Here we go friends - Let me know how you get on
Da
Kuki wraps her arms around her pa’s shoulders pleasantly surprising him which makes
Rishabh look up over his shoulder to smile at his daughter.
Where are you going? She asked looking at her Pa packing his suitcase.
Question one of many thought Rishabh unless he beat her to it.
“I’m going away for a few day’s for work” He broke the news to her as he zipped a pocket in his suitcase.
Think you’ll be alright here with your Mom?” He asked looking over his shoulder a glance to see if he’d got a frown or a smile. It was neither.
“Erm” said Kuki making out a adorable I’m thinking face..
“How many days?” She asked inquisitively.
“7” replied Rishabh holding his breath.
“Okay” the boss had approved! - phew thought Rishabh smiling and turning to take his little angle into his lap.
“Can I call you?” She said now looking up from her fathers lap
“Whenever you like!” He smiled more with his eyes than anything.
...
The next day when Rishabh arrived In Calcutta he spent the morning on a call with Prerna and Kuki to let them know he’d arrived safely. The first and only thing on in his mind was the little hearts children’s home. The place from which he’d been getting these anonymous calls. Mehra had managed to buy out the orphanage which meant he could walk in whenever he liked but as he looked out of the tinted window from the passenger seat of the car at the small building and the children in its court yard.
Rishabh thought carefully about what he needed to do in order to settle his mind on the matter.
Instead of visiting the children’s home right this second he asked the driver to drive on he had someone in mind who would be vital in helping him.
...
Veena opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Mr Bajaj at the entrance, she of course knew her son in law was visiting but she didn’t expect him to be stood here so soon after his arrival.
“Mr Bajaj ?”- she smiled with her eyes first before the smile was visible on her face.
Rishabh corrected her he should be just ‘Rishabh’ to her. There were very few people if any that used his name it would be nice to have alteast someone he could could count on for this.
…
“Kya woh batchi Sneha ho skati hai.. ?” speculated Veena on her own accord after listening to what Rishabh had to say from her seat beside Mr Bajaj in Sharma lounge.
Rishabh looked at Veena with a shared understanding of both extremes maybe this was something and nothing or maybe there was a chance that Sneha had survived.
...
When Rishabh and Veena entered the children’s home they met with a lady in charge who was meeting her knew boss for the first time.
'Good morning sir', - she said with a smile keen to make a good first impression
Rishabh greeted her with a handshake.
She began talking about the childrens home, its history, everything he would need to know. Rishabh looked around the small office and the wall hangings, certificates it was a little bit like the headteachers room in a school. Wooden interior and a old feel.
Rishabh decided to take the authoritative seat behind the desk in the office - he was now of course the propertier whilst Veena stood modestly listening to the lady.
“And yourself?”
He said looking towards a old gentleman stood in the corner of the office in a porters uniform.
'This is Albert' said the lady introducing the elderly man who was stood humbly in the corner as the oldest member of staff. Someone who picked up after the children, did all the jobs no one wanted to and was much loved by all.
Rishabh caught Alberts eyes and appreciated what he saw in them, if his years of intuition on people was anything to go by then there was more to this man then was meeting the eye.
"Can you leave us with Albert for a moment?" asked Rishabh and the lady left unsure why Mr Bajaj was interested in speaking to the porter. Once she’d left the room Rishabh asked the man to take a seat and he did a little unsure.
"You help the children look for their parents don’t you Albert" Rishabh had a very particular stare that couldn't be fooled.
The man wondered how Mr Bajaj had guessed his well kept secret.
The give away was the little notebook that sat in Alberts shirt pocket, the kind a gentleman of his era would keep with phone numbers.
“Yes” he admitted hoping he wasn’t in any trouble.
“I’m looking for my daughter.. a child who could me my daughter .. will you help me?” Rishabh focuses on the Albert. Veena looks on from the side anticipating the answer and for the first time understanding why the world talked about Rishabh with such high regard.
“Yes of course but I can’t keep track there are 300 hundred children here I just do what I can for any one of them when I have time and no one is watching”
"Can I meet the children?" Asked Rishabh, the man nods but has a question.
“I’m not in trouble am I sir he asks innocently”
Rishabh looks on like he’d taken to man.
..
Veena suggested they wanted to meet all the children that might have matched Snehas criteria. The right sort of age and time of admission. Mr Bajaj and Veena split up to cover ground quicker.
The children were adorable Sneha could be no older than 3 and half they established. Whilst Rishabh wanted to use his intuition and what he could remember of the phone call to guide him. Veena had a picture of Sneha at birth and her knowledge of Prerna as a baby to go off.
Rishabh had looked around 3 different rooms already with a careful eye. The father in him settled any child that was crying and smiled at any that smiled at him. However there was still no sign or feel of the little presence he knew was behind the call.
Walking into one room he spotted the back of a little toddler, whispy brown hair.. a babish chubby weight in a pale pink T-shirt.
What caught Rishabhs attention was the baby talk.. “la la la”
He’d heard that voice before. His eyes picked up into attention and he walked towards the baby and around her bending to a squat.
She had a pale complexion, hazel eyes, Rosey cheeks and the curliest cutest wispy locks of hair. As soon as she spotted Rishabh she just stared on at him.
And he at her.
“Da” She mumbled and Rishabhs heart skipped a beat.
The baby smiled and he felt this innate sense of connection with this baby.
The “Da” was certainly the same “da” that he had heard on the phone.
“Yes I made a few calls for sunshine here to a UK number i found a old note that said her mother was something P Basu when I googled the name I found a number. Said Albert from his side.
Rishabhs eyes were like cotton wool as he listened, and looked on.
Those eyes were familiar. The baby kept on staring at him, “the same look your mother gives me he whispered.”
Veena having spotted the interaction came over and was overwhelmed by how the baby had certainly taken to Rishabh.
“Sneha had a birthmark Mr Bajaj..on the right of her neck.” She whispered.. whilst the baby crawled closer trying to climb him Rishabh managed to steady her in his arms and looked to the right her small neck line. The birthmark was their. Rishabh shut his eyes for a second as Sneha clung into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck
'Da! Da!'.. She repeated and judging by Mr Bajajs expression Veena was sure they’d found Sneha.
Edited by jagrutid - 5 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
10