Morning sunlight spilled through the thin white curtains of the room casting a golden warm light across the dark room. Inside the room was simple yet beautiful ,a double bed in the centre and besides it was two table lamps , a cupboard and a few pictures on the wall giving it an aesthetic view.
The room was quiet for a moment until a soft whimper of a baby broke the silence, breaking the sleep of the man beside him.
Arjun stirred from his sleep after hearing the soft whimpers of his five months old baby Aarav, he immediately reached for him and lifted him into his arms and the little baby nuzzled into his chest without opening his eyes seeking what he couldn't get from him.
His food.
Aarav was hungry and started sucking Arjun's chest but couldn't get anything and started crying again. A broken smile tugged at Arjun's lips seeing this but inside his heart ached.
If only his mother was here the little one didn't have to go through this. If only that accident didn't happened that day, their lives must be something else.
But alas the world doesn't run on if's.
Arjun snapped out of his thoughts when the baby's soft whimpers turned into loud cries . Arjun slightly rocked Aarav into his arms and picked his pacifier from the side table and put it into his mouth.
The baby immediately started sucking on it hungrily and arjun rushed outside of his room to prepare the milk.
Arjun came out of his room with Aarav in his arms , the usual smell of incense sticks lingered in the morning air , making it calm . He could hear the jingle of bells from the corner of the hall indicating his mother was indulged in her usual morning prayer.
He saw his father sitting on the sofa in the hall sipping his morning tea and reading the newspaper , his glasses perched on his nose .
Arjun's father looked up from the newspaper seeing arjun approaching him "Arey why my baby is crying huh come to dadu ." Arjun's father cooed to Aarav .
As the baby heard the familiar voice, he smiled through his tears and lifted his tiny arms to be picked up .
Arjun didn't say anything , just smiled softly at his father's attempt to make a baby voice and placed the baby in his father's arms and went to the kitchen to prepare milk.
He reached the kitchen and started preparing the formula while he could hear the faint voice of his father and Aarav's laughter from the hall and how he was trying to pacify him.
After he was done making the formula , he reached the hall , his barefoot making a slight noise against the tiled floor and gave the bottle to his father who fed the baby while making the baby voices and funny faces .
Seeing this a little smile adorned Arjun's face after seeing their bond.
He was admiring them when his mother came and gently tapped on his shoulder and said softly " Arjun. "
He turned towards her and she whispered " Beta go and freshen up till then i will prepare the breakfast." To which Arjun just nodded his head and went inside his room to take a shower.
Inside the bathroom , the warm water gave a slight relief to his sore muscles. The work at the office in the day and at night taking care of aarav had drained him physically.
But he didn't mind this soreness. In fact there was a quiet joy in this late night feeding , lullabies and changing diapers. Because he loved his baby truly.
Warmly.
After half an hour he came out of the shower got ready for his office and packed his bag. As he had to go to a nearby village for some work.
After he was done with packing , he went outside of his room and sat on the dinning table where his mother served him hot Parathas and tea.
" Beta what have you decided?" his mother whispered after serving him , her eyes searching for answer.
Arjun sighed " I have told you maa i don't want to." arjun replied to his mother while eating.
" But beta how long are you planning to live like this? Aarav is so small .You need a partner and he needs a mother beta . Please for him." his mother said with moist eyes .
He could see the tears glistening in her eyes behind her spectacles.
" Maa we are enough for each other and we have you and Papa. It's enough for both of us. We don't need anyone else ." he replied to his mother firmly without glancing at her.
" Yes beta you have us now but for how long? Your papa and I will not always be with you Arjun . Please understand it beta . People don't always stay and you know that better." his mother's voice cracked slightly as she remembered something that she shouldn't.
Her words caught him off guard and a fear settled in his heart. What if past repeat itself again? Because this time he won't be able to mend his broken heart.
Sumitra looked at the wall behind him where a man and woman's picture was hanging on the wall with garlands on it.
He looked up and his eyes followed his mother's and his throat became heavy " Ok maa i will do it for you but now stop crying . And never ever repeat this . You and papa are not going anywhere." he forced the words out of his mouth while wiping her tears.
His mother just nodded and wiped her tears .
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After breakfast Arjun took his bag and said softly " maa I am going." . He touched his parents feet and took their blessings.
" When will you be back beta ?" Sumitra asked arjun with Aarav in her arms who cooed softly catching Arjun's attention.
" I will be back in two days maa " he replied to his mother while kissing little Aarav's forehead and the baby squealed in delight and arjun smiled at him.
This was the first time he was going out for so long but he couldn't help it.
"Take care beta and call me when you reach ." His mother said with care in her voice and arjun nodded.
After bidding goodbye to his family , arjun sat on his car seat ,put the key in the keyhole and the engine roared to life .
From the window of the car , he could see his mother standing in the front yard of their sweet little house and Aarav in her arms blabbering softly. He gave them a smile and left for his work.
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