Her eyes shined like the stars in the sky yet she refused to shed them. Life had always been cruel for her, even before her mother birthed her in this world. And this was just another obstacle to fuck up her life. 

Always making the best of every situation, she breathed out and stepped inside the room, looking at the still form of the huddled figure, covered with a blanket, at one side of the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she gently lowered the blanket, making him innocently peak at her with his bottom lip wobbling as tears lined his eyes.

"Meri Jaan," Nandini murmured, as he tried shrugging off her touch, "Nanni Mumma ko maaf kardo."

(*Please forgive your Nanni Ma.)

He shook his head and whispered, "Aap gande ho. Mujhe Riya Aunty ne kaha tha ki Ma apne bache ko humesha protect karti hai. Aur jab–jab woh sab mere pe hasee toh apne mere ko protect nahi kiya. Aap meri Nanni Mumma nahi ho."

(*You're bad. Riya Aunty told me that a mother always protects her children. But‐but when all of them were laughing at me, you didn't protect me. You are not my Nanni Mumma.)

Shaking her head, she said, "Aaj ke baad essa bilkul nahi hoga. Mai kisi ko aap ko hurt nahi karne dungi. Ek baar maaf kardo, please."

(*After today, this will not repeat again. I'll never let anyone hurt you. Please forgive me this one time.)

He stared at her for a moment before taking out his hand and holding out his finger before asking, "Pinky promise?"

Nandini nodded her head, intertwining her finger in his and smiling, as she said, "Pinky promise."

As she was about to get up, he held her wrist, wrapping his arms around her waist while his head rested on her stomach. Breathing out, her hand raked through his hair as she asked, "Kya hua?"

(*What happened?)

"Mujhe akela mat sulao na please. Bohot gandi gandi dreams aati hai," Manik whispered. 

(*Please don't make me sleep alone. I get very very bad dreams.)

"Thik hai," she said, giving up the urge to ask about his dreams for now. She pressed a kiss on the top of his head, he looked at her and his lips curved upwards, beaming at her in happiness, making her heart flutter. She cupped his cheek, smiling slightly and said, "Chalo ab. Aap ek baar betho aur mai aapki medicines ke saath milk shake leke aati hu. Aap ne khaana bhi ache se nahi khaya na."

(*Okay. ** Come on. Now, you sit here for the time being and I'll bring your medicines and milk shake. You didn't even have your dinner properly.)

He scrunched up his nose at eating those bitter medicines and bad milk, shaking his head in refusal. Nandini arched her eyebrow, pressing her lips together to keep in a smile, knowing about his possessiveness as she said, "Nahi? Fir mai vo tasty tasty milk shake Jas–"

(*No? Then shall I give it to Jas–)

Pouting, he tightened his hold around her waist and said, "Nahi. Mai peeyunga na. Aap usse mat dena. Aap meri Nanni Mumma ho. Uski Mumma usse de gi na."

(*No! I'll drink it. Don't give it to him. You're my Nanni Mumma. His mother will give him.)

"That's like my good boy," Nandini praised, making him beam at her once again before he loosened his hold to let her go. A few minutes later, she helped him drink his milk along with consuming his medicines. She arranged his blankets before switching off the lights. 

As she laid beside him, she looked as he twisted and turned for a few minutes. When he faced her, staring at her longingly, she slightly forwarded her hand and said, "Aaja."

(*Come.)

As if waiting for her word, he immediately shuffled closer to her and placed his leg atop her, wrapping his arm around her waist while his face rested on her chest. It wasn't long before the rhythmic movement of her chest, rising and falling along with the softness of her protruding flesh lulled him to sleep. 

Looking at his peaceful face, she knew that unlike every time, from today onwards, she wasn't going to curse her fate because she is no longer Nandini Murthy. She is Nandini Malhotra. 

And Nandini Malhotra will not beg for her happiness. She will fucking earn it. Along with him.

Thank you for reading!

Do comment your views, share and vote if you're excited to read further.