As planned, Arya wore a pink frock, while John wore the same outfit he had on for church. Arya pulled up a mini chair and sat in front of the mirror.
John leaned against the doorframe and asked, "Shall we go?"
Arya held up a hand. "Wait a minute." She took a small tub of cream and began to apply it all over her face.
John smiled, amused. "You are already looking beautiful. Why the makeup?"
Arya gasped dramatically. "It's not makeup, it's sunscreen! It will make my face glowy, glowy!" she declared, striking a playful pose.
John laughed and said, "Okay, come fast, we are getting late."
Finally, after applying her sunscreen, Arya grabbed John's hand and asked, "Where are we going?"
John replied confidently, "To a beach, and then to the Gateway of India."
Arya, having never heard of these places in her life, felt no excitement whatsoever. She simply nodded her head. They took Anvi's scooty to the station, and John parked it safely outside. Soon, they were standing in the queue for tickets to Marine Lines. Since it was Sunday, the crowd was comparatively lighter than on usual weekdays.
When they boarded the local train, they both managed to get seats, but Arya instantly frowned. John noticed her pouting and asked, "Why are you sad?"
Arya crossed her arms. "It is my first time on a train, but I didn't get a window seat."
John couldn't help but laugh at her grumpiness. Arya got slightly angry and scolded him, "Don't laugh! I hate you."
Finally, they reached Marine Lines station. Arya was still completely unimpressed as she looked around. "Johnu! Where is the beach?"
John pointed down the road. "Just ten minutes walking."
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Ten minutes later, they arrived at Girgaon Chowpatty. Arya stopped dead in her tracks, completely shocked as she stared at the vast Arabian Sea for the first time. Her eyes went wide. "Such a big swimming pool! But I don't have extra clothes. Oh dear, it's too hot."
John chuckled warmly. "Aryu! It's not a swimming pool. It's the sea! Come, let's go closer."
Arya tightly grabbed his hand, and they walked toward the water's edge to wash their feet. A gentle wave rolled in, washing over her tiny feet. Arya giggled, "Johnu, the water is so cool!"
After spending some time standing in the surf, letting the continuous waves wash over their feet, a sudden sound interrupted them. Arya's stomach gave a loud rumble of hunger.
They walked back up the beach to a nearby food stall. John looked down at her and asked, "What do you want?"
Arya stared, confused by the menu board. Finally, she placed her small hand on an image of Misal Pav. "Can we try this?"
John nodded and asked the vendor for one normal plate and one mini, less-spicy plate for the little girl.
While they were standing and waiting for their food, Arya suddenly gasped and hugged John's legs tightly, trembling as if she were terrified.
John, confused and immediately on high alert, asked, "Arya, what happened?"
Her eyes welled up with tears, but she was trying her absolute best to control her crying, remembering her promise. With a shaking finger, she pointed and whispered, "Doggy."
John followed her gaze and saw a stray street dog. It looked relatively innocent, its tongue hanging out of its mouth, but its sharp teeth were visible. John immediately stepped in front of her and waved his arms aggressively, stomping his foot. The dog quickly turned and fled away.
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After collecting their plates, they sat on some plastic chairs to eat their food. John looked over at Arya. Her eyes were still full of unshed water.
He gently placed his hand on her shoulder and asked softly, "Arya, what happened? Are you still scared?"
Her voice trembled, and she was dangerously close to breaking her promise. "Johnu, I'm scared of doggies. One day, a dog bit Mumma. My Mumma cried in pain. She still has a big mark on her thigh."
John's expression softened as he realized the depth of her fear. He took a deep breath, kneeled slightly to meet her eyes, and said firmly, "Okay. Don't worry. I am with you. I will never let a dog bite you, okay?"
She looked at his determined face, the fear slowly fading as she believed his words. She offered a tiny, gentle smile and whispered, "Okay."
After finishing their lunch, they walked back towards the coast. John noticed a vendor renting out beach mats.
"How much?" John asked him.
"Twenty rupees per hour, sir," the man replied.
John paid him and took one of the woven mats. He and Arya found a spot just below the cool shade of a tall coconut tree and sat down. A strong breeze blew past them, carrying the heavy warmth of the afternoon.
Arya sighed, wiping her forehead. "Johnu, the air is so hot!"
John smiled sympathetically. "Yeah, it is hot."
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Just then, she spotted a vendor pushing a cart. Her eyes lit up. "Johnu, can I have a kulfi?" "Wait here," John said. He walked over to the cart and brought back two chilled kulfis. Arya thanked him happily and immediately began to eat her sweet treat.
They spent some time just sitting there, watching children play in the sand and couples posing for photos. Eventually, Arya playfully tugged his sleeve and asked, "Can we go to the next place?"
"Sure!" John replied. He returned the mat to the seller, and they began walking down the promenade toward the Gateway of India.
As they walked, Arya pointed to the highly elevated seawall. "Can you lift me? I want to see the other side!"
John lifted her up effortlessly. From her new vantage point, Arya could see the bright, sparkling sea and the massive, black, interlocked tetrapod rocks lining the shore. She began to bounce excitedly in his arms. "Johnu, can you take my photo?"
He pulled out his phone. "Give me a pose, dear."
She struck a cute pose and smiled brightly. Suddenly, a huge wave crashed against the rocks below, sending a magical sprinkle of sea spray rising up right behind her. John snapped the photo at the exact right second.
Arya hopped down from the wall and rushed over to look at the screen. She saw herself smiling, with a beautiful pattern of water droplets suspended in the air behind her.
"Wow!" Arya exclaimed. "So beautiful, looking like a wow! Share it with Mumma!"
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John chuckled, forwarded the picture to Anvi, and said, "Dear, the Gateway is a bit too far to walk from here. Shall we take a cab?"
Arya nodded, and they hailed a taxi, reaching the Gateway of India by 3:00 pm.
Arya stared up at the massive basalt arch. "What gate is this? It's such a big gate!"
John just smiled. "You will learn all about it when you're older."
Arya excitedly ran toward the plaza, with John jogging close behind to keep up with her. Near the edge of the Gateway, looking over the stone barricade, Arya finally saw the rough, wild side of the sea. Huge waves were crashing violently against the stone walls, sending high sprays of water onto the bystanders.
Arya looked up at John, eyes wide. "Is it a wave pool?"
"No, dear," John laughed.
She smiled with relief. "Thank God! Otherwise, I would jump inside and take a bath."
John playfully raised an eyebrow. "Should I throw you in?"
Arya gasped, genuinely shocked for a second. "What! No!"
John laughed and patted her head. "I won't, don't worry. Shall we go?"
Breathing a sigh of relief, she replied, "Okay."
Soon, they were standing in the queue for the bus back to Churchgate Railway Station. Standing just in front of them was a foreign tourist with bright blonde hair.
Arya, with zero hesitation, tapped the woman's leg and asked, "Aunty, why is your hair a creamy colour?"
The woman turned around, surprised, but melted when she saw Arya. She kneeled down to her eye level and smiled. "It's natural, sweetie." She gently pinched Arya's cheek. "You are so beautiful. What's your name?"
"Arya! I am five years old," she declared proudly.
"I'm Victoria," the woman replied. "Nice to meet you, Arya." She looked over her shoulder and called out, "Max! Come here."
Her boyfriend, Max, walked over. Arya looked up at him and noted, "Uncle, your hair is also creamy."
Both foreigners burst out laughing at her innocent observation. Victoria smiled warmly. "You are so sweet. Can we take a selfie with you?" She pointed up at John, who had been quietly watching the exchange. "Is this your dad?"
Arya smiled brightly, wrapped her arms around John's leg, and replied, "He is Johnu! My BFF. Johnu, come, let's have a selfie!"
Victoria and Max crouched down, and John kneeled beside them, all of them posing with wide smiles around Arya.
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When the bus arrived, Arya waved her hands enthusiastically. "Bye-bye!"
They took their seats on the bus, and Arya kept herself busy staring out the window, mesmerized by the mix of old Gothic architecture and modern glass buildings. They finally reached Churchgate station by 4:30 pm.
"Our train is at 5:00 pm," John told her. "Want something to eat before we board?"
"Okay," she agreed.
John bought two warm paneer puffs for them to snack on. When the train arrived, they boarded, and to Arya's absolute delight, she finally got her window seat.
As the train began its journey, the rhythmic rocking, the strong cool breeze from the window, and the exhaustion of all that walking finally caught up with Arya. Her eyes drooped, and soon, she was fast asleep.
By the time the train pulled into Borivali station, she was in a deep, heavy slumber. John gently scooped her up into his arms. Realizing she was too tired to ride on the two-wheeler, he decided to leave Anvi's scooter securely parked at the railway station overnight and booked an auto-rickshaw for the ride home.
As John carried her out of the station, her head resting heavily and peacefully on his shoulder, Arya shifted in her sleep.
She murmured softly against his neck, "I love you, Mumma... mmmmm... I miss you, Daddy... mmmm."
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She let out a soft snore, fast asleep in her father's arms.
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