Humesha not Forever

Four

"Masi" Hriday looked at Avantika who turned to him "Mera Pingu toh Amma ke paas reh gaya" he said and pouted

"Accha?" Avantika made a thinking face "Koi baat nahi Nisha aunty le aayegi" Avntika said and gestured Nisha who nodded and left.

Manik saw this. He turned to Ekam too who was looking at Nisha leave

"Nandini is here?" Manik asked and then realised he said it out loud

"She is breaking the contract" Raj said without any emotions

"We have taken Judge Sandhya's permission Mr Malhotra and a police constable is with her" Avantika informed and then looked at Manik.

"You want to introduce yourself?" she asked him with a soft touch in her voice and gestured to Hriday

"Hi" Manik started a bit hesitant looking at Hriday who was looking at him with big doe eyes "I am.."

"Dad" Hriday said with a grin then he looked at Ekam "Ekam Bhai" He pointed to Neyonika "Dadi" then Raj "Dadu" then Mayank "Mayank Chachu" then Meera "Meera Bua" then Akshar "Akshar Uncle" and he looked proud of himself

All the others were surprised and amused.

"You want to ask questions?" Avantika said and Manik looked at her lost. He was to occupied with thousand thoughts and overwhelmed with ten thousand emotions right now. He just nodded no.

"You must sign this. Custody papers" Neil passed him the file and Manik signed smiling at Ekam who was elated.

"Thank you" Manik said softly to Avnatika and Neil who nodded and then he turned to Judge Sandhya and thanked her too. She smiled signing the custody papers.

"Go to your Dad" Avntika said and to Hriday who got down. He was going to move towards Manik who waited with a thudding heart but just then Nisha entered. She was holding the penguin Hriday had won at Water land

"Pingu!" Hriday ran to Nisha and took the soft penguine from her. Manik who was waiting in anticipation to hug him was filled with disappointment.

"Since things have fallen in place. I will take a leave" Judge Sandhya left and Nisha came to Avnatika and started to whisper something to her.

Manik was thinking what to do. Should he go to Hriday but then he saw Ekam was already near Hirday

"Tumne iss ka naam Pingu rakha?" Ekam asked and Hriday nodded.

"Kitna cute name hai" Ekam said and ruffled Hriday's hairs

"Thank you" Hriday said and then out of nowhere Hriday hugged Ekam. Ekam was taken aback a little bit then he hugged Hriday back. He constantly had a smile on the face. Seeing Ekam like this Manik felt happy.

"Mr Malhotra" Avantika came to Manik and Manik looked at her.

"Sorry to interrupt your deep thinking. But these are Hriday's recent medical reports and these are few things you should know about him." Manik glanced again at his sons who were talking about something now. And took the file and envelope that Avantika gave him

"I want to say sorry but meri assistant ko time nahi Mila to type out the things about him so they are hand written" Avantika said and Manik nodded

"No problem" he said giving his attention to Avantika "Thanks" he added. She knew it was not for her but for Nandini

"I'll tell her that" Avantika said not with a smile.

"If there is anything that I can do in return. I would like to..." Manik said to her

"No worries" Avantika shook her head. She again noticed Manik glancing at Ekam and Hriday. Her eyes to fell on them and then something struck her

"You can do something in return" her excitement was so much that she said that out loud.