A girl....

She has always loved water, and this place was special. Nikitasha was back at the beach after a very long time. She looked at the huge splash of blue - content and relaxed. She looked across towards the edge of water where her husband was holding their child's hand while the child jumped into every incoming wave. She smiled. It certainly looked like the love for water has been passed on to the next generation. She wanted to join in but right now she was content to watch them.

Her thoughts flew back to the last time she was here . It was a few months after she had got her job after college. She had to smile again . They were out for the last time as a bunch of singles, love had found two people from her group and the wedding bells were ringing fast and loud. They had all spent the whole evening playing on the beach , water, sand, Frisbee , catch ball, chit chatting and of course embarrassing the new couple. They had even forced one of the beach astrologers to forecast the future of the blushing bride to be. It was 10 rupees worth of comedy. Then the astrologer had turned towards Nikitasha and in the spirit of the game she had asked the lady to tell her about what was in store for her. The usual - a great husband , a big house and a baby girl. And in the spirit of the the industry that they were all in, the prediction was copied and pasted for the entire group. Looked like the whole bunch was going to have identical futures. She remembered the cheers and hoots that had erupted after the last one had got his results from the happy astrologer who had by now collected enough for an evening in the snazzy restaurant at the beach!

She laughed, remembering that evening 5 years ago.

She looked around to watch the tourists haggling with the kids selling trinkets. The sun was setting and it was almost time to go. She was about to get up to move towards the sea when a hand touched her elbow. She turned to see an old lady. She knew it was another beach astrologers. She smiled and was about to move away when the lady said 'Five minutes, beti'. She looked back at her husband and decided, another five minutes wouldn't matter. And it would help her relive that evening 5 years ago. Would it be another 'copy, paste' of the last prediction. She almost giggled at the thought. The astrologer uncurled the fingers of her left hand, forehead furrowed in concentration. Nikki watched her, a smile on her face silently predicting what the astrologer would say. And then it was the moment of truth - ' You are happy, a successful job and married'. Nikki nodded, gently allowing the lady to continue. 'And you have a child - a girl'. This time the bubbling laughter erupted - a loud happy laughter. The old lady frowned at Nikki. Nikki stopped for a moment and pointed towards Ashwin who was walking back towards her , their son in his arms.

Nikki looked back at the astro scholar and continued laughing..... :)

The End.

Alternate Ending

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The astrologer struggled on to her feet . She watched the father and son and then at Nikki who was still looking at her and laughing. This time she looked down from Nikki's face, lower , back up and smiled . Ashwin reached Nikki and held out a hand for her to get up, puzzled at the reason for her laughter. Nikki got to her feet and watched the departing figure and ran a hand over her flat stomach. It was her turn to wonder....

P.S. : Was not able to choose between the flippant one and the other one. Hence posted both of them.