"Rishabh?"

He heard his name roll off her tongue and that's it.......he was a goner.

He thought of being mad at her but when he heard his name from her mouth, he forgot that he was mad at her.

He composed himself and peeked through the gap to see Aman sitting on the floor and playing.

He ignored her and went inside straight towards Aman which made her look at him bewildered. She closed the door and went inside.

"Hey Champ!" He said cheerfully.

Aman was surprised to see him.

"Hey Buddy!" Aman grinned at him.

" What are you doing?" He asked.

" Me and mumma were playing Ludo." Aman said excitedly.

" Sir, shouldn't you be at the party right now?" She asked him frowning.

He looked at her who was looking cute in her sleepwear with a messy hair and he cleared his throat to divert his attention.

" What is Ludo?" Rishabh asked confused and both of them looked at him like he is some ghost.

" You don't know Ludo game?" Aman asked shocked.

" No." Rishabh said scratching his neck.

" I will teach you." Aman said and Rishabh sat beside him on the floor taking off his shoes.

" Sir, you can sit on the sofa.....Aman you too." Aadhya said quickly.

" No, it's fine." Rishabh mumbled without looking at her which made her sigh.

She understood that he is mad at her.

" You left the party and came here?" She asked crossing her arms even though she knows the answer but she  didn't know why he did that.

He stayed silent looking at Aman who is arranging the Ludo chart.

" Had your dinner?" She asked him again.

And again he stayed silent making her sigh loudly.

She shook her head at him and went inside the kitchen. She started preparing something for him to eat as they already had finished their dinner.

Rishabh bent and looked at her working in the kitchen. He thought that he has no right to be mad at her and he knows that she is sorry for that but he thought to be mad at her for some more time as he is enjoying her attention.

Aman started teaching him the game and Rishabh listened to him interestingly.

" That's it?" Rishabh asked and Aman nodded.

" It's so simple.....come on let's play." Rishabh said.

Soon they started playing and she could hear their noise from kitchen. Rishabh shouts and yells whenever he dies and Aman teases him about it.

She laughed out when she heard Rishabh yelled 'cheating' at Aman and guessed that Aman might have again killed him. She liked it as their house is always calm without any noise but now there is a big kid sitting in their living room yelling and shouting.

Soon they started running around the living room yelling at each other. Aman was chasing Rishabh who was running away from him.

She cooked and prepared the dining table for him to eat. She went into the living room and saw that Rishabh was tickling Aman who was laughing loudly. It was a sight to see both of them laughing and shouting.

She immediately took her phone and captured the scene without letting them know. She doesn't know what will happen in the future and wants to treasure such precious moment.

" Sir, I made dinner for you.....please come and have it." She said and he looked at her surprised.

He was happy that she understood that he was hungry and cared for him enough to cook for him.

" No, I am not hungry." He said looking down playing with the dice.

" I know you didn't eat anything at the party.....please come and have dinner." She said looking at him who is sulking like a kid.

" Buddy, please eat na....." Aman asked sweetly.

" Okay only for you my champ." He said and she rolled her eyes hiding her smile at his childishness.

Three of them went towards the dining table and Aadhya showed him the restroom to freshen up. After he came, she started preparing his plate and poured water in his glass.

Rishabh looked at his plate to see his favourite pulao with some spicy curry and he looked at her astonished.

" What? You don't like it?" She asked him worried.

" No, I love it.....it's my favourite." He said and started eating the food.

" Mmmm.......it's so tasty." He said enjoying the food.

" Mumma, for me?" Aman said pouting.

" You will eat?" She asked him surprised as he doesn't like eating food and she always forces him to complete his meal.

He nodded his head and she got up to bring his plate.

" Wait! No need for another plate.....I will feed him." Saying this he fed Aman a bite before she can stop him.

" Did you eat?" He asked her who nodded her head in yes.

" But she didn't complete it....she left the food." Aman said sadly looking at her who looked at him surprised as to how he noticed it.

" I was full that's why I left the food." She said looking down.

" Buddy, why don't you feed mumma too?" Aman asked making them look at him shock.

" It's okay Aman, I am not hungry." She said quickly.

" Here." Saying this Rishabh held his hand with food near her mouth.

" Open your mouth." He said when she was looking at him stunned.

She mindlessly opened her mouth staring at him and he fed her and Aman few bites. Three of them ate the food talking and laughing. She had tears in her eyes as it has been long time since someone had fed her and it has been long time she felt it like a normal dinner with family.

Rishabh looked at her in between talking to Aman and saw her blinking back her tears looking down.

" Are you okay?" He asked worried.

" Yes." She smiled at him genuinely.

Her smile was enough for him to forget everything and stare at her.

She saw Aman was sleepu and drowsing in his seat. She wiped his mouth and picked him up in her arms. She went inside the bedroom and tucked him in the bed. She stayed beside him until he fell asleep completely and stood up kissing his forehead.

She turned and saw Rishabh looking at them with a strange emotion standing near the door.

" You know, Aman is so lucky." He said while walking out.

" For what?" She asked following him out.

" To have you as his mother." He said softly.

She stiffened.

It's not luck.....it's their misfortune.

If only he knows the truth........

" What happened?" He asked looking at her paled face.

" Nothing." She said and they both sat on the sofa in the living room.

" Your house so beautiful and cozy." He said looking around admiring and she smiled.

" Thank you.....Oh! I totally forgot." She said and went into the kitchen.

He followed her and saw she is taking something from fridge.

" What is that?" He asked.

" Cake.....I prepared for Aman." She said and gave him a plate with cake in it.

He grinned and ate the cake like a kid.

" Wow! It's so good." He said while eating it making her smile.

" Sir, why did you leave the party?" She asked and he looked at her.

" It was boring." He shrugged.

" You arranged it!" She exclaimed and he shrugged again making her sigh.

" I thought you were a party person." She muttered.

" You thought about me?" He asked smirking at her who widened her eyes.

" No!" She exclaimed and he laughed at her.

" Anyway to answer your question.....I go to parties not because I enjoy them but because I feel alone. In parties there will be so many people who would come there just to enjoy and I join them just to spend my alone time with them." He said sighing.

She looked at him sadly.

" Sorry for judging you.....I know how is that feeling." She whispered the last part looking down.

" No.....I am sorry, I didn't think about Aman while asking you to come to the party." He said looking down at his plate.

" It's not your fault.....I should have informed you earlier." She said.

" Did your parents liked your surprise?" She asked him curiously after a moment of silence.

And for the first time he saw curiosity in her eyes.

" Yes, they loved it and praised you for the arrangements." He said.

" It was your plan." She stated frowning.

" But it was your tastes they liked." He said smiling making her smile.

" I am glad they liked it." She said and started cleaning the dishes.

" I will help you." He offered.

" No, it's like 2 to 3 dishes....it will be over in a minute." She said and silence fell between them as she she washed the dishes.

Both were drowned in their own thoughts.

He had many questions in his mind to ask about her, her family, Aman.....but he knows she will feel uncomfortable and mostly he doesn't want to turn her smile into frown again as she rarely smiles.

" You know why I left the party?" He asked and she turned towards him.

" Because you felt bored?" She asked.

" Yeah but the reason I felt bored when there were so many people around me is......" He paused looking at her.

" Is?" She asked.

" Because you were not there." He said and her breath hitched.

She just stared at him and he moved close to her.

" I missed you." He whispered looking at her who froze in her place.

" And I kinda missed Aman too.......... that's why I am here." He said moving back making her sigh I'm relief.

They both stood staring at eachother.

" I should go now." He said and she nodded her head.

They both took their time to walk towards the door immersed in their own thoughts.

" Thanks Aadhya, for the wonderful night and for such delicious food." He said smiling at her who smiled back.

" Thanks to you too......Aman enjoyed your company a lot." She said.

" And you?" He asked and she looked at him.

" I..I.... can't say much but I can say that it will be a memorable night for me." She said looking down.

And Rishabh had done the most unexpected thing which stunned them both.

He hugged her.

" Aadhya..... You never told me and I never asked you but I know you are going through something and I always see it in your eyes. I just want you to know that you have me........you have me by your side and you can share anything with me if you ever wanted to talk." He said stroking her hair gently still hugging and waited for her response.

She had tears in her eyes listening to his words and wrapped her arms around him hugging him back. He smiled feeling her warmth and she felt safe in his arms.

His words maybe simple but they mean a lot to her and he means a lot to her.

" Thank you."

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To be Continued............

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