Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 140

Two days later, the morning sun warmed the kitchen in soft, buttery light. The house was quiet but not asleep-just wrapped in the gentle stillness that follows the arrival of a new baby. In the cozy kitchen, Athiya and Meera sat cross-legged on chairs at the breakfast table, dressed in oversized sweatshirts and mismatched socks. Mana hovered nearby, fussing over half-eaten toast and lukewarm chai while baby Tia slept nearby in her cradle, swaddled in peach muslin and breathing the tiniest little sighs.

Meera was scrolling through her phone, absentmindedly nibbling a slice of apple when she suddenly snorted. She clapped a hand over her mouth, laughter threatening to spill.

Athiya blinked, turning from her cup of chai. "Kya hua?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

Meera held up her phone. "Shreyas just texted. He sent this reel and wrote-'Your brother is rather too humble, Meeru.'" She hit play and slid the phone across the table.

Athiya leaned in, the reel opening to Nitish casually asking on camera, "She's cute?"

And Rahul, seated in his DC hoodie, still clearly sleep-deprived but smiling with that unmistakable soft look in his eyes, replied, "Obviously I'll say yes-"

Athiya paused it, scoffing playfully, "Obviously? Excuse me? What is that tone?" She looked at Meera. "Our daughter is cute. It shouldn't even be a question."

Meera giggled, "He was trying to act chill, but wait-watch his face in the next part."

Athiya tapped play again, and though the audio cut off due to the room's background noise, Rahul's expression shifted. His lips moved slowly, as if the words had tugged themselves straight from his heart. She's so small... like I'm holding something made of clouds.

Athiya blinked, her breath catching just slightly.

She didn't need the sound. She knew exactly what he'd said. She could read it on his face.

A slow, quiet smile curled her lips as she looked toward the cradle where Tia stirred, her tiny toes peeking from the wrap. "He still doesn't know how much she already owns him," Athiya whispered, more to herself.

Meera leaned back in her chair, stretching. "She owns all of us."

Mana chuckled, setting a bowl of almonds in front of them. "That's what daughters do best."

Athiya kept watching the video, this time with her hand resting protectively over her chest, just where Tia had rested the night before. "I'm saving this," she murmured. "For every time he pretends he's not a puddle."

Meera smirked. "Good. Use it wisely. Emotional blackmail's more effective when it's adorable."

They laughed quietly, hearts warm and full, as the reel replayed in the background and the baby in the cradle dreamed on.

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As the soft chatter of the kitchen drifted into a lull, the morning slowly settling into its rhythm, Meera emerged from the hallway, the quiet click of her boots drawing their attention. She was in uniform now-crisp, structured, her badge glinting softly beneath the gentle kitchen light. Her hair was tied back, a few wisps escaping near her ears, and there was a calm determination in her eyes.

Athiya and Mana looked up just as she walked over and leaned down, side-hugging them both with a soft, "Alright, ladies. Bye."

Mana smiled, fixing an imaginary crease on her sleeve. "Go show them how it's done."

But Meera's steps didn't take her to the door just yet. She turned to the cradle where baby Tia now blinked up at the world with sleepy curiosity. Meera knelt beside her, hands gentle on the edge of the cradle, her voice automatically softening as she cooed, "Aur meri baby uth gayi?"