Chapter 3

Aayushi's pov.

Bedroom.

I was sitting in the bedroom after "mooh dikhai ceremony". I have nothing to do, now. I remembered mom saying about "pag phera ceremony".

(This is a ceremony where a newly wedded girl visits her house and stays there for a day.)

I think my brother will come to take me there. I seriously miss my mom and dad. It's just one day, but still, I started missing them.

My trance was broken by a knock on the door. I stood up and opened to door. I saw a lady servant standing there. "Nyonika Ma'am is calling you." She said. I nodded in yes and went towards the living room. I saw my brother, Abhimanyu sitting on the couch. I smiled and went to him. I hugged him tightly while he caressed my hair.

He laughed and said. "You missed me so much, doll?" I pushed him a little away and said. "I missed you? Not even in your dreams!" I said in a fake angry tone.

We both fight a lot on every small to the big topic but I know that he loves me a lot and the same goes for me.

"Today you have to go with Abhimanyu back to your house. Ansh will come tomorrow to pick you up." Mom said. I nodded in yes and we left to Singhania bungalow.

Singhania house.

I entered inside and saw mom, dad sitting on the couch. I almost ran towards mom and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back and kissed my head. She broke the hug and looked at me from top to bottom.

"You are looking so beautiful in this saree." She said. I again hugged her tightly. "Thank you, mom," I said.

I met Papa and we sat on the couch and spoke to each other.

Pov ends.

Ansh's pov.

I am standing in front of Aarohi's school and after few minutes I saw all the children walking out. I looked around and saw my angel walking towards me. I went near her and immediately took her in my arms. I kissed her cheeks. She is my peace, my life, my everything.

She smiled and kept her head on my shoulder. She was looking tired. Ohh, my small baby. "My baby is tired?" I asked her patting her head. "I want to shleep." She said with a sad pout.

"Okay baby, then sleep," I said and started walking towards my car. I sat in the back seat and the driver sat in front. He started driving while Aarohi slept in my arms. I looked at her face and smiled. How can someone be so beautiful and cute? I kissed her Forehead. Soon we reached home. I came out with her in my arm and went towards the house. I entered the house when I felt her moving in her sleep. I caressed her hair but mom's word woke her up.

"Mom, talk in a low tone, she is sleeping," I whispered. She bites her tongue and said. "Sorry." I looked at Aarohi and saw her eyes opened. I again caressed her hair and said. "Sleep baby."

She nodded in no and came out from my hold. She stood on the ground ran towards the room. I sat on the couch as mom said. "Ansh come, eat your lunch." I nodded in yes when I realized about Aayushi.

"Where is Aayushi, mom?" I asked.

"She went to her house for pag phera ceremony." Mom said and I just nodded in yes while taking a seat at the dining table. Mom served me food.

"Granny." We both heard Aarohi's voice. She ran towards us and asked mom.

"Granny, whel(where) is mumma?" She almost shouted. Mom smiled and said. "Aaru she went to grandpa's house. She will come back tomorrow."

Listening to this, Aarohi widens her eyes as tears formed in her eyes. I panicked seeing her crying and I pulled her near me. She hugged me cried loudly.

"Baby, what happened?" I asked her while caressing her hair.

"Mu..ma again welt (went) to grandpa's house. Now she won't come back." She told her reason for crying and again hugged me and sobbed loudly.

"No aaru, this time your mumma will come back," I said softly. But she cried more loudly. When mom said. "Ansh she is crying because of tiredness. Give her to me, I will make her sleep."

I nodded and mom took aaru in her arms. She moved back and front to make her sleep. But she was continuously crying. I wasn't able to see her crying. I can take anything but I can't see my baby crying.

"Mom, let me handle her," I said and took her in my arms. She looked at me with tear-filled eyes and shouted "Mumaa."

"If you will stop crying then I will take you to your mum," I said softly while whipping her tears. She looked at me hiccupping. I kissed her head and asked. "Let's go?" She nodded in yes and kept her head on my shoulder.

"But Ansh.." Mom was interrupted by me as I said. "Mom, I can't see tears in her eyes."

I left the house, I made her sit on the passenger seat while I took the driving seat. I fasten her and my belt. I started driving. Singhania house was just 15 minutes away from my house. I parked my car and came out of the car. I opened her door, and she jumped out. I held her hand and we went near the door.

We entered inside and saw Aayushi talking with Mr. Singania. Aarohi left my hand and ran towards Aayushi while shouted "Muma". This took everyone's attention towards us. They stood up from the couch. I looked at Aarohi who was still running towards Aayushi.

But unfortunately, she fell on the floor because of water and her leg got hurt. I widen my eyes as she screamed. "Aaru," I said and ran towards her. I bent down to pick her up. But before I could, 2 hands wrapped around her body and picked her up. I looked at the person and it was Aayushi. She was holding Aaru tightly against her with a scarred face.

"Shh Aarohi, it's okay," Aayushi said while caressing her hair. Aarohi cried while snuggling more in Aayushi's neck.

Pov ends.

Aayushi's pov.

I was sitting and talking with mom, dad, and Abhimanyu but suddenly I heard Aarohi's voice. I stood up and saw her running towards me. But unfortunately, she fell. She cried making me tense. I immediately went near him and took her in my arms. She cried more snuggling in my neck.

I saw Ansh standing beside me with a tensed face. I went near the couch and sat there. I adjusted her on my lap and saw her knees. She had some bruises but they were not deep. I sighed in relief. I looked at mom and asked her to bring a cream. She nodded and went to bring that.

"Is she fine, Aayushi?" Ansh asked in a tense tone.

"Don't worry Mr. Malhotra, she is fine. It's just small bruises." I saw him taking a sigh of relief. Mom gave me a cream. Aarohi was still crying slowly while hugging me. I took some cream and slowly applied it to her bruise. Aarohi hissed in pain. While I caressed her head and blew air on her leg to make her feel good.

While dad looked at Ansh and asked. "Ansh, what are you doing here?”

“Mr. Singania.." Ansh was interrupted by a dad who said.

"You can call me dad, Ansh," Dad said. Ansh smiled and said. "Dad Aarohi was crying. She wanted to meet Aayushi. So." Ansh said in a low tone. Dad smiled and said. "No problem, Ansh this is your house and Aarohi is our daughter also. Come sit here." Dad said and Ansh sat beside me.

While Aarohi has stopped crying. She is tightly hugging me. I cupped her face and asked. "Is my baby okay? Is this hurting?" I pointed towards her bruises. She nodded in yes and hugged me more tightly.

Ansh, dad, and mom kept talking with each other. While my whole attention was on Aarohi as she was still hiccuping. I kept caressing her head and after some time, she slept in my arms. I smiled and thought to make her sleep in my room. So I excused myself and went to my room.

I laid her down and covered her with a duvet. I sat beside her when mom and Abhimanyu came inside.

Mom sat beside me and asked. "You are happy with this marriage?"

I just nodded in yes. I don't want her to get tensed for me.

"I am so happy that you accepted Aarohi." Mom said. I smiled and said. "Mom, I don't have any problem with this small angel."

"What about Ansh? Did you accept him? I mean you called him 'Mr. Malhotra' down." Mom asked with concern.

"Mom, I need some time to accept everything. It's not easy for me to accept him." I said.

"Take your time. I know Ansh will get ready to give you time." Mom said and left from there. All this while Abhimanyu was standing there quietly.

"What happened, Abhi?" I asked Abhimanyu.

"Aayushi, tell me one thing. Is Ansh a nice guy? I mean if he is not a nice guy then tell me, the first dad didn't let me interfere in your marriage. But if Ansh is treating you like Aarohi's maid then no need to stay with him." Abhimanyu said in a serious tone. I can feel brotherly concern in his voice. Before I could say something, we heard a cough. I looked at the door and saw Ansh standing there. Shit! Did he hear us?

Abhimanyu left without saying anything. Ansh came inside and sat beside Aarohi. He caressed her head.

"I didn't want to make you feel that you are her maid. From tomorrow you won't do anything related to her. I will tell her that you are not her mom." Ansh said this making me shocked.

To be continued...

BY J.