As Krishav departed, the dam of emotions burst, and fat teardrops cascaded down Kunj's cheek. He gazed longingly at the door, yearning for Krishav's return, anticipating the familiar game of peek-a-boo.

"Shh, bacha aise nhii rote. Kya hua haii Aaj aapko?? Aap toh aise nhii karte ho, bhaii jaldi aa jayenge bacha"," Prerna whispered, gently rubbing Kunj's back to soothe his hiccups.

Witnessing Kunj's inconsolable state, Prerna became distressed, her own eyes welling up with tears.

She cradled Kunj, swaying back and forth, and began singing the lullaby she had always sung to him since they first found each other.

Her melodious voice enveloped the surroundings, radiating maternal love.

Gradually, Kunj relaxed against Prerna, his sobs subsiding as he nestled his head against her chest.

Prerna continued to sway gently, carrying Kunj to the garden, where the fragrance of blossoming flowers mingled with the symphony of nature, casting a magical spell. The lullaby's soothing melody created a serene ambiance.

The rhythm of Prerna's heartbeat, accompanied by her tender lullaby, calmed Kunj, who eventually ceased crying.

Settling on a nearby couch in the garden, Prerna continued to sway, cradling Kunj in her arms. After singing the lullaby to her now-peaceful son, Prerna felt distressed witnessing Kunj in such a state.

He, who was once a lively and energetic bumblebee, now sat quietly.

Prerna tenderly wiped away Kunj's tear-stained face with the corner of her saree.

His face had acquired a rosy hue from crying, his adorable button nose turned pink, while his doe-like eyes still held unshed tears, and his damp eyelashes clung together. In this moment, he resembled a precious rabbit, vulnerable and delicate.

"Bunny, now tell mumma why are you crying?" Prerna asked, her voice filled with concern.

Kunj, with tears streaming down his face, spoke in a sulking tone, "Bhai,promise his voice muffled as he rubbed his wet cheeks against Prerna's soft saree.

The room was filled with the sound of his sniffles, echoing in the air. It didn't take Prerna too long to understand the reason behind his tears.

Krishav, had promised to spend the day with them, but due to a sudden practice, he had to leave, completely forgetting his promise.

Even though Prerna could sense the truth, she didn't want to jump to conclusions, so she gently asked Kunj to confirm her theory.

"Bhai, powmise mumma, he play together with us," Kunj spoke, his voice trembling with sadness and disappointment.

Prerna, wanting to comfort her little bunny, whispered, "Shh, bache rote nhii, okay Bhai ko aane do mumma unki bahut daat lagayenge. Ye koi baat Hui mere chote se bunny ko aise promise karke kaise bhool sakte ho."

The room had a faint aroma of incense, creating a calm atmosphere as Prerna tried to soothe Kunj.

Kunj, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, declared, "Bhai ki pitayi v karna," as he looked up at Prerna.

Her heart melted at the sight of her child's innocence.

Prerna smiled and replied, "Jaisa aap kaho."

She shook her head internally, amused by her naughty child who had quickly gone from sulking to plotting to get his older brother scolded.

Prerna gently tickled Kunj's tummy, feeling the warmth of his laughter as she whispered, "Now if my little bunny is done making plans to get his bhaiya scolded, should he now spare some time for his mumma too?"

Kunj's laughter filled the air as he snuggled close to Prerna, his tiny fingers tickling her side.

"Hide and seek, mumma," he exclaimed excitedly.

Prerna's heart melted at the sound of his joyful giggle.

"Bunny wants to hide?" she asked, a playful smile on her face.

Kunj nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. With a swift movement, he slid down from Prerna's lap and scurried away, his tiny feet making pitter-patter sounds on the floor.

Prerna closed her eyes, counting to ten as Kunj's giggles echoed in her ears.

When she opened her eyes, a mischievous smile played on her lips. "Hmm, where could my little sneaky bunny be?" she wondered aloud, her eyes darting around the room.

She pretended to search under the coffee table, checking behind the curtains, and slowly approached the couch, her heart fluttering with excitement.

As Prerna drew closer, Kunj stifled his giggles with his little fist, his eyes sparkling with delight. He could hear the soft tinkling of Prerna's anklets as she moved, adding to the anticipation.

"Aha! I hear something! Is my little bunny hiding over here?" Prerna exclaimed, a playful tone in her voice.

Crouching down, she peeked behind the couch, her eyes twinkling with joy. "There's my little bunny! Found you!" she declared, scooping Kunj into her arms.

Kunj erupted into loud giggles, covering his eyes with his tiny hands.

"No, mumma! Hide again!" he pleaded, his voice filled with excitement.

Prerna pretended to act surprised, a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh no! You want to hide again? Okay, but I’m going to count to five this time!" she exclaimed, playing along with Kunj's enthusiasm.

With a burst of energy, Kunj rushed back to the couch, his laughter echoing through the room.

Prerna began counting, her voice filled with anticipation. As she moved around the room, she deliberately delayed her search, allowing Kunj to find the perfect hiding spot.

The shuffling noise finally quieted down, and Prerna grinned mischievously as she walked slowly towards the couch.

"I wonder if my little explorer is behind this couch again," Prerna mused, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

She bent down and peered behind the couch, her heart racing with anticipation. "Aha! There you are!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with triumph.

Kunj laughed and covered his eyes once more, proclaiming, "I’m hiding!"

Prerna's grin widened as she gently booped Kunj's nose. "Well, you're so good at hiding, baby, but Mommy found you now! So no more hiding," she teased.

Kunj burst into laughter, his tummy tickled by Prerna's playful touch.

Suddenly, he slipped from Prerna's hand and wrapped his little arms around her from behind. "Mumma, can we play again?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement.

Prerna's heart swelled with love as she smiled and wrapped her hand around Kunj, leaning back slightly. "Okay, your turn to count! Close your eyes and count to ten!" she replied, her voice filled with warmth and joy.

The day passed by with the gentle rhythm of the mother and son duo playing various games together, filling the air with laughter and joy.

As the day drew to a close, a tired Kunj nestled in Prerna's arms, his eyelids heavy with sleep.

The soft sound of Prerna's lullaby filled the room, mingling with the faint scent of lavender.

Kunj's tired voice whispered, "Mumma bhaii?" His yawn punctuated his words, his exhaustion evident.

Prerna reassured him, "Bhai will be back by the time you wake up, bacha. Now, shh, go to sleep."

Kunj, comforted by her words, succumbed to a deep slumber, the weariness of the day finally catching up to him.

Carefully, Prerna shifted Kunj from her lap to the bed, surrounding him with pillows to keep him safe from any accidental falls.

Once satisfied that he was comfortable and secure, she quietly exited the room. Standing by the main gate, Prerna peered into the dimming daylight, her worry growing as Krishav had not returned yet and his phone remained turned off.

Though the security team assured her that Krishav was fine, a mother's heart longed to hold her child close for reassurance.

The daylight faded, and finally, Krishav arrived home. By then, little Kunj had already woken up, a frown etched on his face upon not seeing his beloved brother.

Prerna and Kunj were strolling in the garden, their footsteps creating a soft rhythm on the path. Krishav entered the living area, searching for them, his heart lightening upon spotting the serene scene of his mother and brother.

He had missed his dear brother immensely throughout the day.

"Baby koo!" Krishav's voice rang out with excitement as he approached Kunj.

But his smile quickly faded as he realized that today was different.

Usually, the moment Kunj heard his voice, he would eagerly rush towards him, his tiny feet carrying him with uncontainable joy, calling out "bhai" eagerly. But today, Kunj simply turned away, hugging Prerna's pallu tightly.

Krishav knelt beside him, his voice soft as he called out, "Kannu." However, Kunj remained resolute, refusing to even look in his direction.

            *********************

What are your thoughts about the chapter?

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Take care ❤️