AASHIKA
" Ayushi, I said something. Come here," Ayaan said firmly. Change your tone, my baccha loves you more.
Ayushi stood in front of him, looking down.
"Look up," Ayaan said. She looked up, but instead of meeting his eyes, she quickly turned her attention towards me.
"Why did you do it?" Ayaan asked. She held her ear with teary eyes.
"Papa, sorry. I will not bully anyone," she said in a super cute voice. But I doubt this will work. Ayaan and I have given her so many warnings before.
I don't know what kind of pleasure she gets from bullying. Ayaan didn't change his expression.
I sighed and looked back at Aryan, who was hugging me instead of facing the wall. And I know even Ayaan knows it, but he didn't stop Aryan.
Aryan kept hugging me, peeking at Ayushi, who looked so innocent.
"Ayaan, I have to make dinner. How about I go to the kitchen and cook for us? Let me take Aryan too," I said, standing up.
"She is coming downstairs too. Go prepare, I will be there in five minutes," Ayaan said. I internally felt happy.
"Okay," I said and took Aryan in my arms. I was about to leave the room, but the sound of a slap stopped me.
I turned back to Ayaan, who had just slapped my baby.
Ayushi put her palm on her cheek.
"Ayaan," I said. He looked at me and blinked his eyes.
I sighed heavily and left the room, standing outside, but I didn't hear any more slapping sounds, which relieved me.
"What do you want to eat?" I asked Aryan. He sucked his finger and timidly said, "Cake."
I pulled his finger out of his mouth.
"No baby, that's not good manners. Let's have some cake for your tummy," I said, giving him a peck on the cheeks.
I sat him down on a chair and took the cake out of the fridge.
"Baby, it's too cold. Let it come to room temperature. Wait until then," I said. He nodded his head like a good boy, but who am I kidding? He put a cherry from the cake in his mouth.
"They will never listen to me," I mumbled as I took out the necessary vegetables to make dinner.
I was about to start cutting them when my attention was drawn to Ayushi, who came towards Aryan wiping her tears.
She held her ear and started apologizing to him, then she walked towards me, still holding her ear.
"Mumma, I'm sorry," she said, looking down.
"Oh dear, just don't do it. Mumma gets worried, and troubling others is really a very bad habit. Okay, sweetheart?" I said, cupping her cheeks. Both cheeks were red. Why do something that can get you in trouble?
Ayaan came from behind and stood beside me.
"Done saying sorry?" he asked sternly. I pinched him from behind, but he didn't show any reaction or change his expression.
Ayushi nodded her head, shifting from foot to foot.
"Go, Ayushi, sit. I will give you a cake too," I said, but Ayaan held my hand from behind.
"Do what I told you to do in the room," Ayaan said. I looked at him in confusion, while Ayushi shook her head.
"I don't want to," she said, wiping her tears that flowed out of her eyes.
"Why? Too embarrassed? Then leave it and come over my lap. I should be fair with you two, right? You'll get the same punishment as Aryan," He said, turning to her I pushed him to the side.
"Ayaan, you already slapped her," I said.
"One slap, she doesn't understand with it because before, when I received a complaint from school about her bullying, she did get it. But it seems like she just wants to keep her bossy behavior," Ayaan said, glaring at Ayushi.
"Ayushi, either you take your position or I'm taking you over my knees," I warned.
"Ayaan, you will... I will kill you if you do it..."
Aashi, don't worry, I won't do it. I've never done it to Ayushi before, so I'm not changing it today. I'm just scaring her," he said and softly squeezed my hand.
"Ayushi, have you decided?" Ayaan asked as Ayushi looked at me for help.
"Mumma, I won't do it again," she said, and I looked at Ayaan with my puppy eyes.
"AYUSHI," Ayaan said, taking long strides towards her.
He pushed her down a little bit, and I could see Ayushi willing to do it, not wanting to fight more. Once she was in the said position, I can say I officially hate his friend Rahul; he is taking classes from him or what.
Ayaan sat on another chair and kept looking at Ayushi.
"Ayaan," I said, making him look at me.
"What?... I've done the same to your raja beta to he just gets leverage because he didn't go out on his own will," he said, dismissing me.
"Cook, Aashi," he mumbled.
"Yeah, make my daughter Murga, then expect me to cook for you. Heartless person. I will kill you in the bedroom. Sleep on the couch alone," I mumbled, which I'm sure he heard but didn't say anything.
"M... Mumma," Aryan said, and I turned to him. He showed me his plate.
"Do you want more?"
He nodded his head. I looked at Ayaan to see if I could give him more or not. He never let any of us consume too many sugary products.
"Yeah, it's okay, give him. But save a good amount of cake too," he mumbled, still looking at Ayushi.
"AYUSHI!" he shouted, making Ayushi correct her position.
"Dad, I'm tired."
"Ayaan, that's enough," I said as he rolled his eyes, showing me his mobile phone where the timer was going on.
"She's been like this for only two minutes; she will be like this for at least fifteen minutes. Do your work now," he said, his eyes not moving from Ayushi.
I turned my eyes towards her too, and she seemed to struggle a lot.
"Ayaan, you seem to like chicken a lot. I will never cook it again," I said, but he stayed unaffected, looking at the timer and Ayushi.
I'm not sure if time was intentionally passing slowly because I heard Ayaan say Ayushi's name about fifteen times.
"Ayushi," he said again, and I quickly grabbed his phone. It had been almost fifteen minutes.
I stayed silent as I handed him his phone. He looked at me, expecting me to say something, but I remained quiet.
"Ayushi, stand up," he said, but instead of standing, she sat down, holding onto her legs.
"Mumma," she whispered, opening her arms.
"Why do you like doing these things when they hurt so much?" I asked, taking her into my arms.
"Shh, stop crying," I said, kissing her sweaty hair.
"It's been an hour, right?" Ayushi innocently asked, looking at me. I chuckled and gently pushed her back.
"Yes, it's been an hour. Calm down. I know it hurts," I said, holding her and continuing my work until she didn't want to move anymore.
I was almost done with my cooking, and no one had said a single word.
Ayushi peeked out from my neck, looking at Ayaan, who was also watching us.
"Mumma, this," Ayushi said, pointing at a toffee. I smiled and gave it to her, but instead of eating it, she threw it at Ayaan.
"Are you still angry with me?" she asked. Ayaan took her from me and sat down with her on his lap.
"Will you stop bullying?" Ayaan asked, massaging her knees.
She nodded her head. "But I will still fight with him. I won't threaten him anymore," she said, pointing at Aryan.
"Sorry, didi," Aryan said cutely.
Ayushi pulled his hair and then hid herself in Ayaan's arms.
"You're scary," she said, pouting angrily.
"I have to be. My babies like to dance on my head. Come, let's wash your face," he said, taking her to the sink and washing her face properly.
"I love you, sona," Ayaan said, kissing her forehead.