It was night time. A girl was sitting in her room near the window, hugging her teddy bear. She was hugging it tightly and her eyes were gazing at the moon in the sky. She was lost in her thoughts. Her eyes were watery as well. Though she has no reason to cry. She has a nice family, caring and loving parents, and a sweet sister. But today, it seemed that something was disturbing her.

Her trance was broken by some voices. She heard them, it seemed her parents were coming to her. She didn't have her dinner. She smiled lightly,  it surely must be her mom, who would have come with some food. She wiped off her tears, as they entered in.

"Dekho yahan akeli baithi hai. Ab tum hi samjhao Vineet, meri toh sunti nahi hai ye ladki." her mother said.

"Sab sunti hoon main." she replied.

"Really? Agar suna hota toh mujhe yeh khana leke yahan nahi aana padta." her mother said.

"Maine kaha na mumma, mujhe bhook nahi hai" she speaks stealing glances from her parents.

Vineet sat beside his daughter. He knew that life was difficult for her. He patted her cheek…

"Baat kya hai Angel? Why are you crying?" he asked.

Angel looks at him. How did he know she's crying? Well, he's her father, and he doesn't need to give reasons. He knows when his daughter is sad and when she's happy. A while before, his wife, Ruhana, told that Angel hasn't eaten anything and there is something that is bugging her. She asked him to talk to her.. Maybe, she tells him something.

Vineet lifted her face up…
"Batao what is the problem? Tumhari maa ne kuch kaha?" he said.

"haww! Main kyun kuch kehne lagi? Excuse me, chup hoke wo yahan baithi thi, maine kuch nahi kaha" ruhana said making a face.

Vineet looks at her…

"Tumhara kya bharosa Ruhana? Tum meri beti ko kuch bhi bol sakti ho." he said.

Ruhana looks at Vineet…

"Excuse me, wo sirf tumhari nahi, wo meri bhi beti hai. Aur main kuch kahu toh wo hamara personal matter hai samjhe tum. Hum maa beti ke beech tum Kuch nahi bologe." she said scolding him.

Vineet pouts… "Mujhe bolne kaun deta hai. Tum dono hi bolte rehte ho." he says sadly.

Angel giggled at her act…

"You're bad at acting papa. Na kiya karo." she said.

Ruhana smiles at her comment…
"Toh batao, kya hua tumhe?" she asks again.

Something had happened a few days ago, which had left Angel thoughtful. She didn't tell about it to either Vineet or Ruhana. Was she thinking about her own mother, who left her, and then came claiming her after 10 years? She knew Ruhana had been a lot better than her own mother. Vineet brought her out of her reverie…

"agar tum purani baatein yaad kar rahi ho toh mat karo. Because they make no sense." Vineet spoke.

"That was a bad dream." Ruhana said cupping her face.

"but I troubled you a lot. She spoke a lot more shit to you. " she says looking at her mother.

"Aisa nahi hai Angel. She didn't had anything and she just knows how to snatch things from others." Ruhana said, remembering the argument she had with Mithi, after the anniversary party.

"but she even tried to brainwash Mannu!" angel said.

"she can't do more than that. Tum kyun uski wajah se khud ko pareshan karti ho? Tum pareshan hoti ho toh tumhari maa mujhe pareshan karti hai." he said to lighten the situation.

Angel smiles and looked at them. Ruhana smiles. "no you didn't trouble me. Dobara aisa mat kehna." she says.

"Thik kaha aapne. Main zyada hi soch rahi thi. But not now. Sorry Maine pareshan kiya. I was disturbed." angel said.

Ruhana kissed on her forehead…
"koi baat nahi lekin agli baar aise pareshan nahi hona. Hum hai na." she said.

Angel nods and hugs her. Vineet looks at them…

" agar tumne kuch kiya ya kaha toh tumhare sath sath mujhe bhi dant padegi beta. " Vineet said dramatically.

Angel giggled…

"Why daddy?" she asked.

"Tumhari mumma tumhe dantne ki jagah mujhe dantegi na." he said innocently.

"Ofcourse dantungi, afterall you're the source of every mischief in this house." Ruhana said eyeing him.

Vineet looks at her innocently… "Maine kya kiya Ruu! Shaitani angel aur Mannu karte hai, ilzam mujhpe, how unfair." he said, mocking hurt.

"Everything is fair in love" Ruhana said winking at him.

Angel giggled…

"exactly daddy. We're not different from you. Mumma hume Dante ya aapko, baat toh ek hi hai na." angel winked at him and followed Ruhana  to the bed.

Vineet was shocked at what his daughter just said. He saw Ruhana handing over the bowl of past to Angel. A smile crept on his lips. He was very much unsure when he brought Angel home. But with some efforts, and the circumstances, made Ruhana accept Angel as her own daughter. She loved her more than he did. Now that the lady from her past came claiming her, left her disturbed. But Ruhana handled the matter. They were certainly a happy family with all the love that bounded them.

His trance was broken by Angel's voice, she was holding his hand.

"kya sochte rehte ho daddy? Chalo, let's have chocolate milkshake." she said pulling him with her.

"But who's making?" he asked.

"You! Who else?" ruhana and Angel spoke in unison.

Vineet glanced at them when Ruhana smiled at him, and Angel pushed him out of the room.

"arey kamre se kaun nikalta hai. Banata hoon na main." he said innocently making the girls laugh.

Angel runs into the kitchen and secures her place on the kitchen counter, as her father prepares to fulfill her demand. Ruhana was adoring them, for these two were her life, maybe she thanked god, every time she saw them together. There could be nothing better gift than a family's love.

****THE END****

A family is a treasure, care for it, love it, own it.