Dating : In Pool of Memories

“It has been fifteen years that I’m away from them.Once that was my family. Now I realize that its not the family. It wasn’t. This is my family. This is where I belong too.. My world”

“Papaa…come…taste my breakfast.” Sahil’s thoughts are broken by Ayaan’s shout.

“Coming..Two minutes.” Sahil wiped his tears, washed his face and came to kitchen. Ayaan was trying his new dish for breakfast. Aami is cutting tomatoes for decorating his brother’s dish. Vrinda encircling her hands around Sahil’s arms asked, “They are so happy, right?” Sahil hummed watching them trying hard to make their dish perfect.

“We will bring it to table Maa..Papa..” Ayaan turned his attention towards us. “Haa..Ma..it’s our dish…we will bring…Go Papa..” Aami pushed them towards the dining table. Smiling at their excitement, they moved toward table.

“We had also made breakfast like these for everyone. That was all our moments. Nothing mattered to us in those moments, no tension, no pressure and no fights mattered. Trying new dishes, decorating it our own way and presenting it like a chef to our family is a proud moment.” Sahil’s thoughts wandered again around his family moments.

“Chef Ayaan and Chef Aami is presenting a new dish for our favorite Papa and Mama” Chorused Ayaan and Aami bringing breakfast in four plate.

“Aiwa…Aiwa…looks good Chef” Vrinda patted Aami’s shoulder smiling.

“So let’s start… Now, you two come…” Sahil helped Ayaan to arrange plates on table.

“No..Papa…we have to make milk and coffee too” Aami said placing plates properly.

“I will make for all.” Sahil stood up and headed towards kitchen.

“Three coffee, four tea and one milk. That’s the usual there. We four cooking together. Fighting for credits of good food and blaming each other for burnt food; it was all super fun. But, now…”

“Sahil…come…” “Coming…” Sahil took two glasses of milk and two coffee and walked away from kitchen.

“Here is your milk sir and madam” Sahil mimicked his little chefs and neatly placed their cups and bowed his head. Giggles and laughter filled the table.

“It’s less salty..but its best Chefs” Sahil said munching breakfast.

“Yes…It’s my children. They will cook best.” Vrinda boosted.

“Hello…It’s my children too and technically I’m the Chef here and that’s why they are the best at cooking.”

“Oo…For your information, I also cook well.”

“Maa…Papa..please…Stop this Tom & Jerry show. We will watch it later on TV” added Ayaan.

Smiles, laughter and happiness filled the room once again.

After breakfast and doing dishes together everyone were in living room and scrolling through phone when Aami jumped out of sofa and ran to room. Soon she popped out with guitar.

“Papa…guitar…play something and teach me.” Aami ordered like a strict teacher.

“Some good Tamil songs” Vrinda suggested.

“Aami will sing” Ayaan joined.

Ayaan crawled into his mother’s lap putting his phone aside. Sahil took the guitar and tuned .

“Kannae kalaimaanae kanni mayilena
Kanden unnai nanae

Kannae kalaimaanae kanni mayilena
Kanden unnai nanae

Anthi pagal unnai naan paarkiren
Aandavanai ithai thaan ketkiren
Raariraaro oraariro … raariraaro oraariro”

Sahil played guitar and Aami sang along with him.

“No one had noticed my interest in music there. Were the so ignorant towards me or didn’t they mind my interest? Vrinda was the one who noticed my interest and made me pursue it. I had always asked them to follow what they wish. But no one asked me to do so. They were taking me for granted and I let them too. A misunderstanding took me from them and I never turned back to them. I was sad, upset, heartbroken at the start. But now I’m so grateful for all those. Now I’m here following my passion, cooking; Senior Chef and Owner of ‘Cordial Restaurants’ ,happily married with two bundle of joy, proud husband of well known fashion designer Vrinda. I wouldn’t have enjoyed my life like this if I were stuck at my so called family. Now this is my family, my happiness. But, I miss them terribly. I wish , they could have stood by my side.”

“Papa…Papa..”Aami shook him harshly. He was zoned out again .

“One more song…Hindi..” Ayaan added.

“Abhi mujh mein kahin
Baaki thodi si hai zindagi
Jagi dhadkan nayi
Jaana zinda hoon main toh abhi
Kuch aisi lagan iss lamhe mein hai
Ye lamha kahaan tha mera”

Aami didn’t sing this time, it was only Sahil’s soothing guitar.

“I’m thinking about them a lot today…I have a hinge that something is gonna happen.” Sahil thought. He placed guitar down and Aami ran to his lap.

“Teach me Papa..” Aami and Sahil began their guitar class while Vrinda and Ayaan was engrossed in books.