Happy Birthday, Angel! Angel23_Writes

May every wish of yours get fulfilled and hoping you have all happiness, good health, and prosperity in your upcoming years. 

This update is dedicated to you! Enjoy your day!

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Another promise laid forgotten!

Sia kept giggling even after her Mama had stopped playing with her palm. His stubble didn't prick her little hands nor his little huffs ticked her more, but the after-effects still left on her palm, so she just couldn't stop giggling.

"By the way, why was my little muffin woke up early in the Morning?" Nikhil asked her, as she strode towards his bed, making his niece sit on his lap and hugging her whole body to his chest.

Well well, if Sia forgot the purpose of her visit, her lovable Mama is there to remind her.

And the little Sia in his arms, frowns, thinking for a few minutes, squirting her eyes a few times, and a minute later, her Mama can see a full-blown smile on her face.

Aah! Another Promise laid forgotten? Not really!

"Ananya Aunty was to search for our cricket ball, right? She promised," Little Sia pouted as she hasn't gotten her ball yet.

"Oh, yes, sweetheart! She must have searched for that already. Let me freshen up. We'll go and ask her. Okay?" Nikhil pinches her little nose a little and Sia shrieks laughing out loud.

"Okay. I will have to bathe too," Sia giggles getting down from his lap, and running away on her little legs, reaches her mother's room screaming out for her.

"Ma. Ma. Ma!" Little Sia doesn't find her Mother in the room and stands for a few minutes lost in thoughts.

"Ooh. Ma must be in the Kitchen," she grins with the realization and runs out of the room screaming for her Mother again, only to bump straight into her.

"Woah. Woah! What happened to my Darling Sia?" Nitya takes her little daughter in her arms.

"Ma. Bathe me. I have to Bathe early today," Sia drops a bomb on her Mother's head.

Nitya stood dumbfounded looking at her daughter. Why not? Her daughter is asking to bathe before even it turned 8 in the Morning. Her daughter always bathes after 8 or 9 in the morning.

It's not even 7:30 in the Morning and she wants to bathe this early?

Huh! There's something more for sure.

Nitya glares at her daughter suspiciously.

"Stop cutting me with your eyes. Ma. Bathe me first. I'll be late otherwise," Sia frowns at her Mother's gaze.

"Okay, my little muffin. Let's go." Nitya takes the little bundle of joy in her arms, walking towards their room to bathe her.

***

Nikhil walks after 15 minutes wearing his bathrobe and looks for the best outfit to wear for today.

He's becoming too choosy these days.

All courtesy to none other than Ananya Saini.

After 10 minutes of messing with his wardrobe, he got a white shirt and black jeans to pair up, and soon enough, he was ready, looking as dashing as he looks every day, just that, he's almost a greek god today.

Perfume is the only thing he's left with after gelling his hair, he took his usual one and was to sprint a little when he heard his little niece screaming for him already.

"Mama. Look I'm ready. Am I looking beautiful?" Sia twirls in her blue and white georgette gown, showing her usual dress she wore many times before, in front of her Mama.

Not to forget, this might be the 30th time she'd have asked the same question every time she wore the same dress.

His niece is kinda obsessed with this particular gown he bought for her on her birthday a few months ago. If given a chance, she'd wear the same dress every day without looking at any other ones.

"My princess is always beautiful!" he walks towards her, throwing his perfume on the bed, and pinches her chubby cheeks.

"Right. I'm always beautiful." Sia giggled rubbing the spot where her Mama pinched and she was seen hanging in the air as her Mama lifted her in his arms.

"Mama," she squealed a little.

Nikhil, with his niece in his arms, strode towards his bed to do what he was about to do before his niece landed in his room.

Sia looking at her Mama sprinting his favorite perfume on his body frowns. "For me then?" she pouts gazing at him as Nikhil, without bothering about the little bundle in his arms, was about to put his perfume back in its place.

Only to stop with his niece's voice.

"Why not, baby?" he takes back the perfume and sprints just a little from a little her little body could afford.

Sia soon smiles, her eyes twinkling in amazement and excitement.

"Let's go to A for Ananya, then!" Sia squeals in delight. Her Mama is excited too.

Both Mama and Neice are looking beautiful and dashing, ready to kill everyone with their looks, and since, the perfume was the same, their whole family finds it surprising when Nikhil and Sia walk down the stairs, without even bothering to have breakfast, was about to walk out.

"Where are you going?" Nitya stops them before they could go out.

And before anyone of them could reply, Nitya starts again with her curious eyes, "I thought, Nikhil, you have Office. Remember?"

Looking at his Di's CBI questioning gaze, he sighs and before he could answer, little Sia in his arms open her mouth, "We're going to neighbor Aunty's House, Mummy. We'll come soon. Mama will go to Office too after that. Bye-Bye!"

"Neighbor Aunty?" Nitya frowns. Since when did her brother and daughter start going to the neighbor's house?

"Achha, di! We'll be back in 10 minutes. Okay. Prepare Sia's breakfast. Bye," they walk out before Nitya or their parents could ask more. He know if they start, he had to forget his Office. Ananya is out of the league!

So, he takes the first chance to walk away without giving them any chance for more questions.

However, he knows nothing is going to save him after he comes back from Ananya's house.

"Who's this Neighbor they're visiting, Ma?" Nitya asks her mother who was setting the dining table.

Driti shrugs her shoulders and Nitya's gaze turns towards her father who was reading the newspaper and having his Morning Tea.

Dhruv Nair ducked his face more into the newspaper, leaving a suspicious Nitya who grow more suspicious after his action.

***

Ananya's Mansion,

"Hi!" Nikhil and Sia greet at the same time as soon as Ananya, who's wearing a white shirt too with blue jeans, opens the door upon hearing the calling bell.

She was busy coding a project and was lost in it. She wasn't in the world to hear the calling bell for the first three times and with the fourth shot, a dazed Ananya suddenly gets out of the world and realized there was someone at the door.

"Hi. Morning," Ananay smiles a little and greets a Morning to Sia who was in Nikhil's arms waving at her and showing her pearly white teeth, grinning and twinkling in all her glory.

"Come in!" Ananya remembers the basic mannerisms to welcome them into her home.

Nikhil puts down Sia as Sia struggles to get down from his arms, indicating to him that she would walk on her own, and soon she was seen rushing into the arms of Ananya who stood smiling at her near the sofa.

"Good Morning, Aunty! You're looking beautiful. We're matching. See." Sia twirls showing her the white and blue she wore.

"Yes, Sweetie. We're matching. And you look angelic in this gown," Ananya smiles bending down a little and pinching her chubby cheeks, the same spot where her Mama pinched a few minutes before. Sia had to rub the same spot, giggling, again.

Is it a coincidence that they matched?

Must be!

"Thank You, Auntie! Where's my ball? You promised I'd get it in the Morning," Sia asks excitedly waiting for her ball.

Ananya dims, there wasn't a smile on her face anymore.

"Oh god. How can I forget the promise I made to this little angel?" she thinks in her mind regretting. But can anyone blame her? She was new to the place she never stayed, new to the dreams she never dreamt, and new to the feelings she never...felt!

If she forgot, that wasn't really her fault yet... hers! Confusing but true. And so Ananya was soon regretting the promise she ever made to the little child.

"Don't ever make a promise if you're not able to stand by it!" She remembered saying it to someone who broke them and hurt her.

Didn't she become like them now? Oh, yes, she did!

What Ananya failed to realize is humans can make mistakes and it's normal.

What is abnormal is what Ananya tries to do, every time.

Running away from the promises every day, in the fear of breaking them someday — which is making her live her life not lively!

She hadn't realized that yet.

So, she conveniently regretted the promise she made, and the comforts she made with the little kid. For if she didn't — she'd never have made a promise.

Ananya isn't someone to make promises and that's what Ananya Saini is.

The little kid here made her lose the Ananya Saini in her. No more!

"I'm so sorry, Sia. I..I just forgot to search for it. You'll get that ball by the evening. Hmm..with a Chocolate?" Ananya made sure she doesn't promise, offering her Chocolate as compensation. Although she doesn't like the thought of breaking the promise and compensating for it. She isn't sure

Sia was little hurt on hearing her recent favorite Aunty forgot the promise she has given, "It's okay, Aunty. In the evening it is then, and with a Dairy Milk Chocolate?" Sia is a kid, after all, forgiving and forgetting every little hurt as soon as they get distracted.

Distraction is Sia's Favourite Chocolate!

Ananya didn't miss the little flicker of hurt she saw in her innocent brown orbs of her. Ananya cursed herself in her mind.

Why did she even promise?

Nikhil who was all the time observing the two girls of his life noticed the hurt his niece felt and the regret and a lot more things Ananya was feeling at the moment.

And so he steps in, "It's Okay, Ananya. You must have forgotten lost in your work. That's fine. Happens to everyone. Normal it is! " Nikhil makes sure he formed the right words, comforting her.

Normal it is!

Ananya's mind swirls with these three words. "Is it really Normal?" she was dazed by the thought Nikhil has put in her mind with his words.

Ananya shrugs away those thoughts for the latter, and concentrates on the two people in her home, "I'll get you something to drink!"

"No, Ananya. There's no nee-" Nikhil was cut off by Ananya who was already walking into her kitchen.

"No. It's the first time you guys have visited my home. I shall get you Tea and for Sia, Milk?" Ananya's questioning gaze was answered by Sia who nodded grinning at her.

"Good. I'll just go and get it!" Ananya who stopped and turned with Nikhi's voice walks down the Kitchen again.

***

After spending double their time in Ananya's Mansion, they walk into their home smiling at each other as Sia blabbers about Ananya Aunty to her Mama.

"Welcome. Welcome. How was your visit to Neighbor Aunty?" Nitya raises her eyebrows typically blocking their way further into the home.

"Very Good, Ma. Although Ananya Aunty has forgotten her promise, she was sorry and said will give my ball to me in the evening with a Dairy Milk Chocolate," Sia blabbers away like a parrot, without a break as Nikhil looks at his Niece blurting out every single thing from her mouth.

Did God forget to install a break in her mouth?

"Oh. Your Ananya Aunty? Very good. Who is she, btw?" Nitya asks taking her daughter in her arms, appreciating her a little as it'd bring out the things the duo are secretive about.

"Ananya Aunty is Mama's friend." Thank God, the little bundle in his Sister's arms didn't forget the promise she made to her Mama.

Nikhil was saved yet..not?

Yeah! He was still in trouble, although a little.

"Oh. Friend?" Nitya turns towards Nikhil who was smiling at her with his stupid face. Nitya had to return the same sarcastic face.

"You and our stupid neighbors. I hate them. Don't you dare involve me," Nitya repeats the dialogue as if she's an African Grey Parrot and Nikhil is its pet owner.

No response!

"I thought you thought our Neighbors were stupid and who's Ananya? I don't know anyone of that name." Nitya frowns only for it to disappear a second later as her daughter helps throw away the frown on her face.

"Ananya Aunty shifted a week ago just beside our Mansion," Sia murmurs in her Mother's ears.

"Oh. So she's the one who bought our Mansion," Nitya smiles at her daughter and looks at her brother before saying, "I thought you were not involved in our family business! How do you know Ananya that you're friends with her?"

"She's my colleague in the Office. Joined yesterday as a Hacker!" Nikhil states the fact, of not giving out too much information to his sister.

Who know if she'd hang on his neck later, killing him with her tease?

Aaah! Nikhil can't even imagine such a situation. His sister will avenge him for all the teases he showered on her before and after her marriage.

"Friend, in just a day? Good!" Nitya keeps her doubts to herself, only after she conforms, he'd get it from her.

Nikhil caresses his forehead grinning a little, "I'll be late to work if I don't have my breakfast now. 10 more minutes to 8:00 AM."

"Yeah, sure. Go," Nitya makes a way for her brother and walks just after him.

"Should I boil Milk for you, Sweetheart?" she asks her daughter as they settle themselves on the dining table.

"No. Ananya Aunty made me drink a glass full of Milk. Not anymore. My stomach is full," she pouted sitting innocently in her Mother's arms.

"Really? Even you seem close to your Ananya Aunty," Nitya is amused finding her daughter drank Milk from some other woman.

She never eats or drinks from outsiders without permission from her, her Pa, and her Mama.

Sia nods her head in excitement, "Ananya Aunty is so good. So beautiful like my Barbie Doll."

Aah! That's another bomb on her head with her daughter's words.

Sia never found anyone as beautiful as her Barbie doll. Not even Angelina Jolie!

And now here is she, praising some Ananya comparing to her Barbie doll.

"I must meet this lady," she murmurs inaudibly.

"Who's Ananya?" Drithi asks, hearing her granddaughter praising someone to this extent. Well, even she's amused along with her husband.

"In any case, are you talking about Ananya Saini who bought our Mansion?" Dhruv frowns looking at Nitya.

"Yes, Dad. She's the one and surprisingly, she's also Nikhil's colleague here," Nitya answers her Dad looking at Nikhil who's silently eating his breakfast.

"Oh. Is it, Nikhil?" Dhruv's attention is on Nikhil now as he questions.

"Yes, Dad." He nods his head swallowing the food.

"Great. She's very calm," Dhruv states his Opinion.

"Oh? Tell me more about her," Drithi asks her husband and her husband had nothing much to say except that she's from the US and has shifted here now.

Nikhil doesn't react much to their conversations.

If he did, who knows if they stand in front of her home with a proposal already?

Ananya will run far away from him then! No, never. He can't afford her disappearance again.

It's obvious if he'd not react much, trying very hard not to react much, to be honest.

***

CBI Office,

The office was busy with bussing people working around their cubicles, no big cases and any new ones for people to worry about. So everyone was busy working on the pending cases that were long due and had no clues to find the right criminal. 

It's already the afternoon as people are blasting their heads off going through the old cases, reports, clues, and brainstorming their heads. Except for the Forensic department. 

Nikhil and everyone else in the Forensic department is busy with their own work in the lab. 

Ananya is in her cubicle working her head off, as usual, coding away in her system. Trying to help her colleagues in unsolved cases with her hacking skills. 

Nusrat didn't get a chance to talk with Ananya today. Although Ananya was available in the canteen in her free time, Nusrat wasn't as she was busy under her sir's hawk-like eyes.

But she isn't really disappointed as she thought she'd be, Nikhil is busy as well, along with her.

So, Nikhil really hasn't gotten any chance to gaze Ananya's way even and that made her happy for now. 

That was more than enough!

And just when she thought she was happy, she saw their head, Dr. Vishwa Vyas announcing a break.

Nusrat sighed, taking away her coat and washing her hands. Nikhil on the other hand does the same. They were working on chemicals, after all.

Nikhil releases a breath relaxing a little and walks out of the lab, followed by Nusrat as they walk into the canteen to order two coffees.

Only that the canteen boy bought three coffees and when Nikhil's eyes fell on the coffee and the person who was taking it on the other table, he smiles. For there was Ananya who took a small coffee break sitting away from all the hustle and bustle happening around in the Office.

"Hi, Ananya!" Nikhil screams for her a little, already walking towards and Nusrat follows rolling her eyes.

"Hi," Ananya greets him back as he walks towards her, sipping a bit of her coffee.

Her head is aching badly!

"Hi," Nusrat greets her after Nikhil and Ananya respond to her back, pressing her head a little.

Nusrat feels a bit down at her response as if greeting her back was a burden that fell on her shoulders.

Attitude Queen! Nusrat judges her in her mind already.

"You having a headache?" Nikhil asks as Nusrat sits down on the chair next to his. Putting herself in the middle. It was a round table with two chairs on either side.

"Not really," Ananya lies.

Working on her system continuously from the morning had her head aching to high hertz. Adding to it, she was on her laptop for the past day, coding away. 

Maybe that's affecting her health! 

She needs to cut down her work time a little and rest more other than sleeping early! She decided in her mind as Nikhil asks, thinking about her frequent headaches.  

But that doesn't mean she'd like to admit the fact, just like that. 

She's not someone to whin about her smallest problems..even big ones if one could count. To everyone and anyone. 

There's a long way for someone to get that comfortable with her.

If Ananya thought her lie was bought by Nikhil, she was wrong.

He understood she was lying and didn't bother to poke further, they weren't at the level that Ananya would tell him what was wrong with her.

There's a long way to reach there. Not yet!

Nusrat on the other hand had completely bought the lie Ananya was saying and didn't bother responding as she sipped her Coffee more.

Nikhil giving attention to her was burning her head.

They were having their Coffees in silence. Many people weren't there in the Canteen and so, the Canteen was peaceful.

And that was until they got a call that destroyed the harmony Ananya tried to bring in her head with the Coffee.

The Brutal Murder of John Mathews! 

To be continued..,

Let me know what you think of the update. 

Is the pace too okay with you guys? or am I going too slow?

Awaiting your views! 

Ananya's Neighbor(C) is there as well! Which will be updated on any day of the week. 

Thanks & Regards, 

polymath_land 

-23/11/2022