What should I talk about human behavior? It is perhaps the most complicated creature to understand. We do not apprehend how we will respond to a particular situation. It is incredibly unpredictable. Several times, it happens that we are side-lined by our loved one, on whom we pour our everything. And in this process, we empty our bodies physically and emotionally thoroughly. Yet, even then, we do not feel atrocious at all. As a matter of fact, that very view completes us from the inside as well as gives us a great deal of pleasure, as if we had been waiting for that moment so desperately for a long, long time. And genuinely speaking, I had been going through the same pleasant experience that day. I felt as if I had a massive vocabulary shortage in my dictionary. Therefore, I was finding great difficulty expressing how delighted I was in words. And the tears didn't stop flowing freely down my cheeks happily.
There was really a genuine broad grin on my face when I saw Ravi and Reema sitting together on the couch. They were putting their heads together about which subjects she should pick for higher study and how it would help her to achieve her goal. Besides, they were thinking about and working out the second option as well. I was absolutely fine with it. The feeling of jealousy towards Ravi did not grip me at all at that time. In fact, I was delighted that I did not have to exercise my mind there. Undoubtedly, Reema had chosen Ravi over me to talk about picking colleges. I found them altogether engrossed in their conversation, so much so that they did not even notice that I passed them. I was not very fond of interfering with their conversation. So I did not stay there longer and crept into the kitchen without their notice to prepare something pleasant-tasting for them. But, yes, I could hear them talking, laughing, and making healthy arguments together.
Honestly speaking, things were utterly different till a few months back. I had been very possessive of Reema since her childhood. And there would be nothing wrong with saying my whole world used to rotate around her. I used to get wholly restless if anyone tried to make any decision regarding her without including me or my consent. In fact, I discourage Ravi and others from doing so by saying, "Softly but firmly,"
"I will handle her. You do not need to worry about her unnecessarily. You just mind your business. "
On several occasions, as soon as Ravi or anyone else tried to take Reema on their lap and begin to play with her, I began to instruct her on how to hold her and followed them until they handed the baby back to me.I knew I sounded rude to them, but I was helpless with my nature. And so, when she was small, I did not let her go out of my sight for even a fraction of a minute. My mother-in-law made faces when I began to follow her or look for a stupid excuse to take the baby from her. And she handed me the baby, making a foul face. Actually, I found it challenging to count on anyone when things were associated with Reema. .It took me a lot of time to accept that my daughter was equally safe in other people's hands as well. They are also her own. And my weird behaviour could hurt their feelings and create bitterness in their hearts towards me. And it would be a massive unfairness to my daughter to deprive her of others' love.
Ravi was familiar with my concern over her; he also averted making any decision quickly about her, even though he was the child's father in everyone's view and the more mature and rational of the two of us. At least for the world and Reema. I always had the wrong notion about myself that no one could take better care of Reema than me because I was her biological mother. Besides, it was only her that I owned. And it was my fear that she would go far away from me if I tried to be strict with her. Therefore, I just pampered her and ignored all the wrongdoing. In fact, I used to help her hide all her mistakes before Ravi. I knew Ravi would not spare her if he learned. I could not teach her good things, which were equally required to prepare the child for the future. In no time, Reema knew my weakness and she stopped taking me seriously.
However, I must say that Ravi was a completely different sort of person. He proved me altogether incorrect with his actions down the line. In contrast, I discovered that it was because of me that she was unable to learn to value things and relationships and to be grateful. As well, I would not deny there that Ravi proved it with his actions rather than bragging and claiming in heavy words that he was the best guardian between us, and unfortunately, I just kept claiming it throughout the time with my actions, not words. He made me realise all of the mistakes I had made while bringing her up, one after the other. But he never blamed me for anything. He taught me a precious lesson in life: an excess of anything is dangerous. Even if your love for your daughter and punishment are equally crucial in a child's healthy development and becoming a better person, the child will remain unable to learn the aftereffects of his actions.
Yes, I confessed that my excessive fondness for my daughter came in her way as a hindrance to proceeding. And it did not let her grow mentally and restrained her from pacing with the others in her age group flocks. That day, I got the picture that my daughter was lagging in the race of life, and I was just accountable for the whole thing. On the other hand, Ravi did not abandon me; being caring and sensible, he rushed into the scene when he realized that things were spiraling out of my control. Rather than wasting his time and energy on criticizing and playing the blaming game with me, he preferred to shoulder all the responsibilities in his hand to fix the mess in his daughter's life. He was no doubt a good human being and accepted my daughter wholeheartedly, despite knowing everything about Reema and me.
Yes, that day, I conceded it was just because of him; our deviated daughter could realize her mistakes and promise herself to be a good girl about whom we could be proud as parents. In addition, he could move ahead without looking for any support or playing tricks in an upright manner. He did not merely lighten the burden of my responsibilities, but also made me feel I was not alone. Besides, Reema was not my only responsibility to take care of. What if he was not her biological father? He taught me a valuable lesson: that a father was just a father, and he had not only given Reema a place to live at her home, but as a first-child, she dwelled on his heart as well. I could share all my fears and problems with him at any time. I didn't have to pretend anymore in front of him that I was strong enough and able to manage everything. Other than that, he foiled his mother's foul game and brought her back on track without being abrasive with her. His patience worked and evaporated his mother's wrath towards him, and finally she accepted him cordially. After all, he was the man of the house. And he belonged to my daughter and me wholeheartedly in a real sense.