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

SHOT 8

Vaiga's pov!

"Why didn't Dev ji pick up his daughter?" I asked, unable to hide my shock.

The last two days, Kriti was in Thanjavur. Shouldn't Dev ji have missed his daughter?

"Dev?" I heard Siddharth's confused voice and I smiled at him.

"Sorry, I got used to that name. It's a long story.." I said and Siddharth ji pointed towards the couch.

"I have all day, Vaiga. Take a seat and share that story with me. I am curious because I have never heard anybody calling him by that name. It's either Abhay or Abhi." Siddharth ji said.

"Not anything significant, Siddharth ji. It's just a small thing.." I shrugged it off.

"Call me Siddhu. And please tell me this story." Siddhu insisted and I took a seat across from him.

"My mother passed away giving birth to me." I said and both our eyes went to little Kriti who also lost her mother during labour.

"All I had of my Mama were her diaries. And I have read them a million times. And one of the main characters in my Mama's diary was your brother. She adored him. And she used to call him Dev. And in the diary, she had written about him a lot mentioning the name Dev. I have been reading her diaries since I learned reading, and thus the name Dev stuck to me." I said with a shrug.

"Vidya loved the name Dev. She always called him Dev. And she adored him. When she got pregnant, she kept saying if the baby was a girl, she would marry her off to her Dev." Anjana Maa said with a soft smile on her face, as though reminiscing those days. I just looked on awkwardly.

It's true. I had read about it in Mama's diaries. About her wish to marry me off to her beloved Dev. When I was small, I never understood what she meant. Later on I didn't take it seriously either. Because the character Dev was never in the radar. Papa had completely lost touch with them.

"Woah! That's cool.." Siddhu said with a thoughtful smile and I looked at him in confusion.

"Uh! I mean, the name. Dev. It's cool.." Siddhu said with a sheepish smile, but I could see a tad bit of mischief in his eyes.

As Anjana Maa delved into the story behind the nickname "Dev," and her days spent with my Mama, a sudden whimper interrupted our conversation.

I turned my attention towards Kriti, who was starting to squirm in Siddhu's arms, her little face scrunching up, probably in hunger. It has been a while since she has been fed.

"Oh, looks like someone is getting hungry," I exclaimed, my heart melting at the sight of her adorable pout.

Anjana Maa chuckled softly, as Siddhu gently rocked Kriti in his arms.

"It seems our little princess wants her milk," Anjana Maa remarked, her voice filled with affection.

Without wasting another moment, I sprang into action, my maternal instincts kicking into high gear. Despite being in an unfamiliar kitchen, I quickly located the necessary supplies and set about preparing Kriti's bottle.

As I hurriedly boiled water and mixed the formula, my mind raced with thoughts of ensuring everything was just right for the precious little one. I couldn't bear to see her upset, her tiny cries tugging at my heartstrings.

Finally, with the bottle prepared and cooled to the perfect temperature, I rushed back to Kriti's side, finding her fussing more insistently now, her face flushed with hunger and impatience.

"Here you go, sweetheart," I cooed, carefully offering her the bottle.

Kriti's eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of her much-needed meal, her chubby hands eagerly reaching out to grasp the bottle.

Gently, I eased her out of Siddhu's arms and laid her in mine.

With a contented sigh, she latched onto the nipple, her cheeks puffing out as she eagerly suckled away. The room was filled with the soft sounds of her feeding, her little gulps and satisfied sighs bringing a smile to my face.

I could just watch her whole day and never get tired of it.

Watching her drink her milk with such gusto, I couldn't help but marvel at her innocence and wonder.

As Kriti finished her bottle and settled into my arms, her tiny form growing heavy with sleep, I felt a surge of warmth and gratitude wash over me.

At that moment, there was nothing in the world more precious than baby Kriti for me. Within a span of two days, she had captured my heart as a whole and there is no going back.

Third person's pov!

"Vaiga, you can take that room." Anjana said, pointing at a room on the ground floor itself.

"Shall I lay her down there? Or should I take her to her room?" Vaiga asked, but Anjana could clearly see the plea in her eyes to let her take the baby to her room itself. Anjana could understand Vaiga's plight.

"Let her sleep in your room. You also take a nap, Vaiga. It has been a long journey. Your luggage is already set in the room. I will wake you up when it is time for dinner." Anjana said and Vaiga walked towards her allocated room, with baby Kriti asleep in her arms.

"What happened to her? She wasn't like this the last time she came here, right? I remember well because she was such a chatterbox.." Siddhu said and a painful smile appeared on Anjana's face.

"Back then, her life was full of roses and rainbows. Now it is full of thorns and thunders.." Anjana said and explained what all happened in Vaiga's life shortly.

"Damn! How can he mistrust her like that? And that old hag! What a cunning woman she is. She didn't even stop to think about her own son's baby." Siddhu couldn't hide his anger after listening to Vaiga's story.

"Some people are like that, Siddhu. They don't deserve Vaiga. They are not worthy enough to have such a sweet girl in their life. I so badly wish Raghu Anna hadn't moved back to Thanjavur. If the two families had always been together, things would have been different. Before either Kiara or Shiva could come in their life, I would have gotten them married as Vidya and I dreamed of. They would have had a happy life." Anjana said wistfully.

"We still have the time and chance to fulfil Vidya Aunty's last wish.."

A/n

Here goes the next shot..

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Love,

SF❤️