Eternally Yours

Chapter 2

As night fell the blue haze of day lifted to reveal the stars. Frost grew over the windows while a chilling stillness prevailed as people were tucked away in the warmness of their blankets in the cold night.

"Ye le, mera bacha. Aur garam garam hi peena," Nandini's mother instructed, placing a cup of warm milk on the nightstand. Nandini nodded, absentmindedly tracing Aarav's cheeks, while breastfeeding him. When a cold wind blew through, Nandini shivered. Her mother immediately went and locked the window before coming to her bed side and properly tucking her in the blanket while snapping, "Kya hua hai, Nandini? Kidhar khoi hui hai subah se? Khidki khuli hai. Pata hai na kitni sardi hai. Is same toh vese bhi tujhe sardi se bachke rehna hai. Aur bhul mat tujhe apne saath saath, Aarav ka bhi khayal rakhna hai."

(*Here, take it. Drink it while it's hot. **What happened, Nandini. Where are you lost? The window is open. Do you know how cold it is outside? And don't forget you have to take care of Aarav along with your own self, now.)

"Ek khidki hi toh thi Maa, itna kyu daant rahe ho," Nandini replied but before she could speak another word her phone rang. Her mother grumbled something under her breath while moving out of the room, closing the door behind her. Nandini swiped on the screen and she smiled as Manik's tired face immediately lightened up her phone.

(*It's just a window, Maa. Why are you scolding me so much?)

"Hi, baby," Manik greeted with a smile and before she could reply, Aarav instantly pulled away from her upon hearing the familiar voice and looked towards the screen. At two months, he had started recognising Manik's voice since he video called them every night. As was evident from Aarav's excitement when raised his hands towards the phone while cooing, Manik proved to be the fun dad.

Nandini lowered her kurti while angling the phone so that Manik was visible to Aarav and the latter to the former. She shook her head as Manik exclaimed, "Arey mere Ḍaḍu, tu soya nahi abhi tak?" Since, at two months, Aarav had started resembling Manik, much to his happiness, under Nandini's continuous persuasion he had given up the absurd nickname given to their son. But, as it seemed that Manik loved to rile up his wife, he gave him another nickname. Ḍaḍū, which is a punjabi name for frog.

(Oh, my frog, you haven't slept yet?)

But poor Aarav, oblivious to his father's dirty nickname, cooed back with an innocent smile, that still managed to take her heart away. The first time it happened was when they were on a video call with Manik. Manik smiled at Aarav and Aarav reciprocated with a full blown smile of his own, a carbon copy of Manik's. Seeing the smile, Manik's excitement and ego knew no bounds. But for Nandini, it had almost made her cry since she realised how she will go over the hours of endless sleep and exhaustion from being cooped up with Aarav her whole life just for that toothless smile.

At Aarav's toothless smile basking with innocence, making her feel all soft and mushy and because a small part of her heart missed her husband, Nandini couldn't help herself as she showered his face with kisses while muttering weirdest endearments. Manik smiled, his heart filling with warmth as he took both of them silently.

While Nandini laid beside Aarav and while their son was fascinatingly staring at his own hands while making a weird sound, she asked him, "Aapne khana khaya?" When he nodded, she further said, "Kal time par chal lena. Sardi ki vajah se andhera jaldi ho jayega aur drive karna mushkil hoga."

(You had your lunch? **Start the journey on time. It will start darkening early due to winters and it will be difficult to drive back.)

"Haan. Breakfast karne ke baad chalunga. 9-10 baje tak," Manik replied and observed the tiredness on her face evident from the dark circles but didn't comment, not wanting her to become self conscious due to her insecurities recently and instead asked, "Ab ye raat ko tang kar raha hai?"