Next morning Twinkle woke up to the soft sobs of Ansh.Kunj was in deep slumber and Twinkle didn't want to disturb him.She carefully placed her pillow and blanket on bed beside Kunj so that Avantika doesn't make another big fuzz for not sharing bed with her son.

Kunj stirred on bed and eventually went back to sleep.Twinkle silently opened the door and rushed into Ansh's room.

She saw him rubbing his small chubby fist over his eye.

T-Hey baby, what's wrong?Did you have a bad dream?
She carried him gently and he placed his head against her neck.She started to rock while patting on his back softly which caused him to fall asleep instantly.

Kunj thought that he heard some voice from Ansh's room and when he got out of bed,he saw the couch on which Twinkle slept last night was empty.

He bolted to his son's room only to see Twinkle standing there with Ansh in her arms.As soon as her eyes fell upon Kunj,she brought her forefinger near her lips signaling him to be quiet as she continued patting Ansh's back.

Kunj stood there for a few minutes and watched her putting a sleeping Ansh on his bed.She covered him with blanket before coming out of room.

K-What happened?
He asked as soon as she came out of room

T-I heard him crying and you were in deep sleep.That's why i didn't woke you up. Sorry....
She thought he would be mad at her for not informing about Ansh

K- Oh sorry,i didn't hear his cries.Umm thanks for checking on him.

T(smiled)- No problem.

After that Kunj went to living room to get some more minutes of sleep as it was too early to wake up, while Twinkle went to take a shower.She quickly got ready and by the time she came out of room, Avantika was already in kitchen preparing breakfast for everyone.
Twinkle helped her with whatever little work was left and when she was placing the dishes on the table,she heard Ansh's groggy voice.

"Dada" She watched him as walked near couch with his Mr Bunny soft toy tucked under his arm.

Hey baby,you woke up Kunj cooed softly stretching his hands towards him,still laying on couch.When he was in his reach he effortlessly swept him off the floor and laid him over his chest.

Good morning buddy,Kunj greeted Ansh with a kiss on his golden brown hairs and wound both of his arms around his small body.

Twinkle's heart get defrosted looking at the scene in front of her of her eyes.
She stood there like a fool until she heard Avantika's voice behind her,

A-'Hey boys wake up now, breakfast is ready.'

As much as Twinkle hated it she had to tore away her gaze from Kunj and Ansh and went inside the kitchen to bring the plates.

In the next few minutes,both got freshen up. Kunj placed Ansh on his lap to feed him his porridge when Ansh started pointing at Twinkle,asking her to feed him instead.

Twinkle remembered how Kunj got mad at her previous morning when she offered to clean his place.Fearing
he would do the same,she shifted her eyes to Kunj but surprisingly he was looking at her as is asking her if could feed Ansh.

Twinkle came forward and sat on the chair beside them.When she was about to carry Ansh,he straight away refused to get away from his dada by hugging Kunj's waist tightly but still he wanted to be fed by Twinkle.

Pressing her lips in a thin line Twinkle started feeding him from where she was sitting.She felt a little awkward to move her chair closer to them.So she had to stretch her hand each time to bring it closer to Ansh's mouth.Seeing her discomfort Kunj moved his chair closer to her causing his knees to brush against hers slightly.
Twinkle tried to remain unaffected by the simple contact of their clothed skin but her body heat began to shoot up instantly with those butterflies back in her abdomen.

She restricted her eyes movements only between Ansh's mouth and the bowl of porridge.

Holding Ansh in one hand and Twinkle so close to him,Kunj was having a difficult time having his own food.So,he had to sit there doing nothing except to wait for Ansh to finish eating.

A-Twinkle at what time do you have to go to your college?
She asked breking the silence in room.

T-I have to be there by nine.

A-You have only forty five minutes left.She turned to Kunj and asked him.
'Kunj,can you drop her at the college?'

He was certain that his mother would never take a negative answer from him and moreover Twinkle was late because she has to feed Ansh till the last moment.

That was just a mutual help and there was nothing wrong in it,he reason before agreeing to his mom.

Twinkle rushed out of their room carrying her hospital coat, stethoscope and a bag,She kissed Ansh's cheek and waved at him before following Kunj out of their home.

Standing inside the elevator were Mr&Mrs Sharma who were in their early sixties.They weren't close to Kunj or anything but very nosy and often kept asking him personal questions , which most of the times,Kunj didn't feel like answering.

Mrs Sharma-Good morning Kunj
She chirped

Good morning Aunty,Kunj said forcing a smile.

'Who is this lovely lady',she asked eyeing Twinkle head to toe making her self conscious all of a sudden.

This is Twinkle,he paused not explaining further who is she to him.
Twinkle ,this is Mr&Mrs Sharma , our neighbours.

T-Hello aunty, nice to meet you

Mrs Sharma - Is she your girlfriend Kunj?
She wasn't satisfied with his outlined answer.

Kunj fought the urge to greet his teeth at the old lady's annoying behaviour.What did she had to do with all these details, he wondered.

K-She is my wife.
He said staring at the steel walls of elevator.

Mrs Sharma- No wonder you hid her all these months.She is very beautiful,i must say you are made for each other.
She squealed causing a deep blush to crawl on Twinkle's cheeks.

Kunj rolled his eyes mentally muttering a thanks

Luckily for him, Sharmas had to get down on twenty first floor.'See you soon lovebirds.' Mrs Sharma chirped before leaving

'Bye Aunty' Twinkle smiled at her before the door closed again while Kunj took a huge sigh of relief looking up as if thanking God to save him from that nosy lady.

The drive to the college was silent as usual.She pulled out her phone and decided to text Alisha to inform her that she was on the way to college.

T:Hey babes i will be reaching there in ten minutes

She got an immediate reply from her bestie

A:You are coming to college?Are you nuts?You should be in bed with your hubby.

T:Shut up, wait for me on the gate.

She shoved her phone in her bag when they reached near college gate

T-Thanks you for the ride.

K-No problem.
He flashed his signature half smile at her
K-Do you want me to send a car to pick you up in the afternoon

T-Dont worry about it.Alisha will drop me.

K-Alright then,bye.

T-Bye

She got down and watched his car disappeared in the next Street.
She turned around to the sound of someone clearing their throat and saw Alisha standing there with a teasing grin.

A-That was so romantic.
She said with a crooked smile.Twinkle smacked her head playfully and pulled her towards the outpatient clinic where she had her duty.

A-So how was your wedding night?Did you two do it?She was jumping up and down like a five year kid.
I am so stupid, offcourse you would have done it.You were looking too hot for someone to resisted you.She was also too loud.

"Alisha", Twinkle chided covering her mouth to muffle her voice.Alisha chuckled as she removed Twinkle's hand from her mouth.

A-I would have told you each and everything about my first night, if i were in your place.I can't believe you don't consider me close enough to share those details.
She held her chest as if she was so hurt and Twinkle rolled her eyes at her.

Twinkle was glad that they were interrupted by some of their other friends.

The long queue outside the OP kept her busy whole morning, after that she had to assist her chief doctor with a minor operation.By mid afternoon she was done with the work and decided to walk home since Alisha had to work for some more hours.

Reaching home she was greeted by Avantika who told her that she had to attend a wedding and will be home only after dinner time.

Ansh was napping so Twinkle decided to take a shower.She was wiping her wet hairs when the photo frame on the bedside table got her attention.She strolled near it and hold it into her hands.

As guessed it was picture of her husband and the woman he still loves.
She was a beautiful woman with golden brown hairs and hazel brown eyes just like Ansh's.She had a perfect body that could get people think that she was a model.No wonder Kunj couldn't forget her even after a year of her death.Her eyes travelled to Kunj .

He was looking handsome as usual but a bit younger than now.He didn't had that thick beard and most importantly he looked genuinely happy.There was a huge smile on his face that Twinkle hasn't seen ever before.

She felt a huge lump was stuck at her throat.Her chest was constricted with an unknown emotion.Was it sadness, jealousy or insecurity?She couldn't name it.There was no way he could love her when his dead wife was so beautiful.She would never be able to replace Tara in his heart and always remain the woman whom he married just for the sake of his son.

When she couldn't take it anymore she placed the frame back and turned away.

In the evening when Ansh woke up, Twinkle decided to take him to the park.Before going,she texted Avantika
about taking Ansh to park.

Since the park was few blocks away she carried him in her arms.She kept pointing at the things on the road while naming each one of them and Ansh kept repeating most of her words.

She let him down only when they reached the park.He started playing with the other small kids Twinkle sat on the nearby bench.

The lady who was sitting beside her smiled at Twinkle "Are you Ansh's mom?" She asked

T-Yeah

'Hi i am Naira, Neil's mom and that's my son Neil,she said pointing at the little boy who was playing with Ansh.
I have always seen Ansh coming here with his dad,i wondered who his mom is .Nice meeting you by the way.

T-Nice meeting you too.I am Twinkle

They were talking for sometime when Ansh came running towards Twinkle and started to pull her dress pointing at slide. Twinkle chortled and got up

T-Excuse me

N-Please carry on.

************************************

When Kunj got home ,the house was surrounded by darkness.He panicked and immediately called his mother.

K-Mom where are you and where is Ansh?

A(coolly)-Now that he has a mother,you must ask her.When he didn't reply she continued, Don't tell me you don't have your wife's phone number

K(shuttered)- I didn't get the right moment to ask her

A(exclaimed)- I can't believe you.

K-Mom you can discipline me late Now give me Twinkle's number.

A(taunted)- Ohh you can ask her when you get the right moment and for your information they are in park.

K(shrieked)- Park??

A-Yeah..Why? Is there something wrong with that?

K-Mom how could you let her take him out just like that?

A-Kunj she is Ansh's mom.I don't understand why you are freaking out?

K-Correction step-mom

A-How does that make a big difference?

K-Mom,she is inexperienced with raising a child and i have heard of many incidents of stepmothers being careless with their kids

A-Kunj ,you are forgetting that i was also raised by a stepmother and she was more than a mother to me

K-Mom i am sorry i didn't mean it that way.He apologised and sounded sorry.

A-Whatever i have to go now, talk to you later.She was still pissed off at him before ending the call.

Kunj sighed he felt extremely stupid gor saying that to his mother but at the same time he wasn't entirely guilty for that.

Everyone couldn't be compared with his nani especially a young girl like Twinkle.

He decided to drive park so that he could check Ansh himself.

Parking the car on the nearby street Kunj walked to the park .He looked around his eyes caught by a beautiful scene in front of him.

Ansh was running as fast as his legs could take him and Twinkle was chasing him with slow steps, intentionally trying to maintain the distance. Capturing him in her hands she tossed him in the air causing him to giggle and his heart out.

Twinkle rubbed her nose against his neck causing him to squirm in her arms and laugh more harder than Seeing them a small smile came on Kunj's lips
Twinky, chase chase..Ansh squealed clapping his hands

T-Alright then ,run.She let him down and started to chase him again until her gaze fell on Kunj and she eventually slowed down.
Ansh see, who's there? She pointed at Kunj.

Ansh stopped running and looked around,'Dada'....He squealed as he came running into his arms.

Kunj crouched down and took him in his arms and kissed his cheek
K-Hey buddy,looks like you are having a great time.

Twinkle came walking behind him and stood in front of them.Kunj stood up carrying Ansh in his arms.
Hey,he greeted her to her surprise.

T-Hi, when did you come?

K-Just now.Mom told me that you two are at the park.So i thought of coming here.

When in real he came there because he didn't trust Twinkle with his son.But what he saw a minute ago,he realised she was doing pretty good at taking care of Ansh.

K-Shall we go home?
He said looking down at Ansh and got a nod from him

Walking towards their car,Ansh tried to lift his legs off the ground holding hands of Kunj and Twinkle together.
He giggled each time they lifted him up together.

Kunj looked down at his son with a warm smile and his eyes slowly trailed at Twinkle.She was looking down at Ansh with a beautiful smile.
And that moment she seemed like a good person to Kunj.

After settling Ansh in the backside,he got into the car with Twinkle beside him in the passenger seat.

'Twinkle',Kunj called softly before starting the engine .If he had to live with her for rest of the life,he couldn't go on without asking for her phone number.He would need it in case of emergency.

T-Hmm.She lifted her gaze at Kunj and looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes which didn't go unnoticed by Kunj

K-Can you give me your phone for a minute?

T-Sure,she handed it to Kunj after unlocking it, not quiet sure of what he wanted to do with her phone.

She watched him typing something on the screen before his phone started ringing in his pocket

K-I have saved my number on your phone and I'll save yours on mine.
He informed her giving it back to Twinkle.

That's it for today guys

Hope you liked it.