𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐄

4 years later:

Geetanjali sighed in frustration as she tried, yet again, to tie up Anamika's hair. It was her daughter's birthday, and all Geetanjali wanted was to make her look presentable for the day ahead. But Anamika was restless, her attention constantly shifting to her baby brother, Vivaan, who was on the floor clutching a brightly coloured balloon.

"No! It's my balloon!" Anamika whined, squirming in Geetanjali's hold. She reached out, attempting to snatch the balloon from Vivaan's tiny hands, but her mother held her in place.

Three-year-old Vivaan, eyes wide and lips trembling, clung tightly to his newfound prize. "No, my balloon!" he cried, his small voice full of stubbornness and determination.

Geetanjali looked between the two, her hands still tangled in Anamika's hair. It was turning out to be a long and chaotic morning, and the day had only just begun.

Geetanjali gently held Anamika between her legs, struggling to keep the little girl still long enough to fix her hair. "Stand straight, Ana," she coaxed softly, "if you want to look beautiful today."

Anamika pouted, her attention only half on her mother. Her eyes flicked over to where her baby brother, Vivaan, was clutching at the bright balloon that she claimed was hers. Turning back to Geetanjali with a stubborn frown, she complained, "But Mumma, it's my birthday balloon. He wants it, but I won't give it to him!"

Geetanjali fixed her stern gaze on Vivaan, her patience wearing thin. "Give the balloon back to her, Vivaan," she said firmly. But Vivaan, stubborn as ever, shook his head furiously. "No, my balloon!" he shouted, his small voice rising in defiance.

Geetanjali's expression hardened, and she lowered her voice to the tone that meant there was no room for argument. "Right now, Vivaan. It's her birthday, and you won't get everything by crying. I will give you another balloon, but this one belongs to her. It's her special day."

Vivaan's lip quivered as he clutched the balloon tightly, but even he could sense that there would be no winning this battle.

Vivaan hesitated, his little fists still wrapped tightly around the string of the balloon. His wide eyes darted between his mother's stern face and the balloon, unwilling to let it go. Tears began to pool in his eyes, but he could see that Geetanjali was serious. Reluctantly, his grip loosened, and with a quiet sniffle, he slowly handed the balloon back to Anamika.

Anamika snatched the balloon with a triumphant smile, holding it high above her head like a trophy. "See, it's mine!" she declared, her pout quickly replaced by a beaming grin. But Geetanjali wasn't ready to let the moment pass without a lesson.

"Anamika," she said gently but firmly, crouching down to look her daughter in the eyes, "I know it's your birthday, but that doesn't mean you can't share with your brother. You have plenty of other things to enjoy today. Don't you think it would be nice to let him play with the balloon for a little while?"

Anamika's smile faltered, and she looked back at Vivaan, who was still sniffling quietly, his chubby cheeks streaked with tears. She hesitated, her eyes flicking between her mother and her brother. Finally, with a sigh, she held out the balloon toward him.

"Here," she muttered, her voice reluctant but sincere. "You can play with it... for a little while."

Vivaan's face lit up instantly, his tears drying as quickly as they'd come. He grabbed the balloon with a delighted squeal, bouncing it between his hands as if he'd just received the greatest gift in the world.

Geetanjali smiled softly, her heart warming at the sight. "That's my girl," she said, kissing the top of Anamika's head. "You're going to have a wonderful day, I promise."