When a Daisy blooms….. ( Part 9)

Contd from : “Not me, him”, Fr Gonzalvez said, pointing his finger to the area behind him.

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Daisy and Richard looked at what he was pointing.

There, standing tall and looking at them all with kind, benevolent eyes was the statue of Jesus Christ.

The man with the stubble, who made life possible for the believers.

Daisy’s eyes widened in recognition as she saw what the priest meant.

Jesus indeed had a stubble. A clean one. How had she missed it all these years ?

She looked at Richard, who tried keeping a straight face, and then at Fr Gonzalvez, whose cheeks looked so full, like a cotton pod ready to pop open.

Daisy burst out laughing, Richard and Fr Gonzalvez joining her, much to the amusement of the crowd around.

There was a grand feast for the wedding, and as a token of their gratitude for all the good things in life, the couple sponsored a month’s meals at the orphanage attached to the Church.

And how could they ignore the Library which had actually bonded them  ?

They contributed to the renovation fund to reconstruct the building and to beautify the garden around it.

Isabella was the happiest soul on earth as she bade good bye to her lovely daughter.

That evening, when they had all their time to themselves, and a whole lifetime of love ahead of them, Richard told to Daisy, “ When our kids grow, I’ll tell them that I fell in love with their Mom’s pretty eyes and angelic smile.”

Daisy smiled, her eyes sparkling with love.

“And what would you tell them about their dad?”, he teased her.

She said, looking up at him with all the shyness of a new bride, “ I’ll tell them that his clean shaven look bowled me over.”

The air turned fragrant with love and happiness, for the daisy to bloom.

(Concluded)

I am writing in response to  a tag by Someone is Special and another tag by Jyotsna.

I am taking part in 'Protest against Smelly Stubble' activity here :)

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When a Daisy blooms….. ( Part 8)

Contd from : “I’ve some more advice for you,” said Fr.Gonzalvez.

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“ But that can wait”, he said.

 Though curious, Daisy bade goodbye  to him and walked to Richard, who was waiting at the gates.

“Thanks for listening, Richard”, she said.

“My pleasure. I’m happy you confided in me. A small thing like this would’ve actually cost me my life with you. I’ll take extra care now, as I know your pet hate ,” he replied, stroking his imaginary beard.

This was a wonderful Christmas for Daisy . She had found her love.

The Christmas Choir was a grand success. Richard garnered a lot of appreciation for his talent with the Guitar.

Daisy and Richard were married just two days after Christmas.

They took the wedding vows, and as Richard placed the traditional Wedding Sari on her head as was their custom, Daisy couldn’t help smiling at the clean shaven face and the deep brown eyes looking down at her with pride. She felt grateful that his clean shaven look had bowled her over.

Fr.Gonzalvez came to them when the Holy Mass ended and the wedding was over.

“Daisy, I had one advice for you, remember ?”

“Yes, Father,”. Daisy replied.

“ It is this : never ever forget the man who made your life possible”, he said.

“And that guy has a stubble, too”, he added, his eyes twinkling.

Daisy was puzzled. So was Richard.

“Well, I overheard you both speaking at the lawns that day,” the priest explained.

“That’s fine, Father. We knew you had heard us. That saved us a confession, did it not?”, Richard answered in good humour.

“ But Father, you don’t have a stubble,” Daisy rolled her eyes as she used to do in her Catechism classes as a child.

“Not me, him”, Fr Gonzalvez said, pointing his finger to the area behind him.

To be contd.

I am writing in response to  a tag by Someone is Special.

I am taking part in 'Protest against Smelly Stubble' activity here :)

Protest Against Unclean Stubble Activity in association with BlogAdda

 

When a Daisy blooms….. ( Part 7)

Contd from : Standing at the door  they had just walked out of, was a tall man.

                      Fr.Gonzalvez.

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They  smiled sheepishly at him as Daisy extracted her hands from Richard’s firm grip.

“How about the Holy Mass, now?”, Fr Gonzalvez asked, his eyes glinting merrily.

“Sure, Father.” Daisy said, as Richard gathered his books . They both followed him into the Church.

All through the Mass, the scene at the library lawn kept replaying in Daisy’s mind. She couldn’t believe that the guy she was confused about yesterday,  had become a close friend today, and would be her husband soon.

“I’ll tell mom tonight,” she thought, “ that his clean shaven look bowled me over”, and smiled to herself as she imagined Isabella’s happiness.

“So, I needn’t talk to you about Richard, need I , my child ? ” Fr Gonzalvez asked Daisy as he met her outside the Church after the Mass.

Daisy looked at him, half in wonder and half in confusion.

“Isabella had asked me to talk to you. To tell you how good the alliance was, how Jerome always fancied this when he was alive. She was afraid you would say No to this. So she asked me to advise you. After all, I’ve known you since your toddler days, haven’t I ?”, Fr Gonzalvez looked at her with kind eyes.

Daisy was surprised. Mom and her ways !

Fr.Gonzalvez placed his hands on her head, as if petting her. “ So happy for you, child. I’m sure Jerome would’ve been the happiest on earth had he been alive. You’ll be happy with Richard. Lizzy is a very good woman, she’ll be a mother to you too.”

Daisy thought of her dad. A lone tear escaped her eyes.

“ Thank you, Father”, she said as she took his hands and kissed them reverently.

“I’ve some more advice for you,” said the priest.

To be contd.

I am writing in response to  a tag by Someone is Special.

I am taking part in 'Protest against Smelly Stubble' activity here :)

Protest Against Unclean Stubble Activity in association with BlogAdda

 

When a Daisy blooms….. ( Part 6)

Contd from : She bit her lip in apology as she saw the frown on Richard’s face.

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Had he felt insulted ? She kicked herself mentally for being senseless.

Richard was thoughtful as he spoke, “ Daisy, this is a surprise. I know you wouldn’t say something so silly, if it weren’t important to you. Why does a stubble disturb you so much ? Especially when it can easily be removed ? I don’t have it now, either. ”

Daisy looked at his eyes and melted at the love emanating from his gaze.

“ It’s about my Dad, Richard. He was always our clean-shaven hero. A few days prior to his death, he turned weak and had to be hospitalised. His beard grew, and he couldn’t shave. One fine night, he left the world peacefully in his sleep.” She choked.

Richard took her hand and held it ,as she recovered.

“When he had to be readied for the coffin, Mom cried out , “ I hate that unclean stubble, doctor”. She couldn’t control her outburst. She then sought permission from the doctor and shaved off his beard. She fussed about it, insisting that he should be handsome in his grave too. He was our clean-shaven hero even in death.”

“ Ever since, a stubble has always made me uneasy. May be psychological,” Daisy’s eyes were moist now. 

Richard took her hands and held them firm.

“ I understand, Daisy. Sorry for having reminded you.”

“ It’s ok, I would have told you anyway”, she replied.

“So, will you allow me to be your clean shaven hero?”, Richard whispered in her ears.

Daisy blushed in a smile. The butterflies were back in action.

“  Hello there,  May I  interrupt ? ”.

They turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

Standing at the door  they had just walked out of, was a tall man.

Fr.Gonzalvez.

To be contd.

I am writing in response to  a tag by Someone is Special.

I am taking part in 'Protest against Smelly Stubble' activity here :)

Protest Against Unclean Stubble Activity in association with BlogAdda