Counting The Stars

For long has been the wait,

Still with faith and no hate

I am here to count the stars,

And fill candies in my jars

Dad, I can't taste the salt,

My watch has a fault

Since that day went in a second;

Yet I am here longing for the day

To hear you say,

That you will come again

I am here with pain,

Though I will cope

With lots of hope,

Searching for my watch's key!

And counting the stars as 1,2,3…

***

A father is always a child's superhero. He has many roles. Sometimes he can be a mother too. Some other time he is a friend to whom we can confide in comfortably. He becomes a doctor when we get hurt and changes to the role of an advisor when we make any mistakes. He plays the role of a chef while he makes us food. He carries almost each and every role in the world. But above all, the main role of the father is 'guardian'. So, here is a short story which depicts the cute and loving bond between a daughter and her father who is not only her guardian but also to the nation.

Renu was standing by the balcony, gazing at the night sky. She has been eagerly waiting for her father's arrival for 3 years. Last time, when she saw him, she was 6 years old. He asked her to keep counting the stars and told her that the stars would lead him to her again when she finished counting all of them. Since then she used to count the stars every night. But still, she was not able to count all of them. It seemed to her like there were infinite of them and that all of them looked so similar in appearance, so she had to start over again and again since she lost her concentration each and every time. But never did she lose her hope. She has faith in her father and the stars. She believed that the stars would bring him to her.

"Renu, it's time for bed, come and sleep," called Renu's granny. Her granny takes care of her. She loves her granddaughter a lot. She sees her late daughter in her. Her daughter had died in a terrorist attack when Renu was just 1 year old. Since then Renu's dad tried hard to join the army so that he can stop terrorism and he succeeded in it after a period of 2 years. Since then he used to visit Renu only once in a blue moon. Even it was harder to connect to him through calls. He used to attend the phone call only once or twice in a month.

"Yes granny, I'm coming," replied Renu as she ran towards the room. The next day Renu got up early in the morning. Today she thought of calling her dad. It has been a month now since her dad's last call. Last month, when she called him, he informed her that he would be coming home the next month. But he didn't tell the exact date. So now she is very eager to ask the exact date. Today, within a single ring, Renu's dad picked up the phone.

"Daddy! Daddy! How are you? No, no, first tell me when are you returning?" asked Renu excitedly.

"Hey Renu, I am fine dear. Don't worry, how are you and granny?" asked Renu's dad.

"We are good daddy. Tell me, dad, when are you gonna come home?" asked Renu impatiently.

"I don't know dear, maybe within a week, but I am not sure about it. Because there had been a lot of attacks since the past week. So, until we catch the attackers, I can't return dear," replied Renu's dad.

"But dad, please come soon, I am-" Renu was cut off by her dad's voice.

"Renu, I will talk to you later, there is an emergency dear, I have to-" Renu's dad said but before he could finish, the call was cut off.

"Dad! Daddy!..." screamed Renu.

"What happened Renu?" asked granny.

"I don't know granny, suddenly the call had cut off," said Renu worriedly. Then she started to cry while granny pacified her.

"I want to see daddy. Granny, tell him to come now itself," replied Renu.

"Don't panic, Renu. He will come soon. Don't cry child," said granny.

"Come let's go and bake cookies. You love cookies, don't you?" asked granny to which Renu nodded and replied "Uhmm… ok granny," as she wiped her tears.

In the evening, granny recited some old tales to Renu. She was keenly hearing them. Then after eating dinner, Renu asked her granny to sing her lullaby and she immediately drifted off to sleep after hearing it. The next two days were really boring for Renu. But she never forgot to count the stars. Daily before having dinner she used to go and count the stars. After that, she used to talk to them for a while.

The next day in the morning…

Ding dong...

The doorbell rang and Renu rushed to see who it was. She believed that it would be her dad. But unfortunately, it was the milkman.

"Granny, the milkman has come," said Renu as she went to the hall.

"Oh, ok Renu. You go and watch TV," said granny as she went to bring milk from the milkman.

Ding dong…

Again the doorbell rang.

"Renu, go and see who is at the door," said granny.

"But it won't be dad," replied Renu sadly.

"I have some work in the kitchen dear. Please go and see," said granny as Renu switched off the TV and went to the front door reluctantly. As she opened the door, she was greeted by balloons, bubbles and a lot of stuffed toys and barbie dolls. She was totally surprised and jumped up and down joyfully. Behind the dolls, stood her dad. She sprinted to her dad and he held out his arms and hugged her. This was the happiest moment for Renu.

"Daddy! I missed you a lot," said Renu.

"Me too Renu, Do you like my gifts?" asked Renu's dad.

"Yes daddy, these are my favourites, thank you so much," said Renu as she squealed in delight.

He spent the whole day with Renu. They played together, cooked together, baked cookies and watched movies. Two days went joyfully. Suddenly Renu's dad got a phone call. He was urged to return since there had been a massive attack yet again at the border and many soldiers got hurt and so there was a need for extra men. So, Renu's dad decided to go that day night itself.

"Daddy, please don't go again. Stay here itself," pleaded Renu.

"No Renu, I have to go, the lives of our people are in stake and I can't be here. Many people are there with fear. What if none goes there? There won't be anyone to save our people, right? If you ever want to see me, then see those stars, speak to them. Look at the stars. They are not just stars, they are giving hope to many kids like you who are in danger now. If I don't go there, then they will lose their hopes on the stars. Remember that before you finish counting them, I will be there before you," said Renu's dad as he kissed her forehead.

"Ok daddy, you must go now, go and protect them, bye," said Renu smilingly.

"Bye Renu, take care," said Renu's dad as he departed. As usual, that night Renu went to the balcony and started counting the stars as 1,2,3…

***