"So, how did the idea of planting saplings come to your mind, Mrs. Sampoorna Kumar?" asked a cheerful RJ Ramya of the popular city Fm channel.

                  Sampoorna remained silent for a second, giving a wry smile, she said, "A few months ago, I saw a little girl watering an almost dying sapling. She was talking to that sapling. She said, "Our teacher told us to show dedication towards tree because you form the basis of life." That is when I decided to plant saplings and ask people to look after those planted saplings."

                   RJ Ramya looked impressed. Giving words to her feelings for her listeners to feel connected, she said, "So the little girl was your inspiration. This proves we can get inspired from anyone, anything or any moment in our day-to-day life."She again asked, "Did the whole event act as an inspiration for you Mrs. Kumar or was it a certain part that made you take such a decision?"

                    Sampoorna looked at her, then answered, "It was a word that the little girl used. The word was dedication. Ramya, do you know the Hindi word for dedication? It's SAMARPAN."

                    Samarpan was driving the car, when he switched on the radio. Listening Sampoorna's voice on the radio startled him. He was not aware of the fact that his wife, yes, Sampoorna was being interviewed. So, on hearing her voice he was all ears to the interview. And when she told about the word that inspired her, his eyes went wide. He felt a wave of tremor go through his body. How did he and she drift apart was the first thing that came to his mind. The signboard of the school brought him out of his reverie. 'Little angel' school where his daughter – 'his and Sampoorna's daughter'- he corrected mentally, studied. He waited outside the school for Srishti to come out once the bell rang.

                      Standing there, he got drifted to old memories. Sampoorna and Samarpan got married into an arranged one. They were very happy together. Their life was a contented one. Soon their happiness got multiplied manifold with the birth of their daughter, Srishti. Everything was going on smoothly, when Samarpan started seeing faults in Sampoorna. Three years into their marriage, not a single complaint and now suddenly pointing even the smallest, silliest thing. Samarpan raked his fingers through his hair. Niharika's presence added fuel to the fire and before anyone could understand what was happening, he shifted to the apartment near his office. He had been living there for six months now.

             Their daughter, who was studying in upper kindergarten, lived with Sampoorna while he made it his duty to pick her up from the school so that he could spend some time with her as these days he was working from his apartment. Yes, apartment it was and not a home, he realized it now when he heard his name in Sampoorna's voice. The emotions in her voice made him feel so many things all at once. So he decided to read the letter that she gave him almost a month ago, one that he decided not to read ever. But the emotions in her voice, the way his name sounded in that interview, changed his mind.

              "Papa", a squeal brought him out of his thoughts. 'Little angel,' he thought 'perfectly fits to my little angel, Srishti.' Taking her in his arms, he greeted her, "How are you angel?" "I am fine, papa," she giggled.

                After depositing her safely in the backseat, he drove back to his apartment. His mind kept playing 'read the letter' on a loop. He was still thinking about the letter, when Srishti called him. "Papa you know, an RJ interviewed Maa today. I did not know what an interview is, so my teacher told me its meaning", she giggled. "She also told me and my class that maa plants saplings on different places across the city. She said that it is a very good work". Samarpan smiled at her through the rear view mirror and nodded.

               After a few seconds, Srishti said, "I am proud of Maa. She said we are proud of someone when they do good work, like when I finish my homework or glass of milk; she says she is proud of me." Her eyes twinkled as she said this.

                Samarpan couldn't help but mesmerized how this little girl said such meaningful things. He smiled, "You should be, angel. You should be."

                     At his apartment, he made Srishti eat the lunch her mother packed for her. Samarpan realized it had been a while when he tasted food cooked by Sampoorna. "Finished eating, angel," he asked. "Hmm.... Yes, Papa. Yummy, my maa is a great cook," she replied, still munching the last morsel. This brought out yet another set of memories – how she used to try and cook new dishes and how he loved the delicacies. Jerking his head, he pulled himself out of the memory lane. He saw Srishti yawning, so he tucked her in bed. Caressing her hair, he kissed her forehead. 'The letter,' he thought and made his way toward the drawer where he kept it. He took out the envelope. Before opening it, his mind was filled with anticipation. 'What could be written in it – complaints, allegations or demands?' he thought. Sighing, he opened the envelope, unfolded the letter and started reading it.

                 "Samarpan, you must be wondering as to why I have written a letter to you. That day when you said that you have moved on and that I should move on too or at least think about doing so. Those words made my mind go blank. I realised that you might have said true about yourself moving on in your life, but to me it doesn't mean anything. How could I move on? I asked this to myself, even to Anahita. She said, "Sampoorna, people move on. When a person loses their near ones, don't they move on?" I did not reply to her. You might have thought the same thing. But I have to tell you that in my case, I have not lost my nearest one, he just drifted apart. I cannot move on, cannot even think of doing so. Every time I look into Srishti's eye, all I can see is you."

                  Samarpan closed his eyes. 'Of course, after all she has my eyes. But otherwise she looks like her mother,' he thought. He sighed and continued reading the letter. "I have not used a single penny from the amount that you transfer to my account every month. I have another account on my name and my earnings from the bakery are enough for me. But I won't lie. I have used the amount you give for Srishti's education. Her educational expenses are met out of it. You are her father and I will not stop you from fulfilling your duties towards her. As far as your right is concerned, you are spending quality time with her daily. I hope you will never ask me to move on. As for you, it's your life; so your decision. Thank you for reading this letter."

                 Samarpan slumped down on the bed. 'No complaints, no allegations and no demands! Why?' His eyes drifted to the wall clock. He realized it was time for him to drop Srishti at Sampoorna's place – your and Sampoorna's place – his conscience replied, which he tried to ignore but couldn't.

                 While he was busy packing Srishti's stuff – her books, etc. in her bag, she said, "Papa, I have this school work where I have to write down the meaning of my name and the names of my family members." Then she asked, "Does names have meaning, Papa?"

  "Yes," replied Samarpan absent-mindedly.

"Okay, then help me in completing this work," she replied.

"But, angel, we will get late. Your mother will get worried," he replied, trying to reason with her.

"Please, please, just this one. This is the last school work," she pleaded.

           Huffing, he sat down beside her and started helping her with the homework. "Write the meaning of your name, here," he said, pointing at a space on the chart paper. "Srishti means the universe, creation," he said and helped her in writing it down. "Now write down the meaning of your mother's name. It means whole, complete. And now the meaning of my name, it is dedication," he said as he completed dictating and helping her with the words and their meanings.

              A look at the meanings of the names shocked him. He had already decided to meet Sampoorna but this moment only sealed his resolve. Holding Srishti's hand, he walked out and made his way towards his car.

             When they reached Sampoorna's place, they found her waiting for them. "Sorry for being late. I...," he was about to explain, when she interrupted, "No need to explain. I was not worried as she was with you."

            He nodded and handed over Srishti's things to Sampoorna. Taking her things, she turned around and was about to close the door, but Samarpan's hold on the door stopped her from doing so. She said nothing, just looked at him. All this time his head was hung down. He raised his head and looked in her eyes. "Sampoorna, I want to talk to you. Not now, of course, but maybe tomorrow, somewhere in a restaurant," he said looking in her eyes. Her eyes showed reluctance, but she nodded, "Okay, where?" Her reply was short.

            Samarpan replied, "Tulips cafe, tomorrow evening." Sampoorna jerked her head to look at him. "Tulips cafe," she whispered myriad emotions passed through her eyes as the name reminded her of beautiful memories of her and Samarpan, shared memories. Slowly, she nodded an okay and closed the doors.

              The next evening, Samarpan reached the cafe. It had been a while, he visited this place. Initially, he thought it was because the place was at a distance from his apartment, but now he realised, it was because he was trying to distance himself from the memories he had associated with this place – memories of his time spent here with Sampoorna. He walked inside anxiously and got relieved to see Sampoorna sitting at their usual table. He made his way toward her.

              Sampoorna was waiting for Samarpan for fifteen minutes now. She started worrying whether he would show up or not. It was very unlike of him getting late. The Samarpan she knew was very punctual. 'Things change,' she thought. After checking her wrist watch one more time, she got up to leave. As she turned, she gasped on finding Samarpan standing right in front of her.

             "Are you leaving?" he asked with worry laced voice as sadness clouded his features. She nodded and replied, "You are very punctual, but when you didn't show up, I thought you have decided not to come."

             He shook his head and asked her to sit. Taking a seat for himself, he said, "I was caught up in something." She gave a sad smile as her eyes bored into him. "Haven't you been for last six months?"

             He looked at her and gave her a once over. Eyeing her, he noticed how she grew thin and the usual pink tint of her skin turned dull, a bit paler. The remorse overwhelmed him. He raked his fingers in his hair as he thought, 'I did this to her.'

             Sampoorna was watching him. 'He is tensed,' she thought. "Sampoorna, what I want to talk about is very important or should I say serious matter," he said after musing for a while. His words changed Sampoorna's demeanour from that of sadness to panic. Fear crossed her face as she asked, "What is it? Is it about Srishti?" "Please, Samarpan don't take her away from me," she pleaded.

             A shocked Samarpan looked at her. He took her hand in his and said, "What! No, this not what I want to talk about. God! Sampoorna, I want to talk about us. You and me," he said, trying to soothe her.

"Huh....," she replied, completely unable to process his words.

             Unable to put his emotions into words, he said, "I read your letter. Initially, I decided not to read it, but something made me do so. I... I do not know how to say it, but.... I am sorry for everything. Sorry you have to go through so much because of me. I am sorry for all the tears that you shed. Last night I kept thinking and realized how I am at fault. I am to blame for everything that happened to us. Never did I try to hear you, not even once. Not that you needed, but explanation on your part that too for what I did when I myself don't have any explanation for what I did. All I have to offer is a 'SORRY', and a plea, if you can again consider us together. But I wouldn't mind if you do not want to, after what I have put you through. But, please, for once, give it a thought." He completed his feelings with such sincerity that Sampoorna couldn't stop herself from looking into his eyes. She remained silent but her eyes reflected so many emotions and questions and he read them all.

              "You are thinking why all of this suddenly. I realized how miserably I failed in our relationship. Your letter made me realize that even after so many hardships you did not complain, made no allegations or demands. You know, today Srishti asked me to help her with her school work where she had to write the meanings of the names of her family members. When I told her the meaning of her name, I realized that she means the world to me... to us. Your name signifies complete, whole... which you are. But my name – dedication, I have not been dedicated to anything. I failed my name so miserably, I feel know that I have never been true to our relationship... to us. May be that was the reason I started finding faults in you... in us, and tried to move on. Yes, tried. I never really moved on. I realize now, why? Because of Srishti, just like her eyes made you feel my existence, her entity made me feel your existence, your presence though you were not physically present around.... Do you know why I was late in meeting you? I went to meet Niharika."

            On hearing Niharika's name, Sampoorna clutched her hands tightly. Seeing this, Samarpan shook his head. "Don't over think Sampoorna, I went to meet her – to tell her I have nothing to do with her anymore. In fact, I told her I had not felt anything for her. Never. I was confused all this time – utterly confused. I was not grateful for what I had. Now I realize I had everything, all the happiness."

            Sighing he rubbed his palms on his face. "Please, give me a chance." He stopped speaking, unable to word his pleas, his emotions. For a few moments, they both sat in silence. Samarpan started to feel anxious as the silence between them stretched. He shifted tensely in his chair. At this very moment, Sampoorna reached for his hand and engulfed it with hers. Samarpan gazed at her and when she nodded with teary eyes and a smile, he nearly jumped with joy. He got up from the chair and taking her hand in his, he walked out of the cafe. The feeling of her hand engulfed in his hand, gave him an unexplainable satisfaction.

             When they reached home, a bubbly Shrishti welcomed them. Squealing, she jumped into the arms of Sampoorna. "Thank you, Anahita, for looking after Srishti," said Sampoorna as she waved bye to her friend.

               Srishti's eyes fell on Samarpan and when she saw his luggage, she shrieked, "Papa, you are back." She hugged him and clapped. "Maa, Papa has completed his important work, right."

                Samarpan gave Sampoorna a confused look. She smiled at him and whispered, "I told her that you are living away from us; near your office as you have some important work at the office. I couldn't tell her the truth; she is too young to understand."

               Samarapn nodded with wonder on how his wife was handling the situation for such a long time.

               Getting in, he turned to close the door. The wall there had a handmade wall hanging. It had a roughly drawn figure of a couple and a girl child, standing in front of an equally roughly drawn house. In a child like hand writing was written 'HOME SWEET HOME'. He guessed it was something made by his daughter. The words 'home sweet home' made him smile and he said, "Indeed."

                                                                                        THE END