Last chapter: Siva looked down at the baby asleep in his arms and smiled. Just an overnight stay had Nathan so miserable, will Nathan be able to stay in daycare or be under the care of someone else for whole day while Siva is at the office? How will he be able to go to school? But then maybe it won’t be so bad. Siva chuckled at his own thoughts. Some time ago he hadn’t even thought about kids and now he was behaving like a typical parent already worried about his son’s future. Cuddling with Nathan on the couch, Siva let out a relieved sigh. As long as his son was with him, he would always keep him safe.
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It had been a few days since Nathan had celebrated his third birthday. Siva couldn’t believe that his boy was growing up so fast. Nathan could talk, walk and be a bubble of energy as every ordinary three year old. Time was really going so fast. His boy had progressed from calling him Dada to properly say Daddy. And every time Siva heard Nathan call him Daddy, it made him feel really warm inside. It felt so good to be Nathan’s Daddy. And Siva was really proud that he and Nathan had finally bonded so well.
On one hand Siva was very glad that he and his little baby were so close but on the other hand, Siva was a little worried about how his kid would be able to detach himself from him and how would Nathan actually accept the idea of going to school. Ever since Nathan had his third birthday, the boys, Kelsey and Nareesha had been bugging Siva that it was time for Nathan to start preschool now. Siva managed to avoid that topic for about two to three weeks but he knew that they all were right. Nathan will have to go to school and starting Kindergarten right now was the best idea.
“Daddy, look I built Floppy a house” Nathan enthusiastically jumped around him, as he pointed over to the Lego house he had built with his rabbit sitting in front of the house. “That’s Floppy’s house, huh? I’m sure he’ll like it” Siva said, smiling at his son. Nathan smiled proudly at his Daddy. “Time for sleep now kiddo, we have to get up early tomorrow, okay? Come on, clean up” Siva said, hoping Nathan will not ask him where they were going. “Whewe we going?” Nathan lisped. “Preschool or kindergarten if you prefer” Siva said, waiting for the outburst to come. “No, not going” Nathan said, pouting. “Look, Nath. You’re three years old now so kindergarten is a must. It’s not really going to be that bad kiddo. You’ll have new friends. You’ll have fun there” Siva said. Nathan, still pouting, shook his head. “Nath, it’s decided. You’re going to kindergarten tomorrow morning.” Siva said, using his stern tone hoping it will work.
Well, it did work for a minute maybe. But then Nathan turned on his heels and ran to his room, kicking the door behind him. Siva winced, that must have hurt his kid. Siva heard Nathan ranting, crying and screaming. He heard words like ‘won’t go’, ‘hate you Daddy’ but other than that it was just pure wailing. Siva knew Nathan hadn’t locked the door since he wouldn’t even reach the door knob but he also knew that Nathan was sitting right behind the door so that he wouldn’t be able to open the door. “Nath, kiddo, why don’t you want to go to school?” Siva asked. “Don’t want to go. Don’t want to leave you.” Nathan wailed. Ah so this was the matter!
Siva sighed behind the door. Years before he wouldn’t imagined himself doing this for even a girl but here he was year back, sitting down to face a closed door only to convince his little three year old to let him in. “Nath, baby, Daddy isn’t leaving you there. You’re just going for the day and Daddy will always come fetch you. Open the door, baby” Siva said, in a soft tone reserved only for his son. Nathan didn’t open the door but Siva did hear shuffling behind the door which meant that Nathan had moved from sitting behind the door. Siva gently pushed the door open and found a little body crash in his feet wailing. “Don’t leave me Daddy” Nathan sobbed. “Oh shush now Nath, Daddy will never leave you. I promise you” Siva said. “Don’t want to go.” Nathan wailed. “I know. But you have to, baby. Daddy can’t take you to the office forever. You go to school for a day and we’ll see how it turns out, okay?” Siva said, as he rocked Nathan in his arms. He didn’t get an answer but it was better than the sobbing he’d been hearing since long.
With Nathan a little quiet now, Siva carried his son to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of milk. Nathan had grown out of his baby bottle now but whenever he was sick, upset or needed comfort, Siva let him drink from that baby bottle itself. It was just a means for him to soothe his kid. He held the bottle to Nathan’s lips, allowing the kid to drink and rocking him to sleep. It was quite late when Nathan finally fell asleep and Siva didn’t have the heart to put him in his room alone. Instead, after putting the kid in pull up, he brought him in his room and settled down to sleep with his kid next to him.
The next morning when Nathan woke up, he found Siva in the kitchen. “Daddy, no office?” Nathan asked. It was late and definitely time for Siva to be in the office. “No, Daddy isn’t going to the office.” Siva said. “Yay” Nathan cheered, “What we doing?” Nathan asked. “We’re going to kindergarten” Siva said and as soon as he saw Nathan’s lips wobbling, he spoke up, “we’re going together, baby. Daddy will be there with you all the time” Siva promised. Nathan looked up to him hopefully and finding a reassuring smile on Siva’s smile, he smiled also.
Surely, Siva kept his promise. He accompanied Nathan to kindergarten and stayed with him the whole time. “Come on buddy, don’t you want to meet other kids? Make friends?” Siva asked as he filled Nathan’s details in the form. Nathan looked around and shook his head, clinging onto Siva’s jeans leg. He didn’t want to admit it but he was really scared. Till now, Nathan had met only Siva’s friends and few others but he hadn’t stayed in the company of kids. What if they don’t like him? What if they are mean to him? Sensing his fears, Siva patted him on the head slightly.
After filling out the form, the kids were called to gather up for fun time. Nathan seemed reluctantly to leave his Daddy but Siva assured him he’s right here and won’t move. Hesitating slightly, Nathan went forward. Siva watched as the kids were told to find a partner and sit at a table and to draw whatever they want. He saw Nathan hesitating to find a partner but then an equally shy boy, just like Nathan itself, approached the boy offering a hand of friendship. And soon Nathan had made his first friend. Siva was sitting there feeling immensely proud of his kid when his phone rang. Taking a look at Nathan again, Siva moved a little away to attend the phone.
“Hey Nareesha” Siva greeted as he picked up the phone.
“Siva, what’s wrong? You didn’t come to the office” Nareesha asked, as soon as Siva picked up the phone.
“I told Nathan about preschool last night and…” Siva trailed off.
“I guess he didn’t take it well” Nareesha said.
“Yeah, took me hours to get him to stop crying” Siva said.
“Oh, so you stayed behind with him” Nareesha said and Siva could hear her smile.
“I had to. Also, I took him to the kindergarten today” Siva said.
“Oh God. Is he fine with school?” Nareesha asked.
“He’s sitting with another boy of his age and drawing something, right now” Siva said.
“Oh, how wish I could see that. Are you coming tomorrow then, Siva?” Nareesha asked.
“Maybe” Siva said.
“Alright, then” Nareesha said.
“Ok. Bye” Siva said, hanging up the phone.
When he returned back to his place, Nathan was already there. Tears in his eyes, Nathan was looking around for Siva. But when he finally saw Siva, his quivering lips turned into a smile and he ran forward to his Daddy. “Daddy, I draw you” Nathan said, jumping around to show Siva his drawing. “That’s nice.” Siva said, crouching down in front of Nathan, “And who’s he, baby?” Siva asked, looking over to the boy who stood next to Nathan. “He is Sebastian, my friend. But I call him Bassy” Nathan said. “Hi Sebastian” Siva said, ruffling the kid’s hair. The kid was just like Nathan. He stuttered a small ‘hi’ and then pulled on Nathan’s hand “Nath, let’s go. Story time now” Sebastian said. Siva nodded to Nathan who ran along with his newly found friend.
Later that night, Siva stood at Nathan’s room’s door watching Nathan put away the story books, he got at the kindergarten. “Daddy look, tomorrow we’re going to read this story at school. Me and Bassy chose this story.” Nathan said, showing Siva the book. Siva smiled. The first day of Kindergarten hadn’t been that bad, really!
A/N
Chapter 6!
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