The next morning, it was around 8 am, naina, wasn't getting
sleep, she ran down to the beach which was outside the house, and she started
collecting shells, arnav had just finished his daily run, he was on his way
back when he saw the little one, was sitting on the sand and looking for
something, he hated kids usually, but naina seemed to fascinate him, so he went
to her and kneeled down and looked at the sand
Arnav: what are you looking for
Naina: for shells (she said in a bubbly voice)
Arnav: (confused) why
Naina: because, then I can decorate my sand castle (she said
cutely)
Arnav: oh, and where is your sand castle
Naina: I will make it in the afternoon
Arnav: (raising his eye brows) and whose going to stay in it
Naina: me, mama and…. (Paused remembering her parents, her
father especially, and then in a split second she said without thinking) you
Arnav looked at her surprised, and had no words, he was
speechless, did she just say he will stay with them, in a sand castle, why him,
it could have been anybody else then why him, he looked at the innocent thing
who was collecting shells in the sand bucket, and though he was heartless he
knew she missed her family and she missed her dad the most, all daughter love
their dads, and sons love their mothers, arnav knew that well, so he played
along with her, not to break her heart he said
Arnav: well I would love to live in your sand castle, (he
put a hand on her head)
Naina: (she looked up and smiled, at him) I'll call you
first when I finish (she said in a baby voice)
In the mean time khushi came outside and saw the two of them
were talking, she went up to them and arnav got and left,
Khushi: naina, I hope you weren't troubling mr raizada
Naina: (moving her head from left to right) no mom, not at
all,
Khushi: good, don't forget we are staying in his house, we
have to be nice
Naina: off course mom
Khushi: so u all set for you sand castle
Naina: (excited) yes
Khushi: ok, come on, in have your breakfast and get ready,
The little girl ran inside, and did as her mother told her,
after lunch khushi took naina to the beach, as naina got busy into making her
sand castle khushi grabbed a clip pad, papers and some sketch pens and started
designing wedding outfits, and arnav as usual was busy with his laptop, at
around 5 he came out for coffee to see the mother and daughter outside, khushi
on the patio who was writing something, and naina on the beach, as he came out,
he sat next to her and leaped further, to see a lovely wedding outfit that she
was sketching,
Arnav: so u sketch wedding dresses
Khushi: (smiled) yes, one day I plan to open my own boutique
Arnav: mind if I (indicating if he could see her sketches)
Khushi: ya sure (she handed him the pad)
Arnav flipped through the pages seeing her designs, he was
impressed, by what he saw, she was really good, in fact brilliant, she did
posses the talent, he was about to tell her something when he felt the tug on
his pants and looked down, to see naina
Khushi: naina don't do that
Naina: I finished the sand castle, and I promised I will
show you first (she said happily)
Arnav: (smirked at her and got of the patio, as he came
down, naina held his finger and dragged him,)
Khushi followed behind
Naina: look, look see, that's our house, (she said excited)
Khushi: (confused) our house
Naina: ya our house, u me and daddy's house (she cutely
indicating to arnav)
Leaving khushi's mouth open and eyes wide, and so was arnav,
he had been called a lot of things in his life but never daddy, idly he would
get very annoyed, but because it was naina he never seemed to mind it, in fact
he liked it, no he loved it, a warm joy spread across his face and he felt nice
looking at naina as his daughter, he had adapted feelings towards her, khushi
on the other hand was ready to kill naina for what she just said, she was embarrassed
scared worried all at once
Khushi: (screamed) naina, what nonsense is this!!
Arnav: (stopped her bent down and said) she is right its our
house, and I would love it if you call me daddy
This further left khushi shocked, she couldn't believe it,
arnav was ok with naina calling her daddy, he didn't get angry he liked it, he
saw naina's face and she was glowing as ever, she was so happy to see her
daddy, then arnav looked at khushi and said
Arnav: look I don't know if you're ok with this or not, but
if she feels happy calling dad then I don't mind it, I know she misses your
brother a lot and if she can feel his presences in me then I would be happy to
fulfill her wish
Khushi: and why so soft towards her you hate kids
Arnav: yes I do, (he looked at naina and caressed her soft
cheeks) but she is special, and I think in the last few days we have developed
a bond that's why
Khushi: (looked at naina's smiling innocent face and saw she
was happy and she truly did look happy and then she looked at arnav's face who
was equally thrilled and then she thought to herself why not after all they do
share a special bond she smiled and said) yes, she can call you daddy
Arnav smiled at naina and naina smiled back, she hugged
arnav and then arnav said
Arnav: (smiled at her) its beautiful, (he looked at her,
then he went further beyond the sand castle and saw a star fish glazing on the
rocks, he picked it put and put it on the side of the castle as decoration)
there now its complete
Naina: (now squealing in excitement) oh my god, look it's a
star fishy, look
Khushi who was a silent spectator, just watched
the two of them bond, she was speechless and dint have words, arnav hated kids
then why was he getting so close to naina, finally naina tugged onto her, and
khushi without realizing joint in with the fun, for some time it looked like a
proper family bonding, arnav being the father, looking after his child and
wife, khushi the mother, complimenting and encouraging her child, and taking
care of her husband and naina their little baby, who was the world to her
mother and father, arnav got out his Nikon camera, which he once was very fond
of and removed photographs of the sand castle and of naina, some with khushi,
and not realizing some with himself smiling, it seems they forgot who they
were, all they knew was that they were having fun
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