In the early morning, as the first rays of sun touched the horizon, the clinking of the utensils echoed in the silence of the house as a young girl prepared breakfast. Wiping the sweat lining her forehead, she stored the dish aside carefully before moving upstairs.

Nandini pressed a kiss on his forehead before she covered him properly with a duvet and got up. She moved to the washroom for a bath and a few minutes later, stepped out of the room freshly showered in a maroon salwar kameez. She applied minimal makeup along with the vermillion while the gold earrings along with her nuptial chain and chuda were the only accessories she wore.

Checking on Manik one last time, she stepped out of the room and stepped downstairs, encountering Dadi in the kitchen. She bent down, touching her feet for her blessing before straightening up.

Dadi passed her a smile before Nandini started to make arrangements for breakfast. She looked towards the older woman as she asked, "What is the timing for your interview and when will you return?"

"Umm, it will start at nine. There are other candidates too, so by two it will end. So, I can come back anytime between nine and two," Nandini replied, making Dadi nod despite the worry about Manik.

Nandini hurriedly finished preparing everything as she noticed the time and realized Manik was about to wake up. After a few minutes, she stepped in the room and watched Manik twitching and moving around, trying to find her warmth and opening his eyes, looking ready to throw a fit.

As soon as he let out a strangled cry, she hurried to his side and laid beside him, pulling him closer while his face buried in her chest and wrapped his arm around her waist.

She removed her dupatta and raised her kameez, pulling his mouth closer to her nipple after lowering down the bra cup. Her stomach tightened as his lips flailed around, his eyes closed until they latched on her breast.

His breath deepened as he suckled the milk out of her breast while fisting her nuptial chain. She caressed his hair lovingly as his eyes closed, holding herself from hissing in pain as his movement became frantic. It had been a week since she started feeding him and just felt pain occasionally.

As he fell asleep, she pulled away slowly, wiping the milk from his lips with the pad of her thumb, pecking his head as his breath deepened and he fell asleep. Sitting up, she arranged her bra and kameez before covering him properly with a duvet and got up.

Collecting her handbag and files she moved out of the room, thanking Riya Aunty as she handed her a cup of coffee. Nandini refused as Riya insisted Nandini have her breakfast. She didn't feel like eating because of her anxiousness, not only because of her interview but also because of Manik.

In the past week, he had become accustomed to her presence, clinging to her the whole day and talking her ears off. Nandini had always been patient to him, listening to him patiently and trying to understand him by finally providing him with the love that he always deserved but she didn't want him to feel like she was abandoning him by going for a job.

"I have prepared Manik's breakfast. The bowl is in the oven and if he doesn't eat and if he refuses, be patient with him. He–" Nandini started, stopping when Riya Aunty held her hand, pulling her out of her rambling.

"It's okay. Don't worry about him. We will take care of him," Riya said and Nandini nodded, hoping it to be true. In the past week, what she did know was he loved throwing fits and tantrums in frustration if he didn't get what he wanted and whether he wanted her attention or not just depended on his mood.

Nandini stepped out of the house after bidding Riya a farewell, getting in the cab waiting for her downstairs.

•••••

2 hours later

"Meri Nanni Mumma kaha hai?" Manik demanded from his Dadi for the hundredth time that day, making her sigh.

(Where is my Nanni Mumma?")

"Woh kaam gayi hai beta," Dadi replied.

(*She has gone for work.)

"Toh aapne kaha tha ki voh thodi der mai aa jayengi. Toh abhi tak kyu nayi aayi?" Manik cried out, frustrated. He stomped his feet before startling her as he threw the toy car as he became anxious that his Nanni Mumma left him when his Dadi refused to give him any answer.

(So, you said she will come back in some time. So why haven't she yet?)

"Manik!" Riya snapped with gritted teeth, startling him and he looked at her, his eyes watering and he cowered in fear as she threateningly glared at him in anger.

"Manik, mere bete meri baat sun," Dadi called out, getting up on her shaking legs as he left the room silently.

(*Manik, my child, listen to me.)

"Jaane dijiye. Apne aap thik ho jaye ga. Zyada piche piche bhagenge toh aur bikdega," Riya suggested, as he closed his door before his face pressed against the bed and he cried, letting out the pain as he thought that his Nanni Mumma left him too. Like his parents. It wasn't long before the tiredness lulled him into deep sleep.

(*Let him go. He will get over it on his own. If you will go after him, he will get spoiled.)

•••••

Nandini sighed, straightening her back, feeling slight back pain as she rang the bell. Riya Aunty opened the door, letting her in with a smile. She passed her a tired smile, her eyes flickering around as Riya asked, "How was your interview?"

"It went okay," Nandini replied before asking, "Where is Manik? Did he cause any trouble?"

"He is in his room. Don't worry about him. Have your lunch first. You haven't had anything since morning," Riya replied, moving to the kitchen to serve Nandini lunch.

"Umm, can you bring it upstairs itself. I just need to check on him and freshen up," Nandini said, moving upstairs without awaiting her answer since she felt something off in Riya's tone.

She felt her breath hitch, scared as the room was filled with darkness and switched on the lights, sighing in relief as Manik laid on his front, sleeping. Sitting beside him, she frowned as wetness smeared his eyelashes and gently wiped it off, startling him and he gradually opened his eyes.

His bottom lip wobbled before Nandini got scared as he started crying loudly, instinctively pulling him closer and hugged him tightly. His shoulders shook as he cried and she patted his back, feeling anxious and asked softly, "Kya hua mere bache. Kisi ne kuch kaha mere none puttu ko. Hmm?"

(*What happened to my baby? Did someone say something to my sweetheart?)

Manik shook his head, his sobs turning into hiccups as he held her tightly. His hold on her tightened as Riya entered in with a tray and kept it on the bedside table.

"Why is he crying so much?" Nandini asked, her hand rubbing his back as he tried to breath.

"He was throwing tantrums when he couldn't find you. So, I just scolded him," Riya replied, making Nandini grit her teeth in anger.

"And I told you to be patient with him," Nandini snapped and stopped Riya from speaking by saying, "Please leave us alone. Thank you for lunch."

Riya nodded, stepping out of the room with anger boiling in her veins. After Manik calmed down, Nandini asked him, "What had happened, baby?"

"Woh–Woh maine Dadi se pucha ki aap kaha ho toh woh kehte ki aap kaam pe gaye ho. Aur woh itne time se ek hi baat bol rahe the. Aur mujhe laga ki woh meko jhut bol rahi hai aur aap bhi meko chod ke chale gaye ho. Toh mujhe gussa aa gaya aur maine apni toy car bhi tod di," Manik replied.

"But, I promised you that I won't leave you, didn't I? I will always come back to you, baby. There's nothing or nobody else above you and if you won't believe me or my promise, I will become sad. Do you want me to become sad, hmm?" Nandini asked, pushing his hair away from his forehead as he shook his head frantically and looked at her.

She smiled as he innocently asked, "Are you sad, Nanni Mumma?"

"Of course not. Tu toh meri jaan hai. Tere se kese naraaz hungi," Nandini said, making Manik beam at her. She smiled gently, pulling at his cheeks before kissing his nose and mumbled, "Mera nona puttu."

(*You are my life. How will I get sad with you.)

She played with the ends of his hair as his head rested on her stomach, letting him be and after a few minutes of comfortable silence, she pulled away, making him fuss before she comforted him by saying, "Doh minute mai aa rahi hu washroom jake."

(*I'm coming in two minutes. Going to the washroom.)

Manik pouted, making her kiss his forehead before she rushed to the washroom. After freshening up, she locked the door of their room and sat beside him and leaned against the headboard, picking up the plate and held a piece of morsel in front of his mouth, making him shook his head.

"Manik," Nandini said sternly, but he shook his head and turned his face away to show his disapproval, making her sigh. "Why? Did you had your breakfast?"

Manik nodded before he shook his head, making Nandini press her lips together as she felt anger towards Riya Aunty and asked, "You had nothing since morning?"

"Dudu peena hai," Manik demanded suddenly, his hand fisting the hem of her kameez as he tried to raise it.

(*I want your milk.)

"Pehle kuch khao phir peelaungi," Nandini said and Manik shook his head, making her insist him to eat lunch but he stubbornly refused, spitting it out with a yuck face when she managed to shove it in his mouth. She shook her head as he started to whine in frustration, mumbling, "Dimag khalo mera."

(*First, eat something. Then, I will feed you. **Eat my brain.)

Keeping the tray aside, she pulled his head in her lap and pulled up the kameez before opening the hooks of her bra. The moment she lowered it, his mouth immediately latched on her breast, his hand pressing against her breast as he sucked frantically in hunger, making her release a breath as she felt her body lightening up in pleasure despite the innocence of the situation.

Her dupatta covered his face and her breast as she picked up the tray slowly and kept it beside her, her stomach aching in hunger. She gave up eating for the time when her back pained as she moved too much and her movements were disturbing Manik.

She removed her dupatta as it came in his mouth, making Manik look at her and he hummed while drinking and moved his hand to her face, his fingers tracing it gently before it fisted her nuptial chain, as usual and she loved it. It felt as if he was trying to memorise her every feature.

"Puttu na," Nandini hissed, pulling back as his teeth dig in painfully. Manik startled and she sighed as his eyes welled up in frustration for disturbing him.

(*Puttu, no.)

"Acha sorry. Ab nahi karungi.. Aaja," Nandini coaxed him closer as his cries filled the room. He whimpered as her kameez came in his way, raising it further in annoyance and his mouth once again latching on the bud. She held the hem, making him release it as he gulped it, his breath deepening as he swallowed her milk.

(Okay sorry. I won't do it again. Come.)

He suddenly released it, making her cover her breast slightly with her kameez to prevent spurt of milk as he looked up at her, pouted and said, "Nanni Mumma meri favourite car tut gayi."

(*Nanni Mumma, I broke my favourite car.)

"Toh fir galti kis ki thi?" Nandini asked, making him frown as he innocently asked, "Dadi and Riya Aunty?" Nandini tried to maintain a stern face, staring at him silently before laughing loudly as he pointed his finger towards himself and asked, "Puttu ki?"

(*So, whose mistake was it?)

"Yes. You should express anger if you feel angry but there is a limit to it. You should not break things. It can harm you or the people around you. Yeah?" Nandini gently explained, making him take in her words for a minute before he nodded his head.

He pinched his throat and said, "I won't break it again. Promise."

"That's my baby. Koina. Hum nayi leyange. Us se bhi achi," Nandini said, making him nod before she raised the shirt as he again turned his face and latched.

(*It's okay. We will buy new. Better than the last.)

He again broke away a minute later and asked, "Nanni Mumma main aapka kaun hu?"

(*Nanni Mumma, who am I to you?)

Nandini smiled, acting as if she didn't knew what he was asking for and asked, "Nonna Puttu? Shona? Baby?" Manik shook his head and Nandini laughed as he beamed at her, nodding when she dramatically asked, "Meri Jaan?"

(*Nonna Puttu? Baby? **My life?)

"Aap bhi meri jaan ho," Manik mumbled innocently, making her smile brightly as she felt her heart squeeze tightly in her chest and moved forward, softly pecking him on his lips.

(*You're alse my life.)

He frowned and kept rubbing his finger on his lips, frowning as he stared at the lip gloss smeared on his fingers, making Nandini hold in her laughter.

"What are you doing?" Nandini asked, laughing loudly as he lightly licked his finger, tasting the gloss.

"Mumma, aapke lips strawberry hai," Manik enthusiastically said and puckered his lips before demanding, "Phir se karo."

(*Mumma, your lips are strawberry. **Do it again.)

Nandini laughed, moving forward and pecking his lips, her cheeks turning red as he licked his lips and hummed. "Come on, now. If you're done, get up. I need to have my lunch."

He got up and she arranged her clothes, his arm wrapping around her stomach as he cuddled into her by resting his face in the crook of her neck while she picked up the tray, eating the cold food.

While Manik relished in her warmth, she was deep in her thoughts, wondering how she was going to leave him for work. She knew that Dadi cared deeply about him but she wasn't strong enough to defend him and she didn't trust Rita Aunty to take care of him anymore, not after today. He was already treated like shit by every family member, he didn't need to deal with her anger and frustration too.

She snapped out of her thoughts, coughing as a morsel stuck in her throat as he moved away slightly and his hand cupped her breast, intently staring at them before looking at his own chest and he asked, "Mumma aapke jese mere paas kyu nayi hai yeh round round balls?"

(*Mumma, why don't I have these round round balls like you.)

Happy New Year! Hope it brings better health and happiness in your life.

And thank you for reading! Hope you liked it. Do let me know your views in the comment section and don't forget to vote and share.