The Foundling

5. Meeting the family

Holding the baby securely in his arms, Krishav descended the stairs.

The maids cleaning nearby froze in their tracks, their eyes fixated on Krishav and the unknown child nestled in his embrace.

Krishav made his way to the couch without batting an eye at the staring maids who stood like a statue, unable to comprehend what's happening in front of them.

The silence was broken as one of the maids pinched her coworker's arm, eliciting a sharp yelp and snapping them out of their daze.

With anxiety, they watched Krishav's every move, unable to muster the courage to question their young master.

Krishav carefully settled himself on the living room sofa, cradling the baby in his lap. He bounced his legs gently, mirroring Prerna's morning routine to soothe the child.

The baby gazed up at his older brother, his tiny fist finding solace in his mouth, drenching it completely.

Krishav winced and delicately pulled away his hand, swiftly wiping it clean. The baby grumbled in protest, quickly resuming his suckling as soon as his hand escaped Krishav's grasp.

Krishav tugged his hand back and cleaned it once more. The baby again pushed his hand back into his mouth, making Krishav sigh and to tug back his hand and cleaning them.

The baby's giggles filled the room, harmonizing with the sound of his hand against his mouth.

Their playful tug of war continued, captivating the maids, who watched in awe. It was a sight they never thought they would witness - Krishav, their young master, engaging with a child.

The silent exchange between the two left an indelible impression, etching a memory of a lifetime. The baby attempted to free his hand, but this time Krishav firmly held on, evoking incoherent grumbles and a pouting expression.

Krishav shook his head at the baby's antics, gently squeezing his cheeks. "No, silly monkey, I won't fall for your tricks this time," he chuckled.

The baby grumbled for a while, but upon seeing Krishav's determined expression, he turned his attention to playing with Krishav's shirt buttons or reaching for his feet with his chubby hands.

Krishav savored every moment, his gaze filled with love as he watched the baby's endearing antics.

The nearby workers and Ramu kaka keenly observed every action of the duo, their eyes filled with curiosity

about the relation between the baby and their young master.

The sight of their young master interacting so effortlessly with the unknown baby left the few workers who knew the baby's origin in complete shock.

They knew Krishav's usual habits - his reluctance to trust new people, his preference for keeping a distance, and his habit of silently observing others' movements and perceiving one's thoughts while lurking in the shadows.

But now, watching him joke and play with the baby made them question their eyesight.

They pinched themselves repeatedly, hoping to wake up from this dream, but the reality remained constant.

Ramu kaka, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, cautiously approached the duo, who seemed lost in their own world, oblivious to their surroundings.

"Krishav baba," Ramu kaka called out, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Krishav looked up at the old man, sensing his anxiety. He softened his tone and reassured him.

"Chote Malik, are you okay?" Ramu kaka finally voiced his thoughts, amazed by Krishav's newfound affection for the baby, knowing well his usual aloof nature and his difficulty in dealing with small children.