“Mahi! Dekho kaun aaya hai!”

(Mahi! See who’s here!)

He yelled and rushed to their room. Naresh felt his body tremble with anticipation. He would see his daughter after so many years. A soft whimper left his lips when he heard her voice.

“Kaun hai?”

(Who is it?)

Ritesh helped her outside. 

“Didi!”

Isha squealed and rushed to hug her sister. Mahima laughed with happiness and hugged her back.

“Arre! Tu kaise aa gyi aaj? Surprise hi dedia!”

(How did you come today? You surprised me!)

Mahima exclaimed with glee. Isha smiled softly and said.

“Mummy papa ke saath aayi hu.”

(I came with mummy papa.)

As soon as Isha spoke the words, Mahima froze. Her gaze moved to the man who was staring at her with tears in his eyes.

“P-papa?”

She whispered, her voice heavy with emotion. A sob raked out of her and she made a run towards her father.

“Arre! Aaram se beta!”

(Careful!)

He said, seeing her run in her heavily pregnant state. Naresh wrapped his arms around a sobbing Mahima as she crashed into him. She clutched his shirt and cried. Even Ritesh felt moisture in his eyes as he looked away and sniffed.

“Bas mera bacha! Tabiyat kharab ho jaayegi na beta.”

(Stop it my baby! You’ll get ill.)

He caressed her face and pushed her hair back. 

“I’m sorry papa! I’m sorry!”

“Nhi beta. I am sorry. Galti meri thi. Maine kabhi tujhe samjha hi nhi. Apni zid ke aage mai…I’m sorry beta. Papa ko maaf krde.”

(No dear. I am sorry. It was my fault. I never understood you. In front of my stubbornness…I’m sorry dear. Forgive papa.)

Mahima shook her head and sniffed.

“I love you papa.”

She said and Naresh pulled her in his arms again.

“I love you too beta. Meri bachi! Meri laado!”

(My daughter! My princess!)

The father-daughter reunion led to a lot of tears but even more smiles and laughter. 

Isha and Om were in Om’s room. Isha sat in front of him cross-legged as she narrated to him the details of their visit to Mahima.

“...aur phir pata hai…papa ne jiju ko high-five kia….jiju ka face Oh God! Dekhne layak tha…itne shock mai the bechare.”

(And then…papa high-fived jiju…jiju’s face Oh God! It was worth seeing…he was so shocked.)

She laughed as she remembered Ritesh’s face when her father high-fived him when they were talking about a certain topic. Om smiled and kept listening to her.

“Thank you Om! Sachme!”

(Really!)

She whispered and he leaned in mischievously. He kept his hands on either side of her body and started hovering over her.

“Tujhe jab bhi mujhe thank you bolne ka mann kre na…toh mujhe ek kiss de dia kar. I’ll gladly accept it.”

(Whenever you want to thank me…just kiss me.)

Isha giggled and pushed his face away. But Om continued to lean in with that naughty smile on his face. He nuzzled his nose against her neck and tickled her sides, making her shriek and push him harder.

But he held her hand behind her back and pulled her almost over his lap. Their noses brushed together and he placed a brief peck to her lips. She bit her lip mischievously and turned her face away, teasing him.

He smiled and bit her cheek, making her yelp and gasp at him. Isha tried to get her hands out of his grasp but he pulled her closer, making her land on his lap as he threaded his fingers in her hair to hold her in place.

She breathed heavily and their lips hovered inches away from each other. Isha sprang back with the speed of lightning when she heard the door barge open.

Pooja stood at the entrance. Her eyes wide in shock due to what she was seeing and has seen.

“Ye…ye kya…”

(This…what is this…)

Om looked at his mother shocked. Even Isha had frozen to her place.

“Om? Kabse chal raha hai ye?”

(Since when is this happening?)

“Wo…abhi…kuch time pehle hi…”

(Just…some time….back only…)

Pooja looked at him for a moment and then grinned wide. She clapped her hands and brought them to her chest.

“Hayyeee! Meri bachpan ki tamanna puri kr di tum dono ne. Meetu ko batati hu! Kitni khush ho jaayegi wo hamara sapna sach ho gaya.”

(You fulfilled my childhood wish. I will tell Meetu! She will be so happy our childhood dream is being fulfilled.)

“Aunty…wo actually…mummy ko pata hai.”

(Mummy knows.)

Isha said. Her cheeks red like they were on fire.

“Hain! Pata hai uss kamini ko? Bataya toh nhi usne mujhe. Mai dekhti hu usse zara.”

(What! That bitch knows? She didn’t tell me. I will see her.)

She said feeling betrayed. Pooja came forward and caressed Isha’s cheek before going out to deal with her best friend.

Om and Isha stood there in shock. Isha looked at Om, who was still processing what happened.

“Sasu maa ka ashirvaad mil gaya.”

(We got my mother-in-law’s blessings.)

She teased, repeating his words from when her mother had caught them. Om grinned and twirled her around, making her shriek and giggle.

The next day, Om was in the living room, when his father came out of his room with a serious look on his face.

“Pooja ne bataya mujhe…Naresh ki beti?”

(Pooja told me…Naresh’s daughter?)

He asked Om, who grinned sheepishly and nodded like a naughty child, proud of his mischief. 

“Pyaari bachi hai…lekin Naresh jaan le lega teri.”

(She is a sweet girl…but Naresh will kill you.)

His father said, making Om chuckle.

“Arre unki tension nhi hai. Mera Mission Sasurji Patao chalu hai.”

(He is not to be worried about. My Mission convince father-in-law is on.)

His father laughed and looked at Pooja.

“Tum pr gaya hai bilkul.”

(He has taken up after you.)

Pooja flipped her hair haughtily and said.

“Achha hai na! Aap pr gaya hota toh itna romantic thodi na hota.”

(It’s good! He wouldn’t have been so romantic if he’d taken up after you.)

His father gaped at his wife and then shook his head with a smile.

Om and Isha were yet again in his room. This time, sitting on the couch, with Isha’s laptop kept on the table.

She was seated between his legs as they scrolled through the interior designs that he was supposed to finalise for his office.

But more than work, he was focused on teasing and kissing her.

On the other hand, Naresh had come to their home in search of Om. 

“Arre Naresh! Aao aao! Kya baat aaj toh.”

(Come on! It’s a surprise today.)

Om’s father welcomed him with a smile.

“Arre kuch nhi bas Om se kuch kaam tha.”

(I had some work with Om.)

“Achha. Mai bula deta hu usse.”

(Ok. I will call him.

Naresh stopped him and said.

“Arre koi baat nhi. Mai mil lunga. Kamre mai hoga na?”

(No problem. I will meet him. He must be in his room?)

Om’s father, who was unaware about Isha’s presence, nodded. Naresh made his way towards Om’s room. 

The door was slightly ajar and he opened it, only to freeze on his spot.

There sat Om with his daughter between his legs as he nuzzled his nose into her neck. Naresh saw red. Seeing Om so cozy with his little girl.

“OMKARA!”

He yelled and Isha quickly got up and stared at her father in shock. Why was it that they were always caught by their family?