Manik Malhotra (The Insidious love) Complete✅️

Chapter 28 - "Trust and Doubts..."

For a couple of days, a matter is wondering in my mind. Nandini's father is suffering from an early stage of dementia and he thinks that Nandini and I are still together. Can't we make him feel it real for a day? Neither Aliya nor I still have told Nandini about Chandresh Murthy's health. However, she should know what is the reality. Simultaneously, she may have that urge inside her mind to meet her father once again. I was contemplating all these when a cry draws my attention. Manan is crying. He usually doesn't cry even if he feels hungry. He cries only when he needs to change his nappy and the thought gives me a sinking feeling. I am a doctor. Caregiving is natural to me. Still, baby nursing is not my cup of tea. But here I am the father too. Nandini went to the grocery shop. Previously I had a house help who sometimes used to cook for me. But Nandini's one of the conditions before moving over here was to fire the house help temporarily as long as she is here. The reason she gave is to keep her personal space. She doesn't want the house help to build any notion about our relationship. I agreed but simultaneously kept the condition that I will not cook any food instead of tea, nor I will do the weekly shopping for groceries and vegetables. Hence, she is doing her duty. But now, I am thinking that going to the grocery shop would have been easier than changing my son's smelly nappy. Oh God...Manan increases his volume and I get up from the sofa with an unwilling mind. As I step in, Manan makes a sound,

"Owwaaa..."

I walk to the baby's cot and pout my lips at him.

"Atheeeeessssss...."

He makes another mystical sound along with spitting some saliva with the help of his tongue and lips.

"Don't you feel bad to make your Daddy helpless by insisting to change your smelly nappy? And why do you poo so frequently, Dude? Doodh kam piya kar na. (Have less milk.)"

I utter with a helpless tone while scooting down to smell his baby fragrance. He instantly opens his mouth and tries to take the tip of my nose inside it. I was waiting for this only. I love this touch. He grabs my face and sucks my nose tip like a pacifier. I decrease the distance more and this time he gets me in his reach and licks the nose tip of mine with his tiny tongue. The feeling tickles me and I giggle. Manan responds to mine and babbles,

"Heh..."

That means either he is feeling hot or wet. Yesternight I was searching on Google about a baby's language and I found that according to research, there are 5 universal baby sounds. For example, when they sound, 'Neh'; that means they are hungry. 'Owe' means they are tired and 'Eargghhh' means they are having cramps in their belly.

"I understood. You need to change. But can't you wait for some minutes? Nandini is about to come. You know I am not good at this."

I try to convince him but in return, he starts nibbling my skin.

"Mummummum....Owe....thrishhhhh."

His complicated vocabulary continues. I stand straight and make up my mind to do the most difficult task. Otherwise, Nandini will have a point to prove me a bad father. I near the cupboard and open the drawer to find the diaper packet. Only then a file attracts my attention. This is not mine. Must be Nandini's. My mind concludes. I hesitate a bit. It's not right to peep into someone's private things. I was about to ignore my wish to see the file but a thought pushes me to open it. Yesterday Nandini had the first hearing of her divorce. However, she didn't say anything to me, nor I asked. But the curiosity was there all the time. Is it related to that? My mind questions me and I push away my dilemma and pull out the file. With an eager hand, I turn over the pages and at a glance, I understand that it is related to her current health condition. My forehead creases. I was so oblivious and involved with Manan that I almost forgot that Nandini also was critical during her delivery. In fact, when she left the hospital, she was supposed to take a long rest. Her body was recovering and stress would be harmful for her.