The army ball

He is sweating badly in front of him.
His hands shivering as he stood in front of his girlfriend's father.

While Raj is busy studying him ......
Lt. Adil beg.....
Always use to remind Raj of his father
Ali beg...his old student and later his fellow officer.
Indeed he is like his father.

Still he need to warn him.

"Jiya will be going for special force training
He said with sharp eyes she won't be getting married for next three years atleast"

"Jjjjjiiiiiii Sir
Humein pata hai....
Humein koi problem nahi hai"
Said Adil with stammering voice.

A waiter came with wine tray
Rajveer took a glass and offered him one

Adil - nahi sir
Shukriya
Hum drink nahi karte

He said with a nervous smile

"But jiya loves wine and beer"
Said Raj trying to point the difference of preference they share.
"What if you try to change her "

"Ji sir
Humein pata hai
Ye unki choice hai.....
Hum unhe kabhi rok te nahi hai
Aur wo kabhi humein force nahi karti
We respect eachothers space
Aur wo jaisi Hain humein waisi hi pasand hai...
Hum unhe kabhi badalne ki koshish nahi karenge"
He said with honesty.

"Hello gentlemen
Kya batein ho rahi hai"
Came a sweet voice

Rajveer turned to see his daughter smiling at them

"Kuch nahi bas
Men talk"
Said Raj

"How is the arrangement"
She asked
As the party is arrange by her batch

"It's perfect "
He said and Adil agreed with him

"And how do I look"
She asked Raj

"You always look beautiful darling"
He complimented her and Adil smiled.

"Adil
Tumhare commanding officer wants to see you"
She said and Adil took permission from him and Marched off....

And jiya put her hands around his arms snuggling close to him

"Dad
Were you scaring my boyfriend"?
She asked with cute vigilant eyes.....as she know the audacity he keeps with anyone she is interested in

"Of course not
Why would I do so"
He defend himself immediately
Not meeting her eyes

"Don't lie to me
Shakal pe dikh raha tha uske....
Ke kitna Dara hua tha bechare"
She threatened him to accept his crime

"Ya fine
I was just checking if he is ok for you"
He said as if he has all the right in the world to do so.

"Ok baba
Apka quality inspection ho gaya ho to chalen......
I am too sleepy"
She said with a pout.....

He smiled at her
She is 25 now
Lt.in Indian army
And soon will be joining Indian intelligence....
Still
He see her as his 6 yr old baby jiya.....whom he had met in kma....

She is still the same
Her innocence her smile her eyes.

They walked hand in hand

"I will drive"
She asked and drive back home....

While Raj kept thinking about Adil....

He was always afraid about whom his daughter will fall in love with
What if she falls for a wrong person
Someone like him
What if Naina's fear will come true about her daughter going through the same

But Adil
He was a good soul.
A man of principal and values.
And though he never admit in front of jiya ....
But he secretly admire Adil for the kind of person he is....

He trust Adil with the pieces of his heart.....his baby love.....

He know he will never hurt her
He will never be a jerk to her
Like he was with Naina.

He had seen the way he looks at jiya
He recognizes that emotion of true love he see in his eyes for his daughter

And today after talking with Adil
He is more relaxed with the choice his daughter has made.

"Dad
We are home
Kya soch rahe ho ap"

She honked the car... To break his trance.....

He saw the gate of their house...

_________

He came to check on her
Cords in ears
And book kept on stomach

He smiled and sat beside her
Removing the cord from her ears switching off the music from her iPod
And keeping the book away
He was about to get up when she hold his hands.
Opening one eye mischievously she smiled at him.

He tapped her head

"Bandar"
He laughed and she got up

"Dad ... Ap soye kyun nahi ab Tak"
She said tieing her hairs....

"Kuch soch Raha tha
Tumhe kuch batana tha"
He said and she shrinked her eyebrows

"Kya....."
She asked

"He is a nice boy
Adil pasand hai mujhe"
He said and she jumped on him...

"I knew it
I knew it
Thanks Dad.....
I love you....
Mujhe pata tha ap haan kahoge"
She was smiling with happiness

And he was cuddling her in his arms.

"Par abhi tumhari priority
Tumhari special training hona chahhiye"

He said with a strict tone

"Yes dad
Don't worry
I will make you proud"
She said hugging him tight.

He patted her hairs with love.

"Pata hai
Mujhe humesha see apke aur mamma jaisi love story chahiye thi.
Actually I always wanted someone like you...
Koi aisa Jo mere Marne ke bad bhi mujhse pyar kare
Jaise ap mamma se karte ho."

She said with a smile
But smile vanished from his face.

How can he tell her
That it will be a nightmare for him
If she would have fallen for someone like him....
Adil is nowhere like him
He is a far better human being.

Whenever he see love and respect in his daughter's eyes for him he feels guilty.
He know he doesn't deserve to be love like this.
He is the one who is responsible that today her mother is not with her.
He is the one who destroyed her mother.

What she thinks about him and Naina their love their marriage
Is just an illusion
The reality is so ugly and scary....
That it can send shiver down the spine of anyone who listen.

The only prayers he had made all these years was
That his daughter never face the same fate as her mother did.

He can kill anyone who try to harm her.

But he can never tell her all this
As that's what was decided
To keep her away from the pain and suffering from her mother.
To never let fall the shadows of their bitter past on her childhood.
So that she grows up to be a happy human being
Who is not scared of loving and trusting someone.

"Rat bohot ho gayi hai
Go to sleep"
He said making her lay down and putting blanket on her

"Good night Dad"
She smiled.

"Good night"
He said

And as he close the door behind his back
A lone tear escaped his eyes
He turned towards Naina photo hung in the hall

He roamed his hand on her photo

"Kash main use Bata pata ke uski maa me uske liye Kya kiya hai"
He said leaning on her photo.....
Preparing himself for one more night full of regrets and pain.

As next day
He has to again smile for jiya....

This update is written by mahaam