fond of Kavya. When she was small, sometimes when everyone would be busy I used to bring her to the office. All of a sudden, my office door barged open.
" Do You know you are the only person who can barge into my office like that?" I rested my elbow on the table and clasped my fingers together.
" It is because I'm your bestie as well. Come on now get up and get going. Our princess won't like it." Arjun came near my table and shut the laptop.
When we entered our house it was bustling with activity. The garden was decorated with strings of fairy lights and purple and white balloons. There was a castle on the side. In one corner was a decoration of purple and white balloons and beautiful pictures of Disney princesses were hung within it. At the centre of the garden, there was a table that was adorned with small crowns here and there.
Hurriedly I took a shower and got ready. I was about to leave when the door of my room was barged. My princess with a cute pout, hands folded on her chest stood there. She was looking like a princess in her long blue gown with a bow in front. A blue cape was tied to her neck and she was wearing a silver crown on her head. A sash saying birthday girl hung in the front. I crouched to her level and held my ear.
"Sorry for being late for my favourite princess's birthday."
" I'm your only princess." She didn't change her demeanor and I picked her up in my arms.
" The birthday girl is supposed to be happy. " I started tickling her and her giggles filled the room.
"Daddy stop."
" Say you are not angry with me." I twirled her and her giggles filled the room warming my heart.
" Daddy I love you. You are the best dad in the whole world."
" I love you too princess. You are the best on the planet. You are my lifeline." I kissed her on the cheek. Both of us moved to the garden where everyone was waiting for us.
On seeing her friends she got down and ran away to meet them. The event manager approached me.
"Hello sir, I hope you are satisfied with the arrangement."
" Hello, you did a great job."
" Thank you, sir." I was enjoying the view of children running and playing. On one corner was an artist who was making drawings on children's faces. A few children encircled her. Some were jumping on the inflatable castle. I went to the table where my family was seated. Rashi was looking after the children.
The cake was in the shape of a castle.
"Princess come, it's time to cut the cake." I picked her up and went near the cake.
" Kavya, sweetie, blow out the candles." She tried to blow but was finding it difficult. She looked at me for help. I encouraged her and finally, with lots of effort, she was able to blow off the candles.
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
May God bless you, dear Kavya
I helped her with the cutting of the cake and asked the server to serve the cake. Dinner followed by it. Soon everyone started departing. I started searching for Kavya. It was past her bedtime.
"Ma, did you see Kavya anywhere?" She denied. I started searching for her but couldn't find him. My uneasiness was at its peak. She is my heartbeat.
