Veer^

2 years later

"Thank you." I smile at her politely after taking the book from her arm.

"Welcome." She smiles at me giving a curt nod. I then move out of the bookstore. I find my car just standing infront of the bookstore. I go and settle on the backseat as Dev, my bodyguard drives away the car to our new mansion. In these 2 years,things have changed. Sumedh and I have moved into a new mansion which is situated at the end of Aurora city where hardly people live. It's more of desolate area. There are guards protecting us for 24/7.  Rehana is now married to her long time boyfriend and now they live with us in the same mansion. Her husband, Ishaan works with Sumedh in his office.

After reaching in our destination, I get out of the car and step in our house. Rehana and Megha greet me when I take off my jacket keeping it on floor hanger. Megha is our new maid who is now working along with Rehana. She is a middle aged bachelor woman.

"Where is Veer ?" I ask them.

"When I last checked on him, he was sleeping. " Megha replies and I sigh in content. It's not possible to leave Veer alone with anyone else other than Rehana. After the terrifying incident, Veer has become asocial child. The incident has left a terrible imapact on my child. Infact, we too became very protective about him that has led him to show absolute discomfort in others presence. He doesn't stay with anyone else other than me, Sumedh and sometimes Rehana. Anyone among us has to stick to his side to keep eyes on him every time.

I walk in our room where I have left him to go to the bookstore for collecting some books while he was asleep. Pushing the doorknob, I walk in the room but to my absolute horror, there is no sign of Veer in the room. I panic and look everywhere in the room.

"Veer, where are you ? Where are you, my baby?" I ask when I find him nowhere in the room. My eyes suddenly catch a glimpse of the balcony. My two years old son slowly walks in the room. I quickly run towards him and pick him in my arms.

"Do you like to scare your mamma ?" I cuddle him in my arms.He only stares at me with no emotion in his eyes.I see his face stained with tears. Unlike other 2 year old children, he doesn't let his emotions come out. Instead he tries to hold his emotions and sobs quietly so that we cannot come to know that. That's why we have moved into a new mansion to give Veer space. He is extremely uncomfortable around people including his grandparents and Siddharth-Ashi which legit scares me. We are now totally worried about him. I have suggested to take him to Psychiatrist but Sumedh hates the idea. He has never let me take him to any special Psychiatrist.

"What happened, baby?" I ask him and I sit on the bed with him settling on my lap. He looks at me with hesitation and nods his head. I cup his cheeks and make him look at me.

" Tell me, what happened ?" I ask him again. But he looks away. I let out a sigh of disappointment and get up to to leave the room. Veer hardly speaks some words and smiles rarely. But he has a beautiful smile. He buries his face on the crook of my neck as I descend down the stairs. Sumedh will come within sometimes. We both walk in the living room with Veer in my arms.Switching on the cartoon channel, I sit with Veer on my lap. 

"Would you like to have something ?" Megha appraoches me. Veer immediately turns in my lap and dips his face on my stomach.

"No, just bring the porridge soup for Veer." I tell her and she goes away after giving me a small nod. I look down to find my son playing with buttons of my shirt.

"Come on, Veer. Now look at me. She has gone away. " I whisper when he hesitantly raises his head. He scans the entire room and sit on my lap properly.  I gesture him to look at TV and he follows my hand direction. When he totally engrosses himself in watching TV, I heave another sigh. I never hear him laughing whole-heartedly. As parents, I and Sumedh sometimes blame ourselves for everything happening around. I have spent countless nights crying myslef thinking about it, so did Sumedh. It's very painful for us when we hear other children laughing and playing where our child is silently sobbing in a corner or sitting alone.

When Maya brings the prridge soup, I slowly keep feeding Veer who thankfully has not created any trouble while eating like he always does. After he finishes his meal, I wash his mouth with warm water and clean his mouth with a napkin. Then we both focus on TV.

We hear footsteps approaching near us. I look up to find Sumedh coming in our direction with a small smile on his face. He is in his working clothes. He beams at Veer as he stands infront me.

"See, Daddy is here." Veer leans back and looks up at Sumedh.

"How is your day, my boy ?" Sumedh picks him up in his arms and kisses on his forhead.

"Ummm...OK" Veer replies as he bites the button of his father's shirt. Sumedh drapes his hand around his small frame and cuddles him securing him under his arms. Veer likes some small gestures such as when we cuddle him, he loves it.I clear my throat to gain Sumedh's attention.

"Sumedh, do you remember that we have to attend our parents' anniversary today?" I ask him hesitantly. Sumedh's smile quickly replaces with dull face as he gives a curt nod.

"I know that it's hard. But we have to try. They are our family, Veer's grandparents. We have to see them at a certain time. It's been two years we haven't attended any ceremonies of our kingdom due to Veer's uncomfortableness.Veer has to mingle up with others to get comfortable enough. " I explain.

"You are right." Sumedh agrees and both of our eyes travel to Veer who is silently watching cartoons.

"Veer" Sumedh shakes him slowly in his arms. Veer giggles.

"Now, it's time to visit your grandparents. Promise me that you will be good boy." Veer tenses up at his question quirking his eyebrows but anyway nods in his question.

"Let's get you ready. Today, Papa will make you ready in new clothes. Ok ?" Sumedh tries to lighten up his mood with a  broad smile on his face. It seems to work when Veer nods his head enthusiastically and wraps his small arms around his father's neck. Sumedh leaves after giving me a look.

Sumedh's parents are all right with our decision. Although they pretend to be fine, I know that they too are disappointed for not being able to stay with their grabdchild who is going to inherit our buisness and throne both. People in our kingdom know about Veer's problems and they have fortunately co-operated with us by not spreading any wrong information.

********
The atmosphere in the car is awfully uncomfortable. I observe how Sumedh's muscles are tensed up and his jaw clenches as he sits beside me with Veer in his arms. I know that he is worried and upset at the same time. I too am trying think positive so that it can go well. I keep my palm over Sumedh's knee when he turns towards me.

"It's Ok. Veer will be fine." I try to give a assuring smile. He relaxes and smiles at me.

"Hopefully." He replies as he kisses my cheeks.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you." I smile and laces my fingers with his.

MALLIKA

******
We glance at each when we have reached in our mansion. We are both worried on how Veer is going to behave in so many people. There will be many children too which is a plus point. So we should definitely try.

"Let's go." I whisper and we both come out of the car. As we approach to our mansion, many people come in our view. Veer instantly hides his face on Sumedh's chest seeing so many people. As soon as we enter the place, people greet Sumedh and bow their heads down to show gratitude and respect. We make our way towards my in laws who are overjoyed seeing us. Deepika pulls me in a quick hug.

"How are you dear ?" She asks.

"I am fine." I nod my head positively. She turns towards Veer and Sumedh.

"Veer, won't you come to your grandmother ?" She asks forwarding her hands. Veer looks away to which her face falls.

"Mom, don't worry. Oneday he will surely come to you and adore you." I reply as I keep my hand on her shoulder. She gives a small smile. I pick up Veer from Sumedh's arms giving him chance to meet with his mother properly. His mother and father hug him and they engage in family conversation.

"Mallika?" I hear someone calling my name. I turn behind to find Ashi standing there with Siddharth who has a little girl standing beside him. Adhya has grown up. We have seen her last before a few months. She is now looking so beautiful in her pink fairy dress.

"Ashi, how are you ?" I break into a smile when she comes near me. She hugs me from side.

"I missed you, Mallika. How are you ?" She asks when she parts away from the hug.

"I missed you too. I am fine." I reply.

"Hey,Mallika " Siddharth waves at me.

"Hi" I look at Adhya who is looking at me with confusion. Veer is clutching my shoulder buring his face in my chest.

Siddharth comes forward with Adhya.

"Meet Mallika aunty. She is your mother's sister." Siddharth introduces her to me.

"Hello" She says in her baby tone and smiles shyly.

"Hi baby" I say and pinch her cheeks with my one arm.

"Veer ,look up and meet your elder sister." I urge Veer who slowly looks up. I kneel down with him infront of Adhya.

"Look, she is Adhya, your sister and Adhya, he is your little brother, Veer."

Adhya gives a charming smile and pinches Veer's cheeks. But my heart sinks at the point when he doesn't react to it. His grip tightens on the collar of my shoulder indicating his fear of interacting with new people. I hear sniffling sounds as I turn to find Veer has started crying. I stand up with him. I look up to find Siddharth and Ashi giving me concern looks.

"He is still afraid of social-interaction. I am sorry " I say before leaving the place and move to stand somewhere  private.

"Plz don't cry, baby. She is just your sister. She will love you just like we do. Don't be afraid of her baby." I tell him and rock him back and forth to calm him down. After a few minutes, he stops crying and circles his small arms around my neck. I sigh in relief and come out of the place. I come into the hall. Sumedh marches in our direction seeing me.

"Where did you go ? Is Veer Ok ?" He asks as he reaches me. He has frown on his face .

I just nod at him. We both make our way towards the table where the elders sit talking among themselves. My eyes find a spot which is just infront of our table. There are children playing themselves.

"Sumedh, we should leave Veer there with children for sometimes." I suggest him. Sumedh looks quite unwilling to my idea and still agrees. He picks Veer in his arms and makes him sit on carpet where other children are playing too.

"Look, there are so many toys for my child. Play with them until we sit there." He says to Veer who only stares at him and then at me blankly. I heave a sigh when Sumedh comes towards me after leaving Veer there. He sits beside me and he already seems angry which is evident from his facial expressions. I try not to speak anything as it may anger him more. We keep our eyes on Veer who firstly sits there only taking glances of us and not playing anything. He looks at us with longing which makes my stomach churning in pain. Sumedh is getting more upset as he keeps tapping his foot repeatedly on the floor to recover his frustration.

After a while, Veer starts playing with the toys which are scattered around the floor. I notice when he tries to take a ball ,a boy bigger than Veer comes and snatches the ball from his hand. Veer looks at the boy's retreating figure and again starts playing with his toys. The conversation between families keep going but both of our focus stay on only Veer who is silently playing.

Suddenly, that boy with the ball comes towards him again and snatches all the toys from him. Veer tries to take back his toys when he pushes him. Veer falls on the floor.

"Stay away, poor boy." That child threatens glaring at my son.

Sumedh instantly gets up filling with rage. His fist clenches as I try to hold his hand.

"Sumedh, no...

He scowls at me before showing his palm.

"Shut up, Mallika. I have had enough of you. My son is being bullied and here you are trying to sit down doing nothing! " He glares at me.

"Sumedh, please listen to me. He is a child too. It happens sometimes" I try to point out my view.

"Not so much baby that he has to push my son." Sumedh shouts at me before going over to Veer. Siddharth and Ashi give me look of sympathy. My eyes brim with tears when I try to hold them. Sumedh takes Veer in his arms and leaves not forgetting to glare at me.

"You guys enjoy, I need to go." I slowly speak and leave without meeting my father who hasn't still come in the ceremony and Sumedh's parents who are busy in hospitality.

*********

I will be honest to say that I have actually written this chapter inspired by one of the books I have read where I have found this child syndromes. I have just applied it in a different way. Even one of my cousins has autism and I have seen how much bad it works.

I feel extremely bad for Veer. Hopefully, he will be fine oneday.

Till then, do vote and comment.