#8 - a Santa doesn't wear a hat!

Purvi was seating on the bed near her loving husband, Rajat, feeding him the toast with her hands….her husband was busy with his laptop since one hour, his gaze was fixed at the laptop screen like it was his only world….Purvi was getting irritated now and forwarded a toast towards his mouth, without applying any butter on it.

Rajat (eating a bite, without looking at her) - kya yar Purvi! aisa sukha-sukha toast kaun khata hai? thoda butter to laga deti.

Purvi (irritated) - bass ab bahut hua! ek ghante se dekh rahi hu, aap iss laptop par ullu ki tarah najre tikakar baithe hue hai! kam se kam thik se breakfast kar lo, usske baad karte rehna jo karna hai!

Rajat (keeping the laptop aside, turning to her) - arey! tum itna gussa kyu ho rahi ho? tumhe pata hai na parso Christmas hai, mujhe Tipsy ke liye ek perfect doll house dhundna hai!

Purvi (in disbelief) - Doll house hi dhundna hai Rajat, dulha nahi dhundna hai aapko apni beti ke liye jo itna soch rahe ho!

Rajat (trying to explain) - humari beti ab badi ho gai hai, chizo ko samajhne lagi hai! agar usse Doll house pasand nahi aaya to meri to naak hi kat jaayegi meri beti ke saamne...he stated anxiously

Purvi (assuring) -Tipsy sirf 5saal ki hai Rajat! aur ye usska pehla Doll house hai to vo compare kiske saath karegi? aap jo bhi doge, usse jarur acha lagega! aur vaise bhi aap thodi na de rahe ho usse ye gift, ye gift to usse Santa Claus dene wala hai…she pulled his cheeks

Rajat - vo ab school bhi to jaane lagi hai! agar usski friend ka dollhouse usske dollhouse se acha hua to meri beti upset nahi ho jaayegi?

Purvi (giving up) - aapki ye bevajah tension lene ki aadat kabhi kabhi bahut irritate karti hai mujhe….she remembered something and a smile curved on to her lips…aapko Tipsy ka delivery wala din yaad hai?

Rajat (remembering)- vo din kaise bhul sakta hu main! tumne mujhe thappad maara tha delivery room mai aur doctor se kehkar room se bahar bhi niklwaa diya...he made a innocent child like face

Purvi (giggling, pulling his cheeks) - aap hi ne irritate kar diya tha, ek toh mai vaise hi itna dard mai thi aur upar se aap chillakar mujhe aur dara rahe the…mujhse jyada to aap panic kar rahe the uss din!

Rajat (realising) - meri choti choti baato mai panic karne ki aadat se tum bahut irritate hoti hogi na?

Purvi (smiling, kissing his cheeks) - kabhi kabhi!

Rajat (holding his ears, puppy eyes) - I am sorry!

Purvi (hugging him) - I love you!

Rajat (murmuring in her ears) - tum meri help karogi na, meri Tipsy ke liye perfect doll house dhundne mai?

Purvi separated from him with a jerk and looked at him in disbelief.

Rajat (getting up, trying to figure out) - maine kuch galat bol diya kya?

Purvi (getting up, slightly angry) - mujhe to aapse baat hi nahi karni hai.

She turned to go, but Rajat pulled her back to him, holding her waist...she falls on his chest, he takes the opportunity and plants a quick kiss on her cheeks.

Purvi (looking away, struggling to free herself) - chodiye mujhe Rajat! bahut kaam hai.

Rajat (holding her chin, looking into her eyes) - kaam to hota rahega, aisa mouka baar baar nahi milega….he gazes at her lips…Tipsy bhi school gai hai aur mere office ki bhi chutti hai….he moves his lips close to her, she closed her eyes feeling his warm breaths on her…..chalo na aaj hi doll house kharid lete hai….he murmured in her ears while hugging her

Purvi jolt back in her senses hearing his words…she pushed him back with a jerk.…he looked at her with puppy eyes and pleading look…she couldn't help and started smiling…they both were married for 7 years and after Tipsy born, his first priority had always been his daughter…Purvi sometimes feel getting sidelined by her own daughter, but over the time she has understood that father's love is always greater than any other love.

Purvi (smiling) - acha baba thik hai! chalte hai, aapki perfect beti ka perfect doll house lene.

Rajat (pulling her closer, rubbing her nose against her nose) - humari beti!

Purvi (smiling, agreeing) - humari beti!

Two Days Later

Rajat has succeeded in finding a perfect doll house for his daughter with the help of Purvi. He had kept the dollhouse in the balcony of Tipsy's room in the middle of the night, like every Christmas.

Rajat was in Tipsy's room, seating on the floor near her, trying to wake her up while Purvi was standing on a little distance silently, admiring both of them.

Rajat (caressing her hairs) - uthh jaao, meri rasmalai!

Purvi looked at him in disbelief and shook her head in disappointment.

Rajat (looking at her, slow voice) - kya hai? aise kyu dekh rahi ho?

Purvi - seriously Rajat? kabhi rasgula, kabhi gulabjamun to kabhi rasmalai! kabhi kabhi to mujhe lagta hai, Tipsy humari beti nahi koi mithai ki dukaan hai….aapko to halwai hona chahiye tha!

Rajat (keeping his finger on his own lips, indicating her to shut up) - shhhhhhhh!

Purvi rolled her eyes and looked away.

Rajat (softly) - uthhh jaaa mera bacha!

Tipsy smiled in her sleep and slowly opens her eyes while stretching her hands above her head…she got up and hugged her father.

Tipsy - Good Morning, Papa! Merry Christmas!

Rajat (happily) - Merry Christmas!

Tipsy remembers about the gift, she gets every year from Santa Claus and runs to her balcony…she was surprised to see a beautiful, Fairy Castle Dollhouse…it was beautiful than she had imagined...she jumps in joy and picked it up.

Tipsy (walking inside the room, happily) - dekho na Mumma! dekho na Papa! Santa ne mujhe kitna pretty gift diya…she blows a kiss in the air…I love you, Santa!

Rajat took a relief sigh after she approved the gift….a broad smile appeared on his face.

Tipsy - chalo na papa, hum dono iss dollhouse ke saath khelte hai!

Rajat agreed and both of them started playing happily….Purvi's eyes filled with happy tears seeing Tipsy and Rajat happily playing together...she glanced at Tipsy's dollhouse and remembered her first doll house, she got on Christmas at the age of five…she still remember those expressions of relief and happiness on her father's face, when she declared that she liked the doll house…as she grew older, she realized who her secret Santa was, but still she decided to believe on her father's Santa Claus story and pretend that she is not aware about the truth …her father was happy, fulfilling all her wishes in the name of Santa without revealing his true identity while she was happy seeing that million dollar smile on his face, whenever he used to gift her something in Santa's name…over the years she has understood, a Santa doesn't wear a hat, but still fulfill all your wishes, without expecting anything in return.

Purvi smiled with tears at her thoughts and moved to the hall….her eyes travel to the corner of the hall and she could see her father's picture smiling at her…she was feeling overwhelmed, all the memories were coming back to her like a wave in the ocean.

Purvi (teary, slow voice) - I miss you, Papa!

suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned and saw her loving husband looking at her with all the concern and love…she immediately wiped her tears and forced a smile on her face.

Rajat (concerned, keeping a hand on her shoulder) - tum thik ho?

Purvi just nodded her head in yes with a smile, trying to hold back her tears.

Rajat - Papa ki yaad aa rahi hai?….she nodded her head….come here…he stretched his hands towards her

She surrendered herself in his arms….he held her in his arms protactively, letting her cry her heart out, soothing her with a assurance that he will be there for her always...her father's picture smiled in the corner seeing her daughter with a person like Rajat, who was in every way perfect for his daugher.

THE END

A/N - Please drop a small review, if you liked this one shot :') Take care everyone!