47~ The Aquarium Tour
I glanced at my wife for the millionth time today while driving the car. Every time we cross a speed breaker, she groans in pain which makes me question that was an amateur like me was too hard on her?
"Are you fine?" I softly asked when I heard her wince one more time. I glanced at the backseat and found Amayra looking outside, just perfect to have a talk with Akriti which Amayra should not listen to.
"I am telling you, you won't touch me ever", Akriti gritted with a glare.
"Is that so?" I asked amusingly. She nodded furiously, making me smile.
"Don't smile, I will kill you", she warned, this time looking out from the window.
"Oh wifey, you don't want to become a widow do you?", I teasingly asked but she threw a nasty glare at me which made it clear that I should shut up.
"Now I know why Adrija complains about you and her husband all the time", she said. I scoffed and focused on driving the car. One day, I will open the skull of this problem named Adrija.
"Mumma, can fish live outside water?", Amayra cutely asked after a while of complete silence. I chuckled and looked at Akriti who was preparing herself to give the answer. Amayra is an inquisitive child, she has questions for every answer. It's almost impossible to satiate her curiosity.
"No Amayra, fishes only live in water", Akriti calmly said but we both knew something uncanny was coming up next.
"What if I pick it?" Amayra questioned and Akriti groaned. She looked at me with eyes which said to answer the question our daughter had asked.
"Then it will die", I simply stated and Amayra gasped.
"Die? Then how will I bling it home?" She cutely mumbled and both of us looked at each other, trying not to laugh. Amayra loves fishes and she never told us that she wanted to keep them!
"Do you want to keep fishes at home?", Akriti softly asked, looking at the backseat. Through the rear view mirror, I saw Amayra cutely nodding, which was sufficient to melt my heart.
I can never say no to her, especially when she makes such cute faces. I dislike how easily both of these ladies convince me to do anything! But I love them so much and that is what makes it difficult for me to deny them.
"Will you take care of them?" Akriti asked, a bit too strictly now. It still amuses me when I see her taking her mother form. She sometimes seems like my mother, sweet but strict at the same time.
"Yesh mumma, I will give them food, pway with them", Amayra cutely said, trying to convince us that we should keep fishes at home. Akriti looked at me, asking if I agreed to buy fish.
"But we have rabbits at home", I said, still not convinced.
I know how these tiny wishes are, Amayra will have fun with the fishes for a day and the next day, she will want some other thing.
And that will only spoil her, if we continue fulfilling her wishes.
I don't want my daughter to be called a spoiled brat.
"Okie", she mumbled, but this time her voice had a pinch of sadness. I sighed and glanced at Akriti. Akriti smiled at me and said, "Okay, we will keep fishes but you will have to promise us that you will take care of them".
"Okie mumma", Amayra sweetly said, her voice bubbling with excitement. I smiled at the adorable nature of my daughter and announced, "We are here ladies!"
"Yay! Aquilium", Amayra exclaimed and quickly got off the car before I could help her. Akriti giggled and held her hand while I held her other hand.
Amayra hopped on the footpath, missing a block and stepping on the other. I chuckled, getting reminded how I used to do the same when I was young.
"Tickets?" The ticket collector asked as we approached the entrance gate. I left Amayra's hand and stuffed my hand in my pant pocket, trying to find the printed tickets. Akriti and Amayra looked at me with uncertainty as if they were thinking that I had lost the tickets.
I chuckled nervously and took the paper out. The ticket collector nodded and let us in.
"I thought you lost them",Akriti said, shaking her head. Amayra copied her actions and exclaimed, "Mumma you should have kept the tickets. Papa forgets evelythng "
I gasped audibly. They both don't trust me? Not even a bit? And Amayra? I thought I was the favourite parent but look at this mischievous girl switching her sides! Who was the one who sneaked in an ice cream for her when her mother strictly denied.
Who was the one who convinced Akriti to buy new soft toys for Amayra? It was me! I bought chocolates for her when she was denied but look at her, forgetting her poor father and taking sides with her mom.
"One day you both will know how important I am, say anything you want to", I muttered, still offended by how they teamed up against me. They both giggled while I tried my best to not give in to their cute laughs.
Akriti wrapped her arm around my arm and Amayra held my other hand.
"Aww we love you Adhyay", Akriti cooed, kissing my cheek.
"Lobe you papa", Amayra said as well, swinging my arm along with hers. I bit my lips to control the smile which was threatening to make its appearance on my face. No matter how hard I try to be angry with them, I can't.
"Look there, so many fishes", Akriti exclaimed pointing at the tanks. Amayra looked at each one of them with awe and went closer. We both followed her, our hands enveloped together. This is the best part, having the one you love by your side and watching over your kid together.
I never knew my life could turn this beautiful, the woman I had a crush on is now my wife and she loves me back.
We have a cute daughter who doesn't fails to entertain us with her blabbers and complaints.
Life just turned beautiful and I wish I could freeze the time now.
I don't want this to end, I don't want Amayra to grow old.
One day, she will grow into a beautiful woman and get married, leaving me alone.
This is the worst part of being a parent, one day I will have to say goodbye to my daughter and give her away to some stranger. I will grow old and then witness all my loved ones withering away.
"What are you thinking, husband?" Akriti teasingly asked, bringing me out of my thoughts which will turn into reality in future. I shook my head with a smile and said, "Nothing wifey, just thinking how lucky I am to have you both in my life".
"We both are lucky that we found each other. I just wish I realised my love for you before, we wasted so many years", she stated with a sigh. I smiled and glanced at our daughter who was still gazing at the goldfishes.
"But what matters now is that we both have each other for the next seven lives and I am not letting you go", I asserted with a smile.
She nodded and said, "You and me, it's just perfect".
"It is", I said. We smiled when Amayra came running to us and dragged me towards the fish tank.
"Look papa, mumma, there are two fishes in that corner", she blabbered pointing at the two gold fishes swimming leisurely in the tank. Akriti nodded eagerly.
"That is mumma fish, and baby fish", Amayra said, looking at Akriti this time. Akriti , now looked at the two fishes, Amayra was pointing at and smiled. I knew it was Amayra's way of telling how important Akriti is in her life. She doesn't shows but she loves Akriti a lot.
"And papa fish?" I asked. Amayra looked at me and hid her face with her palms with a giggle.
"Papa fish work", she blabbered, making both Akriti and I laugh.
Kids are very intelligent and what surprises me is their ability to find their loved ones in everything.
The same is with Amayra, she takes care of everyone.
She knows how to indulge everyone in talks, she brings the family together.
Amayra was the only left piece which now completes us.
There were a lot of parents with their kids who visited the aquarium. The cute excited chatter of toddlers and their parents explaining to them to stick by their side, reminded me of my childhood days. Me, Hrishit, Hrishika and mom-dad, we were a perfect family.
Even though dad always remained occupied with his work, he always made time for us. Every Sunday used to be a fun day. One week we would go to malls, and the other used to be a small picnic. And now I have become a father, carrying similar responsibilities.
"I am hungly ", Amayra whined after we were done exploring all the fishes kept in the aquarium. Akriti giggled and said, "I am too".
"It's lunch time, what would you like to have?" I asked, looking at my watch. Both of them looked at each other and grinned which meant they wanted to eat something which was not healthy.
"Bulgel", Amayra shrieked and threw her arms in the air, asking me to pick her up. I wriggled my eyebrows and said, "But burger is not healthy, let's go home and eat daal rice".
"No!", Amayra yelled, as I picked her up.
"Don't be a health freak, even I want to eat a burger", Akriti said with a scowl. I glared at my wife and said, "Why do you both always want to eat things which are unhealthy?"
"Come on yaar, it's not like we eat burgers everyday, and it's Sunday!", Akriti complained and held Amayra's hand. Both of them threw a similar glare at me, trying to scare me.
I sighed at their attempts and said, "Okay". Amayra jumped from my arms and did a mini happy dance. I chuckled seeing both of my girls getting so happy.
Together, we hopped towards the parking lot and tucked Amayra in. Like a good child she is, she fastened the seat belt and showed me a thumbs up. I kissed her soft cheeks and took my place in the driver's seat.
"Next stop is Mc. Donald's", I announced and both of them cheered with joy. I started the car and drove us to Amayra's favourite restaurant, Akriti playing songs all along. All these months, I noticed so many changes in Akriti.
She smiles more, has turned into a more joyful person who tries to enjoy every moment. She has started expressing her inner turmoil to me, she shares her insecurities and her views on everything going around us.
Akriti has started taking interest in living her life to the fullest. That was precisely what I wanted for her. I love all the changes happening to her, my love for this new Akriti has profoundly increased. We both changed for each other, we adapted together, that is what a family does.
I stopped in front of the restaurant and opened the door for Amayra.
She hopped out and ran towards the entrance door.
With a smile, I held Akriti's hand and went inside.
Amayra looked at all the tables and then chose the last one.
She struggled to sit. Both Akriti and I laughed at her attempts and then helped her.
After we both were seated, I asked, "So ladies, which burger?"
Both of them pointed at the same burger on the menu card. I nodded and stood up to order three burgers, three coke and French fries.
We sat together, waiting for our food looking at Amayra who gazed at her surroundings very keenly.
"It's Amayra's third birthday next week", Akriti spoke up cheerfully breaking the silence. My lips automatically curled into a smile as I realised that we will be celebrating her birthday for the first time.
"What should we gift to our princess?" I asked Amayra who grinned cheekily at me. She jumped down from her seat and widened her arms, asking me to make her sit on my lap. I chuckled and settled her on my lap, stealing a few kisses.
"Cake, candles and mumma papa", she said, counting on her fingers. I looked at Akriti who seemed as surprised as I was. Our daughter didn't ask for a single gift like the children of her age do. She just wants us to be there.
"Of course baby, mumma papa will be there", Akriti said, her lips wobbling. I hid my daughter close to my heart and said, "You are so wise for your age, don't you want any gift?"
Amayra shook her head and mumbled, "You gibe me evelything".
I chuckled and kissed her forehead, mentally pining that I will have to plan a big surprise for her. I heard my name being announced so I rushed towards the counter to take my order.
When I came back, both of my girls were chattering with a few giggles. I smiled and secretly captured a picture to keep the memories.
"Here is your food Queen and Princess", I announced, bowing a little. Both of them giggled and as soon as I kept the tray on the table, they lunged over it.
With sauce smudged on their faces and hands messed up, they looked at me. I chuckled and managed to capture a few more pictures.
I had only started eating when my phone rang. I groaned when I saw it was from the hospital. Akriti shot a knowing look at me and I nodded sadly. I have to go, unfortunately. My patient needs me.
"Are you going?" Akriti softly asked and I nodded. She sighed and told Amayra, "Baby, papa is going to hospital, come we will do shopping".
Amayra pouted and this time looking at me whined, "Nooo! Papa no go".
"I am so sorry bacha, I have to go",I said, even though I had no will to leave them alone. Today was supposed to be a family day, but the profession I am in is unprepared.
"It's okay Adhyay, I will manage her, you go", Akriti calmly said and took Amayra in her arms. Amayra almost looked as if she would cry.
"I am sorry, I know I promised it was a family day but-
"Cut the crap Adhyay, your patient is more important than me. I understand how difficult your job is and trust me, I am so proud of you. Even Amayra is, aren't you sweetheart? Papa saves lives of people!", Akriti exclaimed and Amayra nodded, her lips still curled into an upset pout.
I slowly smiled and nodded. Kissing both of their foreheads, I went out of the restaurant and called the driver to accompany Akriti and Amayra.
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