Silent Promises

After dinner, Sarika asks the children to go to the room and quickly finishes washing the dishes before heading there herself.

Inside the room, Adhik and Tanishq were engaged in a pillow fight. Seeing this, Sarika immediately walks over, takes the pillows from their hands, places her hands on her waist, and looks at both of them one by one before asking, "What is going on here? Why are you both fighting?"

Tanishq pouts and says, "Mumma, it wasn't me. Bhaiya was fighting with me. I wasn't fighting."

Adhik immediately responds, "What!! You lie so much. When did I start the fight? You hit me first!"

Tanishq glares at him and says, "No! You started it first. Just because I'm younger, you think I'm naive? But I'm not! If you hit me once, I'll hit you back too. You can't take advantage of me being younger!"

Hearing this, Sarika looks at him in shock and says, "Tanu, what kind of talk is this? Where did you learn this? I have told you before, right? Adhu is older than you, he is your big brother, and you should respect him. But here you are, saying such things. I am not talking to you anymore."

Saying this, she turns to Adhik, caresses his head, and asks, "Adhu, are you okay? Did Tanu hurt you too much?"

She asked Adhik this because she knew very well that Adhik was very gentle, while Tanishq was much sharper. So whenever the two brothers fought, it was always Adhik who ended up getting hurt.

Adhik looks at Sarika and smiles slightly, saying, "No, Mumma, I'm fine. I didn't get hurt anywhere. By the way, it's time for your medicine. You should take it now."

Sarika nods at him, picks up her medicines from the table, swallows them, and then sits on the bed. She calls Adhik over, and he comes to her, resting his head in her lap. Sarika gently caresses his hair.

Seeing this, Tanishq pouts and sits on the other side, hugging her. He says, "Sorry, Mumma. From now on, I will never get angry at Bhaiya or hit him. I promise!"

Sarika looks at him seriously and asks, "Are you sure? Because if you break your promise, I won't talk to you."

Tanishq quickly reassures her, "Yes, Mumma! I promise. Pinky promise! Now, please don't be mad at me. I don't like it when you're upset."

Hearing his words, Sarika smiles, places his head in her lap, and kisses his forehead. "How can I stay angry at my Tanu for long? But Tanu, from now on, you must respect Adhu. He is older than you. Have you ever seen Dev Chachu hitting Papa? No, right? Because he respects him. Just like that, you also have to respect Adhu. Okay?"

Tanishq nods and says, "Okay, Mumma!"

Sarika smiles and continues stroking both Adhik and Tanishq's heads.

Just then, her phone rings. She picks it up from the bedside table, and upon seeing 'Maa' on the screen, she quickly answers it and places it to her ear. "Hello, Maa! How are you?"

On the other end, Krishna Ji responds, "I'm fine. You tell me, how are you? And how are my grandsons?"

Before Sarika can answer, Tanishq takes the phone from her hand, puts it to his ear, and says, "Namaste, Nani Maa!"

Hearing his voice, Krishna Ji happily responds, "Namaste, Tanu! How is my dear child?"

Tanishq cheerfully says, "I'm good…" Then, with a sad tone, he adds, "But Mumma isn't well…"

Krishna Ji, now worried, asks, "What happened to Mumma, dear? Is she okay?"

Tanishq nods and explains, "Yes, Mumma is fine now. But yesterday, I don't know what happened… she was talking to me and suddenly collapsed. She wouldn't open her eyes, so I called Dadi. Dadi made her lie on the sofa, and then Papa brought the doctor. The doctor said Mumma is very weak. Since then, Papa told me that it's my responsibility to take care of Mumma. And you know, Nani Maa, today Papa even made breakfast with me so that Mumma wouldn't have to work. I've been taking care of her since morning…"

Hearing all this, Sarika glares at him. This boy just couldn't keep anything to himself. If he learned something, he wouldn't rest until the whole world knew about it.

On the other end, Krishna Ji listens emotionally and says, "My child is so responsible… You have taken such good care of your Mumma. Keep doing it just like this."

Tanishq, happy with the praise, says, "Okay, Nani Maa! Just as you say. Papa also took care of Mumma."

Krishna Ji smiles slightly and says, "Your Papa is a good man… Okay, tell me, have you eaten?"

Tanishq replies, "Yes! And you?"

Krishna Ji answers, "Yes, I have eaten too. Where is Adhu?"

Tanishq looks at Adhik, who is resting his head on Sarika's lap, pretending to be asleep. He lowers his voice and whispers, "He is lying in Mumma's lap, pretending to sleep…"

Krishna Ji laughs and says, "Oh, so don't badmouth him! If he wakes up, he won't spare you."

Tanishq suddenly realizes and says seriously, "Oh yes, I didn't think of that… By the way, Nani Maa, all my friends go to their Nani's house during summer and winter vacations. Then why don't we ever go to your house? And why don't you ever come here to meet us? Don't you want to meet us, Nani Maa?"

Hearing his innocent question, both Sarika and Krishna Ji's eyes well up with tears. They both wanted to see each other, but no one in this family had ever thought about it. Yamini Ji couldn't go a day without making Sarika work, so she had strictly forbidden her from visiting her maternal home. And Krishna Ji and Baba never came here because Sarika didn't want them to be insulted in her in-laws' house. Both mother and daughter were helpless in the hands of fate, unable to meet despite wanting to.

Lost in their thoughts, they are brought back by Tanishq's voice as he asks again, "Tell me, Nani Maa, why don't you come to meet us? And why don't we come to your house?"

Krishna Ji holds back her emotions and replies, "Well, dear, your Mama has got a job in Delhi. Once he settles there, you can come to visit us. Okay?"

Tanishq nods, "Okay, fine. Now you talk to Mumma." Saying this, he hands the phone back to Sarika.

Sarika takes the phone and, after ensuring Adhik is resting, quietly steps into the balcony and says, "Yes, Maa, tell me."

Krishna Ji asks worriedly, "Dear, are you okay? What happened to you? And is it true that your husband made breakfast today?"

Sarika, hearing her questions, tells Tanishq to lie down and carefully places Adhik's head on the pillow before stepping onto the balcony. She answers, "Yes, Maa, I'm fine now. I just felt a little dizzy, that's all."

Krishna Ji asks again, "Did your husband really make breakfast for you?"

Sarika, feeling shy, replies, "Yes, Maa, he made everyone's breakfast himself today because he didn't want me to do any work in this condition."

Krishna Ji sighs in relief and says, "At least now he is treating you well. But what happened suddenly that he changed?"

Sarika, lost in thought, says, "I don't know, Maa. But now he takes great care of me, calls to check if I've eaten, and even told me to eat lunch with everyone… It feels like my long-lost dream is finally coming true!"

Krishna Ji smiles and says, "May all your dreams come true, my dear! God may be slow, but He is never unjust. One day, everything will be fine."

Sarika hums in response and talks to her mother for a while before disconnecting the call. She then lies between her children, who hug her tightly before falling asleep. She smiles, gently stroking their heads, and closes her eyes in peace.

In the evening,

Adrijay arrived home, and Yamini Ji opened the door. As he stepped inside, he looked around and asked, "Where is everyone? I don't see anyone around."

Making a face, Yamini Ji replied, "Well, your wife is sick and resting in her room, and your children? They are glued to their mother as always. They never listen to me anyway. And as for Vishakha, she has gone to meet a friend."

Hearing her words, Adrijay frowned in annoyance and said, "Maa, please, why are you speaking about Sarika like this? She is unwell. At least at this moment, you should refrain from saying such things. And as for the kids, I was the one who told them to take care of Sarika because I know she will never take care of herself."

Yamini Ji's mind echoed with Vishakha's words, and a sudden fear gripped her. She thought to herself, No, no! I won't let my son drift away from me. Vishakha was right. Adrijay has started to change. If this continues, he will eventually forget me and put Sarika above me. I cannot take this risk. I must do something… and soon.

With this thought, she fell into deep contemplation.

Meanwhile, Adrijay had already made his way to his room.

As he reached the door and looked inside, a soft, affectionate smile formed on his lips.

In front of him, Sarika was sitting with the children, playing carrom, laughing heartily, and chatting with them.

Standing at the doorway, Adrijay watched her intently, lost in the moment. A thought crossed his mind, I will do everything I can, Sarika, to be the reason behind this beautiful smile of yours one day.

With that silent vow in his heart, he let his smile widen and continued watching her, completely mesmerized.

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