Meera Singhania

I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for everyone. My mother-in-law was beside me helping me even when I told her to rest. Everyone is so sweet here. It feels like home.

"Beta, I am coming."

"Ji, maa."

Today, I got to know that advik is a big sleepyhead. He can sleep wherever & whenever. I chuckled. Gosh, he is so cute.

"What's making you laugh Mrs. Rajput?"

Heat curled around my neck after hearing Mrs. Rajput. I turned around and saw my husband leaning against the door.

"Rudra, aap kab aye?"

(Rudra, when did you arrive?)

"Jab aap muskra rhi thi."

(when you were smiling.)

"Jawab nhi diya apne?"

(You didn't answer?)

"Wo...main.."

(that...I.)

He moved close to me and muttered," Ha, wo aap?"

(Yes, you?)

"I was thinking about how cute Advik is, he can sleep wherever and whenever." I blurted out.

He came so close to me that his sandalwood scent completely enveloped me. He smelled so good.

"Well, he is like that. Whereas Amaira is a full packet of energy."

"Yeah, she is." I smiled.

"Where she is?"

"She is with Maa." I nodded.

With him, nothing felt awkward. Everything was perfect between us, with no expectations nothing. Just two people learning about each other without much hope. I don't know when I started feeling comfortable with him. Maybe when he talked to me or maybe when he promised my dad about my safety or maybe when his dark orbs met mine.

"How was your day?" I asked him as no other topic was there for us to discuss.

"It went well. Amaira was playing all day. I think she will sleep easily today."

"What about you, how was your day?" He continued.

"It was a lazy day. I didn't go to the office so yeah I learned new things about Advik and spent time with the family."

He nodded.

Before any of us could speak a loud voice interrupted our inner turmoil.

"Bhabhi!"

I looked to the owner of the voice and found a man of Rudra's age.

"Namaste, bhabhi."

"Namaste, um-"

"Aditya, naam to suna hi hoga."

(Aditya, you must have heard it.)

I chuckled.

"Unfortunately, I am Rudra's best friend, and you are his wife."

Another laugh escaped my lips. I moved my eyes from Aditya to Rudra who was staring at me. My heartbeat increased. My cheeks were burning, a red hue painting them. He looked deliberately handsome, his eyes scanning over me.

I could not hold this intense eye contact longer and moved my eyes back to Aditya. From the corner of my eye, I saw him going. Maybe to freshen up.

Aditya and I talked a little more and made our way towards the living room. Aditya was talking non-stop and talking about him & Rudra.

"Mumma-" I moved my gaze to the little sunshine ball. Here, she was running towards me and laughing.

"Amaia, Baby don't run."

"I missed yoouu so much, Mumma.''

"Really?"

"She is lying. She was not even ready to come home." Rudra said while coming toward us.

"Dadda, you weren't supposed to tell her that."

I chuckled. So did everyone present in the living room. I hugged her and gave a long peck to my baby. I missed her a lot.

After some time, everyone gathered and sat on the dining table for the dinner.

I started serving Rudra but again this guy held my hand & made me sit on the chair which was beside me and started serving me.

I was on the verge of saying something, but he preempted me.

"Shh, it's nothing.''

How do I tell him it was everything? How do I tell him, that when he does these little acts my heart skips a beat?

I smiled.

Amaira was on my lap and eating food with me.

"Mumma, where is my brother?"

"Baby, he is sleeping."

She nodded.

"Mumma, I am also sleepy."

"Let me do a little work then I will make you sleep. Okay, baby?"

"Okay, mumma."

"I will do the work, go and make her sleep," Rudra uttered.

"It's okay. I will do it."

He glared at me and mouthed, "GO."

I shook my head a little.

"Amaira baby go and take your mother. She did a lot of work today, don't you think she deserves rest now?"

"She does dadda."

I glared at Rudra whereas he just smirked. Mr. Jerk.

Amaira took my big hands in her and started dragging me upstairs.

Baap beti dono ekse.

We reached our bedroom and I laid down Amaira on the bed behind Advik who was still sleeping. He was playing & talking to whole day which made him tired and he drifted off to sleep early.

After some time, Amaira also slept. Rudra entered the room and passed me a smile.

"Did they both sleep?"

"Yes."

He nodded and went inside the bathroom for his night routine. I was not feeling sleepy at all. I went towards the balcony and sat down on the carpet, finding peace in the darkness. I stared at the stars.

Soon felt his presence and I turned my face towards him to see him.

He sat down next to me.

"Not sleepy?'

"Nahh." A small smile touched my face.

We both remained silent for I don't know how much time. It wasn't awkward but instead, it was serene.

"Amaira is 4 years old, why she doesn't go to school?" He broke the silence and asked.

"Well, you know. When I was a little girl there was an English teacher. He was very good. Pta nhi par ekdin kuch baat ho gayi thi bacho ke baare main. Fir unhone kha ki. Bacho ko nursery or kg main school bhejna is unnecessary."

(One day we were talking randomly and our talk stuck at students. He told us that it was unnecessary to send students to school from nursery or UKG.)

"After listening to him attentively, I concluded he was absolutely correct. Children often don't learn much at that age in school, or they may pick up bad habits. Consequently, I decided that Amaira would go to school from 1st standard."

My other reason was not to let her feel lonely. Children don't know much about the world. I didn't want Amaira to feel less just because she didn't have a father.

Rudra simply nodded, and once again, silence ensued.

Looking at the sky and a calm silence made me a little dizzy and I didn't know when I slept. But one thing I remember is Rudra holding me in his arms and moving toward the bed. And soon sleep engulfed me.