Chapter 2

Next day.

Aayushi’s pov.

I opened my eyes and looked at the watch, it was 7 am. Oh god, I am getting late for the hospital. I thought with a scarred face and sat up only to see a small angel sleeping beside me with her small arms wrapped around my stomach.

How did I forget? That I am married and I have taken leave from the hospital. I looked at the Man who was sleeping beside Aarohi, who is my husband. I sighed as anger built in me for Mr. Malhotra.

He shouldn’t have said yes to the Marriage but he was nice last night. Thank god, he didn't turn out to be a bad person. I looked at Aarohi and felt sorry for her. She had to stay away from her mother just because of her parent’s dispute. I will try my best to take good care of her.

I kissed her forehead and slowly took her hand off my stomach. I took my clothes from my suitcase and went inside the washroom to take a shower.

I came out wearing a beige and red color net designer saree to look like a newly wedded bride. I wore my nuptial chain and applied some sindoor (red powder) on my head partition. I kept my hair open and applied some light makeup.

I looked at myself in the mirror and I was looking like a new bride. I heard a knock on the door and I immediately opened the door as I didn’t want Aarohi’s sleep to be disturbed.

The person who knocked on the door was Nyonika Aunty, Manik’s mom. She smiled at me and I smiled back.

She came near me and said while keeping a hand on my head. “My daughter-in-law is looking so beautiful.”

I smiled and said. “Thank you, aunty.”

“Please call me mom, Aayushi.” She said cupping my face.

“Okay, mom.” I said while nodding in yes.

“Aayushi, today is ‘mooh dikhai’ ceremony and you even have to make a sweet dish as today is your 1st day here in this house.” She said in a polite tone.

“Okay mom, I will make a sweet dish,” I said nodding in yes. Mom turned around to leave when I remembered something so I stopped her and asked. “Mom, can you suggest to me any sweet dish?”

“Aarohi loves Gaajar ka Halva (Carrot pudding) a lot. So you can make that if you want even Manik loves it. They have many things in common.” Nyonika said. I nodded in yes and went towards the kitchen.

I entered the kitchen and saw 2 lady cooks there. They looked at me and gave me a polite smile. I smiled back and asked. “Can you both please help me?"

“Of course, Ma’am.” One of the ladies replied. I started instructing them about the things I want and I cooked carrot pudding.

I walked towards the living room and saw mom sitting on the couch. It was a little weird for me as this House is new. She looked at me and said with a smile. “Aayushi, sit here.”

I sat there and she continued. “I know that it feels a little weird at first. But try to get comfortable around, okay?” I smiled and nodded in yes.

We talked on few random topics and I felt that she was trying her best to make me comfortable. She is a very nice lady. After few minutes a lady came near Nyonika.

“Aunty, I will just go and wake Aarohi up.” That lady said and I frowned. 'Who is she?' I thought.

Mom looked at me and said. “Aayushi, she is Priya, she takes care of Aarohi." I nodded in yes and mom looked at Priya saying. "Priya, she is Aayushi, Aansh’s wife and Aarohi’s mom.”

I looked at mom with a little shocked face as she said “Aarohi’s mom”. But I immediately hide my expression. All this was very new for me. Till yesterday I was just happily single and now not only I am married but also I have a stepchild. These feelings toward Aarohi are new but still beautiful.

“Priya, you go and arrange Aarohi’s clothes and bathtub,” Mom ordered her and she left. Mom looked at me and said “Aayushi, will you wake up, Aarohi?” I nodded in yes and towards my bedroom.

I entered inside and saw Mr. Malhotra sitting on the bed with sleepy eyes while Aarohi was still sleeping. I went near them and sat on the bed. Mr. Malhotra looked at me and said with a smile. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Mr.

Malhotra,” I said with a small smile. I caressed Aarohi’s face and said softly “Aarohi, wake up.”

She moved in her sleep and hugged my stomach tightly. I smiled at her cute antics.

Mr. Malhotra said “Why are you doing this Aayushi? Where is Priya?”

I replied. “It's okay Mr. Malhotra, I don’t have any problem with her. Your daughter is seriously very cute and I adore her a lot.”

“Thank you.” He said with a smile.

I again looked at Aarohi. I caressed her face and said, “Aarohi, please wake up.”

This time she opened her eyes slowly. I smiled and kissed her cheek and said. “Good morning, baby.”

She gave me a small smile and kissed my cheek and said in a sleeping voice. “Good morling, (morning) muma.” Saying this she again closed her eyes.

“No more sleeping, babygirl. You need to get up, Aarohi. It's school time.” I said.

She made a sad pout. Aw, why is she so cute?

She unwillingly sat on the bed and I kissed her head. In return, she kissed my cheek.

“Someone forgot, dady,” Aansh said with a fake sad voice. Aarohi immediately looked at him. She went near him and hugged him tightly. She kissed his both cheeks and said. “I love you, dady.”

“Dady loves you more.” He said and kissed her forehead. She kept her head on his shoulder and again closed her eyes. I looked at Mr. Malhotra and said “Mr. Malhotra, don’t let her sleep. She has to go to school.”

He nodded in yes and broke the hug. “Aaru you have to go to school.” Aarohi jumped off his lap and said. “No dady, no skool (school) today.”

“Why.” I and Mr Malhotra asked her together. I looked at Mr. Malhotra and even he looked at me. We had a small eye lock which was broken by Aarohi as she said. “Because Muma came back aftel (after) shoooo (so) Many days. I want to be with hel (her).”

She said shoo while extending both her hands in the air indicating the number of days. I smiled at her cuteness.

“Baby, you can talk with her after coming from school,” Aansh said politely. Aarohi nodded her head negatively and came near me. She held my hand tightly.

“I want to talk now.” She said in a stubborn tone. I slowly took her in my arms and made her sit on my lap. I cupped her face and said softly. “Baby, School is very important. Once you are back, we will talk."

Aarohi extended her hand and said. “Plomise (Promise)?” I held her hand and said. “Promise.”

Aarohi nodded in yes but again she looked at me and asked. “You wolt (won’t) go to glandpa's house again, right? You wolt (won’t) leave me again, mumaa?”

I got confused at her question. I don’t know what to say. I looked at Mr. Malhotra and He blinked his eyes telling me that he will handle her. He caressed Aarohi’s head and said. “No Aaru, now your mumaa will never leave you. She won’t go to your grandpa's house. Go and get ready you are getting late.”

Aarohi nodded in yes and left the room. I was still confused regarding the things she said. So I looked at Mr. Malhotra with a confused face.

Seeing my confused look he said. “Aarohi never met, Soha.”

I asked “Soha?”

He said looking into my eyes. “My 1st wife. She left us when Aarohi was 4 months old. So, Aarohi never met her. Whenever she asked me about her mother, I always lied to her that her mother is at her father's house. I thought it was appropriate to lie to her because she is small and she doesn't understand many things. To be honest I was not able to tell her that her mother left us."

He looked down at his lap. He must be missing his 1st wife and this is what I hate about this Marriage. He will never be able to forget his 1st wife. Might be possible that he still loves her. He will never be able to love me and I don’t want to give him my body to fulfill his desire. I don’t think there is any future in our relationship.

My trance was broken by him as he said. “She thinks that you are her real mother.” I just nodded in yes as I don’t have anything to say.

But one doubt in my mind as I asked. “Mr. Malhotra, I have seen that babies don’t get comfortable with strangers. Then yesterday how did she got so comfortable with me? And how she thought that I am her real mother?”

He said “Because mom gave her your picture. After seeing it, Aarohi started thinking that you are her real mother.” I again just nodded in yes. Mr. Malhotra stood up and went inside the washroom to take shower while I went out and saw Aarohi sitting on the dining table wearing her cute knee-length School uniform with 2 ponytails.

She was not looking less than an angel. She was playing with an ice cream spoon while mom was feeding her breakfast. I went near them and took a seat beside Aarohi. I plated out some breakfast for myself. Soon even Mr. Malhotra joined us for breakfast.

Mom said “today it's ‘mooh dikhai’ ceremony and then in the afternoon Aayushi will go to her house for ‘pag phera'.

I and Mr Malhotra nodded in yes and Mom stuffed the last bit of breakfast in Aarohi’s mouth. Even I and Mr. Malhotra were done with our breakfast. Mom excused herself and left from there. Mr. Malhotra stood up from the chair and said to Aarohi. “Let's go, Aaru.” Aarohi nodded and held his finger. Even I followed them till the door.

Aarohi stopped at door and turned around. She came near me and I sat on my knees. She kissed my cheek and said. “Goodbye, muma.” I smiled and kissed her cheeks and said. “Goodbye, Aaru.”

She went near Mr. Malhotra and I stood up. Aarohi stopped and asked. “Dady why dol't (don't) you give muma goodbye kissie?”

I widen my eyes listening her question. Ansh looked at me with a shocked face.

“Go dady give muma goodbye kissie.” Aarohi again said in a stubborn tone. Ansh came near me. My heartbeat started beating fast seeing him approaching me. He came near me and pecked my forehead.

Mr. Malhotra said. “Bye Aayushi.”

I replied. “Bye Mr. Malhotra.”

To be continued...

BY J.