PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3) [COMPLETED]

SHOT 47

Third person's pov!

It has been a month since the wedding. Vaiga's college started two weeks ago. Each morning, she left the house with Abhay's cousin sister, Laya. The two of them had grown close, often sharing secrets and laughter during their daily commute. Laya, with her bubbly personality and endless enthusiasm, was a bright spot in Vaiga's life, making her transition into college much smoother.

Kriti, on the other hand, had begun to recognize Abhay as a constant presence. The little girl's innocent charm slowly melted the barriers Abhay had built around his heart. Every morning, when he left for work, and every evening when he returned, Kriti's eyes would light up at the sight of him. It was a subtle change but a meaningful one.

Despite this progress with Kriti, the relationship between Abhay and Vaiga remained largely unchanged. They coexisted like roommates, respectful of each other's space but keeping their emotional distance. Yet, this new arrangement of sharing the same room had undeniably brought a sense of normalcy and routine into their lives.

One particular incident marked a turning point in Abhay's relationship with his daughter.

It was a regular night; Abhay was on a conference call, his AirPods in, deeply engrossed in a serious discussion with his tech team.

Vaiga had just entered the room, carrying a playful and energetic Kriti. She gently placed the baby on the bed and kept a pillow barrier around her, surrounding her with toys to keep her entertained while she used the restroom.

"Dev ji, please keep an eye on her. I will use the restroom and come back quickly," Vaiga said, her voice laced with trust as she disappeared into the adjoining bathroom.

Abhay nodded absentmindedly, his eyes flickering between his laptop screen and Kriti. Despite his engrossment in the meeting, his protective instincts kept him glancing at his daughter to ensure she stayed within the safe pillow boundary Vaiga had set up.

Kriti, however, soon lost interest in her toys. Her curious eyes roamed the room until they landed on the small, shiny white object in Abhay's ears. With a determined look, she began crawling towards him, her little hands gripping the bedspread tightly as she pulled herself forward.

Abhay froze when Kriti reached him and tried to stand by holding onto his shirt.

It was the first time she had approached him so directly. His colleagues on the video call fell silent, their attention now captivated by the adorable intrusion.

Kriti's triumphant smile as she managed to pull one of the AirPods out of Abhay's ear drew chuckles from the team, but Abhay remained still, his heart pounding in his chest.

Kriti, delighted by her new find, attempted to put the AirPod in her mouth. Instinctively, Abhay snatched it from her tiny hand and kept it out of reach. This sudden action made Kriti angry. Her face turned red as she curled her fingers into a fist and, with surprising strength, punched Abhay on the cheek.

"Ouch.." Abhay, stunned, looked at his baby girl in shock.

Just then, Vaiga stepped out of the restroom, her eyes widening at the sight before her. She hurried over, concern etched on her face.

"Kriti, no..." Vaiga said softly, reaching out to take her daughter from Abhay.

But before she could, Abhay held Kriti tightly, almost instinctively, as if afraid to let go of the connection he felt in that moment. He quickly disconnected the video conference and set the laptop aside.

Vaiga watched, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions, as Abhay stared at Kriti. The little girl was babbling angrily, her tiny fists waving in the air, seemingly scolding her father.

Abhay, his eyes misting over, chuckled through his tears.

"You really are something, aren't you, my little warrior?" He said, his voice thick with emotion.

Kriti, still babbling, looked at her father with a fierce expression, but Abhay saw the spark of recognition in her eyes. It was as if all he needed was for Kriti to take this step towards him. Vaiga watched, her own eyes filling with tears, as Abhay cradled their daughter closer, a look of pure love and gratitude on his face.

For the first time, Vaiga saw a glimmer of hope in Abhay's eyes. Kriti had bridged the gap between them, creating a connection that neither he nor Vaiga had been able to forge on their own.

Abhay blinked, coming out of the fond memory as he watched Vaiga feed Kriti breakfast. Vaiga was ready for college, wearing a simple yet elegant salwar kameez. Laya, sitting nearby and munching on an apple, was waiting patiently for Vaiga to finish feeding Kriti so they could leave together.

"How many times do I have to say that I will give her breakfast after you leave?" Anjana walked into the room and immediately chided Vaiga.

Vaiga smiled at her mother-in-law.

"I love feeding her. I won't be able to feed her lunch, but I won't miss the breakfasts and suppers," she said softly, offering Kriti another spoonful of baby food. Kriti happily accepted, her tiny hands reaching for the spoon.

Just then, Niranjan entered the room, his face lit up with excitement.

"Anjana, we need to go to Udupi. Some of my friends are coming there with their families. It's a get-together. We will be there for a week."

Vaiga looked at Anjana and Niranjan in alarm. How would she manage Kriti along with her college if Anjana and Niranjan were away for an entire week? Anjana and Niranjan exchanged a sly look before Anjana spoke up.

"Oh! But Vaiga just started college. How will she manage Kriti when we are away?" Anjana asked, feigning concern.

"Oh... I didn't think about that," Niranjan said, pretending to ponder the situation. Then he looked at Abhay, who had been quietly observing the conversation, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension on his face.

"Abhi, work from home for a week," Niranjan suggested, his tone decisive. "It's not fair to ask Vaiga to take leave for a week. You handle Kriti when Vaiga is away."

Abhay's heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth to protest but then closed it, understanding the logic behind his father's suggestion. Vaiga looked at Abhay with a mixture of relief and worry.

"Are you sure about this, Papa?" Abhay asked, trying to mask his anxiety. "I have some important meetings lined up."

"You can manage from home, Abhi. You've done it before. Besides, it's just for a week." Niranjan waved his hand dismissively.

"But..."

"No ifs and buts. It's decided then.."

A/n

A small one month leap..😌

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Love,

SF❤️