Avni hugs her mother with great affection a few drops of tears fall from their eyes which I know are of happiness. Looks like Avni doesn't want to leave her mother as she stays in her arms smiling and crying at the same time. My kids seem to look confused but there is moisture in their small deep eyes. However, I am confused is it because they miss their mother or because the first time they are seeing Avni crying.

"Come on, you have grown up." Her mother pats her head before pulling away from the hug.

"I will always be small for you," Avni whines cutely.

"Is it? Anyone, please get a feeding bottle for her." Her mother chuckles, the environment somewhat had turned emotional Avni's mom added a small pack of laughter to it by her statement.

"Anyway, how are you?" She caresses Avni's hair showering her love.

"I am all fine. What about you? And how come you are here without informing?" Avni frowns looking at her mother for an answer.

"If I had said you I am coming that won't be a surprise, right?" Her mother raises an eyebrow making point. "And I also wanted to know where and with whom you spend more than half of your day. If I had informed you I am coming then you would have stayed at your flat and I would have missed the opportunity to see what you do in my absence."

"Come on, Maa. I am not doing any crime staying with these two lovely kids." Avni points at Niam and Navya who are cutely wiping their tears away.

Her mother walks towards Niam and Navya and sits down on her knees a motherly care fills her motions and eyes as she caresses their faces and plants a sweet kiss on their forehead. My kids stand silent without doing or saying anything.

"Hey, I am Neela Parikh. Avni's mother." She introduces herself. "And I know you are Niam and you are Navya." She points at them respectively.

Niam and Navya's eyes travel to me and my one nod they know what to do. "Hello, welcome." They greet her folding their hands in front of them slightly bowing their head.

"So sweet!" She looks at them with love before pulling them in a soft hug.

"Have you got ice cream for me?" Navya questions excitedly after pulling out from the hug. Do friendship with my daughter by offering ice cream and chocolate.

"Yes! There's a lot of stuff which I have personally got for you." Avni's mother chuckles. "Myra, please pass that bag"

Myra hands the bag to her, my daughter excitedly runs in and settles on the sofa as she opens the bag and starts checking what are the snacks and toys present in it.

"Niam, for you." She hands a small bag to him. I frown and look at the bag, there are very few things that will make Niam smile and happy.

"A gun!" Niam exclaims happily. "A real gun!"

"What!?" Myra, Sam, and Avni say in unison.

"But I am sorry there are no bullets in it." Avni's mother apologizes holding her ears.

"No problem! Today I got this, one day I'll get a gun full of bullets." He cheers and runs away, stopping his steps in mid he turns around. "Thank you, Strong Mom." Passing a flying kiss at her he runs towards his sister.

"They are so sweet and cute." Avni's mom turns to look at me. "Congrats, you have been a great example of single parents. I have seen a lot of mothers managing alone but fathers are very few who take the responsibility alone. Either they get married or they leave the kids with grandparents or any relatives."

Her words hit me hard! Though I didn't marry I shouldn't have got Ria into my life. Instead of lying to my kids about their mother, I should make them understand how to accept the truth.

"I... I am--" My words were cut off by Avni.

"You seem to know too much about Mr. Khanna. Have you guys met before?"

"Well, you should eat almonds, my dear child." Her mom folds her arms around her chest. "I hope you all remember the Christmas night." She takes a look at me, Zar, and Myra.

"The very next morning of that night my daughter had a long story to tell me. Which included all the simple information about Neil Khanna." She smiles to herself continuing further. "Which included he is a single parent. Which included the likes of Niam and Navya."

"Apart from the story you said Avni, I know Neil long back. We were business parents for two years and later on, we went to separate parts a few years ago."

I fix my gaze at Avni who is listening to her mother carefully. I still remember the day when Avni said she is Neela Parikh's daughter. It was Eva who gave Neela Parikh's number to me I had contacted her a few weeks ago but since she was busy she said she would come soon. In the morning I got her call stating she is coming here and I knew Avni will be happy to see her mother.

"How come I never knew about it?" Avni frowns. "It is somewhat confusing."

"You were in London studying then how are you supposed to know everything?" Myra questions while Avni nodded.

"Enough of these introduction, questions, and answers. Let's have breakfast!" Zar exclaimed irritated, I chuckle slowly she is so damn impatient when it comes to food.

✧✧✧

Elders and Children carry a package of happiness with them. Children make others smile by their cute behavior while elders take situations in so simple way that every impossible thing looks possible.

Neela Parikh defines Avni Parikh.
Avni Parikh defines Neela Parikh.

Avni had once mentioned her childhood. Her mom and dad passed away in an accident. Neela Parikh isn't her biological mother but she is the one who took care of Avni and gave love to her just like a mother or more than that. Avni's motherly behavior with my kids has directly or indirectly come from Neela Parikh.

Since morning everyone is just smiling and happy. It feels so good to see how my kids got connected with her. Neela Parikh said so many stories to my kids about Avni. How Avni is now she was opposite in childhood. Like everyone, she had a soft and cute childhood filled with pain and colors. The pain of losing parents and then colors of love in the form of Neela maa.

Today, the very first time I saw Avni smiling childishly hiding behind her mother's back when her mother said a few embarrassing situations of her childhood. Niam and Navya enjoyed everything Avni's mother said, Zar and Myra, didn't leave a chance to laugh out loud. I couldn't laugh out loud because I find everything cute than hilarious.

I smile at my kids who are listening to a moral story that is being narrated by Neela Parikh. It's been a long time since the three girls are in the kitchen. I move into the kitchen to have a look at them.

I frown seeing them standing with sad faces. Zar standing in between blinking her tears away while the other two girls look at her.

"I want to help him but you know I don't want him to depend on anyone," Zar states slowly.

I walk in and stand in front of them. It would be very rare where you to find these three strong girls breaking down.

"All okay?" I ask with concern fixing my gaze at Zar who quickly looked away and put the smiling face on.

"Yeah! Sorry, we got busy with our conversation. The dinner is almost ready." Zar began hurriedly passing a smile to me.

"I hope I don't look a fool to you guys?" I let out a chuckle. "You can consider me as a friend for today. Maybe I can help you out." I speak out genuinely wanting to help her.

"It's alright--" I cut her off in middle.

"Saying your problem to someone isn't weakness. I know you guys are strong and will always be. Taking help of each other is natural because no one in this world can do everything alone."

"May I?" Avni looks at Zar to which she nods.

"Her mom and dad live separately. It has been 5 years since her parents gave each other divorce. Zar and her brother choose to live separately because their Dad married another woman and mom went abroad eager to earn money. Zar made her career and her brother completed his studies through scholarships." I pay all my attention to Avni's words. "This year her brother got a job in some company. Now the company has fired him because he took leaves more than required."

"It's not like Zar can't help him financially, she can. It's just that--" I cut Myra in between as I complete her sentence.

"It's just that she wants her brother to learn to live and stand on his feet." I stuff my hands in my pockets.

"Yeah! I have indirectly asked Neela maa but her company isn't hiring as of now." Avni adds as she kept her hand on Zar's shoulder.

"Can he work for the Marketing or financial department?" I question after thinking for a while.

"Yeah, the financial department." Zar opened with hope.

"Send me and DD his number. We are hiring, if he clears the interview I'll select him." A smile forms on her face while I continue, "I am going to take an interview so ask him to prepare well and if he clears it or if I find him suitable for the position, I promise you, he won't take leave so he won't be fired."

"Thank you so much, Neil. To be honest he is talented but still, the childishness is present in him." I nod in understanding. "But I don't have DD's number"

I look at Myra who has turned pale now. "Myra, you have DD's number right? Share it with your friend"

Myra lets out a nervous chuckle while Zar and Avni look at her questioningly. "Do I have DD's number?" She looks at me innocently.

I raise my eyebrows at her in a challenging way because she had collected the number from me only.

"Oh, yeah! I remember I do have." She acts as if the information just hit her head.

"Myra! You never said any one of us?" Zar questioned, though more than anger teasing was audible in her voice.

"Hey, I just have his number. I have never called or texted him." Myra answers genuinely kicking off Zar's teasing look.

"Is it? Then show me." Zar questioned while Avni is just smiling to herself.

"Then, come, my phone is outside." Myra motions Zar to follow her, and the duo exit from the kitchen.

After a little silence Avni looks at me. "Thank you so much, Neil."

"I didn't help you, I just helped one of my friends." I shrug and give her a small smile.

"Sometimes, you act so well, and sometimes, you irritate me like hell." She chuckles ruffling my hair.

"Can I get a hug?" I don't know what gets into me when I see her smiling.

"If you are planning to lead hug to some dirty business, I'll cut you off and throw in the street." Her tone is filled with seriousness but her eyes show the trust she has for me.

We chuckle together, I slip my hands near Avni's waist she pulls me into herself as she wraps her arms around my back.

"Though I hate dirty business but purely taking that business isn't bad," I mumble just to tease her.

"Though I would like to cut you off and throw in the street but punching your stomach won't be bad either." She replied in the same teasing tone.

We hug each other with respect and care.

Somewhere, it was love that made all of it possible.

━━━━━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━━━━━

How was it?

The next chapter will be an exciting one, something I think you all would love to read.

This chapter was supposed to be updated yesterday but due to network issues, I couldn't save it nor upload the photos.

Thanks for the lovely comments on the last chapter. I am lucky to have readers like you, I am.

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