Chapter 33 (A)

*unedited

M A N I K

Fuck.

As the irritating alarm rang loudly, I immediately switched it off and stared at the ceilings with sleepy eyes.

It was so early, barely had the sun risen and the winter mornings were so cold that I didn't feel like getting up.

Maybe I should just sleep and let my kids sleep too.

Let the school go fuck itself.

I can just pay them a bundle of notes and get my children some attendance for all the year and more than enough marks to top their nursery.

Argh!

My drowsing sleep was once again disturbed by Nandini who stirred in her sleep beside me and my eyes widened as truth dawned upon me.

Getting up in a snap, I switched off the dim lights and put the blanket over her again.

She stirred in sleep once before before drowsing back and a small smile played over her lips.

"Hey there beautiful," I whispered to her while she slept, snuggling to her blanket.

"I know I've made mistakes. I know we've drifted. But I also know that this is just a phase. I know we can fight this through, together," I held her hand softly and I knew she wasn't listening but I really wanted to tell her all of this since last night but I just didn't have the power to look into her eyes anymore. I felt guilty.

"I know we could have done better, I could have told you the truth much earlier but I'm not lying. All I wanted to do was to protect you from losing your smile and blaming myself. I didn't want you to break the way I did. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but this was so unintentional," I whispered.

All I wanted was to protect her smile and that's what I'll always do. I'd wish to always protect that beautiful heart from breaking, I promise.

"But in this journey, if i hurt you which I know I have. Forgive me, sweetheart. I love you and no one else more than you in this world," kissing her forehead, I hugged her lightly until she fell back to sleep and I smiled looking at me angel sleeping in comfort.

I wish she never remembers about last night.

"I know I have hurt you crazily. And it's time I make up for it!" I said to myself , trying to fill in with enthusiasm.

Getting out of bed and immediately brushing my teeth and going to the loo, I rushed to my kids room.

We were already running twenty minutes late than the schedule and I wondered how does Nandini ever do this.

This was crazy, why did children have to wear School uniform in fucking pre School? Couldn't they walk in their night suits?

Like, that would be so much more cuter and save parents time and efforts.

And they were sleeping so beautifully in their comfort zone, how do I even wake them up?

But I knew I had to. Orelse Nandini would kill me and I'm not letting that happen. Come on, I don't want me Wife to be a widow so soon.

Preparing myself, I gently stroked Myra's hair first. She was the calmer amongst the two and from what I have heard from Nandini, waking her up isn't such a tough job. Unlike Aarav. *sighs*

"Baby, get up!" I stirred Myra and she lazily opened one eye and then closed it, pretending to be asleep. I giggled.

"Looks like Myra is still asleep!" I teased and she laughed a bit but covered up immediately.

"Looks like I'll have to make Aarav my princess now, because Myra wouldn't get up!" I frowned and her eyes flew open as she crawled into my arms and I laughed.

"Myra is your only princess!" She smiled lazily covering her face in my tee and I laughed. She was just turning four and it already seemed that my daughter— rather children, were growing up so fast.

I wish I could stop them from growing up and let them be small kids always.

The second I remembered about their childhood, the fact that I and Nandini were going to have a third baby flashed against my head. It hurt how this happiness was snatched away from us even before we could have it but I pushed away those thoughts and the hollow feeling in my chest.

I promised myself that today would be a fresh start. I have to help Nandini heal. I couldn't be obsessed with the past.

I need to let go.

Placing her in the washroom, I say by Aarav's bed.

"Hey champ!" I carried the sleeping baby in my arms and he frowned.

"Who made School?" He shouted opening his eyes and then covered him by my tee as I pursed my lips.

His eyes again snapped open and the frown was replaced by a smile.

"Paapaaa! You came!" He shouted before crawling on my legs and hugging me by sitting on me.

I smiled sadly kissing his temple.

He just made me more guilty. I felt so torn by the possibilities of the future that I had forgotten the reality I was missing.

"I'm sorry, kiddo! I love you!" I hugged him.

"I love you too old man!" He laughed with a huge voice and I squared my eyes at him.

"What? I'm an old man?" I questioned and he laughed louder.

"That's what Spider-Man calls Uncle Ben. We saw so many spider man movies yesterday with mom and I missed you!" He pouted frowning and I smiled.

"Do I look seventy to you?" I teased, changing the topic immediately.

"No seventy!" He pretended to think and I squared my eyes. "Eighty!" He lAugHeD toothily and I laughed with him.

How had I done this? Abandoned my children and my family from my love? How could I even do this?

"Then this old man loves you more than anything in this world! I'm sorry, okay?" I whispered holding him tight.

"It's okay, Dad. This young man loves you too!" He laughed again kissing my cheek as he slipped away and ran into the washroom.

"Wait, Myra's gone for a shower!" I called behind him but he had already entered inside.

"How dare you, bAd boy!" She shouted grumpily and there was a splash and then another splash and I could comprehend that a water fight had just started inside.

Sighing, I followed them into the bathroom but the minute I took a first step in, I lost balance and ended up on the floor near their bath tub and they both laughed at me like maniacs as I frowned.

"Who made the floors wet?" I pretended to be angry when in real I was very happy about every minute I spent with them.

They both pointed towards each other with the most innocent faces in the world and I rolled my eyes.

"It's okay!" I sighed in defeat. "Now help me get up!" I demanded because every time I tried taking a step up, I ended up on the floor again.

Myra looked at Aarav with an expression I identified immediately and Aarav smirked back. My kids were up to no good.

"No! No—...." I couldn't even complete as two handful of waters were splashed on my faces and everytime I tried opening my eye, a new one came.

"Y'all are so gone!" I said in a fake angry monsterous voice and they both laughed trying to run as I entered the tub picking them in my arms and it officially turned into a water fight with my children and I couldn't help but laugh with everytime we splashed water over each other— they both a team versus me alone.

I think I just realised what I had been missing over the months.

My happiness. My children.

~You will never have this day with your loved ones again. Tomorrow they'll be a little older than they are today. Today is a gift, so breathe and notice, touch their hearts, study their faces, pay attention to their talks and relish the charms. Enjoy today, it will be over before you know.~

~•~

I know this is short but I'm still being unable to type much, and I couldn't write more. This chapter will be continued in the B part of it, which will be updated in a few days.

Also, thank you for reading this story. Your feedback's are very important for me. This chapter is for everyone who requested to see Manik's bond with his children.

Thank you! x