Heyy Baby

Part 30

The waiting room was filled with an unbearable silence.

Anubhav stood in the center, his breathing heavy, his gaze scanning the faces of the people he once considered the closest to his heart.

No one met his eyes.

Not Amar. Not Shivani. Not Santu. Not Cheetah.

And most of all—not Haseena.

Their silence screamed their guilt louder than any words ever could.

Anubhav let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Chaliye, koi baat nahi... agar aap log nahi bata rahe hain, toh main kisi aur se puchh leta hoon."

Without giving anyone a chance to react, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

Minutes later, three house helps—Sunita, Kamla, and Ramesh—walked into the waiting area, looking nervous, their gazes darting between Anubhav and the rest of the family.

Anubhav's voice was calm, too calm. "Sach batao. Itne dino se meri beti ka dhyaan kaun rakh raha tha? Kisne usse khilaya, uska diaper badla, usse sambhala?"

Sunita and Kamla exchanged uneasy glances before Sunita hesitantly stepped forward.

"Sir... humne hi rakha tha..." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Karishma baby ko... humne hi khilaya. Humne hi unka diaper badla. Humne hi godh mein uthaya, jab raat ko woh ro rahi thi..."

Anubhav's grip on his phone tightened. "Aur inmein se kisi ne nahi?" He gestured toward his so-called family.

Kamla hesitated before lowering her gaze. "Humne dekha ki sab busy the... toh humne socha ki hum hi dhyaan rakh lein..."

Anubhav let out a shaky breath, his jaw clenching. "Busy the?" His voice was dangerously low. "Matlab jab meri beti raat bhar bhooki ro rahi thi, tab yeh sab busy the?"

Sunita gulped before speaking again, "Sir... woh toh bhooki thi... lekin zyada royi bhi nahi... sirf kabhi kabhi... jab dard bada ho jata tha tab..."

A sharp pang of pain shot through Anubhav's chest.

His baby didn't even cry properly.

She had just accepted being neglected.

"Aur khana? Kitna diya tha usse app logo ne?" His voice trembled.

"Bas jab bhi zyada rone lagti thi tab... lekin..." Kamla hesitated.

"Lekin kya?"

Sunita took a deep breath, unable to meet his eyes. "Sir... woh apni bhookh dikhati nahi thi... bas chupchap khelegi... ya jo haath lagega, woh muh mein daal legi..."

Anubhav felt his heart sink into his stomach. "Matlab?"

Sunita's voice broke. "Woh... blanket chaba rahi thi, sir... jab humein pehli baar shak hua ki woh bhooki hai... tab humne khana diya tha..."

Anubhav swayed slightly on his feet, like someone had punched him in the gut.

His daughter.

His princess.

A one-year-old baby had been left so alone, so hungry, that she had resorted to chewing on a blanket for some comfort.

He closed his eyes for a brief second, trying to compose himself, but the rage and agony bubbling inside him were becoming unbearable.

"Aur jab aap log nahi the tab?" His voice barely came out. "Tab kya karti thi meri beti?"

Sunita wiped her tears before speaking again. "Bas... akeli khelegi sir... apni chhoti chhoti cheezein lekar... wo mostly crib mai hoti thi sir, aur wahi pe khelti rehti thi ya thak ke so jati thi khudse hi..."