"I'm Dr. Shweta. It is good to meet you, Mrs. Malhotra," a doctor in her mid twenties said with a smile as Nandini introduced herself and took a seat opposite him with Manik beside her. Manik, who was fascinated with the aquarium in the corner of the room, looked towards the doctor as she asked, "How are you Manik?"

"Good," Manik replied, still eyeing the fishes and asked, "Mai unhe dekh lu, doctor aunty?"

"Of course," Dr. Shweta replied with a smile, making Manik smile and he immediately got up and moved towards the glass showpiece while the doctor turned towards Nandini.

"So, how can I help you, Mrs. Malhotra?" Shweta asked, folding her hands on the table as she looked at Nandini expectantly.

"Actually, I would like to know about Manik's illness and ways to cure them," Nandini replied, making the doctor hum as she turned her eyes to Manik.

"Well, I will start lowering his medicines starting next month and gradually we will stop giving them because it is damaging his brain more than helping him." Nandini nodded, "After his medicines stop, he will be having at least few months if he doesn't recover. He isn't ready to let go of the past sufferings that led him to block the painful memories. And now, since, medicines have started failing him, the only thing that can cure him is love and warmth. That is the only thing that can help him now."

Nandini breathed out, absorbing the doctor's every word carefully before she looked up as Shweta asked, "How long has it been since you two married?"

"A few days," Nandini replied.

"Will you be comfortable with physical intimacy? Not all the way, just a few things. It will build his trust and the assurance that you are their for him might gradually help him let go the blocked memory and open up to you," the doctor said, eyeing Nandini as she was deep in thought before she nodded her head.

"What would you recommend?" Nandini asked.

"A simple hug or even cuddling can make him happy and let go the insecurities. Recreation of some memories or hobbies that he enjoyed before accident," the doctor said with a smile before she breathed deeply and explained, "But, if you're comfortable, I would also recommend breastfeeding because the hormone oxytocin will extremely help you in establishing a beautiful bond with Manik. The eye contact, caressing and affectionate language will give him calmness and a sense of security around you. Moreover, when we will reduce his medicines, it might lead to digestion problems and although it isn't sufficient to sustain him, yet a mother's milk contains every nutrient that is required, which is better than nothing."

Nandini looked towards Manik, as he was busy trying to catch a fish from the glass, fidgeting with her fingers as the selfish part of her wanted to protect her heart. But, that meant refusing him the closeness that might help him recover and she knew she would die with regret if she didn't try at least.

She snapped her eyes back to doctor and nodded while saying, "Okay. I'll do it. But, what is the possibility of it working?"

Dr. Shweta shrugged her shoulders while jotting down two pills on a notepad that will allow Nandini breastmilk and said, "That is the only option that we have now and it is better to try, than regret later."

"Of course," Nandini murmured, taking in the receipt that the doctor handed over to her and instructed, "Take it twice today and you'll have milk by night or tomorrow morning. You can start feeding him whenever it comes for half an hour at least every two to three hours. In the initial days, you won't have much milk and it will make the experience more painful due to which the bonding will be difficult. But, after a week, you'll be able to feed him more comfortably."

"Okay. Thank you," Nandini said and got up. Bidding her a farewell, she walked out with Manik, buying the pills from a chemist nearby and moved towards the cab that she had booked for both of them, the journey passing away in a blur.

"Nanni Mumma fir pata hai–" As Manik continued speaking after they got out, Nandini paid the driver, frowning as she realized she had spent whatever money she had saved, wondering how she was going to handle their finances.

(* Nanni Mumma do you know then–)

•••••

"What did the doctor say?" Dadi asked as Nandini came downstairs while Manik was taking an afternoon nap.

"Just that they will gradually stop his medicines. Showering him with affection and love or doing things that he loved before his accident might immensely help him," Nandini stated, keeping the breastfeeding part out since she didn't want everything about their personal life on the forefront.

Dadi nodded, focusing back on her knitting and Nandini fidgeted with her fingers before she nervously said, "I was also thinking about doing a job. I don't want to be dependent on someone for Manik and my expenses."

"Well, Manik's bank account has the money his parents and he saved before the accident. You can have access to it," Dadi replied, looking up when Nandini shook her head.

"I don't want to. What difference will there be between his family and me? I don't want his money until he himself wishes me to spend it. Moreover, I'm fit enough to be independent and earn enough to sustain ourselves," Nandini said, making Dadi sigh.

"And if you'll do job, who will take care of Manik?" Dadi inquired with a frown.

"I'll try searching for a job that requires three to four hours or maybe work from home, if possible," Nandini said, making Dadi lose herself in her thoughts for a moment before she nodded her head in agreement. Passing her a smile, Nandini got up from the couch and retired to their room.

•••••

After dinner Nandini entered the room with Manik, wincing as she felt heaviness in the breasts and wondered if the pills had started working. As he sat on the bed with her phone and was busy playing a game, she arranged the blanket around him and pressed a kiss on his head before moving to the washroom to change.

As she was wearing her plain kurti, she stared as few drops of milk, oozing out of her nipple. Breathing out, she freshed up quickly and moved out.

"Chalo, Manik. Bohot phone chala liya," Nandini said, moving towards him to take the mobile.

(Come on, Manik. You've used the phone excessively today.)

"Five minutes," Manik mumbled fully engrossed in his game, making Nandini shake her head before she starting folding the clothes lying on the couch. After a few minutes, he turned off the phone, keeping it on the bedside table before laying down.

As she switched off the lights and the room was camouflaged in darkness, Manik's frantic voice reached her, "Nanni Mumma!"

"Aa gi, mera bache," Nandini said, turning on the night lamp and laid beside him. As his arm wrapped around her waist and his nose nuzzled her neck, she turned towards him, tangling her hand in his hair and soothingly rubbing it and murmured, "Manik."

(*Coming, baby)

Manik moved away slightly, raising his head to look at her. "Today, when we went to doctor aunty, she told me to feed you. Like you eat food just like that you will drink milk from Nanni Mumma. Due to this milk, the medicines that you will start reducing aur phir uske baad bilkul hi band ho jayengi."

Manik took in a moment to take in her every word, and excitedly asked, "Saari dawaiye khatam ho jayengi, Nanni Mumma?"

(*My medicines will stop, Nanni Mumma?)

Nandini nodded, smiling as his eyes lightened up at the prospect that he will no longer have to take any medicines. He scrunched his eyebrows and asked, "Par aap mere ko apna milk kese do ge Nanni Mumma?"

(*But, how will you give me your milk, Nanni Mumma?)

"Mai batati hu. Doh minute," Nandini whispered, comfortably laying her head on the pillow and placed his pillow aside before making him slide down slightly. Manik watched, enraptured, as she opened the clasp of her bra and held the hem of her kurti before raising it slightly.

(I'll tell you. Two minutes.)

Taking out one of her breasts, she cradled Manik's head on her forearm and held the edge of her nipple to make it easier for him to latch on and whispered, "Come closer. You need to suck it from here."

Manik shifted closer, his lips flanging out before his mouth covered her areola. Nandini closed her eyes, her arm wrapping around his shoulder as her stomach clenched and weird tingling arose in her breast as Manik gently started sucking the milk. She bit her lip to keep in the painful whimper as he tried to get a gist of latching and started sucking hard, trying to squeeze the scarce milk in her breast.

"Manik, aaram se," Nandini whispered when the pain became unbearable, making him loosen up slightly. Although it was still painful, it was tolerable. She breathed out shakily, removing her hand from her breast and letting Manik replace hers, placing his hand lightly to be comfortable.

(*Manik, slow down)

A few minutes later, Nandini smiled slightly as Manik closed his eyes while she nursed him. A feeling of immense joy passed through her at the prospect that she is the source to sustain him.

Pressing a kiss on his forehead, cradling him closer to herself, she played with the end of his hair. Gradually, the sound of Manik's gulps as he swallowed her milk accompanied with the noise of the clock ticking away while the warm blanket of love enveloped them, she was lulled into sleep in the silence they shared.

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