The Cries of the Butterfly - A LOVE STORY by Rajeev Roy

seemed rather surprised by the question-from-nowhere. She hesitated for a while, then eventually said, “Pudding.”
    “And your favorite animal?”
    She glanced at him. Where was all this coming from? But again she finally answered, “Tiger.”
    “Ah, I love tigers too. They’re my favorite as well. They’re so big and handsome and powerful and lissome, aren’t they?” Wolf said, simulating joviality.
    “Yes,” she said, listlessly staring out the windscreen.
    “And your favorite bird?”
    “Butterfly,” she said promptly, suddenly showing some animation. “I just love butterflies. They are the most beautiful creatures in the whole world.”
    That amazed Wolf. The butterfly was Philippa’s all-time favorite too. More likeness, he thought. Mind-boggling!
    “But the butterfly is an insect, not a bird,” he corrected her.
    “But it flies, yes? So it’s a bird,” she insisted.
    Wolf laughed. “Okay, if you say so.”
    “Yes.”
    And again they fell into silence.
    It was only when the large edifices of the Home came into view that the hush was breached once more.
    It was Robin this time. “I want to…” she said, so faintly Wolf almost didn’t catch it.
    “You said something, Robin?”
    “I want to be...” she said, fidgeting with her clothing, not looking at him, her chin on her chest.
    “You want to be? What, baby?”
    “Your daughter...”
    Wolf pulled over. He turned to her. “Really?”
    “If you want me…” There was tremor in her voice and her eyes were almost closed, her head still hanging.
    Wolf swallowed. “There is nothing more I want in the whole wide world,” he said. “Come here.” And he took her in his arms and hugged her tight to him.
    “Can I call you Daddy then?” Her voice rang in his ears.
    “Absolutely. ... And may I call you Butterfly?”
    “Why?”
    “Because, like you said, the butterfly is the most beautiful creature in the world. Just like you are.”
    “Really?”
    “Oh, yes. You are truly the most beautiful and wonderful person in the whole universe,” he said, pressing her head to his chest. “So may I call you Butterfly then?”
    “Yes, if you want to.”
    “Thank you so much.”
    Later, one day, she asked him, “If I am your daughter, why don’t I live with you?”
    “You will, very soon,” he had said earnestly.
    “Promise?”
    “Promise.”
    “Thank you.”
    But it wasn’t that simple, Wolf quickly realized. Although Grant was wholly supportive (as was the rest of the family, especially Art), he elucidated some practical truths to Wolf.
    “For one, son, the law is very clear on this: a single male cannot adopt a girl child. Even I, with all the powers at my command, cannot bend this rule. And even if I could it would not be ethical. But much more importantly, you must understand that parenting is a full-time job. As much as you may love Robin, as much as you are good for her, when it comes to a full-blown relationship, the stakes are entirely different. Let me be honest: you do not have the relevant skills, or the experience, to be an efficient parent by yourself. So for your sake, but even more for the girl’s sake, it is imperative you find yourself a good woman first and get married. Then the two of you can raise Robin well. Robin needs a father, true, but she needs a mother equally.”
    Desperate as he was, Wolf appreciated Grant’s reasoning. As much as he didn’t want to agree to it, it was faultless.
    And then, just fortuitously, he had met this woman on the Internet and it had seemed like a match made by the deities. Suddenly, it had all clacked together—all his dreams coming true in a classic ballet.
    Before...it all exploded in his face.
    *
    Y et now, on this Saturday, March 29th, he had Robin with him once again and he was soothed. She was all that mattered. And one day, his daughter would come home to him. Oh, yes, she will! Don’t kids go off to boarding school?
    What bugged him, though, was that she couldn’t stay with