As Shubh descended down the stairs, the lines of worry on his face were replaced with a smile looking at the walls of stairway. It was decorated beautifully with the frames that displayed the moments etched in their hearts and memories. The photographs captivated Shubh yet again in pure joy, bringing back the memories of old times, birthday candles and radiant happiness. His smile wavered as there was sudden wisp of sadness when he glanced at the portrait in the middle.
Their mother. Anjana Oberoi.
His eyes misted over. She looked so beautiful with that radiant smile on her face. It was his mother who was so fond of capturing moments and framing them and they had simply picked it up from her in off handed way. Only after she left them, they realized why their mother felt so attached with those lifeless—yet the most lively of all—pictures; it was all they could have once the moment was gone. And sometimes the person with whom the moment was lived. The pictures, in its quiet way, kept the deceased alive in hearts.
"I miss you, Mumma," Shubh whispered into air. His mother had left them when he was sixteen and Shivaay was twenty-two. Ansh was just ten. He had cried for months desperately seeking their mother's comfort. Their heart broke every time he asked about her with his innocent tear-filled eyes.
Shubh was startled out of his thoughts when he heard the sound of baby's laughter. Before he could process, his legs had already started moving in the direction of that angelic voice. There was something so beautiful about the laughter that he was automatically drawn towards it.
And there he stood, at his Bhaiya's room's doorstep.
Sakshi was nuzzling Aarohi while the baby was occasionally laughing out loud making her mother's eyes shine. Sakshi bounced Aarohi in air. Instead of fear of falling, the baby gave out a throaty laugh, knowing her mother will hold her back. And she did. Sakshi scooped her back and kissed her cheeks.
"Ab chale? Shona ko bhookh lagi hogi na?" Sakshi smiled and turned around, only to find a Shubh staring at them.
She was caught off guard by his presence. She quickly composed herself and passed him a smile. "Wahan kyun khade ho, Shubhman? Come in,"
Shubh was still in daze. His eyes were fixated at Aarohi. Sakshi felt uncomfortable. She couldn't help but notice the flickering judgement in Shubh's eyes. She stepped back subconsciously, out of the motherly urge to shield her daughter.
There was an awkward silence. Neither Shubham not Sakshi knew what to say. To their rescue, Shivaansh barged inside the room at the same moment. He looked at Sakshi and smiled.
"Good morning, Bhabhi."
"Good morning, Ansh." Sakshi managed a smile.
"Did princess wake up?" Ansh asked, his voice filled with affection. He didn't wait for a reply and reached out for Aarohi.
Sakshi was bit skeptical, but she passed Aaru to Ansh, nonetheless. Ansh had only showered love and kindness over her daughter since the very minute she had stepped into the house. She didn't have the heart to refuse him. She had been scared to leave Aarohi alone in Shivaansh's presence initially, but Ansh never mistook her protectiveness for anything else. She didn't know if he understood her apprehensions, or the kindness just came to him naturally. Whatever it was, she would always be grateful.
The baby gave out a throaty laughter when Ansh nuzzled her neck. Ansh's eyes shone when she did that. He absolutely loved how she responded to his gestures. "Aaru, say Chachu.." He cooed.
The interaction dazzled Shubhman. He could see his little brother loved the baby. His hands were itching to take the baby in his own arms, but he hesitated.
Sakshi was just wondering what to do when Shivaay walked in. She almost sighed in relief. She was feeling lost with Shubhman. With Ansh, she didn't have to take the initiative. Ansh did that for both of them. Another thing that made Ansh so dear to her. He made her comfortable with everything he could.
"Ansh, did you submit your form?" Shivaay asked, reaching for his daughter who had already thrown her little arms towards him.
"Haan, kar diya." Ansh smiled sheepishly. He was always forgetful about the deadlines.
"Good."
Aarohi tapped on Shivaay's cheeks. She didn't like to share her father's attention. Shivaay smiled and pressed a feathery kiss to her forehead. "Kya chahiye meri gudiya ko?"
"Aapka attention," Ansh laughed. "She is just like us, Bhaiya. Doesn't want to share your attention with anyone."
Shivaay smiled and pressed another kiss to Aarohi's soft hairs. There was nothing he owned that was more precious than his daughter to him. His gaze turned to Shubhman, who had been staring at them quietly all the while.
"Shubh," Shivaay called out.
Shubh looked at him. He had seen the unfiltered love in his Bhaiya's eyes for the child. It only meant one thing for him. She was his Bhaiya's child. He couldn't hold back himself anymore. He wanted to hold the baby in his arms.
"Shubh, kya soch raha hai, bachcha? Yahan aa," Shivaay called out again.
"Haan, Bhaiyu. Don't you want to hold our princess? Dekho kaise badi badi aankhon se dekh rhi hai aapko!" Shivaansh quipped in.
Shivaay stepped ahead and gestured Shubh to take Aarohi in his arms. Shubh couldn't hold back. He earnestly reached for the baby, but Aarohi gave out a loud wail as soon as Shivaay pulled apart from her. She didn't want anyone else other than her father. Subhman's face fell.
"She is such a Papa's girl. Hume bhi bhav nhi deti Bhaiya ke aage toh, hai na, Bhabhi?" Ansh commented fondly.
Sakshi smiled softly. That was the truth. It had been just three months but her girl preferred Shivaay over her as well. She couldn't fault her daughter. Shivaay was the most loving and doting father any child could wish for.
"You're a new face to her, Shubhman," Sakshi said carefully. "Give her some time. Ek baar chehra pehchaan jayegi toh comfortable ho jayegi."
Shubh looked at her startled. She sounded like she meant it. But he had felt like she didn't want him around Aarohi. He had noticed how Sakshi's hold had tightened around Aarohi when he entered the room. He was diverted when he felt the tug at his tshirt.
Aarohi was looking at him with her huge twinkling eyes. She likes the shiny letters embedded on the stranger's cloth. She reached for it and clutched the fabric in her tiny palms. And then she looked at the person to see if she could melt the person into doing her bidding. He didn't look much scary after all.
The gesture filled Shubh with unknown happiness. He was quick enough to grab the opportunity and bring the little girl closer to himself.
"Yeh chahiye aapko?" He asked softly, not intending to scare her in any way.
Aarohi just tugged at the fabric of his tshirt. Shivaay smiled. That was his daughter's way of approving Shubh. He gestured Shubh to take over. Shubh hesitated. A moment back he was desperate to hold her but now that she was so close to him, he was scared of hurting her in any way. Shivaay didn't let him object and gently passed Aarohi to his arms. Aarohi didn't protest this time. Instead, she grabbed on the opportunity and tried gathering a larger part of those shiny things in her little palms.
Shubh was ecstatic to hold her in his arms. "She's so little, Bhaiya!" He whispered in sheer joy.
Sakshi's eyes filled up looking at them. Her fears were so baseless. The judgement she saw in Shubh's eyes might have been directed towards her, but definitely not her daughter. She could already see adoration in Shubh's eyes for Aarohi.
"Isse toh aapki tshirt pasand aa gyi, Bhaiyu! Looks like she would love stealing your clothes just like me." Ansh chuckled seeing her so engrossed. "Right, princess?"
"Yeh chahiye aapko, princess?" Shubh asked and without waiting for a reply, he scratched off the studded letter of his tshirt and placed it in the little palms.
Aarohi gave out a hearty laughter, her excitement quite apparent on her face. That lit up every face in the room. Her melodious laughter was best music for their home. Aarohi babbled something and tapped on Shubh's cheeks just as she was doing with Shivaay.
Shubh's eyes shone. In that moment, he knew he had irrevocably fallen in love with the little bundle of joy in his arms. He kissed Aarohi's forehead and hugged her closer to himself. Aarohi didn't mind. She was happy with the shiny treasure she had in her hands.
Shivaay looked at his wife startled when she squeezed his hand tightly. He saw the tears in her eyes and was taken aback.
"Sakshi?" Shivaay nudged her softly.
That broke Sakshi's trance. She hadn't realised she was holding Shivaay's hand. She left it immediately. "Sorry, I..."
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?"
"You look worried. Is everything okay?"
Sakshi managed to nod her head.
"She's so perfect, Bhaiya. Look at her eyes. So beautiful.." Shubh said with childlike excitement.
Shivaay smiled. "You can adore her all you want, Bachcha. Abhi breakfast kar le chal ke? I need to leave for office."
"You're not staying at home today?" Shubh looked up at him.
"We planned for family lunch, Bhaiya!" Ansh reminded him.
Shivaay sighed. "I remember, Ansh. But there is one important meeting. I'll have to attend this. You guys go for the lunch..."
"Aapke bina nhi jana mujhe.." Ansh was upset. "Kitne dino baad hum sab saath hai. I thought we will spend some time together. You, me, and Bhaiyu."
"I know, bachcha, par..." Shivaay tried to hold him, but Ansh stepped back.
"Aapki saari meetings hi important hoti hai, Bhaiya. You say that all the time. kitne time baad humare saath hai. You share stay here. Is work more important than family, Bhaiya? Is it more important than me? Than us?"
"Ansh," Shubh pulled Ansh back. "Why are you shouting? Theek se baat kar..."
"Kyun, Bhaiyu? Am I saying wrong?" Ansh looked back at Shivaay. "Last weekend bhi you didn't come for my performance, Bhaiya. You said it was important. Theek hai, mai samajh gya. But I don't like it, Bhaiya. You..."
"Ansh, I'm sorry, bachcha," Shivaay stepped towards Ansh. Ansh jush shook his head and rushed out of there. Shivaay sighed. He could understand why Ansh was so upset. He looked at Shubhman. He could see Shubh was as much upset.
"Shubh,"
"Can I take Aaru down?" Shubh asked.
Before Shivaay could reply, Sakshi stepped ahead and pulled the stud out of Aarohi's palm. "She will take it in her mouth. That can get struck in her throat. Use haath me mat do, bas door se khelne do," She explained, seeing the confusion on Subhman's face.
Shubh nodded. He hadn't thought of that. He was glad Sakshi told that. "Ab le jau?"
Sakshi nodded. She turned back to Shivaay when Shubh left. "Naraaz ho gye dono, Shivaay. Can't you stay back for today?"
"I can't, Sakshi." Shivaay's eyes hardened. "It's them."
Sakshi's face lost the colour, but her eyes were breathing fire. "Make them pay, Shivaay. Make them pay."
____________________________________
A/n
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Hello everyone,
Firstly thank you for all the best wishes you all showered upon me and Aashvi. Secondly, I was in shock when I saw that Wattpad has removed the private message feature. There were lots of messages in my DM. I hadn't read so many of them and hadn't replied to most of them. I'm really sorry for that.
I've added my Instagram handle and mail id in my profile in case anyone wants to reach out to me.
And I've lost all my drafts of ROOH. So I'll have to rewrite the chapters. I'm slacking at writing as it has been months since I've written anything. That's why this short chapter. I'll try my best to update Rooh in a day's time.
You guys are free to drop your opinions and even scene requests for both Rooh and this story. Since I'm rewriting the chapters, it'll be easier to incorporate new scenes.
Love,
Muskan