Heyy Baby

Part 25

Karu blinked at them again, lips wobbling, before looking back at the three culprits standing frozen. And then—

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

She burst into loud, exaggerated sobs, hiding her face into Haseena's shoulder.

Anubhav, Amar, and Cheetah flinched.

Haseena turned to them, eyes narrowed. "Aap teeno ko pata bhi hai ki aapne kya kiya?"

"G-galti ho gayi!" Amar stammered.

"Haan, sorry, Karu baby!" Cheetah tried, smiling at her. "Dekho, aapki race toh jeet gayi na?"

Karu peeked at him, lower lip jutting out. Then she turned her head away with a stubborn "Hmmmph!"

Anubhav winced. "Bacha abhi tak gussa hai."

Haseena smirked. "Aur ab tumhe uss gusse ka anjaam bhugatna padega."

Shivani patted Karu's back. "Baby, punishment kya honi chahiye?"

Karu pulled back, eyes still shiny with fake tears, and blinked up at them.

Then, with a slow, mischievous smile, she pointed her tiny finger at the ground.

"Cween!"

The three men paled.

Santu grinned. "Bilkul sahi! Saara ghar chamakna chahiye!"

Amar groaned. "Haye, ab bacha bhi sazaa de raha hai?"

Karu clapped happily. "Cween! Cween!"

The men sighed in defeat. There was no escaping this.

Armed with mops, brooms, and buckets, Anubhav, Amar, and Cheetah looked at the enormous task ahead.

"Yeh toh full torture hai," Cheetah muttered, wringing out a mop.

"Karu ki nakhre dekh rahe ho?" Amar whispered, glancing toward the couch.

Karu was sprawled out in Haseena's lap, smug as ever, licking a spoonful of chocolate ice cream.

Next to her, Shivani and Santu were also enjoying their sundaes, watching the men suffer with pure amusement.

"Aree wah, Karu!" Shivani cooed. "Dekho, papa kaise kaam kar rahe hain!"

Karu giggled and clapped her tiny hands. "cween!"

The men groaned as they scrubbed harder.

Cheetah wiped his forehead. "Haye, jail ka kaam bhi isse behtar hota hai."

Anubhav, sweeping the floor, glared at Amar. "Teri wajah se yeh sab hua hai."

"Ab main kya karun?" Amar huffed. "Bachpan se racing ka shauk hai!"

"Aur humare iss shauk ne joh humari yeh vaat lagayi hai uska kya?"

At that moment, Karu stretched her arms. "Icesh!"

Anubhav paused mid-sweep. "Haan, beta?"

She held out her tiny spoon of ice cream to him. "icesh??"

His heart melted instantly.

Haseena smirked. "Acha? Karu ko papa pe itna pyaar aa raha hai?"

Karu nodded vigorously, her silky hair bouncing.

Amar and Cheetah gaped at her betrayal. "Abhi toh hum sab ko saza de rahi thi, aur ab ice cream khila rahi hai?"

Karu turned her big eyes to them, then held out her spoon to Amar too. "Icesh? icesh!"

Cheetah gasped. "Mere liye nahi?"

Karu tilted her head, considering.

Then, giggling mischievously, she quickly pulled her spoon back and ate it herself.

"Nyum nyum!" she cheered, smacking her lips.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Cheetah threw his mop down. "Yeh cheating hai karuuuu"

After all the cleaning was done and the house was spotless, Karu finally started dozing off, curled up on the couch.

Haseena carried her to her room, gently tucking her under her favorite blanket.

One by one, the men entered.

Anubhav came first, kneeling beside her bed. He brushed a hand over her soft hair. "Sorry, meri jaan. Papa ne aapko takleef di na?"

Karu, half-asleep, mumbled, "Papaa..."

His heart clenched. He kissed her forehead. "Papa aage se aapko kabhi dukh nahi denge."

Next came Cheetah. He crouched beside her, watching her tiny hands curl into her blanket.

"Sorry, meri choti si racer," he whispered. "Mujhe laga tha tumhe maza ayega. Pata nahi tha ki tum gir jaogi."

Karu let out a sleepy sigh. "zoom..."

Chetaah chuckled softly. "Haan, beta. Pr aajse No zoom for you." He kissed her cheek and stepped back.

Lastly, Amar sat down beside her, hesitating. He wasn't as emotional as the other two, but seeing Karu so small, so vulnerable, his heart ached.

He gently held her tiny fingers. "Sorry, baby. Aage se bade papa kabhi tumpe ek kharoch bhi nhi ane denge."

Karu let out a tiny yawn and grabbing Amar's finger, put it in her mouth, before dozing off.

Amar sighed and kissed her tiny hand. "Haan, beta. Mera little finger bhi tumhare muh mai chotusa lag raha hai."

Haseena, Shivani, and Santu watched from the doorway, smiling.

The three men stood up, exchanging silent nods.

They had learned their lesson.

And next time—there would be no more kiddie races.

...Maybe.

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ENJOY!!!!!