The Foundling

11. Angry baby

A two-year-old Kunj woke up, his adorable obsidian eyes twinkling as he took in the sight of the beautifully decorated room, filled with an array of fluffy pillows.

Sitting up he let out a soft hmph, expecting his older brother Krishav to be by his side as he was every morning, but he was nowhere to be found.

Frowning, Kunj swung his tiny legs over the edge of the bed and carefully slid down, gripping the soft blanket with his small claws.

Determined to find his brother, he kicked his legs and made his way down the hallway, the maids observing him with affectionate eyes.

In the meantime, Prerna stood before the mirror, getting ready for the day. Her attention shifted when she heard the door creak open, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of Kunj's cute little head popping out from behind it.

"Mumma!" he called out, rushing towards her with a beaming smile. Prerna quickly got down on her knees, arms wide open, ready to catch her precious son as he leaped into her embrace. Holding Kunj close to her chest, she kissed his forehead and greeted him, "Good morning, bacha."

"Mornin', mumma," Kunj mumbled, snuggling comfortably in Prerna's arms, his face adorned with an adorable pout.

Prerna chuckled, knowing exactly why Kunj had sought her out. He wanted her to ask what had upset him, so he could complain about it.

She understood what a drama king her son is. If she doesn't ask him now, then he's gonna sulk all day, saying no one loves him.

No matter what, Prerna’s wish for Kunj was that he would never change always freely and genuinely express his emotions without any hesitation.

Prerna had learned from her past mistakes with her elder son, and she was resolute in her determination to avoid making them again.

She wanted Kunj to always feel safe expressing himself, knowing that it was not a sign of weakness and hopefully Krishav would also understand the same thing soon. Bottling up emotions isn't something good, one day they would come out in the most unexpected way causing more than enough damage to many souls.

Prerna gently caressed Kunj's face, her fingertips gliding softly against his smooth skin, making the pout disappear. The faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air as she leaned in closer to him. "What got my little baby frowning in the morning?" Her voice was filled with warmth and concern.

"Bhaii," Kunj mumbled, his words barely audible as he snuggled against Prerna's neck. The sound of his soft voice mixed with the gentle rustle of fabric. He nuzzled his button nose against Prerna, seeking comfort as he complained about his brother.

"Bhai mean... didn't come to wake me up in the morning, didn't even cuddle me." Kunj's eyes, filled with sorrow and disappointment, fixated on Prerna as he voiced his grievances. His chubby fingers twisted the fabric of Prerna's saree, his touch conveying both frustration and longing.

Suppressing her smile, Prerna knew how Kunj would react if she laughed now. She lightly patted Kunj's head, feeling the slight bounce of his soft curls against her hand, as she sat with him in her lap. Gently turning his face towards her, she could feel the warmth of his body against her.

"It seems like Krishav made a big mistake. How come he didn't even apologize to my cutie pie after breaking his promise and now he didn't wake you up? That's not fair." Kunj nodded in agreement, his cheeks puffing up in indignation.

"What should we do now?" Prerna asked, her voice filled with understanding and anticipation. She knew that her little monkey must have concocted numerous plans in his tiny head to make his big brother suffer.