FF - Fatherhood CHAP - 49,PAGE - 88 (Page 5)

CHAPTER – 4

It was late night and everything was dark outside.But in SN a very fishy thing happened.Slowly one after another each bedroom's door opened and one by one,with a tip-toe movement,came and stood outside Sonia's bedroom.They slowly and very silently opened the door and as soon as the clock struck 12,all shouted,"HAPPY BIRTHDAY."It was Sonia's 10^th birthday.Every year she used to get this surprise,but today,after seeing the newspaper,she couln't stop thinking about it and slept unknowingly.So when they all shouted,she jumped up on the bed and was surprised.Suddenly she remembered it was her birthday.She smiled.All wished and kissed her one by one and left.

                                                        Next morning,everyone dressed in white,got ready to go to the temple for HAVAN as it was Mandira's BARSI.During the havan,everyone prayed for the peace of her soul.Sonia whispered to Rishi,"Pata hai Daddy main jab bhi sochti hu ke mere birthday waale din hi maasi ki death ho gayi thi toh mujhe bohot bura lagta hai.Tab mujhe kuch bhi achcha nehi lagta aur mujhe mera birthday tak manaane ka dil nehi karta."She became sad.Rishi patted her on her back and said,"Sonu beta ab bhagwaan ji ki yehi marzi thi toh kya kar sakte hai?"Sonia sadly agreed and then happily added,"Pata hai sab kehte hai ki main bilkul maasi jaisi hu,ekdum carbon copy."Rishi smiled,"Ha beta ekdum carbon copy"Sonia then concentrated on the havan.Rishi looked at her and thought to himself,"Lekin kabhi kabhi jab tumhe gussa ata hai na toh bilkul apne papa ki parchaai lagti ho"and looked forward,"Apne - asli - papa ki."

                                                       In the evening,all her friends and neighbours came at Sonia's birthday party.She received many beautiful gifts.Rishi presented her an i-pod and strictly ordered her not to tell this to anyone especially Indira.Indira gave her a beautiful frock.

                                                       At night,after the party,when she was sitting outside with her i-pod.Her eyes got again stucked to that newspaper which was falling on the ground by her side.She picked it up and opened the front page and was again got lost in the name and the picture.She went to Indira and Rishi's room who were making sleeping arrangements.Sonia went inside and they got surprised to see her awake at that time.Indira called her inside and asked,"Kya baat hai beta tum abhi tak jaag rahi ho?Neend nehi aa rahi hai?"Sonia slowly came towards them and sat on their bed.She looked at them and asked innocently,"Mamma,Daddy yeh Sameer Diwan kaun hai?"The question appeared to be a smashing thunder in their ears.Indira fearfully asked with a low voice,"Kaun?"Sonia again asked very casually and normally,"Sameer Diwan?Kaun hai woh?"Rishi anyhow  smiled and asked,"Tum aaj achaanak yeh sawaal kyu puch rahi ho?"Sonia replied,"Vo aaj subhe ke business newspaper mein na maine front page mein ek photo dekhi,jise businessman of the year ka award mila hai,niche naam likha hua tha Sameer Diwan…..,ek minute"Incompleting her sentence she ran away and came back with the newspaper and showed them,"Yeh dekhiye,isi photo ki baat kar rahi thi"and then continued,"Main bhi toh apne naam ke saath likhti hu na Sonia Sameer Diwan isiliye pucha."Indira's hands were shaking while holding the newspaper and she exchanged a scary look with Rishi which was interrupted by Sonia again,"Vaise ek baat na maine notice ki hai ke Rish aur Ishu apne naam ke piche aapka naam,yani Ricky Diwan likhte hai,phir mere naam ke piche Sameer Diwan kyu?"Rishi became speechless and started searching for an appropriate answer.He very slowly and carefully replied,"Beta ye tumhara pura naam hai Sonia Sameer Diwan,ab agar main isme Ricky bhi ghusa du toh bohot lamba ho jaayega na,Sonia Sameer Ricky Diwan achcha thore hi lagta hai itna lamba nam sunne mein bas isiliye aur vaise bhi ek naam ke bohot saare log hote hai is duniya mein."Sonia seemed to be convinced with his justification.She smiled broadly,kissed them and after bidding goodnight,she left.