"Is it okay if I call you mom?" 

• ♡ •

Heer was exhausted after the day's events. It had been a month since she had first met Advika and her father Kabir. Here she was a month later, Heer Jaisinghani officially! Things happened very swiftly. Obviously, because both families were eager for a quick marriage. The Jaisinghanis wanted their son married before the wedding of their younger daughter Misha. While the Dhillons wanted the burden of an unmarried thirty-year-old daughter off themselves.

Kabir and Heer, both didn't want show and pomp. Since very recently a death had also happened in the Dhillon family, the families had agreed on a simple temple wedding.  However, nothing was simple about it. The temple had been so extravagantly decorated that the entire neighborhood knew about the wedding. Heer was glad that it was an early morning ceremony. 

Heer had met Kabir and her daughter regularly for a week after the first meeting. Although, it was mostly Advika and Heer talking. Heer was starting to grow fond of Advika. If anything, Heer knew that it sucked to live alone. Maybe she could be there for Advika and Advika could be there for her. The only times she spoke to Kabir were when they talked about how their lives would go about after the marriage. Heer honestly hadn't thought as far as shifting to Mumbai. She really didn't know if she wanted to go back to the regular city-life she had left behind in her past. She had told him honestly that she hadn't thought about her professional life as such. He had only expressed his desire that she did something where she could give more time to Advika. 

Heer didn't particularly like Kabir. Neither did she hate him. He was just there. It didn't seem like she was marrying at all. He talked about everything as though it was a mere living arrangement. Heer couldn't complain when she herself was looking at things like that. Over days she had decided she'd work from home. Plenty of software companies offered that option. She just had to look for the right ones. There were times she just missed being in their warm small house at Rishikesh. Just she and her grandmother. 

"Heer!" She turned surprised to find Kabir calling her. "I booked the adjacent room as well. You can sleep there." 

Heer nodded gratefully, for his thoughtfulness. Earlier she had asked him why he was staying at a hotel when his parental home was there in the same city. He had given a limited answer stating that he wasn't exactly in good terms with his father. She hadn't probed any more information either. 

"Can I sleep with you?" Advika asked excitedly. 

"Sure!" Heer smiled glancing at her and then at Kabir to make sure he was okay with that. He just stared in blank space. "Kabir?" She called for his attention.

"Yeah sure." He replied quickly looking away. "Advi, did you brush your teeth?" The girl flashed her teeth as though to show proof she did. "Wonderful!"

Heer dragged her luggage bag in which she had packed her night suits and regular clothes. They were supposed to leave for Mumbai the next afternoon. Her stuff was packed and ready to be ported. She quickly opened it pulling out her pajamas and a tee. Closing the zipper she got to her feet. "Shall we?" She asked Advika.

"Yes!" The girl smiled turning to her father, who got on his knee. "Good night, Paa!" She wished, kissing on his cheek.

"Night, princess!" He kissed her cheek. She grinned walking towards Heer.

Heer looked at Kabir. "Umm, the room's key?" 

He nodded procuring an electronic key from his pocket handing it to her. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Sure, good night!" She wished, walking out of the room and into the next one. She smiled as Advika ran and got on to the bed. "I will be back in a few minutes." She told the girl walking into the bathroom. She needed a shower. A lot had happened. She needed time to sink in her new reality.

She walked out after a splendid hot water bath to find Advika fast asleep. The girl was such a sweetheart. She spread out the wet towel on the chair and switched off the lights. Getting on the bed beside Advika, she pulled the bed cover over her, caressing her hair. She wondered how the little girl even coped with the absence of motherly affection. She still remembered when she was Noida how frustrated she got with the absence of her mother. She had to do everything by herself. But, it was better to not have another at all than have one who repeatedly kept reminding you how imperfect you were. Finally, Mrs. Rakesh Dhillon, her mother was happy today. Of course, she got rid of her unmarried daughter for good. Heer had bittersweet feelings for her mother. She pressed a kiss on Advika's forehead, vowing to be the best mother she could be to her.

The next morning Heer was woken up by the rattling at the door and the electronic bell. She walked over to the door still very sleepy.

"Hey!" Kabir uttered awkwardly. He stared at her top to bottom. Dressed in loose pajamas and t-shirt that didn't match, she stood before him with messy hair. Oh, it wasn't hard to tell, she just got out of bed.

"Morning!" She muttered. She hated it when people disturbed her sleep. She opened her eyes, slightly, to notice he was all tidy and dressed up for the day in black trousers and a white shirt. "What's the time?" She spoke aloud her thoughts.

"Eight'o clock." He answered peeping over her shoulder.

"I think we can sleep some more." She muttered walking back to her bed.

"Advika usually wakes up by seven-thirty!" He muttered. "She had a good habit."

"Yesterday was tiring. She must be tired too. Let us sleep, okay!" Heer said in the sweetest way possible not wanting to sound blunt to her so-called husband. "Good night!" She muttered crawling under the cover, moving closer to Advika.

He stared at the two females sleeping. He looked around thoughtfully. Shutting the door of the room he sat on the couch deciding to let them snooze for half an hour more. He looked at them lost in his thoughts. Advika had really grown fond of Heer very quickly. It only gave him a reality check that she actually needed a mother figure. He could do everything for her but couldn't exactly be a mother to her. He tore his gaze away from the two people sleeping to check on some work emails.

* * *

"Paa?" Kabir opened his eyes feeling something moving his hand. "Advi!" He gasped in horror, jerking out of his slumber.

Advika smiled goofily. "You were snoozing on the couch!"

"Hey, princess!" He murmured overcoming his panic. He took his girl in his arms. "You're finally awake." He spoke kissing her cheek, pulling her close to himself. 

Heer noticed his sudden panic, assuming it to be just a casual shock she waved it off. "Good morning!" She wished when his eye looked up at her, placing the tray the staff had just delivered to her doorstep. " I ordered tea for you." She said when he simply nodded. If this went on she'd literally lose her mind. Couldn't he just use simple words to communicate instant of nodding his head? Mr. Annoying Noddy.

Advika sat on the chair drinking the bournvita. Heer smiled sipping her ginger tea. "You like bournvita?"

"Love it!" She muttered before taking another sip. "But, Paa says I should drink complan if I want to be tall." Heer gave a quick glance to her Paa who was silently sipping his tea.

"So, what are we doing until our flight time?" She finally asked.

"Umm, mom wants us to visit the Gurudwara. After that, we'll have a quick lunch and head for the airport. You two need to get ready quickly breakfast is arranged downstairs." He spoke looking at Advika who nodded.

* * *

Heer sat back on her seat while Advika and her father took the seats beside hers. Advika wanted the window seat, her father the aisle, that left her in between them. She closed her eyes. It had literally been more than five years that she actually sat on a plane. She cursed not remembering to have a pack of chewing gum. She was usually left with bad ear pain due to the differing pressures. She turned to her legal husband. "Do you have chewing gum?"

"Uh, no." He answered strangely.

She pressed the service button provided on the lower surface of the carry-in-luggage cabinet. Within a minute's time, an air hostess showed up to help her. "Can I have a pack of chewing gum?"

"Sure." The tall woman answered walking back and returning with a packet of chewing mouth fresheners. 

"Thanks!" Heer muttered taking it. This could do. 

Minutes later, she noticed Kabir hand hard candies to his daughter. Popping one in his own mouth. Stupid man, couldn't he offer her that? She just hoped he warmed up to her eventually or she would have a hard time not getting mad at Advika's Paa. She looked at Advika as she gushed about the plane moving.

* * *

Heer was overwhelmed with the Mumbai traffic. She had visited Mumbai during her college days. But that was a while ago. The city had developed like crazy since then. Expensive shops, cars,  more people, more cars, more noise, more pollution. Everything was in excess. Advika was excited and kept pointing at places she recognized telling her about them. 

Heer was surprised when the cab followed the directions on the road signs entering the Worli area of Mumbai. The Worli sea face already had her heart. Ten minutes later the car pulled into a fancy apartment complex. They were tall buildings their tips talking to the purple sky. Greenery was maintained around the apartment complex. Wow, the man certainly had a good taste when it came to housing. 

He told something to the watchman as the car moved towards the next block. Soon he was leading her to the lift lobby. Heer was totally not expecting a lavish apartment. She had been to his parental gone for a few rituals. She assumed he'd also have a simple place like that. Boy, she was so wrong! They took the first elevator on the right while a man was dragging their luggage with the help of the driver into the other elevator. 

The door opened on the fifth floor. Heer followed the father-daughter duo towards one of the four flats on the floor. Kabir unlocked the dark wooden door holding it open for the two of them. Advika held her hand leading her inside. The room was dark. The girl ran to the switchboard to lighten up the room. Heer was in awe. The well-lit living room with what seemed very comfortable brown couches came to her view. The theme of the room was white and brown. There was a fur carpet laid beside the couch. The floor marble was white and shiny. Damn. She didn't expect such a well kept and tastefully maintained home.

The living room was very open. She looked around to notice two doors that opened into what looked like bedrooms. The two helping men were dragging the luggage in. He paid them and sent them off locking the door. He looked at her finally making the efforts of forcing his lips into a smile. She appreciated the micro effort he put.

"Can I show her around?" Advika asked getting her shoes off running to place them in the shoe rack. Kabir also followed her getting rid of his shoes. Heer took that as her cue to do the same. 

"We remove our shoes here," Advika explained. "The first one is my rack, and the last row his Paa's because his shoes are huge. You can take the one in the middle." Advika smiled. Heer smiled raising her leg to get off her heels. She lost her balance momentarily and quickly placed her feet down. Darn, she had so got used to wearing sports shoes that she didn't do well with heels. She looked around for something to sit on or hold. Giving up, she finally crouched down getting her sandals off. She placed it on the rack. 

Advika led her to the common bathroom to wash her hands. Explaining how this was necessary to get rid of the germs. Heer was going to have the time of her life keeping with the rules of this new home. She was generally of the laid back attitude and mostly a messy person. 

Advika than gave her a tour of the two bedrooms and a common balcony. The furniture was generally dark-colored, all though the bedsheets and pillow covers were of vibrant cushions. The kitchen got Heer's jaw to drop. It looked straight outside from some magazine. 

It was a huge kitchen. It had an island in between and a counter ran on two sides around it. The third side had a huge double-doored refrigerator. There were white-colored cabinets all around on the top. The walls were painted with a light shade of green. A long window that probably filled the kitchen with natural light in the mornings was covered with sleek blinds. A few potted plants placed alongside it. "Wow!" Escaped her lips as she looked around taking a few steps ahead. There were kitchen stools on the other side of the island in between. She looked up at him in awe to finally witness one of his proud smiles. "This kitchen is amazing!"

"Thanks!" He muttered while watching Advika open one of the doors of the twin-door-refrigerator.

"Advika, no cold juices after six." Her father issued an ultimatum. She frowned turning around pouting to make her request. "No sweetie!" He stuck to his point.

"Okay! Can I watch TV?"

"Sure!" He smiled. Heer noted that he only smiled for her. Peculiar man.

Once Advika was out he looked at her. "Uh, I will just show you around. I generally don't appreciate my kitchen being messed." He began walking around showing and telling her what she'd find where. Heer focused trying to sink in all the information. 

* * *

"Paa.." Advika climbed on the bed beside her father. She put her head on his lap lying on the bed. "What should I call her? Bua said she's your wife so she's my mother." She spoke fidgeting with the Rubik's cube in her hand.

Kabir gently ran his hand over her hair. "Call her what you like, princess." 

"How about mom? Mumma wouldn't be upset wherever she is, would she?" The girl looked up at her father with her amber eyes.

"No, she won't be upset," Kabir spoke, leaning to kiss his daughter's forehead. It was heartwarming to see her excited and happy.

She smiled getting her head off his lap. "Okay, then, mom it is." She declared and turned around when they heard the door of the bathroom click open. Kabir looked at Heer shutting the door of the bathroom. She was dressed in short tights that ended at her knees and a loose tee. Her dark brown hair was tied in a bun leaving a few strands dangling down till her shoulder. She was pretty, he wouldn't deny it. 

"Is it okay if  I call you mom?" Advika asked looking at her. Heer was taken aback at her sudden question mainly because she was too focused watching her husband's eyes one her. 

"Sure." She replied sweetly and was instantly rewarded with a hug. She kneeled down to hug her. Her eyes met Kabir's and he immediately looked away. Whatever!

"Come on, Advi, time for bed." He spoke waiting for his daughter to respond. Kabir had told her that she could sleep with Advika in the other room which previously had been occupied by his sister.

"Yes, let's get to bed," Heer spoke looking at her.

"No, you're sleeping here. Paa will tuck me in."

Kabir stared at his daughter bewildered. "Paa, I am a big girl. I can sleep alone."

"Advi!" He exclaimed.

"Bua said you both are married. So you have to sleep together. That's what happy couples do she said. So you both sleep here and I will sleep in the other room." She smiled, happy that she could have the whole bed to herself. Just like the princess did in the movie she had watched last Saturday on Disney channel.

Kabir looked at his daughter exasperated. "Your bua!" He muttered under his breath. "Advi, you don't want to sleep with ...Heer?" 

Advika looked tempted at the offer. Her friends always told her how they loved sleeping with their mother but that was a while ago. Now every big girl slept alone. She was ten! "No, I want to sleep alone." She confirmed.

Kabir let out a deep breath glancing at Heer. "Come on let me tuck you in."

Advika smiled, "Good night... mom!" 

"Good night!" Heer wished. 

"That's not how we wish good night," She grinned, "bend down!"

Heer did and the girl placed be soft lips on her cheek, causing Heer's lips to curve up. She quickly returned a kiss on her cheek. Kabir looked on feeling guilty. Maybe his sister Misha was right, he had deprived his daughter of a mother's love just because he didn't want anyone to take the place of his wife. 

 I hope you're liking this new book. Do leave back your feedback and thoughts. 

Do point out if there are any errors.