**Thursday, 6:30 a.m. – Yamuna Riverside Villa**
The sun rose pink over the lotus pond.
Rajesh stood at the stove, burning the first roti of his mortal life.
Smoke curled. The fire alarm chirped.
Priya clapped from her high stool. "Papa, it's a charcoal paratha!"
Anjali opened windows, laughing. "We said *burnt* on Sundays. It's Thursday."
Little Sheru (Pug again) sneezed at the smoke, then trotted to his bowl labeled **"Good Boy (Still)"**.
---
### 7:00 a.m. – Breakfast of Champions
**Menu (Rajesh's second attempt):**
- **Perfectly round aloo parathas** (with smiley faces pressed in ghee).
- **Curd** in steel lotuses.
- **Mango lassi** in coconut shells.
Priya licked ghee off her fingers. "Papa, you're getting better at being human!"
Rajesh bowed. "High praise from the princess."
Anjali snapped a photo. "For the family album. Title: *'Supreme Daddy vs. Roti: Round 1'*."
---
### 8:00 a.m. – The First Mortal Errand
Rajesh needed groceries.
No divine storage ring. No teleportation.
Just a **Honda Activa**, a cloth bag, and a shopping list in Priya's handwriting:
```
- MILK
- BISCUITS (chocolate)
- MUMMY'S BINDI
- SHERU'S TREATS
- PAPA'S GREY HAIR DYE (kidding)
```
He kissed Anjali goodbye. "Back in 30. Try not to flood the kitchen."
At **Big Bazaar, Gurgaon**, he stood in the spice aisle, staring at 47 brands of haldi.
Aunty in a green saree nudged him. "Beta, take the local one. Fresher."
He smiled, took two packets.
Mortal advice tasted better than divine wisdom.
---
### 9:30 a.m. – The Phone Call
His phone buzzed.
**Unknown Number – Mumbai**
He answered in the parking lot.
**Voice (male, polished):**
"Mr. Rajesh Kumar? This is **Vikram Malhotra**, CEO, Starlight Productions.
We're remaking *Pink Lotus*. Ms. Anjali Rao is attached.
We heard you own the original IP. Name your price."
Rajesh leaned against the Activa.
"IP?"
"Anjali mentioned you hold rights from… an old college project."
(She'd registered the title in his name the night they met, drunk on cheap rum.)
He laughed. "Send the script. If it makes my daughter cry happy tears, we talk."
---
### 12:00 p.m. – Lunch Surprise
Rajesh returned with groceries and a **surprise**:
A tiny **silver tiffin** engraved **"Anjali & Rajesh, Round 2"**.
Inside: **vada pav** from a street cart (first mortal street food).
Anjali opened it, eyes wide. "You stood in line?"
"Forty-five minutes. Worth it."
Priya stole a bite. "Papa, you're officially desi now!"
---
### 3:00 p.m. – School Pickup Drama
Anjali drove.
At **Butterfly Gate**, Priya emerged crying.
Ms. Ritu looked apologetic.
"Priya's friend Riya said her papa is richer because he has *two* Bentleys. Priya said her papa has *grey hair* and that's better."
Rajesh knelt. "Beta, grey hair means I fought dragons to come home. Bentleys are just metal."
Priya sniffled. "But Riya's papa didn't fight dragons…"
Anjali hugged her. "Your papa fought *time*. That's rarer."
---
### 4:30 p.m. – Ice-Cream Therapy
At **Giani's**, Priya got **double scoop kesar-pista**.
Rajesh got a brain freeze.
Anjali filmed. "Mortal weakness #1: cold headaches."
---
### 7:00 p.m. – The Family Meeting
Under the banyan, diyas lit.
Rajesh held the **Starlight contract** (₹45 crore offer).
Anjali read, eyes wide. "This is… insane."
Priya: "Can we buy a dragon with it?"
Rajesh: "We buy something better: **time**."
He tore the contract in half.
"We produce it ourselves. Small budget. Real locations. Priya cameos as 'Butterfly Princess'."
Anjali stared. "You're turning down 45 crore?"
"I turned down immortality. 45 crore is pocket change."
---
### 9:00 p.m. – The Grey Streak Ritual, Part 2
Rajesh sat Priya on his lap.
He took a tiny clipper, snipped the grey strand, and tied it with red thread.
Placed it in a **silver locket** shaped like a lotus.
"For your 18th birthday. Proof Papa was once a superhero."
Anjali added her old **college ID photo** (drunk, smiling, next to a younger Rajesh).
Priya added a **glitter sticker** of Sheru.
Locket closed.
**Family heirloom: complete.**
---
### 10:00 p.m. – The Mortal Bedtime
Rajesh tucked Priya in.
She yawned. "Papa, will you get more grey hair?"
"Every day you grow braver, I grow greyer. Deal?"
"Deal."
Anjali waited in their room.
She held the locket. "You gave up godhood for burnt rotis and school runs."
He pulled her close. "Best trade in the multiverse."
Lights dimmed.
Villa whispered:
"**Mortal mode: engaged. Lullaby: *Chanda Hai Tu*."
Outside, the Yamuna flowed, lotuses bobbing.
No voids. No debts.
Just a family,
a grey streak,
and a future measured in **ice-cream scoops**,
**school bells**,
and **happily ever afters**.
**Day 19.**
The Supreme Daddy had retired.
The **Family Man** had just begun.