"Your son has been calling you for a long time." It took a long time for Myra's brain to process and grasp Neil's words.

She kept on looking at him with a wide open mouth with blinking eyes. Confusion was all written over her face. She gaped like a fish to find words. She wanted to pinch herself to get assured about the reality of the moment. Unable to do anything, she just lowered her eyes which were filled with tears.

Neil could not take his eyes from her. Her tears left him in a baffled state. He had not imagined in his wildest of his dreams that she was craving for his acceptance for her bonding with his son. But simple acceptance gave peace to his earlier troubled heart.

His heart had accepted her as his son's mother long back but his mind was overpowering restricting from vocaling it out but today his heart defeated his mind.

"Mumma" Neev called again.

This time Myra turned to her baby with a bright smiling face but tears started rolling over her cheeks which she could not controll.

She wrapped her arms around his tiny figure kissing his hairs.

Neil kept on looking at them without blinking.

"Take care of him" Neil stood up to capture attention from his wife and son.

She nodded her head with smile.

"Dadda?" Neev raised his hands asking him to pick him up.

"Now you are remembering me?" Neil scrunched his forehead in fake anger. He thought to turn emotional surroundings into playfulnesses.

"I am not going to pick you up." He challenged.

"Dadda" Neev started jumping in his high chair.

"Nope. You were busy with your Mumma. Why do you need me now? Go... Go to your Mumma." Neil crossed his hands giving a light shake to his shoulders. His jealousy was oozing out.

Everytime Neil called her as Neev's Mother her heart thudded with marathon speed. Her cheeks turned red unknowingly, which were not missed by Neil.

"Mumma" Neev turned to his mother for help. He took out his lower lip.

She was watching both father and son's drama with a small smile. Neev moved to Myra. He pulled her shirt and nuzzled in her arm showing his despair.

She caressed his hairs, enveloping him in her arms.

"Mumma's boy" Neil rolled his eyes. Now it was high time for him to take in.

His antics earned giggles from Myra.

"Go kissi your Dadda" She mumbled in Neev's ears.

"No" He was also stubborn like his father.

'Ohh god I am going to have a lot of tough time with these two.' She took a mental note.

"Please, see Dadda is upset. Go. You are my good baby." She again mumbled.

After a long thought Neev called out. "Dadda"

Neil looked at him with corner eyes.

"Kissi" Neev took out his both lips.

His innocent face melted Neil's heart in a moment. He picked his son in his arms, kissing his face everywhere.

"You are such a drama."

Their home echoed with their laughter for the first time.

It was afternoon, Neil was in his office attending meetings when he heard a knock on the door.

"Yes"

He raised his eyes to see Myra, she was holding one plate filled up with his lunch.

She came inside and kept his food on his table.

"Are you going somewhere?" He asked, looking at her ready in her jeans and top.

"Yes, I am going to see Julia Aunty."

"Ohh ok."

"Neil, Neev is sleeping in my room, I have switched on the baby monitor. I will bring it here. I don't think he will get up soon but if he does then..."

"Don't worry I will take care of him."

She nodded her head and turned to leave.

"Myra, how are you going to the hospital?" He asked.

"I will take uber." she replied casually.

"Ok. Take care."

Neil stared at her retreating figure.

"You just screwed up." Voice boomed in his study.

"What?" He turned his eyes to his Mac screen which was showing his brother pulling his hair.

"Wow! Mrs. Neil Singhania is travelling with Uber. It's breaking news brother." sarcasm was oozing out from his words and glare.

"Shit" Neil closed his eyes with realisation. Niren laughed loudly from other side.

He got up from his seat and ran outside.

"Myra," he shouted from behind.

"What?" She stopped in her tracks. Unknowingly fear started building up in her heart. Last time she stepped out of their home had brought a storm in their life.

She gulped audibly.

"I will ... I will just go and meet Julia. Nothing else." she mumbled fidgeting with her fingers. She was not scared of his allegations but she did not want to disturb the peace and solace of her life which she was experiencing from the last couple of weeks.

Her words hit the sore part of his heart, even today he was blaming himself for his horrendous act.

"I am not going to repeat my sins. I promised you." he spoke softly, understanding her fear.

She stared into his eyes which were filled with truth.

"Take Jacob with you as a driver."

For a moment her brain did not process his words.

"Why? I mean I can manage." she felt awkward.

"It will be convenient for you as well as less hectic."

She tried to protest but Neil interrupted, "Please I insist."

He took out his phone to call his driver.

"Thanks" Myra bit her lower lip.

His care and concern resulted in giving rebirth to her earlier died hope.

Myra left and Neil came back to his study. He started concentrating on his work when he got notification on his phone with a message from his little brother.

'My best wishes are always with you my big bro.'

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head burying himself back in his work.

After almost two hours he stretched his hands. His eyes landed on the baby monitor screen, his son started stirring in his bed making soft baby noises.

He came upstairs to Myra's room. His son was awake and was sitting in his crib playing with his toys.

Neil kept on looking at his son remembering his days with him before Myra's arrival in their life.

Neev was a cranky baby. He used to keep on crying for long hours which was impacting his health severely. Being new as well as single parent it was difficult for Neil to understand newborns needs. He was left broken with huge responsibility for his precious possession.

But now when Neil was observing his baby, he had turned into a happy kid. His health was also improving, he had gained weight. He has started learning and understanding new things. He had started to develop according to his age. Thanks to Myra.

Neev was playing with his soft toys but his eyes were moving towards the door. Even his little heart knew the moment he opens his eyes, his mother will be in front of him in a moment. But today, it was his father.

He kept aside his soft toy, holding the railings of the crib he stood up asking, "Mumma?"

"She went outside, she will come back soon." He took steps inside.

Looks like his son did not understand, "Mumma?"

"Your mumma went out. Come to Dadda." He tried to explain with gestures.

Neev became upset; he took out his lower lip and sat down with a hung head.

"Neev, see Dadda is here. Let's play. Are you hungry, my baby?" Neil tried to take him.

"Mumma?"

"She will come soon. Let's get freshen up and go out for a walk. It's Dadda and Neev's time." He cheered up his son.

Neil changed his diaper and clothes. One thing he observed, earlier Neev's nursery was totally disorganised, he always had tough time to find his necessary things but post arrival of Myra everything was neat and at it's place.

They both came downstairs, he thought of giving some evening snacks to his son. He entered the kitchen thinking about his options but his eyes landed on a note stuck to the refrigerator.

'I have prepared Neev's broccoli cheese bites, they are in a red bowl which is on the kitchen counter. Just warm them in the oven for 5-7 mins on 100 degrees. His apple puree is on the kitchen counter in his blue sippy cup. His boiled water is in the thermos, please refill his green sippy cup which is in the steriliser.'

"Your mumma is a superwoman." Neil said seriously to Neev who was in his arms.

"Mumma" Neev's eyes shined in a moment.

"Yes, your mumma" Neil smiled at his son. Surely, his son was on the path of becoming a total mumma's boy in near future.

Neil did everything as per instructions and came to the dining area, he put Neev in his high chair. Where he found another note.

"One more from your mumma."

'Your black coffee is in your mug.' It was very short but gave ticklish feelings to his stomach.

'How does she know I need to have my black coffee after work?'

No one had kept such kinds of notes for him. It was for the first time someone had taken extra efforts to make him feel special.

Sipping his coffee, he started feeding Neev.

"I am so sorry" Myra entered the dining hall hurriedly.

"It's ok." He got up but was completely ignored by Myra as she ran to her baby.

"I am so sorry Neev. Mumma is really sorry." She held her ears.

But now it was her son's time to show her his tantrums.

"No. No." he shook his head.

Neil pressed his lips to control his laughter looking at both of them. One was kneeling down on her knees holding her ears with an innocent face whereas the other was in his most grumpy mood.

"Sorry Neev, Mumma is bad. Mumma was stuck in traffic. Sorry." tears started to well up in her eyes. She could never see her son being mad at her. He was her world.

Her heavy voice made Neev turn to her. "No no Mumma."

"Kissi?" He asked in his baby tone.

"Ohh my baby. Just give me 10 mins. Mumma will quickly take a shower and then will give you a thousand kissi." Neev nodded showing he understood everything.

"Mumma came from the hospital. There are so many germs, Mumma doesn't want her baby to get germs. So let Mumma go throw away all germs and then come to Neev. Ok?" She explained like a little kid herself.

"Ok" Neev copied her.

She laughed and turned to see amused Neil standing behind her with crossed hands and pressed lips.

"I am sorry you had to handle everything alone. Doctors came, so I was discussing with him. He suggested a few precautions for Aunty. Then I got stuck in downtown traffic."

"It's ok Myra."

"Doctors said they will discharge Aunty tomorrow."

"That's great!"

She turned to leave the dining area when Neil called her from behind, "Myra. Thanks for the coffee."

She gave him a small smile and left.

Next day, Neil brought Julia back home. Today he had to go to the office for a few important meetings. Myra had already made arrangements for Julia's care. She made her rest in her room.

"Julia aunty, this is milk with turmeric. My granny used to say this is very good for health. I know it will taste horrible but please consider it as medicine and gulp it in one go." Myra mentioned, unaware of one pair of eyes looking at her in admiration.

"I am not Neev." Julia cribbed, "From the moment I am at home you are behind me. Aunty do this. Aunty do that."

Myra bit her lower lip to suppress her laugh.

"You are more stubborn than my Neev." She mumbled inaudible to anyone.

"Mrs Singhania?" Julia became alert looking at the figure standing at the room's door step.

Myra turned to see Nandini looking at her with wide open eyes.

"How are you Julia?" She came inside with a bouquet of flowers. Julia was Nandini's loyal and trusted employee from almost 2 decades.

"Excuse me please." Myra took an excuse. She was always scared of Nandini's authoritative and dominating aura.

Nandini did not say anything but just gave a simple nod before taking a seat near Julia's bed.

The moment Myra was out of the room she took a deep breath. She saw Neev who was in his crib rubbing his eyes indicating he was sleepy. She took him in her arms and started taking rounds patting his back, singing his favourite lullaby.

When he slipped in deep slumber she kept him on bed covering him with a blanket. She still kept on patting his forehead staring at his peaceful face.

She heard a soft knock on the door. "Can I disturb you for a moment?" It was Nandini.

Myra was startled with her sudden entry. She got up abruptly.

"Yes... Yes... Mrs. Sing... Singhania."

"Let's not disturb the little one with our talks." Nandini smiled softly pointing at sleeping Neev but indicating Myra to come out.

"Ok.. Sure" Myra gulped nervously.

Nandini observed Myra, she secured Neev on the bed surrounding pillows. She switched on the baby monitor as well as started soft music of lullaby before coming out.

Myra came out but her brain was flooded with thoughts about her future talks with Nandini.

"Thank you so much dear." Nandini took Myra'a icy cold hand in hers. Her eyes were filled with tears.

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