Dawn of Spring

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"Momma!"

Both Ahana and Vivaan froze mid-step, turning around like a pair of synchronized robots. They scanned the empty hospital room for any intruder, a ghostly visitor, perhaps, but found no one. Their eyes fell back on Gia, the tiny dictator in question, who was now wriggling with the determination of an octopus trying to escape a fish tank.

Ahana raised a brow. "Did she just-"

"Yep," Vivaan interrupted, nodding sagely. "She called you Momma. She thinks you are her mom."

Ahana blinked. "She said that before. Once. Now she's getting strangely consistent about it."

She adjusted Gia in her arms, who was babbling some nonsensical toddler gibberish.

"I must look like her mom," Ahana muttered, half to herself, half to Vivaan.

"Or, you could be secretly hiding a child." Vivaan leaned in with a playful grin. "You know, one of those 'I-didn't-know-I-had-a-toddler' situations. No shame, I won't judge."

Ahana rolled her eyes, nudging him lightly with her elbow. He winced slightly. "That's what you get for dropping her yesterday."

"Hey, she was way too excited to see you!" Vivaan protested, "I tried to hold her, but it was a tactical accident."

"Very classic," Ahana deadpanned, trying hard not to grin. "You should really take a course on how to handle children. Maybe start with 'How Not to Drop Them 101.'"

He gave her a wounded look. "Ouch. I'm just trying to be a hero here!"

"Your idea of heroism involves gravity testing toddlers?"

"Hey, she survived. She's stronger now!" Vivaan shrugged, totally unbothered.

With a soft grunt, she placed Gia back onto the bed, and the little one immediately pouted like someone had taken away her favourite toy. She threw her arms up in a clear plea for more attention.

"Mom-ma!" Gia squeaked, the sound coming out like an overly-enthusiastic rubber duck.

"Okay, that's three times now," Vivaan said, giving her a dramatic thumbs-up as if she'd just broken some toddler record. "You've made it, kid. You've officially convinced her. How do you feel about being an accidental mom?"

Ahana ignored him, picking Gia up again and cradling her in her arms. "You know, you can keep calling me Momma until we find your real mom," she said, trying to soothe the little one who was still grasping at her like a baby koala.

Little Gia reached up and tugged at Ahana's hair, which only further fuelled her desire for attention. "Mom-ma!" she repeated.

"Momma," Vivaan quipped, "you're at four now. Pretty soon, we're gonna need a 'Momma' title ceremony."

Ahana sighed, but there was warmth in her voice. "It's fine, Gia. You can call me that for now, but only because you're cute and because-" She paused, eyeing Vivaan. "-someone needs to get you some proper toys, and it sure isn't going to be him."

He immediately pulled a toy dinosaur out of his pocket, presenting it like a knight offering a sword to a queen. "I did bring this," he said with a smug grin.

Ahana stared at the dinosaur. "That looks like a prop from a low-budget movie. Where's the rest of the collection? A toy kitchen, a soft ball pit? A trampoline? Come on, Vivaan. This is a hospital room, not a medieval dungeon."

Vivaan held up his hands defensively. "I'll take it up with the toy department next time, but you promised to babysit her, not build her a Playland."

She sighed, giving up the argument for now, and gently picked Gia up once more. "Alright, let's get you to the playroom, kiddo." She started walking, Gia still clinging to her neck like a fuzzy scarf.