"I don't want you."

• ♡ •

"Advi, I am sorry. Come on now, you really don't want to go to play?" Heer asked Advika. She had tried everything to get Advika to warm up to her but her little girl was adamant. From making her cupcakes and cookies to being cute around her. She had even tried bribing her with a movie night out. Yet, Advika didn't give up being cross with her.

"I don't want to," Advika mumbled getting off the sofa where Heer had just taken a seat beside her.

"Come on, Advi, now forgive mom. Please," Heer spoke pulling Advika into her arms and then placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I don't want to play with you," Advika said angrily.

"Okay, then I am going to go play with Aadi..." Heer tried again, perhaps the jealousy worked in her favor.

Advika stared at her with a frown. "Okay, go. I don't want you. I have Paa and I don't want anyone." She hollered in a high pitch and ran off to her room. Her words were like a hard slap on Heer's face. She glanced up to find Kabir staring at her. 

"Heer, Advika didn't mean that," Kabir spoke noticing the tears that had formed in Heer's eyes.

"Yeah, I know," Heer said softly her lips settling into a tight line. She silently made her way to her room. Did Advika really not mean it? This was a possiblity that Heer had been running away from. At one point or another, this was bound to happen. No matter what happened the fact that she was Advika's stepmother would always remain a truth. Her heart twisted in pain. 

* * *

Kabir walked into his daughter's room to find her sprawled on the bed, her face buried into her soft pillow. "Advi, is that the way to talk to mom?" He spoke, his voice stern.

"Advika, I am talking to you," he spoke sitting beside her. "Get up, look at me,"

"Advika!" He called his daughter's name ina  disappointed voice.

She looked up from the pillow with puffy eyes. "I don't want her!"

"Advika," his voice was soft as he pulled her up, getting his little girl to hug him. 

"She doesn't have time for me.." the girl sobbed. Kabir wrapped his arms around his little girl's petite frame, rubbing her back to comfort her as she sobbed incessantly. "She doesn't love me, I don't want her."

Kabir's heart ached. He was relieved that Heer wasn't around to hear that again. "Advi, she is your mother." He said softly.

"She is not, Mumma was. Why did she have to leave us, Paa?" She cried and Kabir had never felt so vulnerable. Advika's tears and pain was something he couldn't deal with. He held her close placing a kiss on her head. 

"You remember what Naani had told you? She had said God called Mumma to be an angel. And Angels are always there for us, help us and do magic for us. That's why you have your new Mumma." Kabir consoled her.

"Advi, we both are blessed to have Heer in our lives. She loves you, very much. She cares for you like mumma did. She is your mother, Advi. I know you're upset that she doesn't spend much time with you. But she is your mother, Advika. You hurt her saying that you don't want her to be with you." Kabir explained.

Advika rubbed her reddened cheeks wiping her tears. She sat on his lap and rested her face against his chest. Her sobs had faded but she sat silently lost in her thoughts. 

"She won't leave us, right?" Advika asked in a feeble voice lined with doubt.

Kabir glanced at his daughter and then rested his cheek over her head. He could see her fears clearly, they were exactly like his. "She won't!" He said and with it released a silent prayer for it to be true. 

"But you should apologize to her Advika," he said looking at his daughter, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

"But she doesn't have time to play with me or do me a French braid or watch Disney. She didn't even see that I got a twenty four out of twenty five in English paper."

Kabir smiled, "but I did. And I also made a nice braid for you..."

"But you're not her Paa," Advika frowned.

"So you don't love me?" Kabir pouted.

"No,no. I love you so so much," Advika said spreading out her arms.

"Sure?" Kabir asked the corners of his lips rising.

"No doubt!" Advika smiled hugging him. 

Kabir smiled placing a kiss on her forehead. "Now, listen to me. Mom loves you very much. So you shouldn't talk to her like that. Never again."

"Did I make her feel bad?" She asked, with guilt coloring her face.

"Yes you did, Advi. So now, you must apologize."

Advika looked down at her fingers. "Okay,"

"That's my good girl," Kabir smiled and got off the bed. 

"Will she be mad at me?"

"You know how to make her feel better, don't you?"

Advika looked thoughtfully for a few seconds before a smile appeared on her face and she gazed up at her father, "I do,"

* * *

Heer felt terrible. Advika had given her a reality check. Maybe the fault was with her. She didn't know how to handle relationships at all. That's why no matter what relationship, she was always let down, because she let down people. Maybe she deserved what she got. She wiped the tear that had rolled down her cheek.

"Mom," she heard the familiar voice. She remembered how the first time she had seen Advika. She saw her own reflection in Advika. She didn't want the little girl to be left out and all alone like she felt when her mother wasn't there for her. But today Heer felt she had failed. She had made Advika feel what Heer's own mother had made her feel.

"Hey, sweetie," Heer smiled turning around.

"I am sorry," Advika spoke reaching out to hold her hand. 

Heer knelt down placing her hands on her shoulder, "I am the one who should say sorry. I am sorry, Advika. " she apologized cupping her face.

"No, I made you feel bad by saying that.." Advika broke into sobs.

Heer wiped her tears, "Sweetheart, you did nothing. Why are you crying? It wasn't your fault." Heer spoke concerned.

Heer was taken aback when Advika threw her arms around her neck and hugged her. "I don't want you to leave me... I love you, mom. Please don't go away because I hurt you." The girl spoke between her sobs. 

Heer had tears streaming down her cheeks, as she wrapped her arms around Advika's sleek body. "I won't." She reassured Advika kissing her cheek.

"Promise?" Advika asked blinking her heavy eyes.

"Eskimo promise," Heer muttered rubbing her nose over Advika's, which brought a smile on the girl's face instantly.

"I promise, I won't hurt you again," Advika spoke earnestly while using her thumbs to wipe away the tears on Heer's cheek. Heer smiled, as her daughter then placed a kiss over her cheek. 

"You want to go to play?" 

"No, I want to watch a movie with you!" Advika spoke hugging her again.

Heer smiled, "Movie it is, which one?"

"Frozen!" Advika grinned.

"Fourteenth time!" Heer grinned, picking her up in her arms.

"Mom, put me down. I am a big girl."

"Okey-dokey, how about piggyback ride?"

"One is never too old for that," Advika squealed quickly climbing on the bed as soon as Heer put her down.

Kabir smiled walking away before the two spotted him. His respect and love for Heer only pullulated.

* * *

Kabir was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Advika and Heer were watching TV again. Since the evening they were inseparable. After watching a Disney movie they had played some board game. Right now the two were busy paying attention on the guitar where Heer was trying to teach Advika to play it. Kabir's thoughts were back to him and Heer. The more he saw Heer with Advika, the more he wanted to share a closer relationship with Heer. He wanted to cuddle with her too. He wanted those rewarding kisses on the cheek and those eye rolls. He wanted Heer to love him like that. After last night he wanted it more than ever. He needed Heer.

"...I am going to miss you then.." He heard Advika's voice as the two stepped into the kitchen, with Advika on Heer's back. 

"I am going to talk to you everyday. We will video call everyday, " Heer answered putting her down on the island.

Advika pouted, "Can I not come with you?"

"Then who is going to go to school?" Heer asked raising her brow.

Advika sighed, "When do you leave?"

"Next week, Thursday," Heer answered glancing at Kabir to instantly meet his gaze.

"So, what did you learn Advi?" Kabir asked as he dished out the gravy. The thought of having Heer away for three weeks was disturbing. The fact that she hadn't told him that before telling Advika didn't settle well with him. 

"Parts of the guitar, and then we played it for fun," Advika grinned ear to ear glancing at Heer.

Kabir smiled automatically catching his daughter's wide grin. 

"Can I sleep with you both?" Advika asked minutes later as she helped in wiping the wet spoons.

Kabir glanced at her surprised at his daughter's sudden request, however he didn't show the surprise on the face.

"Sure, big girl!" He teased.

"Because mom is going to leave and I will miss her that's why!" Advika explained.

Kabir smiled, "I know. Now tell me did you finish your maths homework?"

Advika looked at him like a deer caught in headlights. Kabir didn't need an answer after looking at that look. "We are doing it immediately after dinner, okay?"

"Okay!" She smiled relieved. Heer looked on adoring the two of them. It only struck her now, that she would be the one missing Advika too. Three weeks without her would be so hard. 

"Here," Kabir's voice broke her from her thoughts as he placed a  chapati on her plate. 

"Thanks," Heer smiled, her eyes catching the reddish scratch on the side of his neck. Damn, that was her craft. She looked away trying hard to not think about him.

Heer had changed and made the bed while Kabir was monitoring Advika with her homework. Heer picked up her phone to find a missed call from Dev half an hour ago in her notifications. She quickly dialled back. "Hi, Dev, Sorry I was busy I didn't see the call."

"That's okay, I had just called to say I was planning on leaving at ten tomorrow. Is that okay?" Dev spoke from the other side.

"Yeah sure! Is that it Dev? Or you wanted to talk about something else?" Heer asked as her fingers fidgeted with the end of the pillow cover that rested on her lap.

"Ahh, I decided not to ask her out." Dev finally spilled the beans.

"But I thought you were going to..."

"I was Heer. But then I just thought over it. I don't know how she's going to react. At least we share a cordial relationship as friends now. I will ask her out after the last show. I don't want to upset things now. It's best if I let keep out of her mind for both of us."

Heer smiled, "that's a good call."

"Thanks Heer, it's been a while I have had a friend I can talk to openly." He spoke from the other end.

Heer smiled, "I am glad that you can. So see you tomorrow then, I need my beauty sleep!"

"That's more like Laasya than Heer."

Heer chuckled, "Go sleep. Good night!"

"Good night Heer and thanks!" Dev spoke before the call ended. Heer smiled widely it felt so nice to have someone call her  a friend and mean it. She was going through her chats when Kabir walked in. She quietly noticed him taking his clothes and walking into the washroom. She stared at the shut door lost in her thoughts.

Minutes later Advika scrambled on the bed and settled close to her. Heer smiled letting her snuggle closer. "Mom, why do you have these big?" Advika asked pointing at her chest.

Heer was a little taken aback with the sudden question however, she smiled a little telling, "Because that's how God made me."

"Why don't I have them?" Advika asked curiously. She had always noticed how all the aunties had that.

"When a girl grows up and becomes a woman she gets these." Heer answered. 

"Oh!" Advika responded sinking in the fact.

"Advika, you know the secret girl rule right?" Heer asked. She had read a lot of articles about being a mother to a ten year old. It was natural for Advika to ask things like that. However, Heer was a little concerned. Advika was growing up, puberty was slowly hitting her. She just didn't want Advika to be taken advantage of. 

"Yes, no one touches me here and here," she spoke putting her plam over her pajamas at the junction of her legs and then on her chest. "And I should tell you if I feel pain there. And no boys should talk to me about it."

"That's my big girl!" Heer smiled kissing her forehead, at the moment Kabir stepped out of the washroom looking at the duo on the bed.

"What was that about?" He asked smiling at his grinning daughter.

"Girl stuff!" Advika replied grinning while exchanging a look with Heer.

"Okay girls!" He muttered wondering what it could be about. He noticed Heer glance at him, as she lay on the bed with Advika snuggled up against her. The image had a certain soothing effect. Ever since he had heard Heer smile and talk to Dev he was more pissed at Heer. He couldn't understand her. She liked him, was attracted to him, had sex with him, was co parenting with him, was married to him and yet she just wanted to be friends. The fact that she didn't directly tell him that she was leaving on Thursday had pissed him further. 

And if all of that wasn't enough to put him in a foul mood he had overheard her conversation with Dev. Which idiot on earth calls a married woman at ten thirty in the night? Kabir couldn't understand what was up with Heer. Had she told Dev what kind of relationship they shared? That she wasn't Advika's biological mother, that she shared a platonic relationship with her husband. 

When he saw Advika happy with Heer his complaints were thrown into some corner of his mind. Heer have Advika more than what he had expected her to. He was happy to see Advika more talkative, smiling and being like a loved, pampered kid. Je couldn't give Advika what Heer gave her no matter how hard he tried. He was glad that Misha and his mother had convinced him for a second marriage. 

He looked at the bed where the two were tickling each other and giggling. "Why don't you two have a girls night together? I will sleep on the other room." He offered. The bed was big enough but he wanted some space and he wanted to give Advika the time to be with just Heer. 

"Kabir, there's space for you," Heer spoke up.

"I know, but you two seem to be having a good time and I don't think you both will let me sleep peacefully. I am sleepy, so bye girls!" He tossed a smile picking up his pillow. He was glad he could come up with that excuse.

"Okay, good night, Paa," Advika squealed opening her arms wide. Kabir grinned leaning on the bed, putting his one knee on the mattress. 

He kissed Advika's cheek supporting partial of his weight on his hands against the mattress.  "Good night, Princess!"

He slowly withdrew himself when she kissed him back in his cheek. "Paa, you didn't give mom a good night kiss," Advika reminded him. 

Kabir's smile faded a little and he looked at Heer whose face reflects his expression. She seemed a little reluctant but propped up herself on her elbow, leaning forward. Kabir was a little dazed. He gently leaned closer and tilted his head placing a kiss on her cheek. "Good night!" He almost whispered. It sucked to be so close yet so far from her

"Good night, Kabir!" Heer said softly and pressed her lips against his stubble covered cheek. He glanced at her as he pulled away. He took his pillow and blanket and walked out still feeling the wetness of her soft lips on his cheek. That kiss made him feel she wanted him as much more than a friend. He could be wrong his mind told him but his gut felt the otherwise. Heer was becoming an enigma to him.

Hello readers!

I have been crazy busy on work front and at family front, which is why I barely get time to write. Thanks for waiting patiently. I will try to give at least one update per week. I hope there are no errors in this update, haven't proofread.

Would love to know your thoughts after this chapter.