MY DREAM

I was only five year old nerdy boy, wearing spectacles like potter and carrying my favorite Britannica kids,which Dad got for me from AMAZON.IN (where he worked), when I saw her.

Cheif HR Manager , Mr. Vikas Ahuja,thats what people called him. I used to vaunt a lot as a kid that ,ooo my dad works in AMAZON,the top most online shopping site(though i never spoke much with other kids, i was a fellow nerd as I said before),but I never understood my 32 year old dad wanted something else from life.

My mom, Mrs. Malini Ahuja, left her dream of being an Interior Designer and could only design her own house, and later died with this hope of seeing my four year elder sister Diya Ahuja being India’s Top Interior Designer up from the sky.

My school life had been terribly boring,before i saw her wearing a blue shiffone saree with golden beads at the borders ,teamed up with a black sling bag and a good pair or black stilettos.

I could not take my eyes off her, I was in my honeybee group,when my classteacher,Mrs SS Mota, screamed my name so loudly that she immediately turned towards our class and I could see her flawlessly beautiful face.

“ISHAAN AHUJA, what are you upto? You want me to call your father? Remember I know him very well and your sister,I have taught her too, so beware me.”- SS Mota was screaming but I was still looking at her.

Her big beautiful eyes with some black kohl and dark mascara, attracted me towards her. Her lips had a still smile ,painted red and those cheeks,OH MY GOD, they did’nt need any rose blush, because they were peachy and flawless.

“You Rascal.Not even listening to what I am saying and looking there outside.. “-SS Mota came and pulled me up by pulling my ear,(trust me ,it hurted a lot). She stopped in between her warning when she saw her .

“Ohh hello, these kids.They irritate a lot, haha! New to the school?”- SS Mota took away her sharp words in one sip of rum and throw out another face of her infront of her.

“Yes, I am MALINI,MALINI ANAND, i have joined today as a staff teacher for Rosemarry Group”-She spoke with her beautiful honey voice. I could see her being a little nervous for her first day, but Gosh! Is it a miracle?, Her name is Malini,Malini Anand or Ahuja,whatever it is, she was Malini.

She came inside the class. SS Mota stared her in an unobvious manner.I wanted to talk to her but she immediately spoke, “Hello little champs! How are you all? You all look so cute!”-She giggled by herself and looked charmingly at everyone.

“Ahhh! these kids disturb me a lot. You know what, Rosemarry group is very sensible as compared to them. It's like a curse to be the class teacher of such rascals.”-SS Mota gave her denial approval about us.

“But ma’am , sorry to say but these kids don’t look the way you are saying, i mean just look at them.. Such bright eyes, such innocent faces, cute!!”-She showed her intense emotion towards us, and the best part, she completed her sentence by coming near me and saying CUTE to me.

SS Mota gave the weirdest smile ever.

Inside me i was screaming, THROW ME TO ROSEMARRY GROUP PLEASE.

GAMES PERIOD

It was our games period and everyone was busy playing . Some were playing with a soft ball.A few students were fighting for there chance on the swings and bunch of girls were forcing a few of there boy friends to be a part of there house-house game.I thankfully managed to slip from the ground or else i could have got the auspicious chance to be the SILENT MAN of there game.

I don’t know what energy had came in me that i became that clever and sharp to run away from their. All i could see was the staff room where i could see MISS MALINI.

The moment i entrered the staff room, SS Mota called out my name,”ISHAAN , what are you doing here? Why not playing with your friends?Want a scolding from me.?”

I completely ignored her. My little dreamy eyes were in search of Miss Malini.

She was not there. But SS Mota called my name again and before she could stand from her chair, I vanished.

***

That evening was very tough. I was’nt able to concentrate on my favorite cartoon also. My sister was busy with her science model. My granny was in he kitchen preparing dinner.Granny called me out but i was busy thinking about her. I was so desperate to meet her.To see her. And to tell her that….

“Ishan, are you not listening to what Amma is saying?She had called out your name twice. And what are you doing you have split all the chocolate sauce on the table,are you mad?”-My sister lost her paitence , she broke all her stress of not able to make the model and scolded me.

I felt bad,even i was not in my sense and i broke into tears.

“OHH little boy, Diya, why are you scolding him?What is your problem?”-Amma scolded Diya of my behalf.

“Amma, look at him, tell him that he should respect you and listen you what you are saying and ..”-Diya di gave her explanation but amma stopped her in between.

I felt a little bad for di, when she ran in her room.

The drawing room was busy with all the stuff like thermacols, scissors, glues, glitter sheets and yes, unfinished project.

Amma went to her room , knocked, but she did not opened. We could hear her crying.

Dad came home with Diya di’s favorite strawberry flavour icecream and for me and Amma, our favorite Rass malai.

“Amma always supports him.Why dad?”- Diya di cried out. I secretly listened to the conservation when dad went inside the room to call di and ask her to have her icecream. Amma went back to the kitchen to serve dinner and to make di’s favorite Fried Aloo.

“No bacha! she love both of you equally. Its not like she give preference to Ishaan and not to you.. Its just that Ishaan is a small boy and he had seen so many things in such a small age.You were quite grown up when mum left us all alone, and Amma is just taking care of both of you.”- Dad tried to pamper her.

“DAD .. I MISS MUM SO MUCH ! I really do .. i wish she was with us, “- Diya Di said with hard tears in her eyes.

I had not seen hers but mine made me feel the same.

“I miss Malini too, but we can’nt get her back in our life , right?”-Dad exclaimed.

“WE CAN WE CAN.. WE CAN!”

“WE CAN!”

“WE CAN!”

MY HEART WAS SCREAMING SO LOUDLY.I WISH I COULD RUN INSIDE AND TELL DAD TOO!!

“Ishan? what are you doing here? come”-Diya di saw my shadow and called me inside .

“I have not listened to anything, I swear, I SWEAR MUM..”-Before i could say anything furthur, di pulled me forward and hugged me.I literally felt her tears on my shoulders. That was one of the most emotional moment. I noticed Dad, he also had tears in his eyes. His eyes were looking at mum’s photo in di’s room.

I MADE THE BIGGEST DECISION. I WANT MALINI MA’AM AS MY MOM IN MY DAD’S MY SISTER’S LIFE.It had been the need of the hour.

But the biggest problem, why would MALINI Ma’am would like to marry dad?

OK ! It was time to know MISS MALINI’S DEMANDS. But before that i have to know more about her.Would I be able to do that alone?

May be not, afterall i am just 5 year old nerd , whom no one likes to talk.

DIYA DI? Definetly she would help me in this Mission !

NEXT DAY-

“Excuse me ma’am? Can i come in?”-I nervously entered the rosemarry group class, where Malini ma’am was teaching.

“Yeah sure come in dear, Tell me?”-She very confidently asked me.She looked more beautiful just like my MOM.She wore a peachy coloured saree with open hair.She very polietly asked me,”You are that same boy who was getting scolding from SS Mota Ma’am yesterday, if i am not wrong , ha?Tell me, you don’t look naughty at all tho!”

“Ma’am Miss Mota hates me, can i please be a part of rosemarry group?Please?”-I literally begged infront of her, afterall i wanted to know more and more about her.

“Ohh son, i wish i could, you are really cute and sweet, but i alone cannot decide.And what is the problem with honeybee group? do miss mota scolds you everytime?”-She showed her concern towards me, and i felt it like a blessing!

“She always treats me like a nerd and everyone else do.I love this book which my father gifted me, and everyone thinks that i brag about carrying this book all the time. Its not like that,i love this book and hence my dad gifted me this.You know what my dad is now the HR manager at the Reliance ltd. and he is the most loving and caring father by heart and the most handsome person on this entire planet and he is also avery good guitarist and he like to ride horse and ..”-I got emotionally blowed out and bragged too much about dad.Though he is actually a superfather but i wondered why Miss Malini ould be interested to know about dad,but she enjoyed it and had a constant smile on her face.OH MY GOD, that smile.I later controlled myself and said,”Why would you listen about my dad,I am so stupid, but the point is, i want to be a part of rosemarry group”

“Hahaha you are suoer duper cute lil boy, I surely would take it as an action.But i cannot directly ask Miss SS Mota to declare you to be a part of rosemarry group, even she should agree to this, then only i can do anything.We can do one thing, we can ask your parents to talk to principal and change your group to Rosemarry .Whats say?”-I could feel the excitement on her face to see me as her student .

I was preparing my kind of meal in my head that even she loves me and she also wants to be my mom.

But i had no clue, was that in anyway right or no?

AT NIGHT

“Yes this is Mr. Vikas “-Dad got a call from someone the moment he reached home at around 8:30pm

“yeah, my son Ishan, what have he done?”-Dad looked at me and i looked confused.Who could be on the call?

Diya Di came to me and asked me what have i done ?! But even i was’nt sure who was on the phone.

For a while, i thought, it was SS Mota because obviously Malini ma’am would have asked her to shift my class from honeybee group to rosemarry and she furiously would have said A BIG FAT NO and now ad called dad.

But dad looked relaxed .He was’nt even looking at me.I was even more surprised.

After a complete 4 minutes 20 seconds conversation on phone and billion hours conversation in my mind dad hanged up the phone and said,”Ishan, why hav’nt you told me?”

This was the moment i thought all my plans were flopped.Dad got to know everything.EVERYTHING.

“Tell me? why hav’nt you told me that teachers are shifting to a new group?”- dad polietly said.

Wait what? my group is changing? i will be a part of ROSEMARRY GROUP!! YIPEEE!!!

“I had no idea about it dad.Who told you?”- i curiously asked, tho i knew it would have been Malini ma’am only.

“Amm , some Malini.. Miss Malini, Malini ma’am “- even dad was not comfortable with the name.I knew how he would have felt when he would have heard the name first, i was pitty sure he would be very happy to meet her too .

“Your teacher’s name is Malini? “- di asked very curiously, even she got really happy to listen the name.

I realised it was now the right time to tell her about my dreams.

“YESS IS’NT IT BEAUTIFUL?”-I was super happy.

“Ahh, ishan its just the name, by the way i’ll have to come to your school for re filling the form,till then get into your room and sleep”-dad

NEXT DAY

DAD CAME TO SCHOOL. MET THE PRINCIPAL. MALINI MA’AM HAD ALREADY TALKED TO THE PRINCIPAL.BUT WHERE WAS SHE? SHE WAS NO WHERE.

“So? I guess i should go now! Amm ok “- dad asked me, but i could see that his eyes were finding Malini ma’am.

Even i felt that dad should have met her and then it could have been so easier.

I prayed to god for sending her. Oh .. within a minute my wish came true and i saw Malini ma’am in the corridor.She looked exactly like mum.Mom’s favorite red coloured saree with black blouse and tied hair.I could seriously feel that she had been made for dad only.Dad was busy on phone.Both had not noticed each other.

Now what to do?It was time to push dad!!

I literally did, ahh but failed Dad scolded me but not noticed ma’am.

God was still with me, Malini ma’am noticed me and said,”Ishan , hi dear how are you ?ready for being apart of rosemarry group?”

“Yes ma’am always”

“Hi, how are you?”-Malini ma’am asked dad.

What? She asked by herself.Dad droped his phone.

“Yeah! You are Miss Malini!?”-Dad asked confusingly while adjusting his overcoat.

I FELT REALLY HAPPY.REALLY.

“YOU DID’NT RECOGNISED ME RIGHT?”-Malini ma’am asked suspiciously with a decent regular smile on her face.

“AMM, SORRY! I SAID YOU ARE MISS MALINI, ISHAN’S NEW TEACHER AND…”-Dad gave his explanation . he still looked confused.

MY EXCITMENT ROSE!

“I guessed so.The moment Ishan told me about you i recalled you,Malini yrr, your motu!!”-Malini ma’am said.

Her statement literally shocked me.MOTU?WHAT WAS GOING ON?

“Oh god, Malini,ahh,… haha look at you! So different ahahaha .. how are you?”-Dad looked so happy.

THEY WERE CONFUSED.HUG EACH OTHER OR JUST SHAKE HANDS WITH. PROFESSION CAME IN BETWEEN CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP.

BOTH OF THEM COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT ME. IN MY MIND I WAS EXCITIDELY SCREAMING,GUYS I WAS MORE EXCITED THAN YOU BOTH,NOTICE ME TOO!!

“SO YOU ARE HERE! YOU REMEMBER I HAD FAUGHT FOR YOU TO MY PARENTS THAT NOO I WANT TO BE WITH VIKAS. I DON’T WANT TO GO TO CANADA! HAHAHA, THAT USED TO BE SO HILAROUS”-Malini ma’am recalled each memory. She looked really happy.

I FELT BLESSED

“Ofcourse i do.Hey why don’t you come hope. It would be so much fun. And even my elder daughter , Diya and ma would be happy to meet you.And we can share our thoughts , problem , ups and downs like we did in schooldays.”- Dad claimed. Now that was much beautiful.

SO BASICALLY IN TWO DAYS I MET A PERSON WHOM FIRST I THOUGHT SHE SHOULD BE MY MUM AND FOR THAT I PROVED MYSELF TO BE THE MOST HELPLESS CHILD.TURNED FROM A NERD TO A FELLOW NAUGHTORIOS BOY AND NOW FINALLY WHEN I SEE MY TWO BIRDS TOGETHER I AM WONDERING ,Will they be giving me credit in any way afterwards?

“I could but,”-Malini ma’am stopped in between. She was about to say something but stopped.

“No but and all . you have to come. And now we have got this chance to meeting each other after ages. I am running out of time now or else i would have choose to sit with you and talk as much as i could.”-Dad was extremly happy. Afterall it was his childhood friend standing right infront.

“AMM, ok i will!”-Malini ma’am agreed with a sweet sigh

I FELT SO HAPPY

“Wow childhood friends!”-I had to say something. I cannot pretend to be a dumb and deaf boy standing right their and speaking nothing.

“YEAH!”- BOTH OF THEM SAID TOGETHER AND THEN LAUGHED.

I FELT YIPPEEE. I DID NO EFFORTS AND THEY WILL BE TOGETHER SOON.

THAT NIGHT-

Amma was being asked by dad to prepare variety of aloo, coz that was what dad remembered Malini ma’am liked.And was technically like a aloo as a child.

It was like a celebration in the house.

I TOLD DIYA DI EVERYTHING ABOUT MY MIND.

SHE FELT HAPPY.

“Ma, have you prepared kheer? Its Malini’s favorite, you remember how she used to swipe away every bowl when you used to make it.”-Dad was so excited.

EVEN ME AND DIYA DI WERE.

AFTER AN HOUR OF DEEP STUGGLE IN KITCHEN DAD PREPARED THEIR CHILDHOOD’S VERY OWN DISH CALLED VIKAS MALINI SPECIAL ALOO ANDA BURJI FOR MALINI MUM, NOW IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO CALL HER MUM.

Malini ma’am came home. She wore blue coloured churidar kurti and salwar with open hair and simple yet elegant makeup. SHE LOOKED FABULOUS.

She came in. It was a beautiful night. She had dinner with us . dad and malini mum talked so much, shared there childhood memories and had so much fun.

I WAS’NT ABLE TO GRAB THE FACT THAT WE HAD JUST MET. AND IN THESE TWO DAYS EVERYTHING JUST CHANGED SO BEAUTIFULLY.

HAPPY ENDING.

NOW I TOUCHED THE GOD’S FEET. GAINED SOME COURAGE AND WENT TO THE BALCONY TO ASK FOR THERE MARRIGE, WHERE THEY WERE TALKING AND HAVING KHEER.

“So ?”-i said

EVERYONE LOOKED AT ME. DIYA DI SURPRISINGLY.

“What happened dear? Come here, you know what vikas, ishan looks exactly like my son, i mean …”-Malini ma’am said but stopped in between

I DON’T GET WHY WOMAN HAVE THIS TENDENCY TO STOP IN BETWEEN THE CONVERSATIONS. WHY?

“So tell me about your marriage?”- dad asked. He looked as if he had a hint about her marriage.

“YOU ARE ALREADY MARRIED? AND EVEN HAVE A SON? YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE?”-Amma gave her gesturs. Her expressions completely told she was having the same thoughts looking at these two friends the way i did.

“Ma .. yes, but she is now Divorced, i mean,, should i ?”-dad said but stopped . his step was aright step of stopping unlike every women.

“Yes aunty, my husband is in Canada, and my son, he stays with his Dad only. I actually told vikas about it in the afternoon only because i am searching for a good lawyer for the custody.. so i asked vikas for that, to help me out .. and”- Malini ma’am said

SHE DROPPED ME IN THE MOST CONFUSED ZONE. NOW WHAT SHOULD I DO/ASK HER TO GET MARRIED TO DAD?

NO BAD IDEA! SHE WILLEVEN STOP BEING FRIENDS WITH DAD. THEN WHAT. IT WAS TIME FOR AN EXPERT ADVICE . FOR ME MY EXPERT WAS LIMITED TO MY FOUR YEAR ELDER SISTER.

“Hmm, its really tough. I think we should drop this idea.”- diya di gave her thoughts.

“no no we can’t .. i mean, no completely no. We need to make some nice plan.”- i disaggreed with iya di’s idea and though something new.

NEXT DAY

“Dad i think we should help Malini ma’am, is’nt it?”- i asked this curious question to dad at breakfast table.

Diya di looked at me.

Amma looked weirdly at me

And dad, he gave no expression and said,”i will see on that, finish asap , i will drop you school today”

AT THE SCHOOL

“Malini, trust me i had worked entire night on this but MR CHADDA is the best best lawyer practicing in canada.”- Dad was having conversation with Malini ma’am in the staff canteen. I sneaked in to listen what they talk.

“But you know na, he is a family friend, and then those weird questions, aghhh”- Malini ma’am said.

I AHD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON , ALL I WAS CONCERNED WAS THIS MEETING BRING THEM CLOSER AND THEY BE TOGETHER, ACTUALLY WE BE TOGETHER FOREVER !!

“Amm, ok fine if you are there,and you agree with that, then i am good too”-Malini ma’am agreed. She touched dad’s hand and smiled.

BOTH LOOKED SUPER CUTE.

AFTER 3 MONTHS

IT WAS THE BIG DAY.

THE COURT DAY.

IT WAS TIME TO BRING THE LITTLE CHAMP KRISH BACK HOME AT THE SAFE PLACE WITH THE RIGHT PERSON.

AFTER 4-5 HEARINGS THE BALL CAME IN OUR COURT, DUE TO INSOLVENCY MAHESH UNCLE, MALINI MUM’S EX HUSBAND WAS NOW A BANKRUPT AND COURT ALLOWED MALINI MUM WHO WORKED AS A TAECHER IN KINDAGARDEN SCHOOL AND THE RIGHT PARENT FOR A 1 YEAR OLD CHILD.

Malini ma’am’s stuggle to get her child back fulfilled.

In these 3 months we had also came closer each day. And not to forget, even dad was coming closer to malini mum.

AND NOW MY FRIENDS IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME TO OFFICIALLY DECLARE THAT I WANTED THEM TO BE TOGETHER AND THATS WHAT I DID.

AT THE CELEBRATION PARTY I SAID,”DAD CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING?”

THIS I SAID IN BETWEEN EVERYONE.

“Yes ofcourse, tell me”- dad asked me calmly.

“WILL YOU PLEASE MARRY MALINI MA’AM AND MAKE HER YOUR WIFE AND OUR MUM ?”-i polietly asked.

Though their was silence for a couple of minute and then something amazing happened.

MALINI MUM WENT ON HER KNEES AND PROPOSED DAD TO BE HER HUSBAND. SHE DECLARED HER LOVE FOR HIM.

WHAT ELSE. DAD SMILED AND WE HAD THEIR WEDDING A MONTH LATER.

“NOW TODAY AT THEIR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, I COULD ONLY ASK THEM TO BE TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT THOUSANDS OF YEARS,COZ LOVE IS ENDLESS AND I CAN SEE THAT IN THEIR EYES.

I FEEL MY MOM , UP FROM THE SKY HAD SEND MALINI MA TO BE WITH DAD AND WITH US. TAKE CARE OF US. GIVE US SUCH AMAZING BROTHER AND HELPING HER DREAM OF SEEING DIYA DI AS THE TOP INTERIOR DESIGNER COME TRUE.

IN THE END I WOULD JUST SAY I LOVE YOU BOTH AND THANKYOU FOR MAKING MY ONLY DREAM COME TRUE.”

CHEERS EVERYONE.

THANKYOU!