Nandini's POV..
"Maushii! Am here!"His toddler voice and my lovely baby was here.
"Abeer!" I exclaimed and carefully turned around to see my lovely boy. His smile made my day. I immediately scooped him in my arms and he threw his arms around my neck hugging me tightly..
"Mera bacha! Khala ka shona! Ap kab aye?" I asked kissing him madly and he giggled as I twirled around with him..
"Me aul mumma tal laat tou aye!" He said in his toddler voice and I was going crazy for him. Suddenly Maa appeared in the door and she hugged me. Then she walked closer to Manik..
"Kesy ho beta?" She asked worriedly and he smiled..
"Ap ki dua say bilkul theek hoon Maa!" Manik said softly holding Maa's hand and she kissed Manik's forehead..
"Me bohat dar gai the! Aiyappa ka bht bht thank you k wo tmhy meri Nandu k liye wapas lay aye!" Maa was getting emotional now..
"Maa! Please! No more rona dhona! Manik is ok ! He is fine!" I said to her while Manik nodded holding a smile on his face.
"Maushiii ya toun(Kaun) hain?" Suddenly Abeer interrupted our conversation pointing towards Manik and I remembered that I didn't introduced Abeer to Manik..
"Manik! He is Abeer my friend's son and Abeer he is Manik! My husband and your Uncle!" I introduced them and Abeer sucked his thumb to register my words..
"Hi Abeer!" Manik exclaimed and waved at Abeer. Abeer looked at me as if asking whether to wave back or not. I nodded my head in assurance and he hesitantly waved back..
"Sorry Nandu! Par Abeer raat say aya hai aur tmhry pass any ki zid kar raha tha! Islye me lay ai!" Maa spoke lowly and before I could speak Manik continued..
"It's ok Maa! Why saying sorry! He is a cute boy!" Manik said smiling at Abeer and he finally smiled on hearing his 'tareef'...
Abeer was almost three years old. Decent in every manner. My friend Navya was a single mother of Abeer. I met her when she came from Patna to Mumbai three months pregnant. She told me that her husband died and she moved from Patna to Mumbai to raise her child. From that day she lived in our orphanage. Abeer was born in my arms. He was my love. But since last six months before I met Manik she went to Patna to met her mother who was very ill and was now back.
Manik was coaxing Abeer to come to him now. I noticed he wanted to play with him.
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Manik's POV..
I look at the baby with a soft smile as Nandini made him sit beside me and he sat folding his small legs. I touched his hair but he stared at me all the time blinking his eyes cutely sucking his thumb. He was so cute. Nandini was busy with her Maa. Suddenly the baby slid closer to me and placed his tiny hand on my bandage..
"Ap tou hie hue hai?" He asked innocently and I stared at his face in astonishment. "Ap tou zozo(dard/pain) tou ni ho li?" He again asked in his toddler voice tracing the bandage softly and I shook my head.
"Ni! Zozo ni ho rahi!" I said softly caressing his hair and he smiled.
His smile was so innocent and cute. A gem boy...
His next move again left me baffled when he moved forward and kissed my bandage.
"Ap zozo tabhi(kabhi) ni ho ge!" He said showing me his milky teeth and I couldn't resist but to kiss his forehead..
"Thank you baby!" I said lovingly and he shook his head..
I got another person who cares for me. More loyal then my blood relations!
"Maan uncle!" He spoke patting my cheek snapping me out of my thoughts..
Wait did he just call me Maan uncle? Seriously this is so cute...
"Yes beta?" I asked affectionately and he pointed his finger towards Cabir who was dug in his phone oblivious of his surroundings.
"Who's he?" He asked lowly and I again look at the baby who was staring at Cabir.
"He is my friend..!" I said softly and his lips turned into an O. He was still staring at Cabir. What was so attractive in him? I wonder..
"I want to be like him!" He said looking at me with his puppy eyes full of emotions and I had nothing to say. He made me speechless. The thing I noticed between Abeer and Cabir was their eyes. Exactly similar there was not a single difference. Biting my lower lip I pulled Abeer in my lap and his gaze didn't leave Cabir's face for a single second.
"Why you want to be like him Abeer?" I asked softly holding his both tiny hands in my single big one and he stared at me for a moment before shrugging his shoulders enough sign for me that he also didn't knew.
Suddenly Cabir got up and finally looked at us. He walked closer to us and smiled..
"Manik! Jack is texting we are going to have a meeting with the next brand ambassador who is promoting our album! We will excuse on your behalf! It's ok!" He said softly patting my shoulder but I was all attentive towards Abeer whose eyes were scanning Cabir from head to toe. "Ok see you!" He ranted and turned to leave when Abeer crawled forward on the bed just to hold Cabir's blazer to stop him. Cabir immediately stopped and turned back slowly.
His face was shocked and surprised. I kept quiet and waited for Abeer's next move. Cabir sat on the bed still astonishment covered his face and finally he smiled..
"You want something little one?" He asked softly caressing his hair and Abeer bit his lips. Cabir gave me a glance and I winked while he frowned shaking his head. Our attention once again diverted towards Abeer as he crawled closer to Cabir.
"Will you be my fliend?" He asked extending his hand towards Cabir and we both were shocked. But Cabir immediately put a smile on his face and pulled Abeer in his lap..
"Yes! Of course I will be your fliend!" Cabir said cheerfully pulling his nose and he laughed. Then he hi-fived with Abeer and made him wear the felt hat which he was wearing. "You look good in this hat buddy!" Cabir spoke poking his cheeks and the happiness i saw on Abeer's face was something which was so adorable. "Why don't you take care of this hat for me?" Cabir suggested and Abeer immediately nodded. "Ohk then! I have to leave! See you soon little one!" Cabir said putting Abeer back in my lap and Abeer waved him a good bye heartily. He kept staring at Cabir until he left the door.
What was so special in Cabir that Abeer felt so attractive towards him?
Now Abeer was quietly playing with the hat Cabir gave him...
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"Nandini!" I started as I was lying in her lap and she was caressing my hair. Abeer and Maa had left an hour ago.
"Ji!" She asked with a concern looking at my face..
"Abeer! Who is he?" I asked curiously as since I saw the moment between Abeer and Cabir it was stuck in my mind..
"Abeer is Navya's son! My Friend!" She spoke and I shook my head.
"Who is his father?" Don't know from where did this question popped up in my head..
"Navya came to the orphanage when she was pregnant with Abeer! She told us that her husband died and she had nowhere to live so Maa and me gave her shelter!" Nandini told me slowly and I just nodded. "Why? Why are you asking?" She asked strangely..
That means Abeer is orphan...
"Bus aisy he! I was just wondering!" That was all my answer..
But my sixth sense was there...
Alarming me..! Something was wrong...
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Nandini's POV..
"I won't eat these medicines am fine!" He roared and pushed the medicines tray aside. I glared at him and he turned his face away huffing like a school boy..
It's been almost 25 days since that horrible incident. These days went fine. Mom called many times to ask for Manik's well being. Mr.Malhotra was quiet. Manik was discharged from the hospital 10 days back his wounds were 99.9% ok now but still the medicines prescribed by the doctor were necessary for him. But he was showing so much of the tantrums...
"Manik! You will eat! Or else!" I too shouted and he turned his face to me angrily..
"Or else?" He asked raising his eye brows and I gritted my teeth..
Arghhh! This man makes me so gusa and at the same time feel loved!
"Main..! Main..!" Due the excess of anger I balled my fists.
"Tum????" He demanded..
"Main naraz ho kar bhai kay pass chali jaoan ge!" I spitted it out and his eyes widened with horror..
Hahhh! Plan successful...
"You won't do this!" He stammered..
"Well Mr.Malhotra I will!" I said in a serious tone and he immediately extended his palm in front of me. I placed the tablets in his palm hiding my laughter and he was really looking like a cute innocent baby. He gulped the medicines and I sighed.
Finally...
"Ab tm ni jaoa ge na?" He asked innocently and I almost jumped over him. He fell on the bed on his back and with me lying over him completely..
"I love you! I love you! I love you sooo much!!!!" I shouted laughing my lungs out and he too smiled.
He didn't spoke and kept staring at me. I laughed until my stomach ached.
"Kya? Aisy kya dekh rahy hain?" I frowned poking his chest playfully and he tucked few strands behind my ear. "Bolain na???" I demanded and he just pecked my forehead..
"Sometimes you annoy me!" I complaint when he didn't spoke anything for a long time and just stared at me. "Boliye naaa!" I begged and he again made me hide my face in his neck..
"You are very precious to me Nandini!" He whispered running his fingers through my hair and I hugged him more tightly. "You are gem! A priceless gem!" He continued and I smiled against his neck. "I love you so much!" His lips were pressed against my hair and I felt my lips trembling but I shoved the feeling away..
"I love you too!" I whispered back and closed my eyes...
I could lie in his arms till eternity...
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