Truly Yours

Chapter 11 - All Over Again

A few weeks passed, Nishta had finally returned home from her overseas trip when Manjari had organised a picnic for the entire family and some close family friends to attend. She'd forced everyone to make some time on a Saturday for some time to spend in the sun near a gorgeous lake.

And so here they all were, offloading and preparing for the day ahead of them.

On one side of their set up however, was Shefali who was visibly distressed. She held on to her one-year-old toddler as he cried in her arms.

"Shivu...." she whispered to him, trying to settle him down. "What is wrong baccha... so unsettled".

Akshara noticed Shefali's confusion straight away, she smiled brightly as she put down a picnic basket that she was carrying and walked over to her.

"Here bhabhi... hand him to me... you must be exhausted" she smiled, holding out her hands.

Shefali smiled gratefully, handing Shivu to Akshara as she looked through her baby bag for his pre-prepared milk and his blanket.

"Shivu.... baby" Akshara cooed softly, blowing a raspberry on his cheek, "you want to spend your chachi don't you" she teased him, rubbing her nose against his.

Shivu giggled in response, instantly stopping his crying when Akshara had given him some due attention.

Akshara laughed at his giggle, kissing the top of his nose. "Arre... mera cutie" she smiled, "don't worry chachi will spend time with you".

"You really are the golden girl," Nishta said coming up to her, "even kids love you... next thing we know we are going to have to open up a nursery for you and bhai's kids".

Akshara froze, blushing at what Nishta had just ushered. Grateful that no one had heard because they were busy setting up the picnic, she turned around and gave Nishta a stern face.

"Shut up Nish" she whispered and Nishta stuck her tongue out in response.

Akshara turned her attention back to Shivu, "don't mind your bua baby... she is crazy" she told him.

She rocked him on one hip, slowly lulling him to sleep as she gently sang to him in the corner of their setup.

Unbeknownst to all of them, a pair of light hazel eyes gazed at her from across the room. Eyes always on her. Watching with longing, as the woman he regarded as his wife sang to baby Shivu.

***

Akshara ran her fingers through the lake, she'd pulled up her midi-layered sun-dress so that her feet were resting in the water as she sat under a covered porched verandah on a wooden bridge. Taking in a deep breath, she sighed in contentment as she looked over at the rest of the family with the sun shining over her face. They were all just a little distance away.

Neil, Parth, Shefali, Nishta, and a few close friends they had invited were arguing over a game of friendly soccer that they were trying to organise. 

Akshara laughed as she watched Shefali threaten Parth that if he dared question her, she would make sure he slept on the floor tonight.

Manjari, Harshvardan, Anand, and Mahima were all stuck in the middle of a discussion, laughing and pulling each other's legs. There was also another close group of family friends, their neighbours who had accompanied them. Next to them lay a deck of cards indicating that at any time now they would pull out the deck.

Her eyes fell over sleeping Shivu, who was being nursed carefully laying in a bassinet in the centre of Anand and Mahima as they kept a watchful eye on him.

Only one person missing.

Her heart beat just a little bit faster for this one person.

Okay, that's a lie.