A week passed by with Sathvik getting the hang of how to deal with baby Muskaan.

The first evening Muskaan woke up crankily. Most of the day she has been sleeping. Only woke up for her drink and food and promptly went back to sleep.

The social worker from child welfare had mentioned that Muskaan had a terrible night the day before. She kept waking up at night asking for her mama.

Sathvik had panicked seeing Muskaan jutting out her lower lip ready for another session of wailing.

Roop, one of the caretakers of the Acharya household, had finally come in for rescue.

She had instructed Sathvik to take off his shirt and hold the baby close to his chest.

The skin to skin contact, it seems, helps in bonding.

The baby, initially wriggled in his hold, but later snuggled into him.

She had gotten that kind of warmth only from her mama before. And she lapped up all that warmth she was feeling after the whole three weeks.

"Keep talking to her, Sathvik. Sing her a lullaby." Roop had instructed him then.

"I don't know any lullaby," Sathvik whispered.

"It doesn't have to be a lullaby. It could be a discussion of stock markets for all she cares about. Your voice and tone is what matters. Talk to her in a soothing way. Make her feel secure, Sathvik." Roop said.

Sathvik held the baby securely against his heart and talked to her in a soothing voice.

He talked about her mother and the years they spent together.

The baby looked on curiously not particularly understanding anything, but liking the way he was talking.

A week later Muskaan got used to her uncle being around.

Roop brought a bowl of baby food for baby Muskaan.

Sathvik placed the baby on the newly bought high chair.

Muskaan made a face seeing the mushy paste in the bowl.

"Don't make that face. You have to eat, baby." Sathvik said and took a spoonful of food towards her lips.

"No.." Muskaan turned her face sideways in denial.

"The first thing you say to me is a No. That's bad Muskaan." Sathvik chided softly.

Muskaan jutted out her lower lip again.

"Mussy no bad," she said, her lips trembling and eyes filling up with tears.

"Awww. Sorry Mussy. Mussy is a good girl. Now eat like a good girl." Sathvik said, coaxing the little girl to open her mouth.

She had her dinner with lots of fuss that Sathvik felt completely exhausted by the time she finished her dinner.

Not even during a sports meet at university, did he feel so exhausted.

"Come on. Time to sleep again." Sathvik said and laid her on her new baby cot.

"Good night, Muskaan," he kissed her on the nose.

"Ayt ayt Sathee," she said with a toothy grin.

Sathvik looked at her in surprise.

"Sathvik Mamu it is. Call me Sathvik Mamu." Sathvik said.

"Sathee," she repeated with a giggle.

"Stubborn, just like your mother." Sathvik said with a chuckle.

****

Next morning Devangana walked into the boss' cabin with his coffee; with milk and sugar ofcourse.

She knocked on the door and entered when she heard a firm come in.

"Good morning, Sathvik ji," she greeted him as she placed his coffee on the desk.

"Good morning, Deva." Sathvik greeted back with a smile.

Devangana looked at him surprised.

Nobody ever calls her Deva. She is Angana in short.

"Uh. Everyone calls me Angana." Devangana said with a smile.

"Why? Deva suits you more." Sathvik said as he went through another file.

He missed the blush that crept up her cheeks.

Devangana looked around and noticed that baby Muskaan was awake and was playing in a playpen placed near the couch.

"She seems happy today." Devangana commented.

"Why? Do you want to dance, Deva?" Sathvik teased her.

"Oh no!!" Devangana shook her head in horror.

Devangana walked towards the playpen and kneeled down beside her.

"Hello pari. How are you? Do you remember me?" Devangana asked in a babyish voice.

Muskaan stared at the women curiously trying to remember where she had seen her.

Muskaan held the boundaries of the playpen and stood up when she remembered it was the woman who danced for her a few days before.

She had also seen the woman coming in and out of the room she stays in.

"Up up," Muskaan asked, raising her hands to be picked up.

Devangana happily picked her up and gave her a loud kiss on the little girl's cheek earning a giggle in return.

"Go go," Muskaan said, pointing her fingers towards the door.

"Go where?" Devangana asked with a frown.

"Go..." Came the demanding response again.

Sathvik was watching them with a smile on his face.

"Seems like she got bored sitting in the playpen and looking at my face the whole day, Deva." Sathvik said with a chuckle.

"Shall I take her out for a walk around the floor?" Devangana asked expectantly.

"Sure. If you don't mind," Sathvik said.

"Not at all. Come on, pari. Say bye to mamu." Devangana said.

Muskaan raised her hand in a wave.

"Bye-bye, Sathee," she said and Sathvik groaned as he heard that silly name.

"Sathvik Mamu." Sathvik ordered softly.

"Sathee," Muskaan repeated with a mischievous giggle, enjoying irritating her uncle. Devangana laughed along with Muskaan.

"Deva," Sathvik called in a warning tone.

"Debaa," Muskaan repeated and Devangana made a face and it was Sathvik's turn to laugh.

"Serves you right," Sathvik said with a chuckle.

Devangana walked out of the cabin with Muskaan in her arms.

Muskaan waved happily at the employees around making them all smile at her cuteness.

"Down down," Muskaan asked Devangana to let her down.

Devangana placed Muskaan down and she wobbled on her chubby little legs towards the aquarium kept at the corner of the floor.

Muskaan climbed on the couch below the aquarium and tried to reach for the aquarium. She raised on her toes and extended her arms in an attempt to touch the aquarium on the wall. But it was too high for her.

She tried again and again, but started getting frustrated as she failed multiple times.

Devangana was watching on with amusement, but was caught off guard when Muskaan threw herself on the couch and started hitting the couch angrily.

She rushed to the kid and picked her up high enough for her to touch the aquarium.

"Pari, look at the fish." Devangana pointed at the aquarium, trying to change her focus from crying.

"Ishh..." Muskaan squealed happily, touching the aquarium and patting it gently and happily. 

A/N

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