Shilpa

"Daddy, someone kept knocking at my door when I was sleeping. I was so scared, I did not open it. Did you come to my room daddy?" Asked little Shilpa, puzzled, scared and hopeful of an affirmative nod from Hari. "No beta, I did not come sweety, you must have been dreaming, don't worry" said Hari as he rustled his little angel's hair and gave her a reassuring hug. Shilpa was smiling again. The morning rush hour ensued. Ramya packed Hari off to his office and Shilpa to her school. She then quickly got ready and left for work.

Now Shilpa was a daddy’s girl and there were some mandates that strictly belonged to Hari. One of them was to narrate a story every night and make her sleep. Both daughter and father treasured this time immensely. With the mouse rescuing the trapped lion by biting into the net, Hari wound up tonight’s episode watching his angel gently fall asleep. He closed the door and walked down to the master bedroom in the ground floor. As we walked down the stairs, he remembered the first time, not so long ago, that he walked them down. He loved this house the instance that he saw it. He did punch way above his waist and the mortgage was hurting, but the feeling of owning such a lovely house made everything else look smaller.

 They were fast asleep when Hari felt someone shaking him up. “Daddy, daddy”….it was Shilpa. “What happened little one…why are you not sleeping?” asked Hari as he lifted her and took her into his arms. “Daddy someone was knocking at my door. I was so scared. I thought it must be you so I opened it. There was no one there Daddy. I ran down. Can I sleep between you and mommy?” asked Shilpa, visibly shaken and sweating. Hari got a shiver down his spine…the sight of his child in this state shook him up. “Ofcourse, baby, come sleep here” he said as he put her on the bed and gently patted her. She was shivering. So was he. Ramya was fast asleep.

Hari decided to leave late for work the next morning. After sending Shilpa to school, he sat with Ramya and explained what happened. Ramya’s face went pale. “It this house haunted Hari?” she asked. “I am getting scared now” she added. “Nonsense Ramya, don’t behave like a kid now” chided Hari. “I am more worried on why Shilpa is getting these thoughts and why is she having the same nightmare for last 2 days now. Maybe I was wrong with this ‘making kids independent theory’. Maybe she is too young to sleep alone. We can make her sleep next to us. But the first thing to tackle is the fear in her mind” he resolved. “Lets sleep in her room tonight”.

The mouse saved the birds this time. The bird’s friendship with the mouse paid rich dividends. Shilpa was fast asleep. Hari and Ramya soon slept as well with their angel between them.

The clock struck 02:00 and Hari woke up. Someone was knocking the door. He woke Ramya up, the knocking was incessant. His heart was racing and Ramya was sweating. “Daddy, please open the door, its Shilpa here” came a voice from the other side, his daugther’s voice.