Aakriti's POV

We came out of the store, and I didn't know how to ask Kabir not to come with us.

"Kabir, you go back. We need to go somewhere." Dhruv said. Thank goodness Dhruv said it. Else I would have just wasted more time on figuring out how to say it.

"Where are you going? Can I come?" He asked and looked at me.

"No." I said suddenly and a bit loudly, so they both looked at me.

"Why?" Because your overenthusiasm will ruin everything. Taking Dhruv along with me itself is making me go mad with worry.

"Because we are going on a date." I said so that he won't ask any more questions. Kabir, just let us go for now.

"Oh, ok, ok. I won't be the third wheel. Enjoy your date. Bye."

"Aren't we just going to meet someone? Why lie to Kabir?"

"Can't take him along, or else he might ruin the purpose of the meeting." I said softly, and he looked at me with a questioning look.

Don't ask any more questions. I just sat in his car and waited for him to start. He started driving, and I gave him the address.

"Sunrise Kindergarten." He asked me with doubt, and I simply nodded my head.

Till today I was sure that I might have a chance to avoid marrying him, but now it seems impossible. He is going to be a part of my messy life. I need to tell him about everyone who is important to me. Can he accept it? But not just him, can my people also accept him just because I have?

"Why are you so nervous? I will not misbehave with your baby."

"Do you think I am worried about you misbehaving? I am worried about my baby not accepting you. He might be very rude towards you, so please just tolerate it."

"So what will happen if your baby doesn't accept me?"

"You said that we are going to be a part of each other's life, and I want him to be comfortable with you because he is very special to me."

"Who are you going to take me to meet? How special is he? More special than anyone else."

"Yes. Don't frown like this in front of him; you will scare him."

"Will he get scared just because I am not smiling at him?"

"A five-year-old would get scared seeing a grown man frowning at him for no reason."

"Five-year-old?" He suddenly applied the brake, and I dashed forward. I feel like I broke my nose. Ouch.

"Dhruv, what the hell are you doing?" I said and rubbed my nose, trying to ease the pain. I fixed my hair.

"Whom are we going to meet?" He asked with a serious look.

"My nephew."

"Oh," he said and smiled goofily. This fellow is mad. Dadu, you are making me marry a madman. Can't you pity your granddaughter a little?

"Can you please not behave like this in front of him?" I said with disappointment. This meeting will surely leave me wondering about my existence.

"Like what?" He asked with a confused look.

"Like a crazy psychopath. Laughing uncontrollably at any moment. He is not like other kids, so you have to be a bit careful. He might not be as welcoming as you expect him to be." I said.

Should I explain everything to Dhruv? I do not wish to recall those moments again. Will I be able to explain everything to him? I know it is not possible; I will break down. The flashes of that incident started appearing in my head. My mind was going blank. It felt like he was still in my arms in that terrifying state. I can't be vulnerable in front of anyone. Not now, especially when everything is going well. How will you explain everything to him? What if he thought that all my words were just excuses? Excuses to not prove me bad. I know I am selfish. Not someone people would generally like. After hearing about how I didn't help Meera till the point that the situation got worse, will he think that I am a self-centered person? But I don't want Dhruv to also think about me as a self-centered person. I don't want him to hate me.

Dhruv POV

"Hi, baccha. How are you? I missed you so much." she said in a baby voice. Something is wrong with me. My heart is beating very fast. She grabbed that tiny boy in her arms and kissed him on his cheeks. She said he was five, but he barely looked like three. He was enjoying it and giggling loudly.

"Huh, you missed me? Then where were you? Breaking promises. A person should always keep his word." He said and frowned.

"Baby, I am sorry." She said, holding both her ears. I felt resentful as I was not able to see her because her back was turned to me.

"You always do this. I don't want to talk to you. Go." He said with a pout. He learned this from Akariti. He looked like a mini squirrel.

"I was planning to take you to the mall, get you a gift, and eat ice cream, but since you don't want to talk, then let's go home."

"I want ice icecream." He said, holding her legs tightly. She picked him up in her arms, and he kissed her on the cheeks.

She slowly started moving towards me. She looked nervous.

"Baccha, meet my friend."

"Friend?" She pinched my arm. I raised my hand to wave at him. He started panicking, and he started breathing heavily.

"Baccha, breathe. Masi will never let anyone harm you. He is my friend. He will not harm you, baby." She said softly to soothe him, but he was trembling all over. He looked in great pain. Fear is visible in his eyes. I don't know what is going on. Why did he react like this after meeting me?

"Hey there," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady.

"My name's Dhruv. I'm not here to hurt you."

He raised his head slightly and looked at me with wariness. He looked scared and on the verge of crying bitterly. Was he abused? A vivid desire to protect him arose within me.

"Samar." He said in a barely audible voice and hugged Aakriti tightly, holding her neck.

"Let's go to the mall." I said, Give him time to acknowledge me. Now I know why Kabir can't meet him.

I started driving, and Aakriti sat in the passenger seat, and Samar sat on her lap. Throughout the drive he tried to steal many sneaky glances at me. Like a kid playing peekaboo.

We entered the food court, and he was still in Aakriti's arms, not ready to leave. She looked tired, and she winced many times because of her heels.

"Let's eat something." I said, and Aakriti nodded her head, but Samar glared at me. He looks like a kitten wary about everything around him. He had his paws ready to attack me. Aakriti looked at him and sighed. She murmured, Sorry, to me.

"Let's go to McDonald's." She said

"Wasn't it you who always said that it was unhealthy to eat it?"

"Once in a while it is ok." she said.

We brought the food and sat at the table. Aakriti placed him in between both of us. Aakriti sat and looked relieved. Even though this tiny fellow didn't weigh much, carrying him all along while wearing heels must have surely been difficult.

I passed her the bottle of water, and she looked grateful.

Samar was looking at the kids meal box with astonishment. He was lost in his own world. Seeing him carefree made me feel happy. Dhruv, do something to make him feel comfortable in your presence. Should I say something? But what? I am scared that my efforts might ruin everything.

"Dhruv, help me to feed him, please?" She said and looked at me with pleading eyes. I looked at Samar and saw the mess he created. His mouth and hands were covered with sauce. He looked at Aakriti like a wounded puppy after hearing her words.

I picked up the tissues and wiped his hands. I saw some sauce traces on his uniform and wiped them off. I was about to clean his face, but he glared at me. But I could sense his fear through his glare.

"Your mama is going to scold both of us." She said, and he got distracted. I took the opportunity and wiped his face.

"I am going to stay at your house because tomorrow is a holiday." He declared.

I picked up the burger and tried to feed him. I have never fed a kid. What if I mess up?

"Are you feeding a kid? Look at your face. Forget about him; even I would feel like you are poisoning me. Smile a little." She said with a frown. Why am I rigid? Isn't it because I am afraid of scaring this tiny fellow? I tried to smile slightly.

"Let it be. I will feed him." She said and started feeding him. She made sure that he took a tiny bite. She looked like a worried mother. They both looked adorable, lost in their world. It looks like there is no place for me. But I want a place in their world. I picked up a nugget and tried to feed Aakriti. She took a bite, completely engrossed in her task. I feed her almost half of the pack. I was enjoying this moment when my trance broke as I felt a gaze on me. I saw him glaring at me.

"I don't like him." He said and rolled his eyes.

"Why?" I asked him, trying to act pitiful. Hearing my question, he looked confused and got lost in his thoughts. I could see Aakriti's lips curled slightly upward.

"I don't know." He said with a huff. Oh, mini squirrel. His expression is the same as Aakriti's.

"He is Masi's friend. If you don't trust my judgment, then at least give me a valid reason." She said with a raised eyebrow. He sat with a pout. This duo is very entertaining. We finished our food and moved towards the game's section.

"Let's play. Samar, let Dhruv pick you up." Aakriti said, placing Samar in my arms. She is trying to reduce the gap between us. He was stiff in my arms. He held me tightly and yelled in my ear.

"Samar, behave." She said sternly, and he glared at me. Buddy, even I am forced into this scenario. Please don't torture me.

"But I don't know how to play this game." I softly said this as we arrived at a game console.

"Seriously, this is the easiest game. I will tell you. Press this button to move forward and these buttons to move left and right. You must bend when the dragon releases fire from his mouth using this button." He said with excitement. We played and competed with each other. His competitive spirit awakened, and all his focus was on winning.

He won multiple times, and then I won. I don't know, but I felt happy, and I hugged Aakriti and then Samar. This tiny fellow was not stiff but smiling.

"You won only one game," he said with sass. He didn't seem as awkward as he was before. We played multiple games. We even forgot Aakriti and were lost in playing games. You can't blame us, as she didn't interact with both of us. Deliberately reducing her presence.

"I am going to the washroom." She said and turned towards him.

"Don't panic. He is not a bad person. He will not hurt you. Everyone is here. Be brave. Masi will come back soon." She said, patted his head, and left. Three girls came towards us and started adoring Samar.

"Are you his dad?" They asked me, and before I could say anything, Samar interrupted us.

"Yes, and my Mumma has gone to the washroom. She doesn't like it when anyone comes near me or my dad." They left feeling embarrassed.

"Why did you say that I am your dad?"

"I knew you were dumb. Can't you see they were trying to hit on you? If you said you were Masi's friend, they would have nagged you, and not just you but me also. I would rather play one more game than get nagged by them." Are kids so sharp nowadays?

"Didn't I help you? You should be happy, but you are complaining. Were you interested in any one of those three? I thought you liked Masi. Thank God you don't." Aakriti was right? Nobody can win an argument with him.

"Yes, I like your Masi." I said.

"You are bad. You are just like him. You will hurt Masi just the way he did." He said and punched me lightly in my eye. I winced, and he started running away. I realized the situation and chased behind him. He looks tiny, but his speed is great. 

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