A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 118- Sweetness That Suffocates

Tara's POV:

I barely remember what a night's uninterrupted sleep feels like, but as I look down at my son—tiny fists balled at his cheeks, mouth rooting—I know I'd choose this exhaustion over emptiness every time. I settle into the rocker, swaddling him closer, letting his warmth sink into my bones. The first minutes of his early morning nursing are always quiet, just his sighs and the ticking of old wall clock. As he feeds, I watch the world outside our window slowly brighten—a pair of mynahs hopping along the sill. It hits me again, fresh and sharp: I'm someone's mother. I'm his mother. When he falls asleep on my shoulder, milk-drunk and loose-limbed, I tiptoe to lay him in his cot. Aryaman, half-conscious and perpetually bed-headed, stumbles in to take over the next shift—diaper, lullabies, a whispered pep talk to our small, stubborn son about being kind to his newly minted parents. While Aryaman hums and rocks him, I steal a precious quarter-hour for myself: a long, hot shower, hair twisted up, pajamas that don't quite match but are clean. I catch my reflection, searching for the old Tara in my face, wondering if she's fled for good or if she's just camping out under the circles beneath my eyes. I find her in flashes—in the determined set of my jaw, the small smile as I towel off and sneak back down the hall for a check on the baby.

Our mornings are a blur of feeds and naps and endless laundry. By mid-morning, the house smells of coffee, breastmilk, and that unique newborn sweetness that perfumes the air wherever my son lies. Aryaman leaves to office but he makes frequent video calls. He reads out loud from his laptop—something about pharmaceutical acquisitions, but in a singsong tone only meant for tiny, curious ears. That's the only good song he can sing. It was so unusual to get a video call from Nandini at this time, when my son is asleep. After Aryaman met her, it's been 3 weeks and there's no progress. Manik bava is constantly sneaking out of home to meet her some nights. Aryaman is covering up from him. Everyone is immersed in the love of the baby and atthamma didn't pay heed to Manik lately. Nandini had never come even after Aryaman invited her multiple times. I answered her call. Manik, Aryaman, Mukti were already in the call and I realized that's a video conference call. "Hi Nandini" I said half confused looking all their faces. 

"Nyonika aunty came home this morning" Nandini said. "Mom! What?" Manik bava was astonished, he was in his office at the resort while Nandini is at her home. "I can't believe mom came there, why did she come?" Aryaman was shocked too. "She invited me for the baby's naming ceremony" Nandini said. "That's really shocking" Mukti commented. "Bhabhi, isn't this what we've all wanted" Aryaman said. "Nandini, did mom say something?" Manik bava asked. "Kuch nahi bas invitation diya, she said I'm the special guest. She said that I didn't come when Aryaman invited so iss baar wo khud mujhe invite karne aa gayi" Nandini was shocking everyone. "So tumne kya decide kiya?" Manik bava asked her. "I don't know main tum logon ko isliye call kiya to know what happened to her all of a sudden? Didn't she discuss this with anyone?" she asked. To be honest, atthamma has become so unpredictable these days. But baby ke aane ke baad, she has certainly become more sweeter than before. For somedays, she wouldn't even let me do anything and for some days, she asks if I want to go on a shopping or to a movie date with Aryaman. She said that wife and husband should spend more time to avoid baby blues.

"Mom ne humare saath kuch discuss nahi kiya hai bhabhi" Mukti said. "I know we're at fault, but bhabhi please maan jao na, mom khud tumko invite kiya matlab, she is also accepting you" Mukti said. "I'm not upset with anyone of you Mukti, I just wanted to be one among the family" Nandini said. "Maybe this is the time Nandini, please do come" I said. Manik bava looked like he was reading her face while Nandini was clueless herself. They had their private conversation with their eyes amongst us. "Uhmm, agar love birds kisi aur se aankh milaye tho hum continue kare" Mukti asked. "Discuss karne ke liye kuch bhi nahi hai, its Nandini's decision alone" Manik bava said before winding the call. The call was abruptly cut without a conclusion. "Manik se baat karke dekhenge ek baar" Aryaman said when I called him back.