Here's the 47th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
Shaurya had walked out of the canteen, holding his "princess" in his arms.
The cafeteria and corridor were both empty since the break had ended, and his path was also clear.
He climbed the stairs with Mimi safely in his arms, while she kept a keen eye on the surroundings.
She was enjoying the ride in her Laddoo's arms and viewing the surroundings.
Shauyra was about to take a turn in the corridor when he was startled to see someone approaching from the front.
"Bade Papa toh isi taraf aa rhe hai...", he stepped back quickly.
Mimi, who was resting in his arms, silently contemplating his strange actions, caught his eye.
Without further ado, he entered the nearest empty room and hid himself and her behind the closed door.
Mimi giggled and said, "Laddoo..."
"Aap chhupan - chhupaai khel lahe ho..."
Shaurya was stumped as to how to respond to her.
"Mimi..."
"H... Haan chhupan - chhupaai bhi keh sakte hai...", he said sheepishly.
"Aap kuch bolna mat abhi princess... Theek hai..."
"Hum dono thodi der baad yaha se chale jaayenge..."
"Theek hai...", Mimi said, placing a finger on her lips.
Seeing her obeying his words, a smile came on his face.
When he looked out the window, he noticed Bade Papa had left.
He breathed a sigh of relief, "Huhhh..."
His way was clear, and he could leave right away.
"Chalo princess..."
"Ab hum chalte hai...", he said as he walked out the door.
Everything was fine until he was about to enter his cabin when he was astonished to see someone in front of him.
The student gave him a glance before turning his attention to the child in his arms.
Shaurya's cheeks flushed as he wondered what the student would think of their professor holding a baby girl in his arms.
He didn't want to show anyone else his "soft side" like he does with his "princess".
The student was speechless as he stood there, and before he could say anything, he was greeted by a sweet voice.
"Hello Bhaiya...", she made a cute wave with her hand.
The student was taken aback by the way she greeted him in such a sweet way.
"H... Hiii !...", he replied, waving back.
The student then turned to face him.
He said nervously, "G... Good afternoon Sir...".
The student was unsure how to react because it was the first time he had seen his professor in such a different light today with a little girl.
"Good afternoon..."
"Is there any problem ?..."
"Vo Sir actually... Main yeh test papers lekar aaya tha...", he pointed to the bundle of papers in his hand.
"Ohh... Thank You...", Shaurya said, extending his free hand.
"Welcome sir...", the student said as he handed it to him.
Meanwhile, Mimi remained in his arms and was intently watching their conversation.
After giving Mimi a smile, the student walked away.
Shaurya walked in, sighed, and placed the bundle on the desk.
He bent down and placed Mimi on the floor gently.
She was thrilled after enjoying the ride in her Laddoo's arms.
"Bohot maja aaya Laddoo...", she clapped.
He smiled and went to close the door.
Walking back to her, he made her sit on the couch, and then kneeled down.
He could see how happy she was to be in his arms.
"Aapko maza aaya princcess...", he smiled.
"Haan Laddoo..."
"Muje bohot maja aaya..."
"Toh fir ab se main aapko aise hi apne godi mein yaha oopar lekar aaunga... Theek hai ?...", he said smiling.
"Theek haiiiii..."
"Fil toh aul maja aayega...", she was glad.
Just then, Mimi suddenly remembered the conversation she had the day before with her Anumaa.
"Mumma Mumma... Ek baat poochhu..."
"Haan Mimi Shona... Poochho..."
"Mumma..."
"Laddoo ki Mumma unke chhath nhi lehti... Ichhliye vo bohot udaachh hai..."
"Aichha kyun Mumma ?... Unki Mumma unke paachh kyun nhi lehti ?... Unhe Laddoo ki yaad nhi aati ?...", she was sad.
Anokhi's heart sank as he listened to this.
Though she had no idea who Laddoo was, the mention of him being sad due to his mother's absence made her upset.
It is a humane sensation. Listening to someone else's grief will make you sad.
But she already knew the answer !
She knelt down to Mimi and gently held her shoulders, saying, "Mimi..."
"Anumaa ko toh nhi pta ki Laddoo ki Mumma kaha hai..."
"Lekin aap naa... Unko ek baat btaana..."
"Kya baat Mumma ?...", she asked innocently.
"Aap Laddoo se kehna... Unki Mumma jaha bhi ho... Vo unse bohot pyaar karte honge..."
"Kyunki humse jo pyaar karte haina... Vo chaahe jitne bhi door ho... Unko pyaar kam nhi hota..."
"Vo door se hi hume pyaar karte hai aur humaari achchaai ki kaamna karte hai..."
"Jaise Nanu – Nani... Momo... Kulfi... Haina ?...", she explained, using the best example she could think of to help her young daughter understand.
And here our intelligent young girl readily got what her Anumaa meant.
"Kya hua princess ?...", Shauyra spoke up noticing her lost in thoughts.
"Laddoo..."
"Aapko ek baat btaau...", she said softly.
"Bolo princess..."
"Aapne muje kaha tha naa... Aapki Mumma aapke paachh nhi lehti..."
His expression changed as a result of this.
"Lekin vo aapke paachh naa lehte hue bhi aapko bohot pyaal kalti hai Laddoo...", she said, holding his face in her tender grip.
His voice trembled as he said, "A... Aap ko kaise pta princess... Meri Mum... ma mujhse... mujhse py...aar karti hai..."
"Meli Mumma kehti hai... Humaale Mumma, Paa – Paa kitne bhi dool (door) ho... Vo hume fil bhi bohot pyaal kalte hai..."
"Jaichhe mele Nanu - Nani aul Momo humchhe dool lehte hai pal fil bhi vo mujchhe aul Anumaa chhe bohot pyaal kalte hai..."
With moist eyes, he looked at her.
Was what his princess said true ?
Is it true that SHE loves him despite being so far away from him ?
Is it true that his father still loves him even when he isn't physically present ?
If that's the case, then why did they abandon him ?
A tear was about to fall down his cheek when he was starteled to hear a knock on the door.
He blinked his tears away and looked at the door.
"Oh no!!..."
"Ab main kya karu...", he exclaimed as he leapt to his feet.
He began pacing around, trying to figure out what he would say when asked about Mimi.
He was about to approach her when he heard a voice from outside.
"Sir Ji !!!..."
"Main Ravi..."
Shauyra dashed towards the door because he couldn't think of any other option. When he opened the door, he saw the peon standing there.
"Sir ji..."
"Yeh files aapne subah mangavaai thi...", he was about to take a step in when Shaurya stepped in front of him to block his view.
Ravi came to a halt at his steps.
"F... Files ?... Kaunsi files ?...", he pretended to be unaware.
"Voh jo new guest lecturers aaye hai... Unka... Aapne subah bola tha na mujhe lane ke liye...", he said as he moved forward once more.
"Ahh... Achcha v... vo... vo tum mujhe de do yeh...", he tried to take them.
"Nhi Sir Ji... Main khud rakh deta hoon vha jaakar...", he said as he walked by his side, and Shaurya failed to stop him.
He closed his eyes and pondered what would he say if Ravi inquired about his princess in his cabin.
"Sir Ji...", Ravi patted on his shoulder.
Shaurya became alarmed and turned around.
"Vo... vo main prin-...", he was about to say when he noticed the room was empty besides the two of them.
He looked here and there, but his princess was nowhere to be found.
Just then Ravi interrupted, "Sir Ji..."
"Kya hua ?..."
"Kuch dhoond rhe ho ?..."
"Haan ? !... Nhi... Nhi !... K... kuch bhi toh nhi..."
"Toh main jaaun Sir Ji ?...", he puzzledly inquired.
"H... Haan tum jaao... Thank You..."
Ravi smiled as he walked away.
Shaurya hurriedly shut the doors again, then looked around the room for princess.
"Princess kaha chali gayi ?!!..."
"Kahi baahar toh nhi ?-..."
"Lekin main toh yahi khada tha darvaaze ke paas... Toh fir ?...", he began walking backwards towards the desk, tense.
"Laddoo..."
"Main baahaal aa jaau ?...", a feeble voice spoke up.
He got surprised and turned towards the sofa from where the voice came.
"Princess ?...", he said as he approached the sofa.
And he was taken aback when he saw the scene.
There she was hiding behind the sofa, sitting on the floor with her small legs folded.
"Laddoo...", seeing him, she started standing up with the support of the sofa.
His heart sank as he saw her in that narrow space, hiding.
He moved closer to her right away and took her in his arms.
He held her in his arms securely, saying, "Aapne toh mujhe dara hi diya tha princess..."
"Aap yaha kyu chhup gye the Mimi ?...", he said softly, gently stroking her cheek.
She smiled and said, "Hum toh chhupan – chhupaayi khel lahe the naa... Ichchliye main yaha chhup gayi thi..."
"Chhupne ki zaroorat nhi hai Mimi...", he said as he walked over to the desk and carefully made her sit there.
"Aap yaha baitho... Mere bilkul saamne... Nhi toh Laddoo ko darr lagta hai..."
Mimi sat on his desk, giddy with delight, and looked around. She noticed files, pens, some pages, and a paperweight.
Her attention was drawn to a tag with a name engraved on it.
"Yeh kya hai Laddoo ?...", she pointed there.
Shaurya looked there and smiled that it was his "name tag".
"Mimi..."
"Aap mujhe padhkar btaao... Yeh kya likha hai...", he said as he drew the chair closer to him and sat down, waiting for her response.
Mimi crouched down to get a better look at it.
"Yeh hai Echhhhh (S)...", she said, placing her finger on the first letter.
Shaurya's smile grew wider seeing her reading.
"Fir hai Ech (H)..."
"Aeeeee (A) !! ...", she remembered her Anumaa's teaching.
She continued by placing her finger on the following letter.
"Eeeeeeuuu (U)..."
"Aa... Aaaaalll (R)...", she pronounced slowly.
He was pleased to see the baby girl reading so intently.
"Princess..."
"Aaal nhi Aaaar...", he rectified her politely.
She gave him a glance before returning her gaze to the tag.
"Aaaal ?...", she inquired, looking to him for confirmation.
"Mmmm... hhhhh...", he nodded in a no.
"Aaaaaaar...", he said, emphasizing the letter "r".
"Aaalr-... Aaaaaaar...", she said with great difficulty.
Seeing her struggle with the letter made him chuckle, but the fact that she was still trying made him smile.
"Hmmm..."R" kehte hai isko...", he pointed at the tag.
"Ab aage padho... ye... yeh kya hai ?...", he moved to the next letter.
She returned her gaze to the tag and concentrated on the letter.
She thought for some time and said after few minutes, "Vaaaaaaaaaiiiii (Y)..."
"Haaaaan... Very good princess... Ab ye vaala padho...", he slid his finger to the next.
"Aaaaaaaa (A)...", she said and showed her teeth as she was finished with her task.
"Veri nice Mimi !!... ", he appreciated her efforts.
"Ab btaao... Yeh poora naam kya bna ? ...", he eagerly anticipated her answer.
She returned her attention to the tag and became engrossed in deep thought.
She had no idea how to pronounce the whole word.
So she pondered for a while before guessing with extreme difficulty.
"Shal... Sharlya..."
"Sharara !!!!...", she exclaimed, confident that her guess was correct.
The next moment, he burst out laughing hearing his own name from her mouth.
"Sharara ??...", he laughed heartily.
He forgot who he was for a brief moment.
He imagined himself to be a person named "Sharara Sabharwal" who lived on Earth. This made him laugh even harder.
Seeing him laugh, Mimi too started laughing.
"He he he...", she giggled adorably.
Hearing her cute giggling made him even happier.
He moved in closer, and cupped her moon-like small face in his large palms.
"MERI SWEETU !!...", he exclaimed, caressing her cheeks as she melted his heart yet again.
Mimi's heart fluttered as she learned that her beloved "Laddoo" had given her a new name.
She beamed with joy excitedly, "Chhweetu ???!..."
"Haan sweetu...", he said as he stroked her hair.
"Aap meri sweetu ho... Aap bohot pyaari bhi ho princess..."
She was ecstatic to be showered with his love.
"Aap bhi bohot pyaale ho Laddoo... Aul Laddoo bhi chhweet hota hai... Toh matlab aap bhi mele chhweetu ho...", she grinned.
"Aul meli Mumma toh Rashgulla haina... Voh bhi chhweetu hui..."
"Hum "teeno" chhweetu – chhweetu...", she clapped, expressing her elation.
"Aapki Mumma Rasgulla hain ?...", he said, his heart warmed at her cute action.
"Haaaaaaaan..."
"Meli Mumma Rashgulla Mumma hai..."
"Unke gaal bhi Rashgulle jaichhe golu - molu hai..."
He was dying witnessing her "immense sweetness".
"Aur aapke gaal bhi vaise hi hain Mimi...", he stroked her face, which formed two lovely dimples.
"Princess..."
"Aapne bohot achchi koshish ki..."
"Ab aap mujhe yeh btaao ki aapne kaha se seekha ?...", he inquired, intrigued.
"Meli Anumaa chhe...", she beamed.
"Unhone muje yeh chhikhaaya tha...", she said smiling.
"Ohhhh... Yeh bhi Anumaa se seekha aapne...", he comprehended.
Mimi gave a sweet nod in response to which he smiled.
The conflict of words he had with her, was long forgotten now.
He had slipped into a completely different world, free of worry, in the presence of his "princess".
What a cruel trick fate was playing on him !
The person he was so angry with at that time was actually the person for whom his heart was indirectly at peace too...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments😊