Unwanted

Chapter 27

Archit

"To enroll Priyangshu ofcourse."

"Shh sweetheart. It's okay. I am here now." I patted Priyangshu's back while he kept crying with his face buried onto my shoulder.
"He ended up getting sick due to crying so much." Priyangshu's teacher Mrs Dutta said, her voice was filled with concern and sympathy.
"It's only his third day here. He still hasn't adjusted well. I am sure he'll be fine as time passes by." She said.
I took Priyangshu's backpack from him and wore it.
"Hmm." I replied while patting Priyangshu's back. His sobs had slowed down a bit.
"I'll get going now." I turned around and started walking towards the gate.
"Achit." Priyangshu whispered.
My poor baby.
"Ki hoyeche shona?" I asked gently.
[Translation: what happened.]
"I want to go home." He said.
"I am taking you home sweetheart." I said trying to reassure him.
I touched his forehead while he sniffled. He's got a fever.
I kept on walking while still patting Priyangshu's back.
Priyangshu had just started school.
He turned three last september.
Kids grow up so fast. I thought to myself.
It's only his third day and he's already managed to catch fever by crying nonstop.

I stopped and looked at the trees on the side of the road, they had no leaves.
The atmosphere was pretty chilly.
One of my hands held Priyangshu who was sobbing with his face buried deep onto my shoulder while another one found it's way inside the pocket of my jacket.
Priyangshu has just started school. He is quite nervous and cries a lot. It's normal at this age I guess.
I hope it gets better with time.
I still remember his first day.

"Archit!" Priyangshu ran upto me and hugged my leg. His face was stained with tears.
I crouched down to his height.
"Is everything okay?" I asked him.
Instead of answering my question he proceeded to hug me tightly.
"I wanna go home!" He wailed, his nose running.
I took out my handkerchief from my pocket
"I have come to pick you up sweetheart." I said wiping his nose.
"I don't wanna come to school!" He buried his face in my chest.
"But, why?" I asked.
"No!" He said sniffling.
His eyes were red from crying and his nose was red and runny. His cheeks were stained with tears.
I patted his back trying to calm him down.
"Don't worry sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay." I said while Priyangshu kept on weeping.

"Looks like it was his first day today."
I looked up upon hearing a woman's voice.
I saw a woman standing behind Priyangshu, she was holding the hand of a little boy.
I flashed her a tired smile and nodded my head.
Upon seeing me smile and knod, Priyangshu turned around and looked at the woman.
I stood up.
"Yeah." I said.
"I am sure he'll adjust in no time." She said, her tone reassuring.
It made me feel relieved for some reason which was unknown to me.

"I have normally never seen dads picking up their kids at this hour." She said looking at her watch.
I smiled awkwardly not knowing what to do or say.
"But he isn't my dad! He is Archit." Priyangshu said making the woman look down at him.
"Oh, you must be his uncle then." She said looking at me, she let out a relaxed giggle.
I grinned this time.
"No! He isn't my uncle." Priyangshu said innocently.
"Ummm." The woman said.
I let out a dry laugh.
"I am his...umm...I.."
Should I say it or not. I thought to myself. What if it sounds rude. What if I end up sounding evil. What if she ends up thinking I am weird. This is going to be so hard.

"He's my ma's husband." Priyangshu said making the woman widen her eyes.
"Umm...I am his....stepdad....." I said.
"Oh." The woman muttered, her expression was a mixture of what the f*ck and how awkward.
For some reason my smile became wider.
Oh God! Save me. I thought to myself.
What followed was dead silence.
The woman looked at me.
I looked at her. I smiled.
Seeing me smile the woman gave me a smile.

"Mom, can I have some ice-cream." Her son suddenly said breaking the silence.
"Yeah sure." She said.
Thanks for saving me kid.
I thanked the woman's son in my head.
"I'll get going then. Bye." She said before turning around and practically running away with her kid.

I relaxed my facial muscles which had become sore from simling so much.
God, what an encounter. I hope I never run into her ever again.
I prayed to God. I let out a sigh.
"Archit, I wanna go home!" Priyangshu said making me look down at him.
His tired eyes stared back at me.
"Sure sweetheart." I said.
We turned around and started walking.
Priyangshu let out a yawn.
"You must be sleepy." I said making him nod.
Bacche maan ke sacche.
[Translation: kids are always honest.]
I closed my eyes and smiled.
"Archit."
"Hmm?" I asked.
"What is a 'stepdad'?" Priyangshu asked before yawning again.

I don't think I'll ever be able to forget that.
I unlocked the door and got inside. Priyangshu had fallen asleep on my shoulder.
I went upstairs to my room.
I put him down on the bed. He looked uncomfortable. Must be cause of the fever.
I frowned thinking about his sickness.
I unzipped my jacket and took it off, that's when I noticed drool marks.
Aww. He had drooled on my shoulder while sleeping.

I sat down beside Priyangshu's sleeping figure and ran my fingers through his hair ruffling them. He stirred in his sleep and then opened his eyes.
"Archit." Priyangshu called my name, his voice sounded tired.
"It's okay sweetheart I am here." I replied trying to reassure him.
He sat up with a jerk and hugged me tightly.
"What happened?" I asked picking him up and placing him on my lap.
"Nothing." He said while putting his head against my arm. He closed his eyes and fell asleep in a minute, his tiny hands still hugged me tightly.
I touched his forehead.
It's hot. Maybe I should give him some wet compresses.
I looked at his sleeping figure and then at the calendar.

Damn, January already.

I might not be able to update for another month.
I'm sorry if this one was bad.