Father's Daughter

Father’s Daughter

 “I won’t let her ruin her life,” Meera stood up to talk sense to her daughter who had called quits as Ramrakh Panwar sat there having his tea.

“You will not coerce her into anything,” he looked at her, “there will be no emotional blackmailing or threats.” She looked at him as he kept the cup down.

“But she is clearly not thinking right,” she defended her decision. “This alliance is not only beneficial for her but for the families.”

“That is the reason I was against it in the first place,” he spoke up, “relationships are not business deals or tender projects to be signed and then left alone, Meerabai ji.”

“You are saying this because she is not your blood,” Meera cried unable to hold herself. “If she was your own child……”

“If she was my own then she would be the one making the decision, not her mother,” he stood up, “I suggest you take some rest.”

She sat down numbed by her own stupidity, “how could you say this to him?” she scolded herself, “he dotes on Heer, fulfils her every wish and demand. She grew  holding his fingers and…..”

“But she still is not her blood” Kokoia ji’s words rang in her mind, “blood is thicker than water, Meera.”

“You are saying this because she is not your daughter” Meerabai’s words haunted Ramrakh as the car zoomed down the city street. It was true that he was not biologically related to the twins- Heer and Patta but he loved and adored them as his own. He had taken upon the role of their father in all his consciousness and had tried to live up to all the expectations without demanding anything in return. Meerabai’s words had hurt him badly and deeply, for her to still think this way showed his failures.

“Hukum we have arrived,” the driver spoke up.

Ramrakh looked at him, “Go back to the house. If I need you then I will call you.”

Dinner was a quiet affair as only the children were present. Their mother had walked away on seeing their father’s chair empty. Patta looked at her worried as she had looked guilty upon coming face to face with the empty chair.

“I think they had a fight,” he looked at his sister who seemed to be pre-occupied. “Maasa walked away looking sad and guilty like when she gets angry at us for no reason and Papa is still in office even though we are prepared for the meetings tomorrow.”

“They fought because of me,” Heer confessed, “because I called it quits with Shakti.”

Patta sighed, “here we go again….”

Sajjabai made a face as her son and husband ate in complete silence. The news of her son’s alliance breaking was enough trouble for her but both father and son refused to talk about it. They had gone ahead and decided themselves leaving her behind in the dark.

“Maasa you haven’t eaten anything,” Shakti spoke up seeing his mother’s empty plate. She stood up to leave when her husband spoke up, “you are forgetting the rules, Sajja”

She looked at them and then at the server, “please take away my plate and as for me leaving mid-meal, my punishment is that I will be not be served any food or drinks the whole day tomorrow.”

She walked away  as Shakti looked on, “she’s angry with me” he sighed.

“She’s angry with us, Shakti” his father spoke up. “There is only one person who is able to cheer her up. Call him, your dadabhai”

Hansa stared in horror as her daughter went on a cleaning spree. All of the kitchen was turned upside down with her favourite snacks piled up in the ‘take-out’ bin. All things that she disliked were neatly organised on the counters with clear labels marking them- organic bars, proteins, low-sugar snacks, and greens.

“Do not try to sneak out with that namkeen, Maasa” her daughter’s voice was calm and collected. She was keeping the leafy green vegetables in the fridge while the cook was asked to bring out all the spices.

“But Ajabde I do not like these protein bars or this granola” she told her daughter.

“Muesli, it’s not granola Maasa. It is muesli and the doctor said it was good for your health,” Ajabde responded as the butler took the vegetable tray and placed it back in the fridge.

“Make sure all fried items are moved out of her reach, also sweets” she instructed the butler who looked at her mother and then back at Ajabde.

Hansa made a face as her daughter walked out with a list of items that she planned on buying for the pantry.

“Hukum you are smiling,” the butler asked upon seeing Hansa smile.

“Today, she acted just like her father. He might not be here but she never lets me feel his absence. She is her father’s daughter.”