Life has been full of opportunities and joyful moments for her. When she thought that her marriage would put a full stop to her ambitions and career, it turned the other way around. Her husband has been very supportive; he loves her immensely and is there with her at every step of her life. That’s all she needs.

She is Nitya Sehgal, a content manager at a media firm and a budding entrepreneur. She has started shaping a business brand where she connects with the leading companies to make content. She’s always dreamt of working on her terms, and so she’s developing her dream project. She’s married to Aniket Sehgal, who’s a data analyst at a very famous IT firm. His hard work has led him to become the department head of data analytics.

Aniket and Nitya are happy in their married lives, and they’re blessed with a baby girl. The little one is one year old and is taking all the time and attention of her mother, which often leaves her father annoyed. She’s named Nishi by her parents, and she’s a bright light in their lives. Despite their busy schedules, Nitya and Aniket always find time to play with Nishi and to spend some time with each other.

It’s nighttime when Nitya is playing with her daughter. The little girl is giggling while clinging to her mom’s lap. She’s a happy baby when her mother is around her. Meanwhile, Nitya’s phone rings; she makes Nishi busy with her toys and moves into the balcony to attend the call.

Aniket enters the room and finds Nishi glancing at her mom. He sits beside her and tries to kiss her cheek, but Nishi pushes away his face, startling him.

“Arey, ye kya baat hui, beta? Tumhari mumma phone pe hain, mujhe kyu maar rahi ho?” He glances at his daughter, but the girl just giggles.

“Acha ji, ab hans rahi ho? Bilkul achchi baat nahi hai, Nishi ye, apni Mumma jaisi hoti jaa rahi ho tum.”

Aniket comments, while the girl only giggles. It seems like she’s understanding everything that her father is saying. Aniket scoops Nishi in his arms, and at the same time, Nitya enters the room. She looks a little worried. Little Nishi calls for her mother, but the lady is lost in her own thoughts. Aniket finds it weird, so he makes Nishi sit on the bed, busying her with her toys. He keeps his hand on Nitya’s shoulder, breaking her trance.

“Kya hua, Aniket? Tum kuch keh rahe they?” she asks sweetly, tension evident on her face.

“Tumhe kya hua? Nishi ne bhi kitni awaaz lagayi tumhe, tumne ek bhi nahi suni. Aisi kya baat hui? Nishi ki toh har baat tum sun leti ho. Koi problem ho gayi hai kya?” Aniket asks, concentration etched on his face.

“Ani, vo….” Nitya glances at him, struggling to find words.

“Kya hua? Kuch pareshani hai toh batao.” He asks softly.

“Haan, vo mujhe ek hafte ke liye Bangalore jaana padega. Hamari company ki taraf se seminar hai aur ek conference. Mere boss ne mujhe hi zimmedari di hai, sab manage karne ke liye.” She informs him and purses her lips in a straight line.

Nitya is thoughtful. Her daughter is just a year old. The few hours in the office without Nishi seem like years, how will she manage seven days without her daughter and her beloved husband? She glances at Aniket, who’s also thoughtful.

“Main mana kar dungi. Mujhe nahi jana tumhe aur Nishi ko chhod ke.” Nitya announces her decision.

“Tum mana nahi karogi, Nitya. Tumhe jaana chahiye, aise mauke baar baar nahi milte. Tum chinta mat karo, main Nishi ka aur apna, dono ka khayal rakhunga.” Aniket assures her immediately.

“Main jaanti hoon, Ani, lekin mera hi mann nahi hai jaane ka. Office mein mera vaqt kaise nikalta hai Nishi ke bina, main hi jaanti hoon. Isliye main kal Sir ko mana kar dungi. Aur bhi log hai office mein, unko mauka milna chahiye.” Nitya insists.

“Aur tumhara kya? Tumhe apne business ke liye isski zaroorat hai. Aur tum jaaogi. It is final!” Aniket commands at the moment.

“Mummaa…” The cute little voice of her daughter falls in her ears.

Nitya scoops Nishi in her arms, and the girl keeps her hands on her mom’s face. It seems like the little one understands everything her parents are talking about.

“Nishi, hum Mumma ko jaane dein? Papa aur Nishi masti karenge.” Aniket glances at his daughter.

“Mashti…” The girl repeats another word, surprising her parents.

After Mumma and Dadda, all she understands is everything fun, so she’s repeating the word “Mashti”. A little convincing by Aniket, Nitya is ready to go to Bangalore. Meanwhile, little Nishi is fast asleep. Making her sleep in her crib, Nitya glances at Aniket, who has always been the driving force in her life.

“Ani, are you sure, main jaun?”

“Haan, Nitya. Jisse tumhe fayda ho, wo cheezein karne se main tumhe kyun rokunga? Aur rahi baat Nishi ki, toh main manage kar lunga. Vaise bhi main soch raha tha kuch dinon ke liye ghar se hi kaam karun, toh vo main agle hafte kar leta hoon.”

“Lekin sab kuch manage nahi ho paayega, Ani. Maa bhi nahi hain abhi.” Nitya says, talking about her mother-in-law.

“Koi baat nahi, Nitya. Aur vaise bhi, Nishi ke liye hum dono responsible hain, sirf tum responsible nahi ho.” Aniket says.

Nitya gazes at her husband ; he has always been so understanding. He feels that when they have worked hard, then they should get equal opportunities. He also believes that if Nitya can handle their daughter single-handedly, he can do the same. However, he always helps her, but in the last one year, he has only assisted Nitya or played with his daughter. He hasn’t taken the whole responsibility. Now is the time, he thinks. He nudges her, and she kisses his cheek.

“tumhari isi baat pe mujhe pyaar aata hai, Aniket. Har cheez ko kitna minutely sochte ho na tum. Agar koi aur hota na toh mujhse naukri chhodne ke liye keh deta, aur tum! Tum apna kaam bhi ghar se karoge taaki mujhe Nishi ki aur tumhari fikar na ho. I am truly blessed.” She says and hugs him.

They stay in the hug for a long time, and then call it a night.

*****

Days pass by, and it’s time for Nitya to leave. She finishes the last-minute packing. Little Nishi is staring at her mother; she knows her mom will be away for some time, but she’s not crying. It seems like she has an understanding like older kids, yet, she’s just a year old. Aniket takes her luggage out in the lobby when Nitya hugs him. She’s still not firm on her decision. A part of her heart wants to go while the other wants to stay with her family.

“Will you miss me?” she asks, parting the hug.

“Why won’t I? Tum nahi hogi mere pas, toh main tumhe bahut miss karunga, Nitya. It’s obvious.” Aniket responds, kissing her forehead.

“Achcha, dekho, apna aur Nishi ka khayal rakhna. Aur haan, jab bhi mujhe mauka milega main call karungi, nahi toh tum kar lena, thik hai?” She instructs, while he nods obediently.

Nitya lifts Nishi into her arms to kiss her goodbye and is astonished to see her little one waving at her. Okay, so, she knows it’s time to drift apart. But, it’s for good, so it’s fine.

Nitya leaves, and the father-daughter is left alone. It’s only after her mother is gone that Nishi realizes her absence and begins to cry. Yeah, she happily waved to her mother, but now, she’s missing her.

Aniket lifts her in his arms, trying to convince her, but the girl is not ready to listen. It’s time to sleep, and she needs her mother to fall asleep. After much hard work, Nishi fell asleep. Aniket kept walking on the balcony, not to disturb his daughter’s sleep. Meanwhile, his phone rings, and he picks it up hurriedly.

It’s Nitya, who has called to inform that she has reached Bangalore and is safe. She then asks about Nishi. He glances at Nishi, who is now sleeping on the bed. He video calls Nitya, giving her a glimpse of their little girl.

“Vaise, ye ladki gayi toh tum pe hi hai. Pehle toh hans ke bye bol rahi thi, aur phir roi bhi thi.” Aniket says jokingly.

“Mr Sehgal! Dare you say anything about my daughter? Vo tumhari hi carbon copy hai. Mujhe pata hai, mere saamne hans rahe they, aur abhi dono papa beti milke royenge, mujhe miss karenge.” Nitya makes a face.

“Nai, nai, hum tumhe bilkul miss nahi karenge. Han, thodi derr ke liye kar sakte hain.” Aniket says teasingly.

“Shut up, Aniket! Tumhe mazaak sujh raha hai? Dekho tum dhyan rakho, kahin Nishi tumhari awaaz se jaag na jaaye. Aur tum bhi jaake so jaao.” Nitya instructs, and they cut the call.

The next few days pass by quickly. The days proved to be hectic for both Aniket and Nitya. For the former, it has been a tedious task to manage work and his daughter. Though Nishi has been a calm and quiet child, he needed to check on her. On the other hand, Nitya has been busy in her conference and seminars, and it did prove useful for her.

But, they couldn’t interact much, and Nitya hoped that her daughter would welcome her with joy, even though she couldn’t talk to her much on the phone. Yeah, she’s returning home, to her husband and daughter.

She returns home, and as she enters, little Nishi jumps into her arms, chuckling “Mumma” at the very instant. She chuckles and hugs her daughter; she missed her terribly on his business tour.

“Ab Mumma Nishi ko chhod ke nahi jaayegi. Promish?” She looks at her daughter, who again nods her head, surprising her.

“Aapne Mumma ko miss kiya?” Nitya asks.

“Noo”

“Mashtii..”

“papa”

Three different words, but it summed up her week. She has enjoyed her week with her dad, and she’s happy. Nitya kisses her cheek again and descends her on the floor.

It’s been a few hours since she has returned from her business tour, and she’s in awe of her own house. The house is well-maintained, and everything is in its place, despite having a toddler at home. Aniket has maintained everything very well.

The scenario that’s unfolding in front of her eyes is peaceful. Aniket is talking on the phone, Nishi is playing with her doll, and she feels peace and homely. A tear escapes her eyes, but a warm touch brings her out of her trance. He’s standing before her, wiping her tears with his fingers. He cups her face and gently kisses her head.

“Why are you crying?” He asks, though he knows that she’s emotional about being back home.

“Did you miss me?” She asks.

“Of course, I did. Itni khubsurat biwi hain meri, lekin 7 din se door thi, toh miss toh karunga hi naa!” He jokes, but she slaps his chest playfully.

“No, you told me a lie. Your first lie.” She says.

“Huh, what did I do? Nishi ne kuch kaha tumse? Dekho, bahut shaitan ho gayi hain tumhari laadli, uski baat mein mat aao. Bolna toh aata nahi hai, Mumma mumma karke tumko apni team mein kar legi.” He says annoyingly.

“Meri beti jhooth nahi bolti, Mr Sehgal. Dekho, usko bhi pata hai you lied.” Nitya gazes at her daughter, who’s giggling at the moment, looking at him.

“Achcha, toh batao, kya jhooth kaha maine?” He asks.

“You said, you missed me. But I know, you didn’t miss me.” Nitya says, walking close to him.

“Tumhe kaise pata hain?” Aniket is clueless.

“Tum jaante ho, Nishi ne mujhe sirf 3 shabd kahe, aur main samajh gayi ki tumne mujhse jhooth bola. You didn’t miss me because you had a mini-me to take care of.” Nitya looks into his eyes.

“Jab Nishi ne hi mujhe miss nahi kiya toh Papa kaise karenge? Dono baap beti maze karte rahe honge, hai na?” She says, her eyes holding happy tears.

“This is your first lie, Ani, and it is the cause of my happy tears. There’s nothing more that I demand. I know you love us beyond words.” She says that and hugs him.

He embraces her in his arms and kisses her head. He didn’t lie to her; he missed her but he had her close in Nishi’s face. His gaze falls on their daughter, who’s outstretching her arms towards them. Aniket lifts her in his arms as they share a family hug. He has his two precious girls in his arms, and there’s nothing more that he wishes for.

*****THE END*****

KABIRSANGEL I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS