the pink dress

it was a beautiful morning..

Four year old rani had been awakened up earlier than usual by her mom.

"get up", she had chimed gaily, "today you are going to get a new dress. now brush ur teeth, let me give u a quick bathe, and drink up your milk, after which u can go with dad, to the shop for the dress..ok, now just tell me again what kind of dress u want"

Rani chirped happily, as she hurriedly started with her morning routine.

It was going to be a good day, she decided. She was getting a day out with daddy, and that too alone, most of the times, all outings were with mom and brother in tow,and since the way to the shop was far away, it meant there would be also be a bus ride thrown in, and finally she was getting her new " light Pink dress, with a big belt, and three big golden buttons".

'amma, will daddy get me matching bangles too, she asked anxiously?..

" yes dear' mom replied,"just remind him about it" as she tied her hair in two pony tails, the way rani liked it being tied.

soon enough both, father and daughter set out, her hand firmly in his, as she hopped and chirped her way to the bus stop.

finally, they were at the shop. Though Rani had enjoyed the ride with her dad, in the bus, she was happy when they were closer to the destination.Pink dress.

the shopkeeper showed them lots of pink dresses,before he finally pulled out one that was the one. It was exactly the pink shade she had wanted, it had a big belt with golden in it, and it had a beautiful button too. and best of all, it fitted well too.

after that, her attention wandered to the shop and other people in it, as her dad started talking doing some uninteresting stuff to the shopkeeper, and he talked back, and then suddenly her dad showed her another dress.

"how about this dress? do u like it? "he asked her. The new dress daddy picked was pink too, but as far as she was concerned, it was an apology of a pink. so was the belt.barely there. and it didn't have golden buttons.

"the first one", she said firmly.

dad again spoke to the shopkeeper, and then and ." dont u want this dress. its pink too"

"No" she was firm.

Then he suddenly, he was down on his knees.his eyes level with hers.his eyes, they were pleading.

" daddy doesn't have enough money for that dress. and the shopkeeper isn't giving it for less".

Rani wanted to throw a tantrum..You had promised" she wanted to say.

It was only the pleading look in her dad's eyes; as if he would cry if she didnt say yes...and she didnt want to be the one who made her dad cry.

"ok, thats pink too, and it does have belt and buttons. We will take that"

they waited as the shopkeeper wrapped the new pink dress, and father and daughter walked away into the sunshine, with her new pink dress.

It was a good day after all.