PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3)

SHOT 4

Vaiga's pov!

"Vaiga, the baby is crying, beta. You are holding her too tight." I heard Appa saying and immediately loosened my hold on her.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry, Anjana Maa. I didn't realise. I am sorry." I said panicking as I realised the baby was crying loudly in distress. I didn't even realise it until now.

"Please hold her.." I handed over the little one to Anjana Maa and ran to my room. My refugee!

Oh god! How could I not realise the baby was distressed? How could I not realise she was not liking me holding her?

I am not fit to be a mother. That's why my baby was taken away from me.

Fresh bout of tears rushed out of my eyes and I furiously rubbed them away.

"Vaiga, see who has come to see you.." Anjana maa said in a cheery tone and I looked up to see little Kriti in her arms, who was now giving me a toothless grin.

My heart felt like it would burst any moment.

Why am I feeling like this now? Why am I feeling like snatching the baby from Anjana Maa and running away from here? To a place where only the two of us existed.

Am I trying to replace the baby I lost?

No! No! This is wrong. My baby can never be replaced. But little Kriti is smiling at me now and her gummy smile is making me go weak with longing and a strange kind of love.

"Come! Come to me.." I called softly, smiling through my tears, and raised my arms for her, but she turned away and laid on Anjana Maa's shoulder, making my heart fall into the pit of my stomach.

My smile dimmed as rejection hit me hard! I was rejected by this little baby too. Like how Shiva rejected me.

"She is seeing you for the first time, that is why she is a bit shy. Stay with her for an hour and she won't get down from your arms.." Anjana Maa said, and I saw baby Kriti looking at me, still lying on Anjana Maa's shoulder.

"Really?" I asked hopefully and Anjana Maa nodded with a smile.

"Just wait and see.."

I leaned forwards and dropped a feather light kiss on her tiny feet dangling over Anjana Maa's hips.

She giggled and pulled her legs away and clung to Anjana Maa like a Koala.

This time, she didn't have that frown on her face and I realised she started liking me.

I felt joy filling my heart along with tears filling my eyes.

Anjana Maa sat next to me and placed baby Kriti on her lap and she is now facing me.

My eyes were struck transfixed on the beautiful baby.

As I gazed into those innocent, curious eyes, I felt a surge of warmth enveloping me. Baby Kriti's gaze seemed to hold a world of wonder, as if she was trying to decipher the mysteries of the universe right there in my eyes.

I tentatively reached out a finger, offering it to her in silent invitation.

With a cautious glance at it, Kriti extended her tiny hand, her fingers wrapping around mine with a grip that surprised me with its strength. It felt as if she had wrapped her chubby little fist around my heart, clutching it safely in her hold.

"Hello there, Pari," I whispered, my voice barely louder than a breath.

Kriti responded with a gurgle, her chubby cheeks dimpling with delight. Encouraged by her response, I leaned closer, letting her explore my face with her tiny hands.

Her touch was like butterfly wings against my skin, delicate yet filled with a sense of wonder. She traced the contours of my cheeks, her fingers grazing over my nose and lips with a curiosity that made my heart swell with affection. Then she clutched my nose tightly in her fist, making me laugh.

"Chanda Hai Tu, Mera Suraj Hai Tu,

O Meri Aankhon Ka Tara Hai Tu

Jiti Hu Main Bas Tujhe Dekhakar, Iss Tute Dil Ka Sahara Hai Tu

Chanda Hai Tu, Mera Suraj Hai Tu"

I didn't intend to sing. But the music came out through my lips, without even my permission.

Kriti listened intently, her eyes never leaving mine as if she understood every word.

As the last notes faded into the air, a contented sigh escaped her lips, and she snuggled closer into Anjana Maa's embrace, her eyelids drooping with the promise of another round of sleep. I watched her, awestruck by the sheer innocence and purity radiating from her tiny form.

Once she fell asleep, Anjana Maa placed her in my arms. As I cradled Kriti in my arms, feeling her breaths steady into the rhythm of sleep, I felt content and peaceful after a long time.

Third person's pov!

Raghuswamy wiped his tears as he walked away from the doorstep of Vaiga's bedroom.

"Ragu, what is this?" Niranjan asked, as tears kept rolling down Raghu's cheeks.

"I haven't heard her singing since she got married, Niranjan. I thought I would never be able to hear it again. Today, when she sang for the baby, I didn't know whether I should be happy or sad.." Raghu said.

"I can understand your pain, Raghu. In a way, we are also going through the same path. It has been ages since we saw Abhay smile." Niranjan said with a sigh, remembering his son, who is going through his own personal hell.

"We can only hope that things will get better. They both will move past this stage. They will overcome this pain. I am sure.." Raghu said, confidently, wiping his tears.

Anjana came towards them.

"Where are they?" Niranjan asked softly.

"Kriti fell asleep listening to Vaiga's lullaby. Vaiga just fell asleep, cuddled with Kriti." Anjana said, wiping a tear that threatened to roll down.

"I just hope she will have a good sleep. It has been months since she had a peaceful sleep." Raghu said with a defeated sigh.

"Raghu Anna, I don't know whether it is right or wrong to ask this now. Can I take Vaiga with me to Bangalore?"

A/N

Here goes the next shot..

Please do vote and comment..

Abhay and Vaiga would be meeting in Chapter 7. Do you think it is going too slow? I just wanted to give a proper idea about what had happened in Vaiga's and Abhay's life before making them meet.

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Love,

SF❤️