Chapter 5

"What sound does a horse make?" asked Vihaan

Shivay looked at the boy who was taping his horse toy on table making riding sound and sighed. Well, here is one reason kids intimidate Shivay. They ask you such questions for which you are supposed to know an answer, but unfortunately don't know.

"Er... I am not sure."

Vihaan lifted his head and looked at Shivay disappointedly. "You are not?" Then he went back to playing with the toy mimicking what could definitely not be a horse's sound.

Annika has excused herself to go to kitchen leaving behind Shivay and Vihaan in the makeshift dining table with a toy, glass of juice and no common topic for conversation.

Shivay knew that as an elder he was supposed to take the responsibility of pulling the younger one into conversation.

"So," he asked. "What is his name?"

Shivay pointed at a knight in complete medieval war time attire sitting on the horse that Vihaan was playing with.

"It is a she. Mumma said soldiers don't have to be boys. They can be girl. So, I named her Vinika. You know Vinika is..." then he paused as if giving Shivay an opportunity to guess.

Shivay's lips curved into a smile as he realized someone was waiting for his genius idea to be appreciated. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "I get it. Vihaan and Annika. Vinika." Patting Vihaan's shoulder, Shivay said, "That is a brilliant name."

"Thank you." Vihaan's smile that followed was very wide and genuine.

It was plainly evident how efficient Annika was being as a mother. It has been over an hour since Shivay has come to the house and Vihaan was winning his heart again and again over every second only. That is saying something given the fact that Shivay doesn't consider him a kids' person at all. However, Vihaan impressed him immensely with his buoyant smile, infectious energy and unimaginable cleverness for his age. After spending a week with a nephew who brought hell to earth because Shivay lifted his toy, seeing a boy who voluntarily shares chocolates with him saying 'mumma says we should share whatever we have with others' is welcome change. Shivay was only a minute away from pulling Vihaan's cheeks and hug him for being so adorable.

Even for someone being too engrossed in a kid, Shivay didn't miss to observe that there were no traces of a husband or father. Annika did say that Vihaan was her only family, but Shivay expected at least to see family photo. Knowing Annika, she did seem like a person who wants her son to know about all his family even if they weren't literally or otherwise present in their life.

What about Vihaan's father? What about Annika's parents? Not even their photo?

Widow or Divorcee? Seemed like the top two options.

Vihaan couldn't be adopted for he resembled Annika a lot. However, it could be an in family adoption. He wouldn't put it past Annika to be bigger person and take responsibility even if he wasn't her own son.

Shivay swore he wasn't going to be nosy about her. But, this put too much temptation on his curiosity that Shivay felt he would just explode if he develops any more speculations about Annika or her life.

"What are you both talking about?" Annika asked as she came out of the kitchen with two bowls. Shivay immediately stood up. "Can I help you?" he asked. Annika looked at him. "oh, you can." She gave him a lopsided smile. "You are not my boss today so I can get some work from you." She teased.

***

"I don't have to take nap today. It is Diwali. So, I can watch cartoon before it is time for bursting crackers." A grinning Vihaan informed Shivay.

The three of them had settled under a canopy in front of Annika's house in the terrace. After lunch, they were playing monopoly. When the power was cut, they decided to bring the game outside. After Vihaan went bankrupt, monopoly was forgotten so Annika and Shivay began to play chess boring little Vihaan very much. So, he insisted he wants to watch cartoons in his mother's phone.

"I don't have to take nap today. It is Diwali. So, I can watch cartoon before it is time for bursting crackers." A grinning Vihaan informed Shivay while Annika was searching for an interesting episode.

"What is your favourite cartoon?" Vihaan asked Shivay

Shivay made a thoughtful face. It has been a while since he thought about cartoons. "I don't remember the name. It had a doctor or a scientist. I am not sure. Lots of science stuff and villains."

"Dexter's laboratory" Annika answered for him

"It was." Shivay nodded. "You know about it?"

"I have seen it as a kid. Quirky show, but good enough." Annika shrugged

"You have seen it? It was aired when you were young?"

Annika shifted her attention from her phone to Shivay and looked at him amused. "Why are you surprised?" she asked. "How old do you think I am?"

Shivay had to bite down his tongue to prevent him from asking her how old she was. Knowing that will check off one question of curiosity off his list. However, being the gentleman he is, he only shrugged in a diplomatic way.

"I am 26. And I have watched all the cartoons you must have watched and more."

26! Good! Well, she could pass for someone couple of years younger surely. She must have been pregnant at her 20. Only that explains a six year old son. Shivay wondered, How old was she when she was married, if she had been married at all?

"Mumma, watches cartoon with me also." Said Vihaan as he flashed the mobile screen at Shivay, but before the latter could even look properly had run back inside the house to watch the cartoon.

"Do you wanna continue chess?" Annika asked

"Sure."

***

"It is six. I think I should leave." Shivay informed.

After continuous loss in the Chess game, being as competitive as he is in games Shivay decided to play until he wins. After one win, he didn't want to seem petty by leaving immediately, so they continued to play until the sky was beginning to dark and Vihaan had come out of the house with a dead phone, puffy eyes yet enthusiastic energy to go burst crackers.

"You can't go. We still have crackers to burst." Complained Vihaan with a pout.

"I am too old for that."Shivay laughed

"Why are you 16?"

"Why particularly 16?"

"Because only 16 is old and I will get cycle only when I am 16."

Shivay laughed. "A lot more than 16."

"But you should stay for crackers. Mumma has bought a lot." Vihaan pointed at small paper bag lying in the corner. It wasn't 'lot' compared to what Shivay used to get when he was a kid. But, he respected how Annika had made sure to arrange such small joy for her son in her capacity. He didn't want to ruin the boy's mood and so decided to stay for crackers.

"Do you want coffee?" Annika asked.

"No. I am fine."

"You haven't had even a single cup since you came here. That is so unlike you. I thought you would get a seizure or something if you don't have coffee regularly."

Shivay rolled his eyes subtly. She wasn't the first one to call him out on his coffee addiction. He either drank coffee to stay in focus or distract himself. Strangely, that day he didn't find the need for coffee to help him with that. It wasn't tough to stay focused when one is in Annika's company. She was intriguing as well as engaging. On the other hand, Vihaan's cuteness is all the distraction one needs from any disturbing thoughts. With such a ball of positivity at home, no wonder Annika stays cheerful always.

"Maybe you got bored with my coffee." Annika said. "If you insist on making coffee, I wouldn't deny it even if you are my guest."

Shivay took her insinuation rather seriously. He did make her and himself coffee.

"Good or very good?" he asked after she took her first sip.

Annika gulped the first sip and asked, "What's less than good? Average?"

"Hey! You don't have to be that honest to an amateur." Shivay turned around in the kitchen to add another spoon of sugar to his cup. "I make better tea, okay?"

"Why? You don't even drink tea?"

"Well, Tanisha loved tea."

"Is she your ex-wife?"

Until Shivay heard the term ex-wife, he wasn't even aware what he was talking about. He was just in the moment and for once didn't let his brain to mouth filter that has been super active since past year while talking about his past warn him.

Shivay looked at Annika unsure what he was supposed to say.

"I.." should he just admit and move on?

"I am sorry. Forget I asked. I didn't want to be privy." She looked genuinely apologetic. Annika began to move out of the kitchen to put an end to the topic.

"She is."

Both stood awkward holding their coffee cups in hand tightly. They didn't know what to say to make the situation less awkward.

"Is it dark enough for crackers?"

Talk about the perfect distraction for all situations. Annika grabbed Vihaan and Shivay took the crackers bag as they three made their way to ground floor to burst crackers.

***

Shivay feels he has radar to detect gossips mongers (though his mother feels he is just being a drama queen). The signs were all there. Ingenious eye contacts, faint murmur and skin scorching glower. The people around him are definitely gossiping. This isn't the neighbourhood where he dwells, so there could be only one possibility. Their victim is Annika.

When Shivay, Annika and Vihaan joined few other family in the neighbourhood in front of the compound to burst crackers, Annika has introduced him as her boss to everyone. If anyone was inquisitive about him, the easy distraction of the festive atmosphere didn't give them the opportunity to act on it.

Shivay wondered if they were aware of the work Annika does. Annika did seem like a person who is proud of what she does. So, definitely wouldn't have hidden anything. His doubt was cleared when Annika's landlady, Mrs.Iyer, told him how lucky he must be to get someone like Annika who has magic hands. "After she cleans the house, house becomes like palace, you know." Shivay only gave an awkward smile. That interaction made him wonder at what point Annika worked for her landlady. Was she her previous employer?

The active appreciation was followed by a very passive interference. "She works long hours off late. I wonder why?" She gave Shivay a very meaningful look with a crooked smile. If he had been the old Shivay, he would have been happy to give the lady a word or two about being obtrusive. However, now he was calmer person and he doesn't want to create any problem for Annika in her neighbourhood. So, he left the place with famous 'call' excuse.

"Annika, I think I should leave." Shivay told her.

"Is it boring?" she asked

Definitely not. In fact he was having extreme fun with Vihaan and the crackers. As much fun as he had in childhood. But, he was not willing to stay if his presence is going to raise unwanted questions and attention towards Annika.

Shivay wasn't the only observant person around. Annika was a master in that and being a woman only gives her added advantage in awareness department. While Annika was aware of what was happening around her, unlike Shivay she didn't let it to get to her.

"I haven't had as much fun as I had here in a long time, Annika." He confessed. "But, now I think it's time to go. That will be the right thing to do."

Annika not to subtly looked around them.

"People will always have something to say. Even if you leave early, they are not going to stop gossiping. So why throw restrictions on our life in fear of people who have nothing else to do but talk nonsense?"

Shivay sighed deeply.

"I don't want to make anything difficult for you."

"If I had feared gossip, I wouldn't be even alive today."

There was a deep rooted wisdom of experience that was visible in her eyes that Shivay couldn't help but be moved.

"In fact, I will have difficulty only if you leave early. Vihaan likes you."

They both turned to look at the boy who was fearlessly lighting the flowerpot.

"I adore him too. He is such a sweet boy."

"You should stay, if that makes you happy."Annika said. "Also, I am making dosa for dinner. Can that make you stay?"

"Oh! South Indian food can make me stay even in Antartica."

***