Namaste
Chapter 32

Tanushree packed in silence, her hands trembling as she folded her clothes and stuffed them into the bag. Her important documents, some money, and a few personal belongings—all fit into a single suitcase. 

“Laado, where are you going?” her mother asked, worry laced in her voice. “At least tell us what happened at the clinic.”

Tanushree didn’t stop packing. She zipped up her suitcase and took a deep breath before turning to face her parents. 

“Maa, Papa… I will keep calling you. I just— I need some time.” Her voice was soft but firm. “I’ll tell you everything later. Please take care of yourselves too.”

Her mother stepped forward, her eyes glistening. “Beta, at least let us—” 
But before she could finish, Tanushree had already stepped outside. 

A car was waiting for her. She placed her bag inside and sat down, gripping the edge of her dupatta tightly. As the car started moving, she closed her eyes and whispered, “Kanha ji, please look after me.”

--- 
After two hours, the car pulled up in front of a two-storey bungalow. It wasn’t too extravagant, but it had a warm, lived-in feel. 

The driver took out her luggage and walked her to the entrance. Tanushree hesitated for a moment before ringing the bell. 

A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing a woman in her late twenties. She had sharp features, but her eyes were kind. 

“Oh! You must be Tanushree Sirvi, Vansh’s nanny, right?” the woman asked with a polite smile. 
Tanushree nodded. 

“Come inside.” The woman stepped aside, letting her in. “Vansh is taking his afternoon nap.”

Tanushree sat quietly in the living room as a servant placed a tray of cold drinks and snacks in front of her. 

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. 

The woman sat across from her. “I’m Neha Rajput. Vansh’s aunt. His mother passed away while giving birth to him. Since then, Bhaiya has been… distant. He still hasn’t moved on from the grief.”

Tanushree listened, nodding slightly as she absorbed the tragic story. 
Neha stood up. “Come, I’ll show you your room.”

Tanushree followed her, her heart heavy with a strange mix of emotions—fear, uncertainty, and the tiniest flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this new life would bring her some peace.

Her room was simple but cozy. A wooden wardrobe stood in the corner, a neatly made bed in the center, and a small TV mounted on the opposite wall. The ceiling fan hummed softly, and the AC remote lay on the bedside table. There was an attached bathroom too. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was enough. 

Tanushree quietly unpacked, folding her clothes neatly into the wardrobe. She placed her few essentials in the drawers, moving with a kind of mechanical focus—like if she stopped to think, she might fall apart. 

After finishing, she stepped into the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water felt good against her skin, soothing her tense muscles, but it did nothing for the heaviness in her heart. 

Dressed in a soft night suit, she sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands. 

And just like that, her eyes filled with tears. 
She bit her lip, shaking her head. No. She had cried enough. What was the point now? She had made her decision. 

Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, resting there for a moment. A deep breath in, a slow breath out. 
She picked up her phone and set an alarm for an hour and a half. Just a little sleep. Just a little break.

Lying down, she curled up on her side, pulling the blanket over herself. Sleep came slowly, but eventually, the exhaustion won over.

Her alarm went off, pulling her out of the light sleep. She rubbed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sat up. Back to reality.

She quickly freshened up, splashing cool water on her face to wake herself up. Then, she changed into a simple cotton kurti with matching lowers and draped a dupatta over her shoulders. Just as she was adjusting her hair, a knock came at the door. 
She opened it to find Neha smiling at her. 

"Vansh is about to wake up. Come, I’ll introduce you two," Neha said, motioning for her to follow. 
Tanushree nodded and quietly walked behind her. 

They entered a beautiful room, painted in soft sky blue. Toys were scattered neatly on the shelves, and a small bookshelf stood in one corner, filled with colorful storybooks. In the center of the room was a cozy little bed, and on it lay a tiny boy, fast asleep—his little face peaceful, his eyelashes long and delicate, his chubby hands curled into tiny fists. 
For a moment, Tanushree just stood there, taking in the sight. He looks like an angel. She thought.

Neha walked to the bed and gently stroked the boy’s hair. 
"Vansh baby," she whispered. "Look who's here. Your new nanny." 

The little boy stirred, his tiny nose scrunching up before his eyes fluttered open. He blinked sleepily, then, seeing a new face in the room, quickly hid behind Neha, peeking at Tanushree with curious but cautious eyes. 

Tanushree’s heart melted at the sight. 
She knelt to his level, offering him a warm smile. 

"Hello, Vansh," she said in a cheerful voice, trying to put him at ease. "I’m Tanushree." 

The little boy didn’t respond, still peeking at her from behind Neha’s legs, his tiny fingers gripping the fabric of his aunt’s dress. 

Tanushree giggled softly. "Arey, aap toh bohot sharmile nikle. (Oh, you turned out to be very shy.)" 
Vansh blinked at her but didn’t move. 
Neha chuckled. "Give him some time. He takes a little while to warm up to new people." 

Tanushree nodded, still smiling. "That’s okay. We have all the time in the world, don’t we, Vansh?" 
She didn’t push. Instead, she just sat there, waiting, letting him take his time.

From Neha, Tanushree learned that Vansh was just one and a half years old—a quiet, well-mannered child. Neha also told her that she was getting married in two months, which was why they needed a nanny to take care of Vansh in her absence. 

Tanushree took careful notes of the little boy’s daily routine. He went to bed at 10 p.m. and woke up at 8 a.m. He also took an afternoon nap from 2 to 4. 

That evening, as she fed him his dinner, she tried engaging him in small conversations, asking about his favorite toys and animals, though he mostly listened in silence. After feeding him, she gently sponged his tiny body with a warm towel. As she was about to dress him in fresh clothes, Vansh toddled over to her and, without a word, held out a small green plush toy—a frog. 

Tanushree looked at Neha for an explanation. 

Neha smiled. “He gives his favorite toy to people he likes and approves of.” 

Tanushree felt an unexpected warmth bloom in her heart. She took the toy with a big smile. “Thank you, Vansh.” 
She finished dressing him for the night, applied his lotion, and picked up a storybook. 

“Wanna listen to Frog and Rabbit’s story?” she asked, showing him the cover. 

Vansh, already tucked in bed, nodded sleepily. 

Tanushree sat beside him and began reading, her voice soft and soothing. At the same time, she gently ran her fingers through his silky hair. Within minutes, his tiny fists relaxed, his breathing slowed, and he drifted into peaceful sleep. 

She adjusted the air conditioning, pulled the blanket over him, and made sure he was comfortable. 
Just then, the door opened. 

She turned, startled, to see a man standing at the entrance. He was tall, dressed in a cream-colored shirt and khaki pants. His sharp gaze swept over her from head to toe before he silently walked toward the bed. 
Without a word, he caressed Vansh’s hair and placed a gentle kiss on the child’s forehead. 

This must be his father.
Harshvardhan Rajput. 

Finally, he turned to her. “So you’re the nanny my mother sent?” His voice was deep, firm. 

Tanushree quickly nodded. 

“What’s your name?” 

“Tanushree Sirvi.” 

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-three.” 

He nodded, as if considering something. “Too young.” 

Tanushree lowered her gaze, unsure if that was a good or bad thing. 

“Are you sure you can take care of my son?” 

“Yes,” she answered, her voice steady. 

“Okay.” He glanced briefly at Neha. “You’ve submitted your identity proof to my sister, right?” 

Tanushree nodded again. 

“Alright, good. You’re settled in your room?” 

Another nod. 

“Fine. You can head to bed now. I’ll stay with him a little longer and turn off the lights.” 

Tanushree was about to step away when she accidentally slipped on one of Vansh’s toys. A gasp escaped her lips as she lost balance. 
But before she could fall, a strong hand gripped her waist, steadying her. 

“Careful,” his deep voice murmured. 
Tanushree’s breath hitched. She quickly pulled away, putting a safe distance between them. “T-Thank you,” she mumbled before turning on her heels and hurrying out of the room. 

Reaching her own room, she shut the door and leaned against it, pressing a hand to her chest. 

Why was she feeling so overwhelmed?

************************************