Dekhte hi dekhte, we reached on the 10th Chapter of this story.... I am so happy to writing this story.... It will always be my first love! ♥️

I just want people to be happy reading this!

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Narrator's POV

Mahi jumped inside her Nanu's house after coming from school. She pouted instantly as she saw no one around expect one house maid. She looked happily at her palm which had three stars today. For her, it was the biggest achievement. Till now she hasn't got just two stars but today, she behaved well in school, completed all her class work, also in her art class she performed well. Overall she behaved as a good child today in school so that she could earn more stars. She wanted to make her brother happy who seemed to be gloomy these days. She being the small, she couldn't understand what was happening around her but she noticed how her mother was worried all the time and how Neel was so weak. He wasn't playing with her anymore. No hide and seek... No running around in the house and no troubling her mother. She felt sad too. So to make her mother and brother happy she earned three stars today.

She rushed upstairs throwing her school bag on the floor, which was later picked by the house maid happily. She ran inside her mother's room which was a little dark as all the curtains and lights were off.

"Mammaaaa...." She shouted excitedly as she entered inside but her mother's eyes went wide open. She instantly placed her finger on her lips show casing her to shush down. Mahi frowned as she saw her mother shushing her down.

"Mamma... See what I got..." She excitedly ran towards her but Nandini sighed heavily.

"Mahi... Bhai is sleeping, can you please lower down your volume?" Nandini spoke and caressed her cheek.

"But Mamma..." Mahi tried speaking again but her mother shushed her again.

"baby Mamma ne kaha na? Achha aap ek kaam karo, Aap niche jao... Aur Masi ko bolo woh aapko khana khila denge. Mamma ne aapka favourite pasta banaya hai. Hmm? Then come and show me? Huh?" She spoke and Mahi's face fell down.

She expected today her Mother will be happy as she behaved well and she did her classwork just like Neel. She expected her mother to feed her.

"Mamma... Can you feed me? Mujhe aapse inni sari baatein karni hai.... Pata hai Aaj na..."

"Mahi...." Nandini's stern voice stopped Mahi in between. She couldn't understand but her heart was falling down second by second. A fear was evolving in her heart. Though she was too small to understand that.

"Mamma main..." This time her voice got a little louder. Mahi was just like his father. Just like his father couldn't bear Nandini's inattention Mahi couldn't take it too.

"Mahi Shush....." Nandini's voice also got a little louder this time.

"For once do something as Mamma says... Please Mahi... Go down, have your food and then come back... Mamma will listen to all your talks. Now go." She said in a firm tone.

Mahi twisted her lips and looked at Neel who was sleeping peacefully.

Nandini had already closed her eyes wrapping her one hand around Neel. Mahi bit her lip seeing her mother cajoling Neel and not her. She obviously felt bad but she reminded herself that Neel needed her mother more than her.

She silently walked out of the room watching the three stars in her hand. She wanted to share it with someone. Wasn't it such big achievement? Maybe not for big people but for her it was.

As she walked down, she saw her Navya Masi doing something near dining table. Her stomach growled suddenly. She remembered her mother had made pasta for her. She ran towards the dining table and hugged her Masi from behind.

"Ale... Mera chhotu packet.... How was school baby?" Navya asked kneeling before her. Mahi for the first time smiled genuinely... At least someone was concerned about how her school was today.

"It was amazing Masi... See... I got three stars.... One for Mahi and Two for Neel... He can't go to school na." She ranted making Navya grin.

Navya kissed her forehead and made her sit on the chair "Masi is so proud beta... Now see... What Mamma made for you.... Pasta.... Hmmm... So yummy..."

Mahi grinned and there was a sudden pat on her head from behind "What's up... Sista..." Abeer spoke grinning at her.

Mahi furrowed her brows and caressed her head from back "It's sister... Brother"

Navya giggled and served warm pasta in her plate.

"Whatever" Abeer shrugged his shoulders and waved at her leaving Navya and Mahi alone in the dining room.

Navya settled beside Mahi on another chair watching her smilingly.

Mahi took the spoon in her hand and a sudden sadness washed over her face. She had imagined her mother feeding her today but...

Navya noticed this and asked "What happened Mahi?"

Mahi looked at her and shook her head looking at the pasta again. Suddenly, she missed her father and mother both. Her mother was here but not with her and her father was not even here.

"Mahi beta... Aap kha kyun nahi rahe ho?" Navya asked worriedly.

"Masi... Will you do me a favoul?" She asked batting her eyelashes.

"Of course honey. Tell me" Navya spoke and caressed her chubby cheeks.

"Will you give me your phone?" She asked extending her hand. Navya smiled and gave her the phone.

Navya watched her doing something in her phone.

Mahi opened the dialler and entered a number whispering each digit on her own and then pressed the green button, keeping the phone on her ear. She then picked up the spoon and started eating. Not many people know that when Mahi is eating, either she had to talk to her mother, father or Neel.

On the other hand, Manik was busy reading a contract file. He needed to add the clauses as soon as possible so that the album can proceed ahead. And just then his phone rang showing Navya's id.

He first got a little tense, as It wasn't usual that Navya called him.

He hurriedly picked it up "Didi... Sab thik? Mahi, Neel and Nandini?" He asked worriedly.

"Papa...." Mahi chirped making Navya and Manik smile at the same time.

Manik was happy at least someone was missing him. And he felt bad too because, it was very hard to stay away from his kids and Nandini. The house, the room was all dark without them.

"Mahi... Princess....." Manik spoke over the call and Mahi giggled.

"How are you Papa? Mahi misses you so much" Mahi spoke and kissed Manik over the phone. Manik laughed and kissed her back over the phone.

Navya watched Mahi talk over the phone smilingly.

"Papa misses you too Princess.... Papa loves you so much! You tell me... What my baby is doing huh? Back from school? And why are you calling from Masi's phone and not from Mamma's phone?" Manik asked a little worriedly.

"Mamma is sleeping with Neel and I am eating Pasta with Masi. Papa you know..." Mahi spoke and Manik smiled.

This was the time when he waited for the whole long day. Mahi is a kid who shares everything with her mother or father.

"Mmm-hmm... Kya hua aaj school mein?" He asked paying all attention to his daughter.

"I behaved like a good girl today. I completed all my classwork in school, I also did good in my art class, I didn't trouble anyone in school today and I got three stars...." She spoke excitedly showing the stars in her palm to Navya, who was laughing by now going all aww on this little bunny.

"Wow... My Princess is so smart.!" Manik exclaimed.

"Papa... One star is for me and two for Neel. He is not coming school so I will give these two stars to him. He will be happy na?" Mahi asked chewing her pasta.

Manik's chest filled with pride. So much that all he wanted was to run to her daughter and hug her tight.

"Papa is so proud princess! Yes, Neel cannot go to school right now and if you will give these two stars to him, he will be happy. And I will be proud of you." Manik spoke.

Suddenly, Mahi remembered something.

"Papa... Neel ko kya hua hai?" She asked.

Manik stilled for few seconds. What should he answer to her? That her brother's life was in danger? That her brother was fighting to live his life?

"Papa... Speak na..." Mahi whined.

"Princess! Neel is a bit unwell that's it. He will be fit and fine soon." He said sighing deeply.

"For now, you eat your pasta okay? And Papa loves you and Neel both. When he wakes up, tell him to call me. Okay?" He commanded.

"Okay Papa. Should I tell Mamma to call you too?" Mahi asked.

Manik tensed a bit "No Papa will talk to her later. Eat well princess hmm. Papa misses you so much my baby!"

"Mahi misses you too Papa... I love you Papa" She said and kissed on the phone making Manik grin.

"Bye Papa!" She said.

"Bye Bacha!" Manik replied.

Mahi cut the call and gave it back to Navya who was smiling at her. She took her phone back and pulled her chubby cheeks.

"You remember Papa's number?" Navya asked.

Mahi nodded excitedly digging in her pasta plate "Mamma made me and Neel remember it. Should I speak?"

Navya nodded excitedly.

Mahi giggled and spoke in between chewing the moself "95****0000"

Navya clapped and Mahi laughed.

"Now come on eat!" Navya said making Mahi nod in agreement.

******

It was late evening when Mahi ran towards he mother's room. Actually Neel and Mahi were seated in Amms lap listening to the story when Neel suggested to help complete Mahi's art homework.

Mahi being the excited child and also was missing Neel in helping her in her homework ran towards her mother's room to fetch the drawing book and colours.

But she stopped as she heard her mother talking over the phone.

"Doctor he's my only son!" Her mother's panic voice ran through her ears.

She frowned instantly.

"Koi aur rasta nahi hai Doctor?" She asked dejectively making Mahi stand still on her spot.

She saw her mother sitting on the bed weeping a bit still on the phone.

"Doctor I cannot lose Neel.... My son..." she cried over the call and then wiped her tears.

Mahi kept looking at her unassisted mother.

Although she didn't understand what she talked but she knew there was something serious related to her brother. She was about to walk in but stopped seeing her mother shedding tears uncontrollably.

A tear dropped down from her eye too. Mahi kept hiding behind the door shutter kept looking at her mother for a longer time. Something inside her didn't let her enter inside. Her heart was beating fast realising there was something wrong with Neel. Neel her sweet little brother.

She ran towards Veranda where her Bade Nani was having Neel in her lap.

Neel looked up to see his sister breathing heavily. Mahi's eyes started getting teary when Neel stood up from Bade Nani's lap.

She ran towards him and hugged him tight, so tight that Neel almost coughed in her hold. It was like Mahi was feeling that he might lose her brother, the brother who always saves her from her mother's scolds and also helps her in her homework.

"Mahi..." Neel called out but Mahi shook her head still in hug crying a little.

Neel sighed and hugged her back. Amms who was watching the duo hugging each other wiped her lone tear and smiled.

Mahi broke the hug and wiped her tears. She held Neel's face in her hands and kissed his cheek.

Neel smiled and kissed her back on her cheek making Mahi smile. He took her in to side hug and dragged her towards Amms.

Mahi followed him but in the back of her mind she knew she needed to ask someone about what is wrong with Neel and what is she feeling.

Talking to her mother was not an option because all she saw was her mother crying. She mentally decided to call her father once she gets some alone time.

After dinner, Mahi walked inside her mother's room. Finidng it empty, she closed the door and took out the phone from her back, she glanced at it.

Actually when everyone was having dinner, Mahi slipped her mother's phone in her lap and her mother didn't even notice that because she was busy making Neel eat.

She mentally apologised to her mother and to her Aiyappa.

She sat on the bed and unlocked the phone. She watched hers and her brother's photo saved as the wallpaper. She caressed it and immediately opened the dialler.

She whispered the digits and pressed the green button placing the phone over her ear.

She gulped as the phone kept ringing for a longer time. Just then her favourite voice rang in her ears.

"Hello." Her father spoke a little dull.

"Papa..." She called out her father in a bit sad tone.

"Mahi.... Princess... How are you? Ate your dinner?" Manik asked.

"Papa... Neel..." Mahi trailed and a sudden cry he heard.

Manik's geart fell. For a moment, he though something happened to Neel but Mahi spoke in between her cries "Papa... Neel is not well... Mamma was crying... Neel ko kya hua hai Papa... Mujhe bahot dar lag raha hai Papa...." she cried more making Manik's heart fall down few times.

"Hey Princess... No crying please! I told you na... Neel is a bit unwell that's it!" Manik replied in a low tone.

Mahi shook her head "No... Agal aisa hota tou Mamma itna cry nahi karti. She was speaking to doctor, I heard.... Papa..."

She trailed and then stopped making Manik worry even more.

"Mamma was saying she cannot lose Neel. Papa... Is Neel dying?" She spoke making Manik gasp in horror.

"Mahi..." He spoke almost immediately stopping her thoughts in between. The truth was so horrifying.

"Mahi... Aisa kuch nahi hai Princess!" Manik spoke.

Mahi wiped her tears and controlled her tears "So Mamma cry kyun kar rahi thi? And why... why do I feel this way?"

Manik sighed and said "Listen to me Mahi. It's Papa's promise to get Neel, Your brother and my son back to us, safe and sound okay?"

"Pakka Plomish Papa?" Mahi asked wiping her tears more.

"Pakka Promise Princess. Now wipe your tears and don't let Mamma know anything okay? Be good to Neel." He said and Mahi nodded.

"I'll be a good princess Papa. Bye!" She said and sighed.

Manik cut the call thinking how should he talk about this to Nandini? He didn't know how much Mahi heard, but he knew Mahi heard more than she had to.

******

The next day, Mahi didn't go to school. Nandini had woken up early and almost got everything ready for Mahi to go to school.

From her school bag to her lunch box, everything. But Mahi was all gloomy and sad. She didn't want to leave Neel alone or maybe she didn't want to be alone.

"Mahi... Why are you troubling me? What happened to you that you didn't go to school?" Nandini asked placing the sandwich in her place while Mahi was drinking the juice silently without answering anything.

"Mahi... I am asking you... Uff this girl...." Nandini was very pissed off already. Not just on her but on herself too. She wasn't coming on a decision. Her heart wanted to run to Manik but her mind was not letting her. A lover in her wanted to grab her love and tell him how much she loved him but a mother in her stopped her from taking right decision.

"I didn't want to go" Mahi replied lowly placing the juice glass on table.

Everyone looked at her and then at Nandini. Nandini who was by now fuming almost yelled "That I know... BUT WHY?"

Mahi jumped on her place and few tears appeared in her eyes seeing her mother angry. She felt so bad in her heart. Yesterday her mother was crying, all she wanted was to tell her and ask her about Neel. But her mother was busy in scolding her.

"I am not going to take any tantrum of yours from now on. You will go to school from tomorrow. Okay?" Nandini said sitting beside her and opening her mouth to make her eat the sandwich.

Mahi stuffed the sandwich in and nodded silently gulping down the morsel.

Afternoon and evening passed by, but all Mahi did was to observe things. She observed her mother, her brother both.

Neel was surely ill, She knew. But her mother's changed behaviour made her feel inferior.

Nandini unknowingly was ignoring Mahi. Not exactly ignoring her, but her more attention was on Neel and in all these Mahi was left alone.

On breakfast table, she watched Nandini making Neel eat his food while Mahi ate alone watching them. When they were playing, Nandini offered Neel her lap while Mahi sat in her Bade Nani's lap watching her brother sitting in their mother's lap. When she was doing her homework on the dining table with Navya, she glanced at her mother who was making Neel sleep hiding him in her chest. When they were doing dinner, again Nandini just served her but didn't feed her just like old times. Mahi glanced at the dish down which was Neel's favourite and not hers. She hated it. And her mother knew but everytime when she used to make this, she used to make Mahims favourite food too but today was an exception. A tear rolled down her eye watching her mother still making Neel eat his food.

She wiped it off and slowly walked out from there leaving her plate as it is. To her surprise, her mother didn't notice her going without eating anything.

Mahi had slept without eating anything and talking to anyone. Later at night when Nandini became free, she made Mahi's favourite Milkshake. She knew that her daughter hasn't eten anhthing. But to her dismay when she walked in her room. It was too late as Mahi was already asleep. For some moments, Nandini cursed herself to let her daughter sleep without eating anything. She just realised that handling two kids on her own was a difficult task. When they were together, it was so easy to handle kids because there used to be someone who used to look after them when someone from the either of them would be busy.

She sighed hard shaking her head and kissed her daughter's head whispering a mere Sorry to her.

The next morning, Nandini woke up early again to send Mahi to school. She prepared her breakfast as she slept without eating.

Mahi too without any tantrum woke up and got ready for school. Just as she settled down on the dining chair, Nandini settled down beside her. She smiled at her kissing her forehead and that made Mahi cry.

Nandini took a morsel in her hand to make Mahi feed but soon the morsel was dropped down as she heard Neel coughing hysterically.

Without even looking at Mahi, Nandini ran towards her room to see Neel. But Mahi sat there looking at her mother's back. She looked back at the morsel which laid down there in front of her.

Tears again appeared in her eyes but she tried wiping them off. She looked around to see no one was there to make her eat her food. Her stomach was growling. She knew she was hungry.

Mahi ate her breakfast shedding tears silently glancing at the stairs to see if her mother returnes to make her feed but that never happened.

She silently left for the school without letting anyone know. When she returned hoping that at least now her mother will be available for her but the scenario was same like before.

Her mother was busy in Neel. All she could see was Neel, everywhere and anywhere. Her importance in everyonems life especially in her Mother's life was decreasing. She felt her going away from her and she couldn't do it.

Anger rushed into her whole system. She marched straight in the room when Nandini kept calling her from behind to eat something.

But the damage was already done. Mahi was angry. On Nandini and on Neel too.

Unknowingly Neel, her own brother snatched away all her attention.

For the first time in life, she felt so alone and so aloof. The whole day she cried in her room. Navya, Abeer and even Nandini tried canoling her but she was too much hurt.

Here, Nandini was worried and at the same time angry too. She was not understanding why Mahi was behaving this way. She wasn't talking to Neel and to her too. What happened to her chirpy little girl? She wondered.

Later that night, Mahi came down to eat something and settled on her usual chair ignoring everyone royally. Just like her father.

"Masi can you please serve me some food?" She lowly requested.

"Of course Princess!" Navya replied smilingly an dserved her a plate.

Neel was happy that now his sister will talk to him but she didn't even look at him. That sadden him.

"Mahi... What did you do in school today?" Neel asked eating food in her mother's lap.

Mahi turned her gaze towards him and looked at her mother then. Her mother was still making Neel eat his food.

She turned her gaze away and ignored him.

"Mahi.... Tell me na. Miss ne kuch kaha?" Neel poked her shoulders but she jerked him away leaving all of them in shock.

Nandini was the first one to burst out "Mahi..."

Mahi jumped on her place and turned to see her angry mother huffing.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you behaving like a brat? Nanu ghar aake aap tou bilkul badal gaye." She scolded her.

"Aap bhi tou badal gaye!" She yelled on her and was about to walk away when Nandini held her hand angrily.

"Mahi Malhotra... How many times do I have to tell you to not speak in front of elders? Aise baat karte hai apni Mamma se?" She yelled on her while Mahi had tears in her eyes.

Every member in the family was trying to cool down Nandini but everyone was failing too.

Mahi jerked her mother's hand away and sobbed "and what are you doing?"

Nandini frowned amd asked "what am I doing?"

"Giving all the love and attention to Neel and not me. You didn't feed me, you didn't ask me what I did in school. Nothing... I hate Neel... I hate Neel for snatching away you from me.... Mamma" she yelled angrily.

Neel stood there hiding behind his mother watching his sister cry.

"Mahi Neel is not..." Nandini tried speaking but Mahi cut her in between.

"I know Neel is not unwell and I wish that he never gets well. In fact he should leave my life so that I can have you for myself...." she yelled angrily pulling her own hairs and sobbing hard.

A sudden anger rushed in Nandini and she raised her hand to slap Mahi "MAHI....." she roared and Mahi almost hid herself behind her small little palms but thankfully Cabir held Nandini back to precent her hitting Mahi.

"Nahi chhodiye Jiju. Dekha? Dekha kaise baat karne lagi hai? Khud ke bhai ki fikr nahi hai.... Ye ladki..." Nandini yelled angrily while Mahi sobbed hard in Navya's hold.

Navya was actually hiding her in her chest to protect the little child even she didn't understand why Nandini was being so cold to Mahi.

"Kya kar rahi hai? Chhoti bachi hai woh..." Cabir yelled at Nandini making her even more angry.

"Aur jo usne bola woh thik hai? Woh chahti hai ki Neel..." She stopped and gasped hard. She turned around to see Neel hiding behind her crying watching Mahi cry in their Masi's hold.

"Neel..." She breathed and took him in her arms.

Before anyone could say anything, Nandini walked towards her room taking Neel with her and leaving Mahi alone crying behind. Mahi watched her go.

She knew whatever she spoke was wrong. Even she didn't want that to happen. Even she can't imagine her life without Neel but... But he was snatching away Nandini from her.

Neel watched Mahi looking at him with tears and he sobbed too. The little one was most hurt. He knew something was wrong with him and he was the reason why his mother was slowly getting away from everyone. First from his father and now from his sister. He didn't want that. He wanted a happy family with his mother, father and sister.

Mahi sobbed more and looked at Navya.

"Masi..." She spoke in a cracked voice.

Navya pulled her out of the hug and wiped her tears "yes bacha" she cajoled her.

"Can you... Can you give me your phone?" She asked shedding tears while Navya looked at Cabir. She knew who she was going to call. But won't it destroy things more?

Cabir sighed looking at Navya and then at Mahi. The little girl who just wanted a little warmth from her mother or father. The only way was to let her talk to Manik. Maybe things will get more nasty.

Cabir nodded at Navya and she handed her phone to Mahi.

Mahi sobbed hard and dialled her father's number.

Manik picked up the call in just one ring "hello..."

There was a sudden silence in the phone which made Manik worry.

"Papa...." Mahi sobbed over the call making Manik woried.

******

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