Shyama watched in disbelief as her husband coolly asked her to see their only daughter off at the railway station. Their daughter, Meera was excited about travelling first time, alone from Pune to Baroda by a train; without being accompanied by her parents. Her excitement was as a result of feeling self dependent and being 'old' enough to take care of herself. Shyama could correlate with Meera's excitement but she was perplexed as to the detached attitude of her husband. Sanmit, being so caring and affectionate towards his daughter, was just not interested in coming to the station.
At the station, though, Shyama and Meera were too full of energy even in the hot summer morning to give and hear the last minute mother daughter instructions. Both waited for the train to arrive at the station, for it meant independance to Meera for her eight hour journey. Shyama, on the other hand found it difficult to not be with her daughter for the journey. She had made chinese rice for Meera and bought her cold drink too for savoring the experience.
A week later, Meera was coming back from her short trip. Her train was arriving in the morning. Sanmit, was up earlier than usual, constantly asking Shyama about the time. Shyama was quietly sipping her hot ginger tea assuming that Sanmit would go to the station to bring Meera on his two wheeler.
"Oh, finish your tea fast, hurry up, we must leave by 7:00 o'clock. It will be a 30 minutes drive by car and another 10 minutes at the platform ticket counter. You need to hurry up and we must get to the station."
"Ok, I thought that you were going to bring her.", Shyama wondered at Sanmit's excitement and impatience. She could not understand his attitude when Meera was boarding train and now this.
All the hurrying up and eagerness to see their daughter back, got the parents at the station- a good 40 minutes early. Husband and wife talked about so many things and nothing in particular. After some time, Sanmit voiced his doubts about Meera not waking up on time to embark from the train.
"Dear, Pune is the last station; everybody will get down here. Don't worry"
At 8:10 am, the train chugged into the station and Meera and her family were all smiles and happy to be in each other's company. Meera's chatter and her experience, was all her parents wanted to listen. The rest of the day, all got busy with their schedule.
After a few weeks, Sanmit had to leave for an onsite project and accordingly all reservations were made. His cab arrived late in the evening and Meera & Shyama were at the foot of the building to see him board the cab. Instinctively, Meera hugged her dad and dad got all too emotional. Sanmit could not talk more and quickly got into the cab.
Shyama had been observing everything. She realized that daddy loved to welcome or receive his loved ones but he disliked parting from them. His detached attitude when Meera was leaving Pune, was a result of his attachment with her.
After a few weeks, Sanmit had to leave for an onsite project and accordingly all reservations were made. His cab arrived late in the evening and Meera & Shyama were at the foot of the building to see him board the cab. Instinctively, Meera hugged her dad and dad got all too emotional. Sanmit could not talk more and quickly got into the cab.
Shyama had been observing everything. She realized that daddy loved to welcome or receive his loved ones but he disliked parting from them. His detached attitude when Meera was leaving Pune, was a result of his attachment with her.
:)
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