HUMSAFAR [Completed✅]

3. Vihaan's Fears

Vihaan sat in his room, fuming after what had happened at school. His thoughts raced back to the conversation he had with his friend Aryan during lunch.

Flashback
Vihaan and Aryan were sitting together, chatting over their food.

"Aryan guess what? My new mummy came yesterday.  She's really nice, like an angel. You know, I even call her my friend.", Vihaan exclaimed with excitement.

Aryan looked surprised and a bit confused."Wait, your dad got remarried? So she's your stepmom, right?", he asked.

Vihaan innocently smiled and nodded. "Yeah, but she is very cool.", he beamed with joy.

Aryan's expression changed as he leaned in closer and continued, "Vihaan, I’ve read stories and seen on TV that stepmoms aren’t nice. They push kids away from their dads. Sometimes even dads start treating their kids badly because of them."

Vihaan's smile faltered. "You’re lying!",he blurted out.

Aryan shook his head and exclaimed, "Why would I lie? I’m just telling you what I saw."

The bell rang for class, but the unsettling seed had already been planted in Vihaan’s mind.

Flashback ends.

Vihaan sat on his bed, hugging his knees, his young mind filled with uncertainty. Moments later, Ishqi walked into his room with a food tray in hand. She placed it gently on the side table and approached him.

"Champ," she said softly, trying to catch his eyes.

Vihaan’s face turned sharply, and he grabbed the pillows beside him, throwing them at her. His voice cracked as he shouted, "Go away! I don’t want to talk to you. You’re bad! Just go!"

Ishqi stood her ground, letting him release his anger. He kept throwing the pillows until his energy was drained. Ishqi watched him carefully and waited for the moment he stopped. She then moved closer, gently sitting down beside him on the bed. Her presence was calm, her eyes soft. With a playful smile, she spoke up, "Tired of throwing pillows now, champ?"

Vihaan glared at her, still upset, but there was no energy left to keep fighting. Ishqi quietly set the food in front of him and picked up a spoonful of rice, holding it up for him. "Come on, eat your food. You still owe me a pillow fight.", Saying this, she placed the spoon near his lips.

Vihaan stared at her but he slowly opened his mouth. She fed him the first bite. After chewing for a moment, he looked up at her and spoke up, "Why are you doing this? You’re bad. I know you will complain to Papa, and then he will stop loving me."

His voice was small, filled with fear that no child should carry. Ishqi paused, her heart aching at his words. She leaned in slightly, her tone soft but firm."Who told you that? This is our matter Champ then why to involve your Papa?", saying this, she fed him the another bite.

Vihaan looked unsure but kept eating.

" Vihaan, I am not here to take away your Papa from you. He is yours, and that will never change. No one can come between you two.", she assured him.

Vihaan's eyes searched for the truth in her words. "Really? But Aryan told me stepmoms are mean... that they hurt kids and separate them with their dads.", he spoke innocently but his words held some depth.

Ishqi’s heart tightened at the thought of such a young child carrying these heavy fears. She reached out her hand gently brushing his hair. "Not all stepmoms are like that, champ. Yes, I’m your stepmother, but that doesn’t mean I’ll hurt you. I just want to be your friend.", she affirmed in a soft voice.

She fed him another bite, patiently waiting for him to process her words.

Vihaan thought for a moment and again exclaimed, "But Aryan said all this, and he never lies."

Ishqi smiled gently. "Your friend only said what he has seen in stories. But real life isn’t always like that. And besides, who could ever want to hurt someone as sweet as you?", she expressed.

Vihaan blinked, processing her words."So... you're actually nice?", he asked with a little hesitation.

Ishqi laughed softly. "Hmm... I guess you should spend some time with me  to find out that if I am good or bad.", she stated.

She gave him the last bite of food. "And hey, you still owe me that pillow fight.", she continued.

Vihaan shook his head , a small smile crept over his lips. "I don’t want a pillow fight, friend," he said shyly.

Ishqi chuckled, helping him settle down into bed. She stayed with him until he fell asleep, his earlier anger replaced by peace. As she gently closed the door, she noticed Ahaan standing just outside, having witnessed the whole scene.

Ahaan’s face softened for a moment, something unspoken in his eyes. "Thank you, Ishqi.", he said quietly, his voice was filled with gratitude. "For looking after him."

Ishqi looked at him, her expression was gentle and firm ."You don’t need to thank me. But let me just say, people have created a lot of unfair stereotypes about stepmothers. Even you seem to have believed in them.", she sadly chuckled . Her tone was neither accusing nor harsh, just matter of fact. "But let's leave that for now. Come, let’s have dinner."

Without waiting for his response, she walked past him toward the dining room, leaving Ahaan to stand there, lost in thought. His protectiveness for his son made him say those harsh words to her earlier. But he also so how understanding was she with his son. "Can I trust her for Vihaan?", he thought. But the next moment, he shrugged off his thoughts away as just only one day has passed.

To be continued...

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