DOMINANT BLUE

CHAPTER 10

'MY DAD IS THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD', this used to be the topic of most of my essays when I was a kid. My dad is everything and my everything too. Let's see, has he said no to any of my frivolous demands? Yes, he has for some of the most stupid ones (which was totally necessary by the way). He has supported me in all my hobbies. Mom loves me and so do I but she can be quite protective at times. She was born and brought up in India so it is very hard to convince her into anything. My dad understands and it is easier for me to get my way with him. He always bears a smile on his face and I have seldom seen him getting angry.

My dad though born in India had spent most of his life in the US. He is a cardiologist and also a profound writer. He has written a dozen of books mainly on medicine and functioning of the heart and a few poems. I personally love all his poems. He came back to India to look after his parents when they got old and sick. But he continued his service in India. As much as I know, my parents met each other in the hospital where my father works. My maternal grandfather had heart surgery under the supervision of the specialist doctor Rajeev Mishra, my dad. As my mom had to visit almost regularly, they grew close. My father was the first one to ask my mom out. And TAADAA, as you can see, I am here today so that means everything went great after that.

He slightly opened the door, half inside with a pink balloon in his hand. "Radhika come out, help your mom in the kitchen. See, have I brought everything according to the list you gave? I think there was one item which wasn't available. And this ballon size is fine I think. Bigger size was not...Oh, you have a friend here too." He gazed at Aira and after a few seconds, his whole composition changed. He is always so nice and friendly to my friends, but he was definitely acting weird now. My father came inside my room closing the door behind him. WTF was happening? He looked so alerted and straight all of a sudden. All easiness and friendliness flowing away from him. He seemed unrecognizable to me. He took two steps towards Aira, then looked at me with concern in his eyes.

" What are you doing here with her?" he said in such a serious tone that felt strange coming from him. OMG, they know each other.

" Nice to meet you too, Rajeev!" Aira said grinning, head tilted a bit to left. She took a step forward. They were both at the opposite ends of the bed but still, they seemed to have got lost into another world. A world that definitely came with a burden. I could not understand what was happening. It was another thing to have a new weird person in your life and a totally different thing to have your father know that weird person. I had to think ten times before I could form the words in my head.

" You two know each other?"

It was more like a rhetorical question but he answered anyway.

"Yes"

OMG, what hell of a nightmare is this? Aira was smirking hard now.

"It's been a long time, how are you, Rajeev?" she said as if she was enjoying all this a lot. How dare she call my father by his name?

"It's your child's birthday I heard. Were you not going to invite me? "

Why was she talking like she has known my father for ages? I thought meeting Aira could not get any more crazy and awkward but I could not have been any more wrong. My father almost looked angry but he hid it well. He was deeply shocked.

"Invite you? I don't even know who you are now! Tell me why are you here? You said you won't come back until...

He paused with horror dawning in his eyes. He looked at me with real concern breathing heavily. He seemed to have suddenly aged centuries in these few seconds because of the worry. What was he worried about? I felt like any moment now the curtains will come down and the banners will be lifted, written all over it 'YOU HAVE BEEN PRANKED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION '. if it was a nightmare I could not bear it any longer. Dad kept his gaze fixed on me then Aira as if he was not ready to believe this was really happening. Just like me perhaps. But he certainly knew a lot more than I did.

I summoned a bit of courage and asked, "Until what dad? What are you hiding from me?" I said somehow controlling the sob by the end of the sentence. He shook his head and sat down sinking in the bed. He placed his head in his palms in just the same position I was a few minutes ago. I had never seen him so worried in my entire life. Aira kept waiting patiently next to me with her hands folded in front of her. I could feel she was feeling bad looking at my father in this condition but she hid it bravely. I sat horrified waiting for a reply. Chewing my lips with tears threatening to fall. Just when I thought he would answer, Mom, called out for us to come outside.