A drop in the life!!

He was going office little late today. His boss had permitted him. He had come to him personally to tell that after previous night’s dinner which was hosted by Dinesh as he was promoted from associate to senior associate in his company.

He was very happy on getting promoted. Though his work didn’t change much, his cubical also remained unchanged, his salary had increased a little and with that his work timings were also bound to increase a little.

He was living his life the way he had planned.

He would leave early in the morning as it would take him two and half hours to reach his office. In the evening by the time he would come back, his daughter would be asleep. His wife would also be too exhausted with day’s work that they would simply hit the bed after the dinner as they can’t change the routine, it would disturb the next day. But he was happy, he had taken a two BHK flat with help of housing loan and some help from parents and friends. He was able to take his family for a dinner once in a week. Sometimes he would take them for a movie also. That was allowed only once in a month.

Today was a special day as he was going a little late which allowed him to drop his daughter at her school. Generally, it was duty of his wife only. He had planned that already and she had also adjusted with his routine by now.

Dinesh picked that heavy bag which his seven years old daughter carried daily.  It was heavier than the bag he carried to the office. He placed it at the back seat of the car and Tia, his daughter, at the front seat. His wife was too relaxed to at least have got relieved from one work for the day. He bid her bye and started for the day.

It was a brilliant, bright day. People were leaving for their offices, colleges. He felt relaxed and proud of himself as he was not in a rush today, completing ignoring the fact that normally every day he is part of that rush only.

‘Papa, did you see my painting?’- Tia asked Dinesh who was still dreaming about the progress he had made in his life, in his career.

‘Huh….No beta…Papa is very busy, you know na’- Dinesh gave his standard answer without noticing the sadness on her face.

She turned her face to the front. Dinesh again got busy in dreaming what all he would achieve if he continues to make progress like that.

‘Papa, when will we go for a holiday?’-Tia had asked this question so many times ever since she heard a story in her class about a family on a holiday.

Dinesh again had given his pet answer, again not realizing the sadness she carried.

Tia asked two-three more questions for which Dinesh gave his standard reply without bothering what his daughter was feeling. He was making progress in his life and that was more important for him than those stupid questions of a seven year old girl.

Tia didn’t say anything further till they reached the school.

Dinesh came down at the school to get her out of the car. He then bent down on his knees and kissed on her forehead.

Tia gave a forced smile and couldn't resist asking one last question to him.

‘Papa, will you come in the afternoon also to pick me up?’

And even before Dinesh could say his standard reply, she herself replied.

‘Okay Papa. No problem. I’ll go with Mumma. Bye’- cutely she said and turned back without even waiting for reply.

He could see what she was trying to hide, her tears.

Standing at that school gate, seeing his daughter running away from him as she couldn’t come closer to him, there at that moment only Dinesh realized what all he had achieved in his life and what all he had missed.