Suddenly, she didn’t need to hold her tummy in. Ritu relaxed it, smoothening a hand down her matching wispy dupatta and pushing her hair behind her shoulder.
“Maasi!” Maya called out to her from up ahead. She had walked out with Gautam already, waiting for her in the open green ground alive with flowers and lunch tables. Ritu followed them, pasting a smile on her face and immediately feeling it falter.
“Ritu.”
“Papa.”
“Nana was waiting for you here,” Maya smiled sheepishly at her, mouthing ‘sorry.’ Ritu pursed her lips.
“We will be around.”
Ritu stared at their backs, resigned, as they walked away. She had to meet her father at some point. She had planned to do it the day before she was to leave, so that she wouldn’t be stuck feeling the weight of this city on her shoulders through the rest of her stay here. She took steps towards her father. She had spoken to him over video calls a few times a year. She had seen his WhatsApp DP change and seen him age. But looking at him in person was different. He was frail, even if he held himself erect in a stiff grey suit. His hair was peppered with white, his irises looking lighter after his recent cataract. She had seen the reports and reviewed his heart medication. She didn’t know if he had followed the directions.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” he smiled genially.
“I wasn’t. Maya insisted.”
“Good. Did you speak to people around?”
“I just came.”
“If they ask you about marriage, say that we are looking.”
“Ok.”
“And if they ask you why you haven’t been back, say that you have ben busy.”
“Ok.”
He nodded, satisfied.
“Did you meet him?”
Ritu raised her brows. She knew who ‘him’ was. She wanted her father to spell it out. But of course he didn’t. They were in public, with family everywhere. He wouldn’t risk taking names.
“Don’t be around him much. If you want, come and sit down at our table.”
“I’m good.”
“When will you come home?”
“I have been busy in the suburbs. I will come when I can. But I’ll come before returning.”
“How is the clinic hunt going?”
“I have set up some agents. We are looking at listings. I’ll go back and see.”
“A break and all is ok, but losing momentum on profession is not a good idea. Go back and make sure things speed up.”
“Ok.”
“Rasesh bhai!” Somebody called out, and her father raised his hand, nodding.
“You go and sit. Our table is at the front.” With that, her father left her to meet other men in suits. Ritu finally felt a breath leave her mouth. It had been years. She still became stilted and stiff in front of her father. It wasn't trauma. He wasn't a bad father. She knew that now, after years of soul-searching and growing up. He was just not equipped to deal with daughters. There was no love lost there because she had never found love there. Just respect, and care, and worry, now that he was getting old and frail.
Ritu shook her head and turned in the direction opposite to that of his table.
“Oops!” “Ritu ben!”
