Lakshmi's P.O.V.

"Rishi, where is Rashmi?" I ask knocking on the bathroom door, "I have been looking for her everywhere."

"One second Lakshmi," He called back, stepping out of the bathroom smiling at me, "She's probably playing with Aysha."

I shook my head, "Nahi, woh Aysha ke saath nahi hai." (No she's not with Aysha,) Something didn't feel right, "Shalu aur Ayush toh Aysha ko doctor ke pass lekega hain. Usse bukhar tha na kal raat." (Shalu and Ayush took her to the doctor's remember she had a fever last night?)

Rishi furrowed his eyebrows, "Lakshmi, you are worrying for no reason. One second, let me look for her."

"Rishi!" I protested grabbing his arm, "Mein serious hoon. (I'm serious,) I looked everywhere in the house but I can't find her."

"Mein bhi serious hoon, ek baar aur check kar lete hain." (I'm serious too, let's just check one more time.)  Shrugging my grip he left the room calling Rashmi's name. 

Sighing I follow him out looking all around for our sweet little four-year-old daughter...Rashmi Rishi Oberoi...Our life's biggest happiness and blessing, who currently was missing. Ever since she learned how to hide in the different areas of the house, this has been a normal thing for Rishi and me to look for her every night. 

"Kaha ho Rashmi tum?" (Rashmi, where are you?)  I say out loud, "Dekho agar tum abhi ke abhi nahi baar aai na toh mein Aysha ke saath kelne nahi doogi." (Look, if you don't come out right now, I won't let you play with Aysha.)

Rashmi loved playing with Aysha, they only had a year difference between them. Kind of like Ayush and Rishi, Mummyji told me that just like the both of them Rashmi and Aysha are obsessed with each other. When Shalu had Aysha, Rashmi was so excited, it was like she found another toy. 

"Rashmi!" I heard Rishi call, " I looked everywhere, where is she hiding?"

Rolling my eyes I was about to go tell him, I told you so until I heard a small giggle from behind me, furrowing my eyebrows I turn around but she wasnt there...I heard her small giggle again, squinting my eyes I leaned down to find her hiding in between the sofa and table's small space. "Rashmi!" I say but she quickly hushed me, looking around I make sure no one is around, "Tum yaha kya karahi ho?"( What are you doing here?) I whispered, "Pata hai mein kitni der se tumhe doonde rahi hoon?" (Do you have any idea how long its been since I have been looking for you?)

"Mumma chill na," She whispered back, "Apna toh mujhe doonde liya hai, ab Papa ki baari." (You found me, now it's Dad's turn.)

"Rashmi abhi baahar aao bohot hoga." (Come out,) She shook her head, "Zidd maat karo Mimi, bahar aao beta." (Don't be stubborn, Mimi come out, Honey.)

"Mumma please na, aap bhi chup jao, phir hum dono Papa ko milke tang karega." (Mumma please, you hide with me too then we will trouble Papa together.)

Sighing I look around grabbing her arm gently I pull her out from the hiding space, "Mumma," She whined but I shook my head, "Papa, will find us here. Let's go find another place to hide."

Rashmi smiled at me excitedly, her smile was the best thing about her, Rishi said that she got my smile, a smile that brings peace to his world...and for us, his laughter is what brings us peace. Rashmi brought Rishi and me so much closer, in fact, her name...Rashmi, its a combination of our- 

"Mumma hurry, mujhe Papa ke paaro ki awaz sun rahi hain." (Mumma hurry, I can hear Papa's footsteps.)

"Aa rahi hoon Mimi," (I'm coming Mimi,)  I whispered as I quietly ran well speed-walked behind her, she took me into the backyard, "Here?"

"Mumma aap waha chup jao aur mein waha garden mein chupti hoon." (Mumma, you hide over there and I will hide in the garden.)

"Nahi garden mein nahi Rashmi-"  (No, not in the garden- )I begin to say but am quickly cut off by Rishi. 

"Lakshmi!" I heard him call, "Kaha ho tum? Pehle Rashmi nahi mil rahi thi aur ab Lakshmi gayab hai...chal kya raha hain." (Where are you? First I Rashmi was missing and now Lakshmi, what is going on?)

Rashmi hushed me before running into the dirty garden bed hiding behind it, as I hid behind the main door that led to the backyard.  "Lakshmi! Rashmi!"

"Rishi tum kya karahe ho?" (Rishi what are you doing?) Bauji asked, biting my lip I tried to control my laughter, it was late at night...and Rishi had been yelling our names for a good hour now.  "Kabse dekh raha hoon, tum phone karo na Lakshmi ko, poore ghar ko kyu tang karahe ho?" (I have been listening to you for a while now, just call her why are you bothering the whole house?)

"Meri galti nahi hai Dad, woh pehle Lakshmi aai thi woh Rahsmi ko doonde rahi thi aur ab khud hi gayab hai isme meri galti kaha se hai!" (It's not my fault Dad. Lakshmi was looking for Rashmi before and now I can't find her either...how is it my fault?)

Rashmi laughed my gaze went to hers, shaking my head. "Tumhe woh awaz suni?" (Did you hear that?)

"Haan, per baahar se," (Yeah, from outside)

"Peeche wala daarwaze se." (The back door) Bauji said they were close...agar game karab hogi toh Rashmi ka rona hi nahi band hoga.  (If the game gets messed up Rashmi won't stop crying) Hai Rabba. (Oh God,) Biting my lip I gesture to Rashmi to hide more, taking a deep breath I quickly walk inside almost bumping into both of them. "Lakshmi?"

Giving them a gentle smile I say, "Aap dono yaha kya karahe hain?" (What are you two doing here?)

Rishi looked at me suspiciously, "Ye toh humhe poochna chahiye, tum yaha kya karahi ho?" (We should be the ones asking you that, what are you doing here?)

"Mein..." (I...) I try to think of an excuse, "Woh mein..." (I...Um)

"Kya beta?" Bauji asked, (What?)

"Rashmi, rashmi ko doonde rahi thi." (I was looking for Rashmi,) I say, "Kabse mil hi rahi hai, isliye mein baahar aagi meine socha ke use chupna chapana acha lagta hain na, toh yaha shayad chuphi hogi per nahi hain." (I can't seem to find her, so I thought she came outside you know because she likes to play hide and seek but she isn't here.)

Rishi crossed his arms, "Nahi hain?" (She's not here?)

"Bola na, nahi hain...chalo ander chalte hain...shayad Shalu aur Ayush saath lega usko." (As I said she isnt her, let's go inside maybe she went with Shalu and Ayush.)

Bauji sighed, "Tum dono bhi na, mein to soona jaaraha hoon." (You two are impossible, I am going to sleep.)  Bauji smiled discreetly pointing behind me...he saw her... Rishi smiled at me as well... he grabbed my arm taking me inside, 

"Dekh liye meine." (I saw her,) He said firmly, "Tum humari beti ko chupa rahi thi?" (You were hiding our daughter?)

"Nahi, woh usko kehle na tha, toh isliye meine...ab tum jao aur usko doondo, uski zidd thi ki tum usko doondo mein nahi." (No! She just wanted to play so I went along with it, not it's your turn to find her. She was being stubborn saying that she wanted you to find her.)

Rishi smirked pulling me closer, "Tum bhi chup rahi thi mujhse, meine kitni awaaz lagi, per tumne jawab nahi diya." (You were hiding from me too, I have been calling you name for so long but you didn't answer.)

Rolling my eyes I gently pushed him back, "Kaha na uski zidd thi, ab please usko leke aao, woh miti ke saath kehle rahi hai." (Like I said she was being stubborn. Now please go get her, she is getting dirty.)

He chuckled, kissing my forehead, "Aata hoon." (Okay,)

It was quiet for alitte while until I heard Rashmi's laughter, "Aapne doonde liye Papa!"(You found me!)

"Kaise nahi doonde tha? Tum meri jaan ho." (Why wouldnt I find you? You are my life.)

"Per aap toh kethe ho ke Mumma aap ki jaan hain, hum dono kaise ho sakti hain aap ki jaan?" (But you say Mumma is your life? Then how can we both be your life?)

Hai Rabba, yeh lakdi bhi na...chaar saal ki hain per sawal...toh aise aise pooch thi hain na. (Oh God, the questions she asks...she is four years old but asks werid questions.)  

"Pehle Mumma meri jaan thi, ab toh meri duniya hai...meri taakat hai...use mera saason pe mujhse zaada haq hai...tumhari Mumma hai toh mein hoon...aur tumahir baat toh, tumhara liya tog poori duniya se bhi laad jaoon...kyuki tum meri-" (Before you came, your Mumma was my life, but now she's my world, my strength...she has more right on my life than I do...if your Mumma is alive, then I'm alive...and when it comes to you, for you I can fight against the world because you are-)

"Jaan hoon." She said excitedly, (Your life,)

Rishi chuckled, walking inside with her as I stood smiling at them, "Agar baatein poori hogi ho toh tumhara kapra change karde phir soona bhi hain na?" (If you two are done talking, let's go change your clothes.)

Rashmi shook her head, "Rashmi, poore din tum kehlti rehti ho...ab toh sona padega,"(Rashmi, you play all day, but now you have to sleep.)Rashmi yawned while protesting against Rishi, "Dekha neendh bhi aarahi hain,"  (See you are tired)

Taking her from Rishi I smiled as she rested her head on my shoulder, Rishi yawned too, "Mujhe bhi aa rahi hain." (I am too,)

Smiling we walked upstairs to our room, quickly cleaning Rashmi up, I lay her in bed sitting down beside her as Rishi sat down on the other side, her eyes fell heavily as I gently massaged her head, within minutes she  fell asleep...Rishi smiled, "Kitni thaki huwi thi." (She was so tired)

"Thakna toh tha, poore din to kitna baag thi rethi hain. Kasam se, ek minute nahi bethi Rishi." (She was, she plays all day and I swear Rishi she doesnt sit down for  a minute)

"Ayush aise tha, mein toh shaant tha." (Ayush was like that, I was quiet)

"Mummyji toh kuch aur hi baata rahi thi," (Really because Mummyji said the complete opposite.) I say teasingly, "Woh toh karahi thi ke Rashmi aur tum ek dum judwa ho, tum bhi kaam nahi tha." (She was saying that you and Rashmi are like twins, you did the same things that Rashmi does.)

He smiled back sighing, "Kitna aajeeb hai na? Papa ban na, matlab pehle tum mera liye itni important thi, tumhe agar kuch hotha toh meri jaan nikali thi, per ab agar kuch Rashmi ke saath kuch hotha ahin toh aise laagtha hai ke seena mein aag jaise jaal rahi hain." (It's weird, right? Becoming a parent. I mean before she came into the world, you were so important to me. If anything happened to you, it hurt me, but now if anything happens to Rashmi it feels like my body is on fire...I feel her pain.)

I stay quiet, "Tum dono, meri liye kya ho mein baata bhi nahi sakta Lakshmi...aur Rashmi...woh toh humari pyaar ki nishaani hai." (You both matter to be so much, that I can't describe it in words..Rashmi is the symbol of our love.)

A light blush came onto my cheeks, "Aadi tum ho isme aur aada mein. RishMi, humara naam jodh ke baan tha hai per iske naam keliye humne Rashmi chuna." (Half of you is in her and half of me is in her...RishMi, we joined our name to come up with hers, but we changed the I into a A.)

"Sirf ek hi to letter change kiya, aur waise bhi R ka Rishi aur bakhi mera naam." (We only changed one letter, R for Rishi and the rest is my name.)

Rishi shook his head kissing my hand, "I love you, Lakshmi,"

"I love you too,"

Humari duniya bohot choti hai...per bohot pyaari...kyu ki...is duniya mein sirf pyaar hain aur kuch nai...bus Mintu, Minti aur humari Mimi. (We have a small world, but we love it because in this world we only have love...nothing else...involving  Mintu, Minti, and our Mimi.)