As usual, the early riser Sameer woke up at 5 without any alarm. He realised that he also had slept with the baby in his room. His eyes landed once again on the worn out box with a certain longing lingering in his brown orbs. He got up and lifted the sleeping baby gently as he went to his room and put it there in the bed. He shook his head, the baby was not an early bird, just like his mother. He rushed to the bathroom and threw a lot of water in his face to get rid of the painful memories of his life. The tonts and the tortures he had given his long gone partner for not waking up early. Making her wake up early, just because he wanted, his morning black coffee from her. Now she was gone, gone forever. Never will he have the black coffee, she so sleepily made for him.

He let those things behind, called for a maid to watch over the baby and started working. He worked even on weekends, but at home only. He sent a few important mails and made some video calls. He couldn't help but get excited as the prospect of opening the first letter. What could she have possibly written? He wondered. Has she silently sent some message for him also in all the letters? He could not wait today for his notorious and attention seeking son to wake up and get dressed in New clothes so that they can open his gift, their gift. He felt excitement as a baby would but it didn't help, The Lazy lass woke up only at 9:30 in the morning and when the maid informed him, he rushed to the baby and the baby hugged him as he took it in his hands, "Papa." it said smiling, he grinned back and quickly got the baby ready.

"Papa and Babu are going to read Mama's letter." he said in a happy tone. "Mama" the baby mimicked his tone. It would have been so surprising for some people, the man who wouldn't even fully smile for cracking the biggest of deals was grinning like an idiot for a simple piece of paper that could only be half a page. It was strange of how he liked everyone quite, including her and now for her few words his anxiety level was at an all time peak.

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Vedanta was about 2 months along but they hadn't discovered yet. It was also a Saturday. Sameer was finishing some important paper work, when Vedanta came in chirping, "Lunch is ready." He just nodded with a small, "Yeah, coming." It would have been a little weird since they were married for only a little over two months and he already behaved like they had been married forever. However she nodded and sounded happy as she went on and he went back to keep the files. "Today I have made Pav Bhaji.. And it has come out yum! I didn't have certain ingredients, so I went and got them also." she said softly excitement floating in her voice. He neared her as she didn't realise and kept speaking, "You only have to come and tell how it is made, I fear its over cooked but..." He silenced her with a kiss and hug, he always did that. "Learn to keep quite, wifey." He had said, but it had not been just a joke, he meant it. "You look better like this, not speaking." he said caressing her waist and back, which didn't help her nervousness.

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And now all he wanted to do was hear more from her. As he entered the baby's room and neared the box, his phone rang. He ran out of patience but answered anyway. "Hey Sameer, how is Little Vedant doing?" he heard his brother's deep voice. "Haan bhai, he is doing well. He will be waiting for you all in the evening." he said trying to cut it there, but that was just the beginning then his mother spoke, then his bhabhi and then little Tanya. The only one who didn't speak was the little brother or sister of Vedant who was still in his Taiji's stomach. But finally it was over and he went to the box. He shuffled through it and finally found a folded paper written (1) on it. He laughed contently like he had found some hidden treasure and the happiness spread like a contagious disease to the child and it laughed to. Maybe kids do feel parents.

He opened it and sat beside his child and read it loud.

Happy Birthday my boy, my king, his heart constricted at the word king.... He loved his Son, but he was supposed to be his wife's king.. He continued nevertheless looking at the face of the little boy, who suddenly had adorned a serious face.

my cute little son. How is the apple of my eye? He smiled, "Very Good. Baby has worn new dress, right?" he asked and the baby nodded as if it understood.

What is he doing? He rolled his eyes, "Obviously listening." he said in his usual sarcastic voice but she was not there to listen it anymore. He read further..

Is he mischievous? "Yes.. " he said and asked the baby, "You are Mischievous?" The baby nodded negatively and he laughed.

This letter would be read to you by your father, Kanha. Kanha? That's not your name? Well,  mama will always call you that,  if she would have been with you and given an opportunity, she would have named you Krishna, because you are like God to her. He read continuously, curiosity eating him. Like God? He felt a pang of jealousy in his heart but that was only momentary. Obviously her Kanha is also his son, Vedant. He had always been over possessive of her, almost obsessive but now that she was gone, it turned healthy. What an Irony! Only after she was gone...

She loves you a lot. But you're little now,  to understand all this,  right? I hope Papa,  is taking good care of you. He felt a little offended. What is there to hope? But suddenly the hostile behavior he had shown to his son, in the hospital when she was breathing her last came to his mind. He immediately put the baby in his lap and continued reading hugging the baby.

Ask him to buy you many toys from Mama's side. The baby squealed at the word, toys. It was happy and he smiled, Ofcourse he would. He would buy a lot.

Love you and also your reader. That words did that to him what the earlier sentence had done to his son. Love you were the words he never said her after, that day. And she well,  she never said it at all baring the last few hours of them together.

He kissed the letter as If it were her hands. The baby followed the suit and it surprised him and he lifted the baby in his arm and kissed it. And the baby kissed him in his cheeks. It would have only been so much more cuter if she were here..she most definitely would have blushed..he thought.... He left the baby with the maid, put the letter in box and headed to his room, their room.

Crying when the person is gone can never compare with the sweet gestures you could have done to them when they were here. AND Repenting when  you can't make up, may wash your sins, but never their impacts.

They celebrated Vedant's first Birthday in all its glamour. Vedanta's parents and siblings visited and blessed the baby. Happiness illuminated like the radiance of Sun around the child. But gone was the one who had made the sketch plan of this more than a year in advance.

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