August 14, 2015
[The Same Day]

As Rishaan was going to unlock the door, the door opened from the inside.

"Welcome home Amaya and Ansh." Amrita said with her ear to ear smile. She was standing at the door with the Aarti Thali in her hands to do the Grihapravesh [welcome ritual of the bride].

"What are you doing here?" Rishaan asked rudely, a little irritated by his mother's antics. Amaya just looked at him and thought Himansh was nothing like Rishaan. He had never talked to his parents or any elders like that. He had always been so gentle, kind and polite with everyone.

"What do you mean by that? I have this right to-" Amrita was cut off by an irritated Rishaan.

"Adi, please take her back to your house." Rishaan said angrily and tiredly, irritated by his mother's talks and actions. Amaya again looked at him, shocked by each and every word uttered from his mouth. She didn't want Ansh to learn bad things from him.

"Dadi [grandma], Chachu [uncle]," Disha ran to them and hugged Adi's legs, indicating him to pick her up. He picked her up and kissed her cheek. Amrita pinched her cheeks and mumbled 'My Dishu' to which she giggled in response.

"Look, she is your Mumma." Amrita said as she took Disha in her arms from Adi and then pointed at Amaya who stood there blankly. "Did you meet her?" She asked and Disha just looked at Amaya.

"Mummy?" Disha asked, squinting her eyes in confusion. She didn't believe actually. She had heard this from her friends that mother loves everything her daughter does, praises her and makes jovial conversation. She also heard that mother gives a hug to her daughter whenever she cries and says something that would be enough to stop those tears from falling. She used to get jealous when her friends teased her saying that she didn't have a mother while they all had beautiful and pretty mothers. She used to get angry on them when they said their mothers prayed for their good. She used to cry in the girls washroom when all her friends teased her saying that they had food made by their mothers while she had food made by cook or her father. She even so many times threw her lunch in dustbin just because of her anger. She too heard that mothers tell fairy tales, they give advice, they hold hands in crowded places, that they are teacher themselves and teach you lessons of life, that they solve every problem of yours, that they are your personal doctor who take care of you 24×7 and the list goes on.

But when she looked at Amaya, Disha didn't find that love and care in her eyes. She believed that Amaya was not her mother. And to prove herself right, she decided to do something wrong. She started crying for no reason, just to see if Amaya would come to her to console her.

"What happened Dishu?" Rishaan tried to take her in his arms but she pushed him, crying more. "Why you always do that? You made her cry!" He was angry at his mother.

"Give her to me." Amaya said, as she took her first step in the house and took Disha in her arms. Rishaan was taken aback.

My Dishu pushed me away and happily went to this lady who is so unknown to her! He was kind of hurt.

"What happened Dishu?" Amaya tried her best to act normal. On the other hand, Ansh felt so bad, he knew he had no sibling then what was that? "Why are you crying baby?" She asked as she wiped Disha's tears with her free hand. Rishaan just rolled eyes and mumbled under his breath "Over acting!"

Disha just looked at Amaya, she hadn't expected this. But she was happy that her daddy completed his promise.

"Why did you leave me?" Disha asked as she wrapped her arms around Amaya's neck and then cried, this time for real, resting her head on her shoulder and burying her face in her neck. Amaya rubbed her back, calming her down. She had never felt anything like that before, she felt like she was carrying her own daughter in her arms; that feeling was so strange.

"I was... " Amaya had no answer. What should she answer her? That she didn't even know her till this day. "I'm sorry Dishu." She rubbed her back. "But look, I'm back now." She said as she made her face herself.

"Promise me, you'll never leave me, Mummy." Disha said pouting in her tears. And Rishaan just looked at Disha in disbelief. He had thought she would never accept Amaya as her mother but he was wrong. He felt bad for Diya.

Only Diya deserved this love of Disha. This Amaya doesn't deserve to be called 'Mummy' by my Dishu. Rishaan was angry but he controlled his anger. She can't take my Diya's place. He closed his eyes to calm his nerves down.

On the other hand, Amaya felt like she was her real mother and found her daughter after so long.

"Promise." Amaya said mimicking Disha which made Disha giggled.

Ansh felt so bad, he thought that this little stranger girl took his mother away from him. He was jealous. His facial expressions were the proof of thoughts going on in his tiny, immature head.

"Oye, little spiderman." Adi bent down in front of Ansh to reach his height. "Why are you looking so sad sad?" He asked, pinching Ansh's nose. And then suddenly he picked him up in his arms, making him surprised. "Do you know my name champion?" Adi asked cocking his brows playfully on which Ansh shook his head, replying him in negative.

"Adi. Call me Chachu, Uncle or whatever you like." Adi smiled and Ansh smiled back at him too. "Won't you introduce yourself to your daddy?" Adi asked, pointing at Rishaan whose face looked so serious and red with anger.

Ansh just looked at Rishaan. He knew that Rishaan wasn't his daddy. His daddy had average height, he wasn't so tall. Plus he had spectacles and the man in front of him hadn't. He still remembered his birthday with his daddy and how he had tickled him and then kissed his cheek. And this man in front of him didn't even smile at him. So he guessed the man in front of him wasn't his daddy. He just looked away. If Rishaan was stubborn, he had better competition with Ansh.

"What happened buddy?" Adi asked Ansh with a little concern. Ansh smiled at him because he called him buddy, just like his daddy. "Why are you so-" Adi was cut off by Amaya.

"Ansh." Amaya glared at Ansh as she put Disha down. "He is- he is your father, you should not do that." She scolded him. She felt so bad, after all he was a part of her heart.

Ansh again looked at Rishaan who still had the same expression on his face. Ansh didn't like him. Even Amaya didn't like him. Ofcourse, he should also try, just like she was trying. She was also trying to adjust, then why couldn't he? I'm trying to be his daughter's mother but look at him, he isn't even smiling at my Ansh! How rude he is! She cursed him mentally.

"Please, you both leave. We don't want to do any of these rituals." Rishaan said tiredly, showing Amrita and Adi the gate to leave. Adi put Ansh down and kindly walked out, without arguing while his mother just glared at him. "Please!" He rolled his eyes, joining his hands loudly this time.

"Okay?" Amrita asked as she put the Aarti Thali on the table. "All your bags are in Rishaan's room." She said, pointing somewhere on upstairs.

Amaya just nodded her head, smiling. Amrita left the house disappointed. Rishaan locked the door from inside and now it was time for the awkward silence. The four of them just stood there, not uttering anything. Ansh was giving looks to Rishaan. Disha was smiling, looking at Rishaan and then at Amaya while Rishaan and Amaya both were looking and feeling blank, empty.

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"Daddy!" Disha jumped on the bed. She looked so happy. Rishaan put his files back on the bedside table and smiled at her. "Why is mummy staying in the other room?" She pouted.

Rishaan had no answer. What should he answer her? That first of all, she wasn't her mother and he couldn't share his room with someone who meant nothing to him? He closed his eyes for a second and then forced a smile at her. "Sleep, you have school tomorrow." He said as he took her in his lap.

"No, I will sleep with mummy." Disha said as she got up from Rishaan's lap and looked at him. He looked sad or maybe angry. "Mummy is the best. Mummy is the..." Humming that, she left him and his room. Left him alone. He kept looking at the half opened door.

This Amaya can't take my Disha away from me, I can't let this happen. Rishaan clenched his fists angrily.

"Mumma?" Disha peeked in Amaya's room. Amaya was sitting on the bed while Ansh was sleeping, resting his head on her lap.

"Disha?" Amaya knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "What are you doing here baby? Go, your daddy must be-" She stopped as Disha jumped on the bed and made herself sleep on the bed.

"I'm sleeping here, with you mommy." Disha said, smiling, showing the top row of her teeth. Hearing her voice and giggles, Ansh woke up.

"Mumma, what is this girl doing here?" Ansh asked as he stood up from Amaya's lap and looked at her and then at Disha. "Go. Stay away. She's my mumma." He pushed Disha away from Amaya's lap and then wrapped his arms around Amaya's stomach as if he was trying to show she was his property and Disha had no rights on her.

"Ansh!" Amaya scolded him and shot a dangerous glare at him. Ansh just looked down. She realized what she just did but he was really wrong at that moment... Or maybe he wasn't!

It's all my fault! Amaya thought as she looked at Disha who was on verge of crying. "Ansh, say sorry to her." She ordered and Ansh snapped his head up at her in disbelief. "And she is your... little sister, say sorry." She literally chocked saying it. She couldn't believe herself at what she just said.

Ansh looked at Disha. She was really going to cry. "I'm sorry." He said, pouting. "But she is not my sister, Mamma." He said, looking up at Amaya.

"She is." Amaya ran her fingers through his hair lovingly. "Dishu, forgive your bhaiya [brother]."Amaya said, turning to Disha.

Disha looked at Amaya and then at Ansh. "I forgave you... bhaiya." She said, smiling this time. Ansh too smiled at her. Maybe he had to share his mother with her but he had also found his partner in crime.

"Come on, now shake your hands and hug each other." Amaya said looking at both of them with love reflecting in her eyes. Ansh forwarded his hand and Disha just looked at him and then at Amaya. She smiled and directly hugged him. Ansh just sat there stunned. After some seconds he too hugged her back. "Good babies." Amaya smiled at them as they pulled apart.

"Disha." Amaya took her name as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Baby, your daddy must be waiting for you, you should go back to your room." Amaya said lovingly, in an attempt to make her understand.

"But I want to sleep with you." Disha pouted and made her most innocent face.

What should I do? What if he'll be angry at me tomorrow? Amaya didn't know what to do or how to make Disha understand.

"Okay." Amaya finally gave in and pecked her forehead. "Now sleep both of you." They both laid down, resting their heads on her lap. She put her one palm on Ansh's back and moved it soothingly and with her other hand she stoked Disha's hair. Within some minutes, his eyelids became heavy and dropped. She could soothe him like no one else but on other hand, Disha was still awake and watching Amaya, smiling.

"Mujhe neend nahi aa rahi hai." [I'm not feeling sleepy.] "Lori gaao na mummy."[Please sing lullaby for me mummy.] Disha said pouting.

[I'm so bad at translating, so sorry lol!]

Amaya had never sung a lullaby for a girl. She used to sing a lullaby for Ansh at bedtime since he was a baby. She looked at Disha and then smiled. "Okay but one minute." She said and made Ansh's head rest on cushions first. Then she took Disha in her lap and sang the lullaby she had never sung before.

Chandaniya chup jaana re

Chan bhar ko luk jaana re

Neendiya aankhon mein aaye

Bitiya meri so jaaye

Neendiya aankhon mein aaye

Bitiya meri so jaaye

Leke godd mein sulaaun

Gaaun raat bhar sunaaun

Main lori lori

Ho main lori lori

Amaya stroked Disha's hair and her breathing slowed. But she continued the lullaby.

Palkan mein sapna saje

Dheeme dheeme haule haule

Pawan basanti doley

Leke godd mein sulaaun

Gaaun raat bhar sunaaun

Main lori lori

Amaya's eyes became teary. She didn't know why but she felt some connection. She looked at Disha and her innocent face. She was sleeping in her lap, smiling. But still she continued her lullaby with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Meri muniya rani bane

Mehlon ka raja miley

Dekhe khushiyon mele

Dard kabhi na jhele

Leke godd mein sulaaun

Gaaun raat bhar sunaaun

Main lori lori

Now her tears had stopped, leaving only wet tracks down her face. Amaya pecked Disha's forehead and gently put her down on the bed, next to Ansh. She just looked at both of them, both of her kids. She always wanted a daughter as her first child, but God blessed her with a son, a boy.

Yes, she wanted a baby girl. Shocking? Oh c'mon it's not a crime. Some people in country like India still believe that "Who will carry forward the name/clan of the family".

A girl grows up and gets married in another family and generally she doesn't use the surname of her father but uses surname of her husband. So if there is no male child in the family, then that family name/clan will come to an end with the death of the existing family members. In fact some treat daughters as a burden too. But for Amaya, a daughter was a precious gift, just as precious as any son. And is a blessing in full measure.

Amaya pecked Ansh's forehead too and tried to get up from the bed but stopped. She turned and looked back, only to find Disha holding her finger sleeping. Amaya passed a small smile at her and thought how badly she needed her mother. Disha was like a flower waiting to bloom, or a delicate spring leaf. She looked so fragile, cute, innocent and much more than just some simple words. Amaya slightly took her hand back from Disha's grasp and stood up.

Amaya walked out of the room and into the balcony. It was so dark outside. The sky was filled with gray clouds. She felt suffocation in that weather, with the dark clouds pressing in as if to crush her and vanish her existence, thunder rumbling like a hungry monster a split second after. It was a dead thing, the sky was dark and heady, overwhelming, dreadful like a cemetery stone. It seemed threatening and terrifying. Thinking about all of this reminded her of her past. That was a stormy day, just like this one, and she was scared of the sky, scared of losing him. She had always loved this season and rain but just one incident and it changed everything.

"I had never thought something so beautiful and mesmerizing could be something so mysterious, terrifying and horrifying too." Amaya closed her eyes, letting her eyes to shade some tears. She turned around, wiping her tears. As she was going to lock the door, she heard a sound of someone playing guitar or any musical instrument. Soothing sound! She left the door open and again stepped out, just to hear the coming sound clearly. And soon that sound mixed with a male's voice.

The voice boomed across the sky. She could listen to it all day. It was a voice to sink in. It was filled with pain, she could feel it. She looked around to find the person but she couldn't find anyone nearby. She sat down on the floor and closed her eyes, listening to his voice and didn't even realize when she closed her eyes.

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"Your soulmate is not someone who comes into your life peacefully. It is who comes to make you question things, who changes your reality, somebody that makes a before and after in your life."

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Hello my loves ❤

I hope you liked this chapter. Please do vote and comment.

I'll try to update soon but not sure.

Thank you.
~J