Once upon a time there was a queen

Gudhiya was very ecstatic yet her heart ached. Everyone congratulated her. They blessed her for her new life. The house was full of cheer and laughter. But her eyes kept on searching for someone. She hadn’t seen him since morning. She was vexed. Different thoughts came to her mind – had he taken his medicine, was he upset. She wanted to assure him everything will be fine. She elected to go up to his room. It was quite a probability he might be there. She got up from the chair meticulously to avoid spoiling her mehndi. It was still not dry. It was quite a task to reach up to his room with so many people in the house and she being the centre of attraction. She finally came to her destination but to her dismay he was not there. Sadness gripped her. Hours from now she would be leaving. She yearned to spend time with him. To again go through the memories she had lived with him. Her gaze fell on a photograph. It was memento of the time that had flown like a river. It was like reliving a dream. Suddenly some kids came bustling into the room. They were looking for their ball but woke her up from the dream. Disappointed she left the room. She was tired. She decided to go to her room. And she was surprised to see him there. He was looking at her empty closet that was lined with her clothes day before. She smiled. Maybe he was looking for yet another reason to scold her “Gudhiya why isn’t your cupboard clean? When will you learn to arrange your things?” He didn’t even realise his Gudhiya was in the room. She gently kept a hand on his shoulders. He looked back and she saw a tear twinkling down his cheeks. Like every father he had awaited this day but little he had expected it to happen so soon. It was just like yesterday he had held his little angel in his arms for the first time. She had just started to walk and had called him “papa”. He surely had his complaints with time. Just few minutes ago she had so much to talk to him about and now she lost words. All she could manage was “thanks dad”. But in heart of heart she knew she could never thank him enough. Could she ever return him those sleepless nights he spent when she had fever? He had loved his little baby. He had nurtured her with all the affection she could ever ask for. But soon she would be leaving him all alone in this big house. No longer would his house be filled with her childish innocent lark...There used to be a time when his day couldn’t culminate without her goodnight kiss...when she used to come to him with all her troubles....when once she ruled his house...once upon a time she was the queen....